I think I want to get off of it, it's helped me alot with depression and energy wise but these chest pains and good restrictions are bothering me too much after over a year on parnate. I've gone through Paxil withdrawal and it was awful, just wondering how bad it would be with parnate and the after effects, thanks
Has anyone gone through withdrawal on parnate?
Question posted by Parnateinsomniac on 12 March 2013
Last updated on 31 December 2016 by Parnateinsomniac
6 Answers
Parnateinsomniac
31 Dec 2016
UPDATE: I did taper off of parnate shortly after this post and found that it wasn't as bad of a withdrawal as I thought, getting off of Paxil was wayyyyyy worse! I'm still having chest pains, years after being off of the meds though, I've been antidepressant free for the past 3 years and feel pretty good without them, I still have depression and anxiety but they're manageable and I like being able to feel and be in touch with my own emotions. My dr has told me the chest pains are probably anxiety or indigestion (since I'm so young) but I disagree, I know in my heart that it's something more. Thanks everyone for their input, hoping you all have a happy healthy new year!
BRYAN68
31 Dec 2016
My friend had been on Parnate from approximately 1977 to 2002. When she came off of it is was what the doctors referred to "Poop Out" syndrome. She has tried the other MAOi's and NOTHING even came close to giving her the same degree of relief that Parnate did. She had to be off of it temporarily in order for it to be reintroduced and be effective. Other than her symptoms of depression being worse and worse, I did not see any other symptoms of withdrawal. There were no headaches or nausea that I remember. Since 2002, she has been on a bad cycle of coming off and being re introduced to Parnate. No other medication was as effective for her depression than Parnate.
debi2453
11 March 2014
I have found that of I eat the wrongs foods I suffer chest pains along with my heart racing... I would switch meds but can't stand the though of the severe depression for even 10 min. It was hard enough to find a dr would even prescribe it. The doc that did my ECTs when I was hospitalized was the one who started me on it, and all he does is ECTs.
Parnateinsomniac
12 March 2014
Debi2453 maybe you're on too high of a dose, my chest used to race when I was on 30, so I went down to 20mg a day and it stopped except when I drink lots of coffee, which is in the restricted list lol. I still have chest pains though, and all the specialists I've been to say it's just indigestion... still scared it's causing permanent damage, but I don't plan on quitting parnate since it really has worked for me.
sara12345
12 March 2014
You still sound like you're suffering from anxiety to think that the Parnate is causing permanent damage. Look up telomeres and depression and you'll see that depression causes permanent damage to your body. Diseases of older ages, such as heart disease, stroke and osteoporosis happen at far earlier ages in those with depression since the telomeres are affected. So I would worry about that instead. I myself got an early stroke at 56 years and osteoporosis at age 49. Why do you think that the Parnate is the source of your chest pain when none of your specialists think so and the side effects don't show it at all? Is there another anti-depressant that you could take instead? Do you have anxiety about anything else? If so, you may need an anti-anxiety medication like Klonopin. Depression is a terrible affliction. Maybe you have forgotten. Wish you the best.
sara12345
12 March 2014
To Debi. (My previous comment was for parnateinsomniac.) You know that you are playing with fire to eat the restricted foods which can cause very high blood pressure which can kill you--such as strokes or chest pain/heart attacks, as well as cause other diseases from the high blood pressure. How come you wanted to be on the MAOI in the first place? It must be because none of the other antidepressants worked for you. Am I right or not? So be careful with your foods.
sara12345
14 Aug 2013
To parnateinsomniac, I looked up the official FDA information about side effects from Parnate (from Drugs.com) and do not see anything about chest pain. Anything of course is possible, but have you instead tried anything for acid reflux or anxiety to see if that helps you since your doctor thinks that what it is? If that helps you, it would not be masking any effects to the heart. If in fact the Parnate has helped your depression, and you have not been helped by other treatments, then I would think that you would want to try to treat what your doctor advises could be the problem instead of going off the Parnate.
BTW, research now shows that depression causes diseases of older ages, such as heart disease, stroke and osteoporosis to happen at far earlier ages in those with depression since the telomeres are affected. So I would worry about that instead. I myself got an early stroke at 56 years and osteoporosis at age 49.
In my case, the seizure like condition is termed myoclonic jerks, which is listed as a side effect from MAO Inhibitors. In no way would the food restrictions be causing your chest pain. The fact that you would consider that implies some anxiety. And why do you call yourself insomniac? Parnate can cause insomnia, and the information suggests reducing the dose. But, again, an anti-anxiety med could help with insomnia. I have to take Klonopin, an anti-anxiety medication to treat my myoclonus, this time caused by my stroke. It does act to sedate me at night.
As far as getting off of the Parnate, you will just have to see. Going off any medication more slowly is usually the best, but with your depression roaring up, you will probably want to go faster, since you can't take another anti-depressant until it is completely out of your system. I don't remember any terrible side effects except for an extreme case of sexual turn on that would not go away for about 2 days. It was extremely terrible. I had to get off of it right away due to the intense involuntary jerking as soon as I relaxed at all. I should have reduced it faster when the symptoms first started. From sleeping, my whole body would flail and my hand hit myself in the face. That's why I called it seizures, but it was technically myoclonus.
I wish you the best with your depression. Again, nothing is as bad as depression in my experience. Even my excessive migraine pain since my stroke and Trigeminal Neuralgia and other pain is nothing compared to my depression which is now completely treated with the right anti-depressant. Good luck to you. Sara
Parnateinsomniac
17 Aug 2013
Hi Sara, yes my dr prescribed me something for the chest pain before, forget what it was called, and It did nothing. This chest pain is driving me nuts! It comes and goes randomly, and all I can think of is heart damage.
I know what you mean, if the parnate is working for my depression when other meds failed, why would I quit something that was working? But I can't shake the feeling that I'm doing permanent damage with the MAOI. I already have health problems other than depression and I'm only 27, and worry about dying young.
I've had insomnia for yrs, but used to be able to sleep around the clock when id finally fall asleep, before being on parnate.
Do u still have the jerking effects? My leg sometimes flails too when I'm lying down, but I'm pretty sure that would happen occasionally before parnate as well. That sounds awful, I hope it's improved now for you. How many yrs have you been on parnate? Do you feel like your memory has decreased? Mine sure has!
Lol at extreme sexual turn on, I think I had that too when going off Paxil, I remembering it making me feel crazy and makes you think, what are these pills really doing to my natural biological functions and feelings? I really wish I didn't need meds :( ppl without dep are so lucky and don't even know it! I still struggle with it everyday, nothing like before parnate, but it's still there, and sadly will probably never leave me.
You say your depression is completely treated, like you have none at all? Hopefully you have some good meds for your migraines, and thanks so mych for your feedback, I really do appreciate it.
So in conclusion, it sounds like weaning down parnate might not be as awful as I thought, I was picturing it being like Paxil withdrawal which was pure hell. Lol thanks again Sara.
sara12345
17 Aug 2013
If you are still having chest pain, you should really be checked out by cardiologist. It could be totally separate from the Parnate or not, but in either case, you need to fully evaluated with your chest pain. Hope that you do that. Yes, some involuntary jerking does happen naturally. Mine stopped when I went off the Nardil (another MAOI). Now a stroke has brought it back, but Klonopin takes care of it completely. And yes, my depression is completely taken care of, which may be partly because of the Klonopin which is also an anti-anxiety med. That's saying a lot that I don't have any depression, since I am severely disabled from my stroke with 24/7 headaches, which often are full blown migraines.
sara12345
1 Oct 2013
I hope that you saw my comment above. I sometimes miss comments. Hope that your problem has gotten better. Good luck.
sara12345
12 March 2013
Are the chest pains from the Parnate? I'm concerned about what anti-depressant you are going to take next since the MAO Inhibitors, which Parnate is, are only prescribed as a last resort. You should definately contact your doctor about withdrawing from it and how to do it. The food restrictions are a pain, but depression is far worse. I know from taking it, but had to stop due to a seizure-like condition which is very unusual. Call your doctor and good luck to you.
Gkeb67
30 July 2013
Hi sara12345. I've decided to go off Parnate due to the fact that I didn't feel a lot better on it and the dietary restrictions, which you know, we're very difficult. The only thing I did enjoy - and I use this term loosely - was the weight loss because of the dietary changes. Plus I was not adventuresome with food as I was very scared of a hypertensive episode.
I am tapering down from an 80mg dose of the Parnate - 10mg a week. I am now down to 40mg.
Ok, so after all that, since you went off this med what other meds did your doctor try?
My doctor's plan is to possibly revisit some of the previous drugs I've been on. His specialty is treatment resistant depression so I trust him. I'd just be interested in what meds you've tried and if they worked or not (dosages too).
Thanks in advance for any response.
sara12345
30 July 2013
I know what you mean about the food restrictions. So if it didn't give you proper relief, then you are definitely doing the right thing to get off of it. What has worked terrifically for me has been Effexor and now the upgraded Pristiq which has brought my sex drive back. I had to take Nardil (an MAO inhibitor) many years ago before any of the newer anti-depressants were on the market. I had severe suicidal depression for years and some degree of depression for most of 20 years. Before the newer meds were on the market, I was completely cured by light treatment early in the day. Then at menopause the light didn't work so well. So that might be something else for you to try. Are you seeing a psychiatrist who could prescribe you a mixture of meds? Also you could consider ECT which is not the horror previously depicted. It can lead to some temporary memory loss, but gives people some great relief. Wish you the best for your medical resistant depression. To not have depression is so wonderful. You deserve to have a good life. Wish you the best.
Gkeb67
31 July 2013
Hi again Sarah12345. Thanks for the quick response.
Yes the doctor I see for the treatment resistant depression is a psychiatrist at a university in philadehia (I am in a suburb of Philly). It is his specialty. He did tell me that he never puts anyone on more than 3 drugs at a time and I'm already on Lamictal as a mood stabilizer. So we'll see what he comes up with.
The good news is that tapering down has not been much of a problem so far although I do dread the 2 week washout period.
As far as ECT I'm not interested in that treatment. I'd have to go into Philly 4 days a week, with someone who could drive me down and back, and foremost the short term memory loss which may or may not come back.
There is also a treatment TMS - (transcrainial magnetic stimulationö) which uses a large magnet and swipes back and forth across your forehead and stimulates something in you brain. It has shone some promise but only 50-60% of the time. Only problem is that the full cost of the treatment is around $8000 and not covered by insurance.
So hopefully the other drugs will work.
Again thanks for your help.
Nancy4111
13 Aug 2013
I've been on Parnate for more years than I can remember. Five years ago, a doctor wouldn't do a surgery for me while on Parnate so I had to go off. My doctor came up with a plan to taper over five weeks. It was hideous. Thought I was losing my mind. Three trips to the E.R. However, I have a new doctor now who I think is much more knowledgeable and I have more confidence in him. If I had to, I'd probably give it another try. Parnate is no fun with the restrictions, but it was a last resort for me. I had even had shock therapy that didn't work. If you have an excellent doctor who will stand by you when you need help, go for it. I think the worst part is the anxiety - but a good doctor should be able to control that. Then of course there is the problem of the depression coming back and trying to get through all the side effects of a new drug. I do agree with sara12345 to an extent.
You shouldn't have chest pains from the Parnate - and it usually is the drug of last resort. I've learned to live within the restrictions with no problem after all this time. Even with Parnate, I have some degree of depression and bad days. For some of us, there is just no total cure. Good luck.
Parnateinsomniac
14 Aug 2013
Oh no Sara! You had a seizure condition from taking parnate?! :O
The chest pains came after I started taking it, so that's my only conclusion, my dr disagrees and thinks it's acid reflux or anxiety, but whatever it is, it's scaring me that I'm doing permanent damage to my heart. How was it getting off of Parnate? We're there any long term or short term affects??
Parnateinsomniac
14 Aug 2013
Nancy4111 what were your "mind losing" symptoms when you withdrew from parnate? So you decided to stay back on them, are you afraid of the permanent damage? That's what concerns me, I'm only 27 and plan on having children eventually and am worried of the effects it can have on my body/brain for the long term. (Obv I would be off it when conceiving and carrying a baby) I'm feeling much better and am hoping I can decrease my dosage from 20 to 10 a day but am worried my dep will worsen. Do u think the chest pain could be from eating restricted foods? :S you really don't think parnate is could be contributing to the chest pains?
Gkeb67
14 Aug 2013
Hi sara12345,
Again, thanks for the input. As I mentioned before I am going off the Parnate as it has not been helpful with my depression and I was on 80mg. I have tapered down to 40mg just fine. But I felt more anxiety than depression when I went down to 30mg so I went back up to 40. I'll see my doctor at the end of the month and will figure out how to taper off Parnate completely. I am so looking forward to being off this drug! Exploring other drugs do not scare me as I've rarely had side effects with which I couldn't deal. I've also changed other things in my life such as exercise (walking, water aerobics and swimming laps), food habits with a dietician and evaluating my moods as either sadness or depression.
I've been "depressed" since I was 16 and am now 53 years old and am I am now ready to look at my feelings in a more honest and mature way, I know some people will think its depression right off the bat but I need to evaluate my condition this way now. I thank you for the well wishes message. I will keep you up to date if you'd like. Again , thanks for your time.
sara12345
15 Aug 2013
To Gkeb,,, Yes, I would like to know what medication will work for you. Please keep me posted. It doesn't sound like your depression was as severe as mine was or you would be open to ECT. That's good that your depression is not so bad. Wish you the best. Sara
Inactive
12 March 2013
Hello Parnateinsomniac. I suggest you taper an a plan set up along with your doctor. I understand about the diet restrictions, how it plays a daily role in what can be eaten, how you have to check most all foods before being eaten. I wish you the best of health, regards pledge
Parnateinsomniac
14 Aug 2013
Thanks Pledge, ya I will be doing it under Dr.supervision... trust me the food restrictions are impossible for me to follow... No caffeine, alcohol... the list goes on!
notrombo
26 Aug 2016
The diet restrictions are TOTALLY overstated in literature that had its origins over 60 years ago!!! I eat everything no problems for 17 years. Check out the real truth on what you can eat and drink (how much is safe) on psychotropical.com
Related topics
parnate, depression, pain, withdrawal, chest pain, energy
Further information
- Parnate uses and safety info
- Parnate prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Parnate (detailed)
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