Phenelzine for Depression User Reviews (Page 4)

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

Phenelzine "I took Nardil for 4 years. It changed my personality drastically. I went from depressed and withdrawn to hypomanic (which is like halfway to fully manic).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. I 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 that 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 had never taken any of those drugs."

• Cat...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 11, 2023

"My psychiatrist ruined many years of my life by not prescribing me Nardil after every single antidepressant didn't work. I suffered for so long. She even made me have ECT treatments, which was terrifying and didn't work, before even mentioning Nardil. Once my psychiatrist finally put me on Nardil, my life completely changed. I was even able to deal with the unexpected death of my husband and other major things in my life. I dropped my psychiatrist I was seeing because of how horrible and rude she was. Now my primary care doctor is too scared to prescribe my Nardil and wants me to see another psychiatrist to get my script. I don't want to deal with any of them anymore. Psychiatrists and therapists ruined so many years of my life and I'm terrified to even speak to them. Nardil saved me. I currently take 15mg in the morning and evening with no side effects."

• Lin...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 3, 2023

Phenelzine "I’ve been taking Nardil for over 30 years for depression, anxiety, and agoraphobia. They gave me my life back. A few times, tabs were unavailable, and symptoms returned. It takes several weeks to get into your system, and coming off them can make you feel very nauseous and generally unwell. However, it’s worth it! I do check what I eat and drink, but some things you can have just in low amounts. I don’t drink any form of alcohol or drink with phenylalanine."

• Nar...
• January 4, 2022

Phenelzine "Nardil is life-changing. After trying about a dozen antidepressants in other med classes, as well as ECT, a new psychiatrist prescribed Nardil. I felt not just normal but happy in about a month. For several months, I was sleeping well and waking up early (7) and was working out, eating well, had good hygiene, was reading, etc. However, eventually, I had incurable insomnia. For someone with bipolar, this is a major problem. We are trying another MAOI (EMSAM) instead. I am so disappointed I couldn’t stay on Nardil as it really managed my depression very well. (Heads up if you try to wean yourself off Nardil, the withdrawals are unbearable.)"

• Bub...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 30, 2016

Phenelzine "After trying every other kind of antidepressant over the past 9 or so years, Nardil was my first try at an MAOI. The dietary restrictions were less difficult to get used to and less strict than they appeared at first. I was on 30 mg of Nardil a day and didn't notice any effect, but after increasing to 45 mg/day, I felt the best I've felt in years, and it seemed that my depression might be cured at last. ...however, I also had the most side effects I've ever had from a medication: constipation, difficulty urinating, insomnia, and inability to reach an orgasm. Because of the bladder issues and insomnia, I've been forced to resume my search."

• Lor...
• April 17, 2012

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."

• Mel...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 8, 2021

Phenelzine "After trying many others, an enlightened doctor prescribed Nardil, and it was a life saver. I was able to lead a relatively normal life! The food restrictions are not as extreme as advised, in my opinion. Recently, supplies were cut on the NHS, but I had to import my supplies. Despite the NHS warning doctors many months ago, I was not contacted. Recently, supplies have been easier to source, but I always dread that visit to the chemists."

• Sun...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 11, 2022

Phenelzine "I think of Nardil as my happy pills. I’m treatment resistant, and even ECT didn’t help my depression. On Nardil, it is GONE, no relapse ever. There are bad side effects: BAD insomnia, sexual dysfunction, interactions with lots of meds, blood pressure crisis, and impossible withdrawal effects if you miss a dose or try to wean off for some reason. It is also sometimes out of stock. All that being said, it’s still worth it. I can’t function without it. I WISH I could find ANYTHING to help me sleep."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 11, 2012

Phenelzine "I took Nardil from '88 to '98, and it worked well. Then I was switched to Paxil, which had a lot of side effects (weight gain, sexual issues, tiredness, sense of not really being there). Paxil was probably better for OCD, but I came off it (had shocking withdrawal symptoms)."

• Ral...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 20, 2019

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."

• Jam...
• June 5, 2020

"I live in the UK. I was put on Nardil in the 1980s when I was 25. I was suffering from bad phobias and anxiety attacks. Adrenaline was running riot, and I lost weight, had a red face and nose, and was close to not leaving my house. They saved my life, and I have been on them for nearly 35 years. I have tried a couple of times to come off them but felt awful. I am fortunate my doctors get me unlicensed import supplies, but they do cost a fortune, the pharmacy showed me the prices. I have to wait a long time for each prescription as Clinigen charges around £40 per 60 tabs for the unbranded phenelzine but are out of stock, and the Nardil branded ones are around £220 per 60 tabs! The UK supplier to NHS charged around £20 per 100 tablets. All about money, and my pharmacist asked if I could try and come off them, the biggest fear is that they are stopped from being produced. If so, I don't think I will have a life to live, it's so scary."

• Sch...
• March 18, 2020

Phenelzine "Re: Nardil. The manufacturer, Kyowa Kirin, emailed me today to confirm there is no guarantee the drug will become available. Please note to all NHS patients: DO NOT be fobbed off by your GP saying he cannot get involved with funding the difference between the cost of Nardil and phenelzine sulfate import as a special case. My GP did this to me! So this is what I did: I called my CCG press office and put the fear of God in the staff! I emailed a strong, urgent letter to be forwarded to the head of complaints, stating that this matter cannot wait 28 days for a formal response. I explained that my NHS GP issued a script for Nardil, and when I took the script to the pharmacy, I was told, “We are running a business, not a bank!” They asked me to pay £99 plus postage for 60 tablets."

• Chi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 26, 2016

Phenelzine "I am currently taking 15 mg three times per day (total of 45 mg). The first month was the worst. The main side effect that I had was body aches and muscle stiffness that never lessened. Once a month passed, the body aches went away and I noticed a faint constant headache. After about a week, that went away too. The only side effect I notice now (after 2 months on Nardil) is a pounding headache lasting 10 seconds, lightheadedness when I get up to stand from lying down, and swelling. I give it 4/10 because it has made my suicidal thoughts disappear, and I am less teary and emotional. It has not helped my overall mood or general sense of well-being. I find the dietary restrictions hard to follow."

• Cha...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 18, 2021

Phenelzine "Pfizer wants to stop this drug. They make peanuts from the sale of Nardil. In 2002, they changed the inactive ingredients from the original 15 to a garbage 8. This was so the pill would not be too effective. Google old Nardil pill. Shiny, very, very hard pill a bulldozer couldn't crush. Active ingredient phenelzine needs a slow, slow absorption rate. Research it at fda.drugs. Complain loudly to the MedWatch form. Good luck!"

• Che...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 5, 2020

"I’ve been taking Nardil for 14 years. It is the only medication that helped me. I was hospitalized and given ECT, but nothing worked but Nardil. Like many others, I am worried about the shortage of Nardil. I live in the USA. Has anyone been able to transition to another MAOI?"

• lap...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 2, 2024

"An excellent medication. Wiped out all signs of my depression, and greatly helped my OCD/anxiety. Quite a few side effects at the start of treatment, but all eased over time. I need a minimum dose of 60mg daily."

• Old...
• September 28, 2016

Phenelzine "I've struggled with depression and social anxiety all my life and have recently been treated with a variety of different antidepressants. I think I am depressed because of a narcissistic mother who seemed to be unable to love unconditionally. While Nardil might well help others, I don't feel it has helped me, and the effect on sexual activity is depressing in itself. I am currently seeing a psychotherapist, and while it is very hard to deal with the issues that come up, I think it might be my salvation. I do hope so."

• Cha...
• April 4, 2021

Phenelzine "The reason Lupin Nardil works and Greenstone doesn't is because the inactive ingredient polyvinyl alcohol wraps the Nardil pill like a Tide detergent pod pill. This is for better absorption. Greenstone doesn't have this. Trust me, Pfizer created a formula Nardil failure on Nardil! Hard to believe, but it is true."

• End...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 28, 2022

Phenelzine "I was very hopeful, given all the stuff I read online (all over the web) about the life-changing workings of this drug for so many folks out there. Pretty bummed that that’s not the case for me. Was on it for almost 3 months — nothing. The good part about Nardil (for me) was that I didn’t experience any negative side effects. I wish I could somehow just give this med a neutral review, but that’s not how the rating system on this site works. Hence my 6/10 rating — not good, not bad & +1 star for the lack of crap side effects. Happy for all of you that have found, in Nardil, your medicine of choice!"

• Flo...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 1, 2020

"I have been on Nardil for over 30 years. It gave me a life after being sick for over 7 years in my 20s. I had no quality of life with my depression and anxiety. I was homebound and not able to function. The thought of not being able to obtain them terrifies me. Life would almost be too hard without it - I'm not exaggerating when I say that. I can't go back to that dark place again."

• Lin...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 5, 2019

Phenelzine "Been back on Nardil for 6 weeks, got it from Wells Pharmacy. Still anxious, though, these tablets are not as dark. Wonder if the ingredients are slightly different. Been put on 80 mg Bedranol to ease palpitations, which they have."

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

Phenelzine "The first doctor I saw was pro-Prozac, and it did not work. Found another doctor, and he put me on Nardil. I did not like it at all. I gained about 50 pounds while in the hospital and another 60 when I got out. I went to him about the weight gain early on, and he did not seem concerned. I have never been overweight. It caused a major craving for sweets and really slowed my metabolism, even though I was working out. I guess that I am one of the rare ones that it didn't help. I'm glad that you all found success."

• Mis...
• March 14, 2021

Phenelzine "I have been on Nardil for 41 years. I have tried other meds to no avail. It’s a wonderful medication for anxiety, depression, and social anxiety. I retired from a teaching career, which I have never been able to complete without this medication. It’s a life saver. It has been out of supply in Canada since March 2020 and again in January 2021. Luckily, I have been able to get Nardil from Washington State as I live near the US border in Vancouver. There is a supply of Nardil in the US. ERFA and Canada Health have not done enough for people who need this medication."

• And...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 11, 2025

Phenelzine "Find a doctor open to Nardil. After my Nardil pooped out after 10 years, I tried almost 10 different medications with no effect on alleviating my five-year excruciatingly painful and suicidal depression. I tried ECT, ketamine, acupuncture, and a clinical trial of magnetic therapy. I went back on Nardil, and after two weeks, the depression had lifted. I made people laugh again. Find a doctor open to Nardil."

• Cha...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 5, 2021

Phenelzine "I was prescribed Nardil from 1979 until 2003 for panic disorder and agoraphobia. Bang, it stopped working: lo and behold, Pfizer changed the inactive ingredients from the previous owner of Nardil, Warner-Lambert. Pfizer went from 15 inactive ingredients to only 8. I won't go into detail, but I'm annoyed they changed it. (September 2, 2003) and never looked back. Please look at a website pre-2003 Nardil petition. Thx."