User Reviews for Parnate oral

It's been the only drug that has been totally helpful for my major depression. Yes, I miss cheese and a few other foods, but happy and fully capable to handle life's ups and downs has been well worth it. The only drawback has been having to come off for operations and some medical procedtures.

Have been on Parnate for 15 years. I do take an exceptionally large dose. No other med has been this effective for this long. The diet is a challenge, but doable. I have not had mania, but it is a side effect in person's with bipolar. Nardil (another MAOI) was more effective, but it's effectiveness didn't last. For me this is a last resort and am grateful something works. Many drug interactions makes treatment for other concerns a challenge but there are ways.

I have taken this drug for 15 years. It is the only one which has worked for me for any length of time. It has been a "miracle drug" for me. I manage the food restrictions pretty well. Sometimes the food/drug restrictions present difficulties but none like major depression.

After having been on every other anti depressant, Parnate finally helped my depression. The food restrictions are tolerable and worth it as long as the Parnate works.

I feel almost normal again...having been bi-polar for 45 years.

I have been on Parnate for 24 years. It gave me my life back. I tried many anti depressants before my doctor put me on Parnate. In two week I knew I have discovered my fountain of happiness, self control and sanity again.

I have treatment resistant depression and parnate is the only antidepressant that works. I have been on parnate for 2/12 years. The diet is not easy, but you get use to it.

My depressive illness began when I was a child and can be traced from both inherited factors and early learning experience. At the time of major depressive episodes psychiatrists and doctors prescribed Trycyclic and, later SSRI antidepressants with little success. It was only in my mid thirties that Parnate was prescribed as an alternative to ECT while I was being treated in hospital for major depressive disorder. Apart from a headache that lasted for about 6 hours together with a slight rise in blood pressure on the first day [I was being monitored in case of hypertensive crisis] I had no ill effects. Day two the headaches had gone and day four I felt elated, a little hyper. Not an unpleasant feeling after years of depression and fatig. By day five all my depressive symptoms had gone and from staying in bed all day I became able to travel from the south coast to London feeling excited to be back on old home ground. Parnate really pulled me out of despair. I have not been affected by the dietary restrictions which do not affect all people but are listed for safety's sake to cover every eventuality. Over a period of twenty years I have found that I can eat more or less normally or that I naturally don't eat certain foodstuffs nor drink alcohol. After a period of remission I ceased Parnate for about three years but then suffered a massive depressive collapse. My GP, new to my case as I had moved would not prescribe Parnate as he 'had never prescribed it before and was afraid of prescribing a drug 'I have no experience with'. SSRIs made me paranoid and suicidal. I complained to my PCT stating that my notes showed I had safely taken the drug before and that my GP was causing suffering withholding it. He then had a partner in the practice prescribe it and I was soon recovered but I had experienced the prejudice against this 'old' drug. Apart from some short term memory loss [which may be due to benzodiazepines] I have had only had good effects from Parnate.Read More Read Less

There is a ridiculous amount of untrue information propagated about this drug: even on WebMD there is old disproven speculation published. Parnate, and its cousin Nardil are the only drugs that will bring about true remission from intractable depression. The voodoo diet mythe have been scientificly researched in the last fiftenn years and found to mostly be single incident reports of dubious origin. The MAOI Diet is very simple now; I've taken these drugs for years and eat all the chocolate and caffeine I want. Very stinky aged cheeses are still off bounds along with certain types of beer and one or two other things but I'll give up blue cheese to be well any time! These drugs are absolute miracles to us who need them; Parnate is the superior in that Nardil turns every thing you eat into sugar in the liver's metabolic pathways- weight gain-a-rama! Nardil is also a soft edged rosy ride that's easier to take coming out of the Black Pit so it's tossed about with out much thought. But morbid obesity is a worse effect than giving up blue cheese... Parnate is the real wonder drug! US doctors are drilled in the 1960's nonsense about it but I've been off and on it for years- doctors will force me off it, ruined my newly built career in the process. But get the new information and it's not the evil drug you hear about. Starting it is rough; it rewires your brain to a healthier matrix in eight weeks, during which you will not want caffeine and it can be tough. Well, or close to well is a strange place after years of illness! I use 60 mg of nortriptyline with it to soften sharp edged reality. A brain illness needs some coddling still. But this drug has me living my life instead of warehoused on inappropriate anti psychotics. It also vamoosed my social phobia/ agoraphobia issues and I've ditched the weight from Bad Drugs that didn't work but warp ones metabolism. I highly recommend this drug. I'm actually happy, like other people are!Read More Read Less

This drug caused severe mania that has never gone away even though I have been off it for awhile. You have to be severely brainwashed if you think this diet is easy to follow. It is absolutely ridiculous and any psychiatrist who says otherwise is a total liar.

I have been on this medication for 10 year and it works fine for me. It is the only medication that has helped me. Some would work for awhile then stop. I'm on 40mg. a day, I take it all in the A.M. and I do have to have Parnate as the generic did not work for me. Also, I eat almost anything I want and have never had a problem. I read that the food restrictions have been relaxed a it. I even drink pasteurized beer once in a while. My PSY. Doc. said that was the only kind I could drink, no Micro-Brewery beer. Now I'm not recommending other people should do this, I just know what goes on within my own body. I am also on 600mg. of Lithium which I will be weaned off from after the holidays are over. Too many side effects.Read More Read Less

onset of action is very slow. and when it kicks in around 30-40 mg after handling the most challenging side effects and agitation, it turns out to be no different if not less than the available new medications in the market. if you are starting this horrible drug prepare your self to the worst insomnia. my psychiatrist was right when he said it won`t work especially I have anxiety issues as well.

This drug usually does not work except for only on very small subset of patients with atypical depression. it has very poor action, many difficult side effects and does not have a consistent daily action. it is one of the most unpredictable drugs and you will never know what will happen tomorrow effect wise. There are no recent studies because it does not worth it. it just like very dirty drug that might work by randomly activating different areas in the brain. I would give it 0 out of 10 in general. the newer agents in my experience are at least has some evidence. I understand some one may scarify his life style and food for some help but this is not the case with this drug, you have to scarify both. it was a big lie I wish I have not wasted my time on it. please note that the onset of action is very slow usually >3-5 weeks.Read More Read Less

I am 46 and first found I needed medication for severely debilitating depression/anxiety/OCD symptoms 30 years when I was 17 back in college. I had to beg a psychiatrist to try and MAOI because the tricyclics and other things were miserable partial solutions at best. Nardil was very good and my opportunity to experience life virtually symptom from much of the time. The formulation was changed and it no longer worked. I changed to Parnate. I loved Parnate -- total relief, but it took 120mg/day to kick in. Got a zippy little euphoric boost for about 2 hours after each dose and the darned stuff seemed to make me smarter over over the - no kidding.I'm I scientist and for some reason chronic use of this stuff seems to be enhancing my recall and work quality. Love it and take with 1200 mg Li as a stabilizer. Seems to compliment. Keep trying with and without. Works better with. Virtually symptom free. Hypertensive sensitive real bummer with high dose Parnate. I have electric PB cuff in Manbag, one on sailing yacht, 2 at home, 1 in car, all with Nifedipine in kid. One MUST be ready at all times 7x24. If on high dose Parnate, sometime one eats at restaurant and just BANG, not aware what went into the fish pie. But I can detect start of reaction long before any serious increase and get first. So even out far offshore sailing, or anywhere, I can manage it, but it take some extra care. For total symptom free life where you can't even remember what symptoms are like, it is a small price to pay. Based on more reasons than I have time to write about, I'm guessing most people who fail response simply take to little. On standard doses, Parnate does NOTHING for me. Once I got over about 110mg/day, some sun came came in, and then another 120mg and light came shining down. Then I gained some weight and found I needed up and restored it. It was very body weight sensitive, so it needs to be adjusted to a mg/kg ratio. This should not be a surprise to anyone with a technical background.Read More Read Less

Have been suffering from Bi-Polar Depression since 1986, have probably tried every anti-depressive over the years. Change doctors 4 years ago, he prescribed Parnate, now taking 2 x 50mg per day with lithium. Am now enjoying life again, and more than willing to except food interaction issues.

hasn't really worked for me. has made me lose a bit too much weight and i've pretty much ruined my job because i have no energy left due to no appetite. I'm now sad AND broke. I'm pretty much a zombie now.

At the age of 74, I have tried all the other drugs and none worked. My psychiatrist then put me on Parnate taking 4 10mgs a day. Yes, there are some reactions and yes, the food laws are complicated and sometimes difficult. But the drug has been a miracle drug. It has helped me immensely. For me, it is an "end of the road" drug. It is the only one that has worked. A major side effect that I have recently learned of is my inability to take general anesthesia. This has created a major problem for me, but I will not give up the drug. The food restrictions cause you to look at the right foods more creatively and good weight loss will occur. I see my doctor once a week and my depression, while it hasn't gone away, is now under control. Rather, the drug enables me to have better control. It has been a miracle drug.Read More Read Less

Parnate is for my Bi-polar condition. My Psychiatrist tried 12 other antidepressants which, not only did not help the side effects were traumatic! Parnate worked for me within days. I have been taking Parnate {10 milligrams 2 daily) I am 69yrs old & have been taking this drug for app. 17yrs. My Bi-polar symptoms started when I was having menopause symptoms. The few time that I discontinued Parnate, I would have extreme highs & lows for months at a time!Parnate is a challenge to take because it has major food problems. There are many foods that restrictions; some include certain meats, all cheese products,some fruits & vegies (ones which contain tourmaline. I am a vegetarian, which does help. However favorite foods like cheese,avocados,anything pickled, very limited amounts of caffeine products. cheese is hard to not eat! love pizza,cheese sandwiches,eating out is complicated. Most salads include cheese &/or cheese dressings, yogurt can be touchy as is dark green vegies. Eating any of these can cause a stroke or death. You have to be VERY CAREFUL! you CAN'T CHEAT! A food or medication that does not interact totally shuts your body down(at least mine) I feel completely disorientate & just have to take a sleeping pill & hope that I'm not having a stroke! Now I am very, very careful. Even Doctors prescribe meds for some other problem, sometimes even after I remind them. Luckily most pharmacy's will catch it. I would not recommend this, unless you have tried at 6-8 other medications.You will probably have to make dosage adjustments, & severe health or personal problems can make it ineffective!Read More Read Less

Horrible drug. This is just like speed but you have to be on this ridiculous diet that made it almost impossible to eat out. My mind was racing; I was talking rapidly, my body felt weird, no coordination, dizzy, hard time walking, passed out if I stood up too quick, high blood pressure when lying down and more. I feel like I have never recovered from this drug after being off it for ahwile. This was a horrible experience.