Phenelzine for Depression User Reviews (Page 3)

• Jlano
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 17, 2018

Nardil (phenelzine) "I have been taking nardil over 30yrs. It was a new lease on life no other antidepressants worked for me.the only,side effect,is weight gain.my doctor has lowered my dosage over the years from 15mg three times a day to two times a day. Watch out for hypotension, when first starting nardil and follow dietary restrictions. The only issue I had was the formulation was changed about 12 years ago, and new formulary does not work as well. I wish I could locate the old formulation."

• Connie
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 10, 2020

Nardil (phenelzine) "On nardil 7 years, went to get my refill they said it was on backorder. I had no choice but to go without, it's been over a week and I'm having terrible withdrawals. Feel nauseated, headache, zapping in my head and tired. I'm so disappointed in my pharmacy, they knew I was out and didn't offer any help or advice. Now I am suffering and my mood is dropping more and more."

• Mothe...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 2, 2020

Nardil (phenelzine) "I am in the same position as the other people posting reviews in that I am worried to death about the shortage of Nardil both in the Uk and Canada. I would just like to mention to the people who have posted on here that there is a support forum on this site for Nardil/Phenelzine where it’s possible to chat to each other about our concerns maybe have a look and see what you think."

• xzard...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 29, 2017

Nardil (phenelzine) "I took nardil for 4 years. It changed my personality drastically. I went from depressed and withdrawn to hypomanic (which is like half way to fully manic). Much more sociable and I also became a workaholic. The side effects were intolerable - extreme weight gain (gained 50 lbs which brought me over 200 lbs. had never been overweight before or since) and anorgasmia. I did prefer hypomania to unipolar depression but eventually I pooped out on it as everyone seems to do in these designer ADs within a few years. There was a study which found that MAOIs like Nardil can permanently damage your mu receptors preventing you from having the capability to experience euphoria and that happened to me also. I wish I never taken any of those drugs."

• Bipolar
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 8, 2015

Nardil (phenelzine) "Nardil works very well for my bipolar depression. I had hypersomnia when I was depressed and the drugs I tried (Lamictal, Zoloft, Celexa…) didn’t help at all. I’m glad my psychiatrist made me try this medication. At first, I took 45 mg, but after a while, it made me maniac. I had to lower the dosage to 30 mg and, surprisingly, it’s seems to be working (even though it’s not considered as a therapeutic dose). The diet is very easy to follow, as long as you can take bottled beer. The only downside is the sugar cravings, which are difficult to resist."

• Anonymous
• October 14, 2008

Nardil (phenelzine) "I suffered from prolonged depression for most of my adult life with no relief until Nardil was introduced to me. I have been taking a daily dosage of Nardil for over 10 years and it has helped me enormously."

• GauGreg
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 24, 2017

Nardil (phenelzine) "I had been on this in 1982 for years , (it worked , but then no one wanted to prescribe it) . After many different SSRI combos and add ons ,and finally Bupropion , and even TMS nothing. Went back on 75mg of Nardil my whole attitude has changed, everyone at work has noticed. This should be treated as a drug of last resort though. There are over a 1000 drug interactions, not to mention the food issues"

• andrew
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 2, 2013

Nardil (phenelzine) "I am still on Nardil and waiting to wean off. My experience has not been great. It hasn't helped me with depression as it only has causes terrible adverse effects that has affected my life. I am depressed, angry, irritated, anxiety-ridden, just to name a few symptoms. My doctor is going to start getting me off it soon as he will try Nortripyline. It's true that Nardil works for a lot of people but not me. Just a terrible experience."

• Navyman
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 13, 2016

Nardil (phenelzine) "Tried so many anti depressants from 1982 to present then finally looked up Nardil and asked my provider to please please try it as i am tired of going back and forth on the Old and the new medications. Started the titrade from 25 mg daily and up to 45mg twice daily with such a relief from years of depression and anxiety after diagnosed with PTSD. Felt best at the 90mg daily but now i notice the feeling is fading and I am wondering if the new batches are No good. I speak of food for myself as i eat anything that i want and have not experienced any negative feeling. Weight gain is a real negative especially in my gut and i can seem to get rid of it."

• Annali
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 16, 2018

Nardil (phenelzine) "Took away my panic attacks, but gave me depression, severe agitation, and a racing heart. I may have been a bad candidate for this drug since I'm pretty high strung. At 45 mg, I experienced insomnia like never before-- no sleep for 5 days straight! Every time I would not off, I would get jerked wide awake. I was scared I was never going to sleep again. I don't recommend this if you are med sensitive. Withdrawals are a whole different story, way worse than any ssri or snri. Please be careful with this drug."

• Jettr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 27, 2020

Nardil (phenelzine) "I have battled PDD/MDD my entire life and things came to a severe head about 10 years ago when I had a major breakdown that lasted all this time. I was put on over 20+ different meds including every antidepressant you could think of. I did the research and convinced my doctor to try MAOI's and he put my on Nardil. It has been a few months now and the change is amazing. My wife even sees and it says I am totally a different person. The only area I am still having issues with is motivation but have a call in to the doctor to discuss. I am on a combo of Nardil with Lamictal as a mood stabilizer and I couldn't ask for more."

• Bamae...
• August 28, 2009

Nardil (phenelzine) "My psychiatrist utilized every combination you can think of and finally Nardil. While I am very careful about foods and wear a medic alert bracelet and carry an alert in my purse that NO Demerol can be given as it can cause death, I finally feel better from a deep depressive state since October 2008. My memory state however has not improved but my physical state has and I can at least get out of bed and be somewhat sociable with friends and family. I have had a very positive experience with it so far."

• Dete
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 8, 2019

Nardil (phenelzine) "I’m in tears today. I’ve been told I have to stop Nardil as they are out of stock in whole of UK for at least 3 months. I'm doing far far better far better on these. Without this stuff I’m basically in bed everyday with clinical depression sometimes for years. My care co ordinator has been ignorant as has my consultant refusing to get on the phone and telling me to cold turkey.! See me in a month. The NHS are advising if you need it it is available from My life is over."

• Anonymous
• December 30, 2008

Nardil (phenelzine) "I began taking Nardil and Ativan after my psychiatrist had tried many other antidepressants. I only became more anxious and panic-prone. Gradually my "conditioned response panic attacks" began to decrease in frequency. I began to have confidence that the medication and my own awareness of my body's response to certain situations could be controlled. I have gained weight, but I have lived a near-normal life."

• kwsilva
• April 5, 2009

Nardil (phenelzine) "I think I was depressed when I was born. Had tried many antidepressants, but none worked even half as well as Nardil. I was on Nardil for 20 years until I was forced to come off of it by a psychiatrist, and cold turkey at that. That's been almost 2 years ago and I've not been the same since."

• matth...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 17, 2021

Nardil (phenelzine) "It’s encouraging to know that some people are on this med for years and seem to be doing well, it’s also hard to believe because I had a horrendous experience. What’s your daily dose? I was started on 15mg daily and increased to 15mg 3x daily. After 9 weeks I developed psychosis, manic, hypomanic reactions and had to be hospitalized. This was considered a rare side effect but it happened to me. Have any other people become psychotic with Nardil or MAOI’s?"

• Linmeme
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 1, 2019

Nardil (phenelzine) "Suffered agoraphobia anxiety and depression but Nardil has been my life saver and I’ve done things I’d never thought I could, flying abroad etc. I had to stop almost cold turkey as couldn’t get tabs been awful!! Depressed, nausea feeling sweats heart racing. After a month managed to get tablets from pharmacy that delivers to door, 1 week on 15mg now 2nd day on 30mg NEVER take more than that. Still suffering bouts of tears, tiredness and loss of appetite. Lost 10lb since stopping. GOT TO THINK POSITIVE AS I KNOW THEY WORK!!!"

• Gigi
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 3, 2019

Nardil (phenelzine) "After hospitalization for depression and 14 months on just about everything without success, my doctor suggested we try Nardil. I’ve lived on it very well for 22 years. I recently tried a newer antidepressant on the market named Trintellix. I had awful side effects and lost 14 of my 132 lbs within an 8 week period. I couldn’t even get to the 20mg therapeutic dose due to side effects. Started to decrease dose to go back on Nardil, which required taking nothing for 2 weeks. I got suicidal and ended up in the hospital. Started Nardil 5 days ago and am already feeling better. Not where I was before I got off, but hopeful I’ll soon get my life back. I just hope it restores my appetite! I’d prefer to be on a “safer” drug but considering I lived a decent life for 22 years on Nardil vs 2 1/2 months of hell while off, I’m glad to be back on. If you’ve tried other antidepressants without success, I recommend you give it a try"

• Jim
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 30, 2020

Nardil (phenelzine) "I think Nardil is the best antidepressant. I have tried at least a dozen drugs (SSRI, SNRI, Mirtazapine, Tryciclics) Only Nardil produced a response for my depression, anxiety and panic disorder. If you have any of these mental health conditions, do yourself a favour, and get on Nardil if you really want a recovery!"

• Rach
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 29, 2023

Nardil (phenelzine) "1000x better than any SSRI or SNRI on the market. For truly treatment resistant depression characterized by melancholia and anhedonia, this medication is life changing. Side effects are tough in the beginning but ease up over time."

• Navyman
• August 6, 2016

Nardil (phenelzine) "Ptsd anxiety, Lifted after 20 years of suffering and isolation. On 90 mgs daily 9 months feel like enjoying life. Have cheated and eat as normal, Inorgasm problem eased with concurrent 05 mg cabergoline gives multiple orgasm. Weight gain in stomach very disappointing."

• annlit
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 19, 2023

Nardil (phenelzine) "Nearly 60 years ago I was given this last resort antidepressant. I had been given various RXs, hospitalized, and given electroconvulsive “treatments” by my doctor. I was not given anesthesia. Without further elaboration, Nardil was life-changing. It must not be discontinued."

• Lorra...
• April 17, 2012

Nardil (phenelzine) "I took Nardil for 21 years. It worked better than anything else, until the dose was increased from 10 to 40 mg per day. None of my physicians were able to diagnose the cause of the grotesque swelling of my legs. A friend suggested it might be the Nardil; I quit taking it and proved her right. Even in reduced doses, the swelling persisted. I now take something else."

• Flora...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 21, 2021

Nardil (phenelzine) "I have been on nardil for over 30 years. I would not be alive or want to be alive without it. I'm sad that there are people who are living in misery and think they cannot feel better. Doctors don't use it enough. I'm not saying that it is the first drug that should be tried. If several drugs are unsuccessful, nardil can be a lifesaver. I would do anything to promote this wonderful drug. Don't even get me started on the unavailability this past year! I'm sure many lives were lost. A sad shame."

• Ralf
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 20, 2019

Nardil (phenelzine) "I recently had a stomach virus for 12 hours of nausea and diarrhea. I didn't take my normal dosage of Nardil for a day. Started back on the regular dose. It has been 4 days since starting back on. I have been experiencing nightmares every night, the same dream which seems to continue from the previous night. Feelings of fatigue, irritability, and stomach upset continue."