Phenelzine for Depression User Reviews (Page 3)

• Fel...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 19, 2020

"I began taking Nardil—Phenelzine sulfate—in 1996. My doctor tried prescribing several other medications before using Nardil. The side effects of Nardil are not good, but at least I am alive and functioning. The worst aspect of the medication? You never know when the manufacturer is going to get behind making it. Once it was due to a worker strike."

• JJG...
• April 18, 2015

"Nardil worked extremely well for my bipolar depression. It made a huge difference in my life. I find it very stimulating (I can't imagine what it would be on Parnate). I always have so much energy, and I never feel depressed. However, it doesn't work as well for my anxiety."

• Anonymous
• October 14, 2008

"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."

• Con...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 10, 2020

"On Nardil for 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."

• Bip...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 8, 2015

"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 manic. I had to lower the dosage to 30 mg and, surprisingly, it seems to be working (even though it’s not considered 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."

• Lou...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 28, 2019

"Like others on this forum, had to go “cold turkey” with literally 5 tablets left when I was told they were unavailable. GP told to cut remaining tablets in half. Went from 45 mg a day to 7 mg a day. For the last 4 weeks, been on no tablets. I am sleeping very well. My mood is okay. Finding it hard sometimes to motivate myself to do stuff at home but still working. The worst thing is the nausea! My real concern is that my mood has not dropped significantly. Does this mean that having taken this drug for 17 years that the chemicals are still in my body long after the recommended “washout” period? Haven’t eaten any banned foods. Bit scared to try. Would really appreciate any advice from anyone who has come off Nardil after years of taking it. Or any pharmacists who can help."

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

"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."

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

"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."

• Nav...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 13, 2016

"Tried so many antidepressants 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 titrate from 25 mg daily and up to 45 mg twice daily, with such relief from years of depression and anxiety after being diagnosed with PTSD. Felt best at the 90 mg 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’t seem to get rid of it."

• Anonymous
• December 30, 2008

"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."

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

"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 caused terrible adverse effects that have 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 Nortriptyline. It's true that Nardil works for a lot of people, but not me. Just a terrible experience."

• Gau...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 24, 2017

"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 75 mg 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 thousand drug interactions, not to mention the food issues."

• Bam...
• August 28, 2009

"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."

• joh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 26, 2024

"I tried so many medications and met with so many psych doctors, and nothing has worked like Nardil has. It makes you feel so much lighter if you are depressed. I used to get such bad anxiety, I would shake and could not focus in class. Please try Nardil if nothing else feels like it is working."

• Nav...
• August 6, 2016

"PTSD anxiety, lifted after 20 years of suffering and isolation. On 90 mg daily for 9 months, feel like enjoying life. Have cheated and eat as normal, orgasm problem eased with concurrent 0.5 mg cabergoline gives multiple orgasms. Weight gain in stomach very disappointing."

• kws...
• April 5, 2009

"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."

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

"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 MAOIs, and he put me on Nardil. It has been a few months now, and the change is amazing. My wife even sees it and says I am totally a different person. The only area I am still having issues with is motivation, but I 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."

• Det...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 8, 2019

"I’m in tears today. I’ve been told I have to stop Nardil as they are out of stock in the whole of the UK for at least 3 months. I'm doing far, far better on these. Without this stuff, I’m basically in bed every day with clinical depression, sometimes for years. My care coordinator 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 is advising if you need it, it is available from my life is over."

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

"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 15 mg daily and increased to 15 mg 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 MAOIs?"

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

"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."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 16, 2018

"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 nod 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."

• Gig...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 3, 2019

"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 20 mg therapeutic dose due to side effects. Started to decrease the 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."

• Lin...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 1, 2019

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

• Bet...
• July 8, 2021

"Many years ago, I was given Nardil because other antidepressants were not working. Shortly after starting low-dose Nardil, I was so much better. I told my doctor I could hear the birds singing and was aware of many things in my surroundings that I usually don’t notice. This drug gave me the ability to work, lose weight, and handle relationship issues. I was extremely careful with diet restrictions and only had one episode of high blood pressure after accidentally eating a small piece of kielbasa. I was on the medication for two years but had to stop when I became pregnant. Currently, I take an SSRI. My current physician will not prescribe Nardil now. I am older with a few medical issues. I wish there was a drug like this without the restrictions and concern over high blood pressure. If anyone is reading this and needs medication that will help because SSRIs don’t, ask your physician about Nardil or other MAO inhibitors. An amazing medication!"

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

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