Tranylcypromine User Reviews & Ratings (Page 3)

• Par...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 9, 2019

Tranylcypromine for Depression "My diagnosis is severe depression and anxiety. Thirteen admissions to the hospital over the last fourteen years. A TCA worked quite well for a long time, but then its effectiveness reduced. Cut over to Parnate four years ago, and it has been excellent. Occasional slightly low mood every few months, but overwhelmingly a great drug."

• Ana...
• July 20, 2015

Tranylcypromine for Depression "I tried at least 7 or 8 'traditional' antidepressants. They never worked at all. Quite the opposite; I had to take benzo because I became tremendously violent and aggressive. My doctor finally decided that he had no option but to prescribe Parnate, for which you need a special license in my country. What a difference! Finally, no depression, no aggression, nothing. Just feeling good. I didn't feel drugged up; just felt like myself. Wonderful feeling! Yes, I do miss cheese sandwiches and I have to take sleeping pills, but it's so worth it."

• Emm...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 10, 2019

Tranylcypromine for Depression "I'd been severely depressed for 4-5 years and tried almost every treatment around, including ECT. Some things helped for a bit, but nothing stuck. 2 years of Parnate and I'm 90% 'normal', working & studying, happy some of the time. Not saying it'll work for you, but if you've tried everything else, go for it. Warning 1: side effects are a thing, they aren't great (and nightmarish if you have serious anxiety). But better than ECT/TMS, and the dietary restrictions are more like suggestions, really. Warning 2: it's one of the more expensive antidepressants I've tried, at least in Australia."

• Jak...
• July 11, 2013

Tranylcypromine for Depression "So far, it is much better and with fewer side effects than Celexa, Pristiq, Wellbutrin, Remeron, or Viibryd. The main issue is anxiety, and this medicine stops it like nothing else. It is in a whole different class. Still finding out how it is going to work on my 'zest for life' and other symptoms of depression. Still a long way to go."

• Ava...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 3, 2018

Tranylcypromine for Depression "MAOI medication is the only type of antidepressant that works for me. Both phenelzine and Parnate have been miracle drugs for me. I was on phenelzine for 24 years, and then it stopped working. I then switched to Parnate. They do not cure depression, but totally change your life so that you can function and feel happy again. No other type of antidepressant has worked for me, and I have tried a few. I have depression with anxiety, sometimes diagnosed as atypical depression also."

• Iis...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 17, 2020

Tranylcypromine for Depression "I've taken all the MAO inhibitors at some stage (not all together). I was given Ultram for pain, which is a high interaction, and I developed serotonin syndrome. I was in a coma for 1 week and hanging onto my life passionately. When I hear people say that certain foods or drinks or other meds won’t hurt you, think again. It may just cause your death. They say ignorance is bliss, but it is scary as anything. Never thought you could remember hallucinations, but I remember them 20 years later. Please, if you take an MAO, follow the food, drink, and drug restrictions. Thank you. Lucky to be alive. Lisa"

• Old...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 11, 2022

Tranylcypromine for Depression "Have been in hand-to-hand combat with my depression and anxiety for twenty-seven years. Tried numerous drugs over this time with mixed results. Then I tried Parnate five years ago. It eliminated my depression and anxiety and is still working well. I find the food restrictions a minor issue in light of the improvement this drug has brought. Some hypotension, but that's my only side effect. Parnate is an oldie but goodie."

• Dep...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 25, 2017

Tranylcypromine for Depression "By far the most effective med! Start at least on 30 mg a day, only side effect insomnia, but has gotten better! Been on it for 4 weeks. Combined with 40 mcg of T3 (thyroid med) as mood stabilizer. Helped so much with motivation and energy."

• Ali...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 27, 2023

Tranylcypromine for Depression "I take Parnate to treat resistant catatonic depression and panic attacks. I have tried multiple other medications but find this is the only one that has worked for me. Don't take aged foods/medications and health supplements warnings lightly. A good practice is to not eat anything for 3 to 4 hours after taking Parnate. One downside is it will affect your sleep, and you may need to take sleep medication."

• roc...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 2, 2021

Tranylcypromine for Depression "The most remarkable thing about Parnate is that it works, and that it just keeps working. I have the feeling that the effectiveness of Parnate as an antidepressant is at least partly due to the fact that it increases dopamine levels in the brain on top of serotonin and noradrenaline. The consistency of the effects (compared to, e.g., SSRIs) might be related to its unique mechanism of action (MAO enzyme inhibition). This medication is a practical proof that so-called “treatment-resistant depression” is not a meaningful medical diagnosis. And yes, Parnate helps also a lot with anxiety and OCD symptoms, better than all the SSRIs and SNRIs. In many cases, patients need to convince/push their (uninformed) doctors to be treated with a MAOI. Dietary restrictions are well overblown, dangerous med interactions are possible but easy to prevent. Side effects are real (afternoon fatigue, sleep disruptions, etc.) but manageable, and overall, not worse than those from SSRIs."

• deb...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 20, 2012

Tranylcypromine for Depression "I have been on Parnate for 1 year now. I have been on many other antidepressants. Parnate has certainly worked for me. There are still some days that I feel just a little down, but nothing compared to the major depression I had suffered. Before my doctor put me on Parnate, I had been hospitalized and underwent ECT successfully. Now I feel good finally. I do have to watch the foods because I hyperventilate and also have severe diarrhea. Plus, I am on 50 mg of Seroquel in the morning and 100 mg in the evening. Parnate is 10 mg x a day, which is low compared to some people."

• Jul...
• November 6, 2015

Tranylcypromine for Depression "I've been taking Parnate for 8 weeks now. It has helped my depression, PTSD tremendously. I started off at 20 mg, and now I'm at 30 mg. I follow the strict diet and don't allow myself to have anything with tyramine. (Maybe I'm a little too cautious?) The side effects that I can't stand, but I tolerate, are BP drop, dizzy almost fall over, extreme fatigue when Parnate is supposed to give you energy. I will stay in a place for some time like I have no ambition. I have lost a lot of weight on Parnate. That has to be the best side effect! :) Rarely have an appetite, nor do I care to drink anything half the time. I wish I knew what to do so I don't get those horrible dizzy spells. They happen maybe 5 or more times a day, and I have to hold on to the wall."

• JOE...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 25, 2019

Tranylcypromine for Depression "This is a very good drug for depression. I have no problems with the diet required. It's the best drug for me. At high doses (60+), you will be dizzy for a bit when getting up. I now take 50 mg every morning."

• My ...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 10, 2024

Tranylcypromine for Depression "I’ve been on Parnate for around five years now. Being that I’ve had three separate intense spells of treatment-resistant depression, the doctors have treated me with everything under the sun, including ECT. None of this worked. Finally, during my last spell, the hospital decided to consult with a retired specialist who prescribed me this medication. Three to four days in, and I began to want to live again after nine months of not wanting to. The turnaround was incredible. I pair mine with Ritalin LA to keep my mood stable as it can be 'over-activating' for me. I have had to have treatment for a heart arrhythmia that presented after I began this medication, however, wanting to be alive and watch my children grow up has been worth any side effect I’ve had to deal with, including this one. I do get dry, gritty eyes which I treat with drops and need to be aware of anything that triggers an elevation in my blood pressure. I’ve bought a monitor for this from the chemist for this purpose."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 26, 2020

Tranylcypromine for Depression "Parnate did not give me any major side effects. The insomnia was manageable, and the instant benefits felt from day one (no exaggeration) gave me hope that I was on a good track. For comparison, I have been through fluoxetine (2 years). It gave me 1 month of side effects and no benefits, but eventually I got better and continued with it. Unfortunately, fluoxetine stopped working from the 6th month or so. But I kept the faith in it. For 2 years. The psychiatrist also put me on desvenlafaxine. It was a nightmare of headaches that lasted for a day, putting me in bed. For no benefit. Compared to these experiences, Parnate feels like a walk in the park. Beware the dietary restrictions."

• kin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 28, 2019

Tranylcypromine for Depression "The only medication to rid me of depression, anxiety, and insomnia within weeks. But I experienced a lot of side effects: weight gain (8 kg in 6 weeks), major sugar cravings, postural hypotension, urinary retention, difficulty staying awake at random times during the day, and there were others I can’t recall. It also just stopped working on me within a few months, and I was on the max dose. Definitely recommend trying if other medications don’t work. The 'food interactions' weren’t an issue for me."

• Rob...
• November 30, 2016

Tranylcypromine "I wish they would do research into why this drug works so well. It should not be 5th line treatment, as it is a very potent anti-anxiety medication that works in days, not weeks. It did, however, totally mess with my sleep cycle. I'm sleepy at 1 PM, and I don't sleep well at night (the drug makes me restless). This is the only antidepressant that has helped my anxiety. I did have one bad reaction from eating slightly off chicken (panic attack/heart pounding). I take 30 mgs daily. Important to spread the dose over the day to avoid the peaks and troughs of energy levels (it seems most effective when taken all at once, though)."

• mrb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 4, 2021

Tranylcypromine for Depression "I've tried almost every SSRI and SNRI. SSRIs flatlined my emotions, SNRIs made me feel energetic but unsatisfied with anything I was doing. DRIs like Wellbutrin made me seem and act irritable. Parnate was the first MAOI I ever tried, and it worked like a dream. Honestly, super disappointed in the psychiatric practice for making this a 'last resort' drug and trying to push safer, less effective drugs on people. I've spoken to Ken Gillman personally, and the amount of fear, uncertainty, and doubt that's been perpetuated around MAOIs has been extremely exaggerated. Only side effect was that it accelerated my hair thinning (male), but that was probably going soon anyway. This needs to be prescribed more often. If it's not obvious yet, it's far more effective than any SSRI, SNRI, or DRI."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 20, 2017

Tranylcypromine for Depression "I have started this and been on it for about 3 weeks. I was originally on 30 mg/day, and it has helped me so much. The only side effect I had to deal with was the upset stomach. It has helped me concentrate more on my homework, assisted me in getting a new job, and just keeping myself busy. I do hate that it only stays in effect for a couple of hours, but that's usually all I need. One thing you will have to be careful of is what you eat and how you work out. I had stopped eating chocolate and cheeses specifically due to the high tyramine level. Also, when working out, I try to take the Parnate after I am done working out, so it doesn't affect my blood pressure."

• pet...
• July 22, 2015

Tranylcypromine for Depression "I took Parnate in the hospital. It's the second most wonderful thing to ever have happened to my brain, after ECT. But it tried to kill me. But that was due to a drug interaction. Don't take a high dose of Parnate (60 mg) with more than 150 mg of trazodone. I did. I had two hypertensive crises. My BP was 208/163. It was extremely painful. But I would go back to Parnate in a second, just without the trazodone. Look up the drugs it interacts with before you take something with it. I felt cheerful, I started laughing again for the first time in years. Until the hypertensive stuff happened, my team was talking discharge. And I came in very sick. Parnate is great."

• san...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 3, 2024

Tranylcypromine for Depression "After many years of taking various antidepressants which often made my chronic depression worse, I finally was prescribed Parnate. It saved my life and worked quickly. I finally felt like my normal self again after years of catatonic bipolar II depression."

• mik...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 6, 2023

Tranylcypromine for Depression "I have suffered from chronic depression for years and tried multiple medications. My doctor suggested trying Parnate, and it's changed my life. I have had no food issues while taking it, but have had problems with over-the-counter antihistamines. This drug really works, wish it was cheaper, but it is worth it. Note: generic does not work for me. Hopefully, it will for others."

• Lin...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 9, 2019

For Depression "I'm a practicing psychotherapist, and like many people on these pages, my REAL nightmares started not when I was sleeping but when I WOKE in the morning! The depth of my depression was crippling my family and work life. Also, like many others here, I tried almost every other antidepressant with NO improvement, just negative side effects. I knew about Parnate (tranylcypromine) but was wary of diet restrictions until I realized I'd rather live on plain rice the rest of my life rather than fight off the crippling depression! And, yes, my life changed! Enthusiasm returned. Hope returned. Laughter returned. Leaving me only to echo what other people have written here. This truly is the 'ONLY GENUINE, EFFICACIOUS ANTIDEPRESSANT' available today! PLEASE try it... please recommend it... PLEASE spread the word!"

• eul...
• September 3, 2020

For Depression "This is the drug that pulled me out of complete torpor, which was a strong symptom of my depression - along with no interest in life or other people. Everything else had been tried in the tricyclic range, but nothing had little effect - in fact, I was just more solitary, more tired, and less inclined to care about life or other people. ECT was on the cards. When I strongly voiced my objections, it wasn't mentioned again. Instead, I was prescribed tranylcypromine morning and midday. Suddenly, after about 5-6 days, I woke up! I noticed what a beautiful summer day it was and loved to get out of the hospital and go 30 miles to London to visit the galleries. The staff smiled and said, 'Go!' When my psychiatrist was told, he had me in for a consultation and soon saw the change. He said I should be on them for life. That was in 1986."

• 321...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 25, 2023

Tranylcypromine for Depression "I have been on over 15 different medications for over 30 years, and nothing has helped my PTSD or depression. Parnate has made it worse. I am tired mentally and physically, and my suicidal thoughts are turning into an end-of-life plan! I have begged for a drug that's new and newly approved, which will help my medical pain and mental health, or at least in studies. This drug is being used under supervision, but I live alone. (There are places that will take me, but my psychiatrist I feel isn't hearing me or how serious I am.) I'm 64 years old and in ill health. I'm sincerely not living...I exist only with no family support. 30 years of different meds is enough, and hope is fading! Treatment-resistant depression is exactly that, and nothing helps me. Parnate is the worst I've been on, and I am now stuck because of side effects if I go straight off them...but then again, I guess nothing left to lose."