Tranylcypromine for Depression User Reviews (Page 2)

• usern...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 31, 2016

Parnate (tranylcypromine) "I have tried many medications for major depressive disorder, SSRIs, TCAs, as well as cognitive behavioral therapy. All of which helped to some degree, but I was never quite functioning as well as I would have hoped. Depression was ruining my life and I was becoming very discouraged and disappointed because I had tried so many medications and other treatments, suicide was a thought I had every hour of every day. Now, every single day I am thankful I found Parnate. I get a little dizziness, some dry mouth, and some loud heartbeats, but that is an insignificant cost to pay to have the will to live back once again. If you are struggling with depression after trying many treatments, please ask your doctor about an MAOI. Best of luck!"

• Zeusko
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 6, 2023

Parnate (tranylcypromine) "I live in Croatia, EU. Like most others, I had to go through a whole spectrum of drugs, about 20, before being offered an MAOI. My psychiatrist no longer knew what to do with me because I had atypical treatment-resistant depression, social anxiety (I didn't leave the house almost anywhere for 2 years). I was afraid of people, and I had no will, desire, or motivation to do anything but sleep. I have also been diagnosed with GAD, ADD, fibromyalgia, and worst of all, anhedonia. Anhedonia is a state when nothing makes you happy, you have no motivation, no desire to socialize, no energy, and the only thing you feel is anger. You start abusing various drugs. These drugs were mostly stimulants. Adderall, Modafinil, Dexedrine (he was the best for me). Then I realized that the hormone of happiness is not serotonin, but dopamine, and that the MAO inhibitor is what I need. I am now on 60 mg of Parnate, Xanax, 225 mg of Lyrica, and rotate between Modafinil and Dexedrine. Thanks to God, I feel 80% better."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 30, 2023

Parnate (tranylcypromine) "Parnate saved my life. When nothing else would work, Parnate pulled me out of a deep abyss. I have been taking it for 33 years (I am now 61). My dose, 100 mg/day (all taken when I get up in the morning), is 40 mg above the PDR range of 10-60 mg/day, but some people respond to a mega dose. In 2001, I went off Parnate to try to find a safer drug (you must be cautious about diet and other medications--both prescription and over the counter) and returned to the abyss. This is when I was placed on the higher dose (and also needed to add Invega to make the Parnate (generic tranylcypramine) work. Also, since I started taking Parnate, I have suffered insomnia. I now also take Ambien, trazodone, and gabapentin to partially remediate this problem. Despite the side effects and food and medication contraindications (I have had two hypertensive crises), I feel nothing but gratitude for this life-saving drug and for the doctor who introduced me to it many years ago."

• retlaw
• January 17, 2010

Parnate (tranylcypromine) "I give it a 10 and I would give SSRI's and SNRI's only a 5. It's our first experience with MAOI's and its still early days. But what a difference with fatique (none). Other side effects in our case are minimal or non existent. I wonder what % of people actually notice severe side effects (maybe less then 20%?). It appears that MAOI's are well known these days. I presume it's because they are old generic drugs (not covered by active patents) and hence will not get high advertising budgets from the pharmaceutical companies. I also presume that many GP's have no knowledge of this class of drugs or these are too risky, adverse (side effects) to recommend a trial. It took us at least 7 years of battling depression and fatigue before we found out!"

• Jmac
• January 23, 2017

Parnate (tranylcypromine) "Most stable I've been in years, seem to be more in the moment, a bit more confident with people, less nervous, no feelings of depression, don't really worry so much about anything. I'm getting positive feedback from people. Not full of energy but I'm wondering whether the emotional stability I now have will facilitate my projects, I'm more consistent, perhaps likely to get waylaid by instability. It would seem that it'd be a silly idea to go off parnate. The food restrictions are irrelevant for me, why would anybody who values their body and life eat pizza and cured meats ? I'm feeling stronger, more clear about life - and how short it is. I take 40mg per day"

• Henne...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 5, 2017

Parnate (tranylcypromine) "This is one of the few drugs that actually work for me. If you're attentive it's unlikely you'll run into trouble. If it improves life, it's worth it. We get into 2-ton things of steel and drive them around on the freeway super fast every day. Much riskier than taking parnate. I got off for a while and friends and family all insisted I stop trying new meds and remain on parnate for good. No side effects. Easy to quit for a minute when dental work and surgeries come up. Some times it feels like the market buries the best meds for some reason. Weird."

• Anonymous
• August 6, 2009

Parnate (tranylcypromine) "I have had Parnate prescribed since 1987, when I was 35. After many years feeling like a an "anti-depressant guinea pig", I finally had clarity and with my psychiatrist's recommendation was able to manage my life while professionally succeeding. I don't miss the foods I can't eat, but value the relationships I've been able to maintain."

• Jim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 28, 2016

Parnate (tranylcypromine) "After trying many more modern anti-depressants which I found uncongenial due to primary, or side-effects, I tried Parnate. From the initial dose I felt a lift in my mental state, & although I have had to increase the dosage to maintain this improvement, it is ceratainly worth the diatary restriction hassles. The only bugbear is difficulty in getting to sleep, & having to take sleeping medication to cope, with the unwanted effects that come with using them. Overall though, the Parnate has been most useful."

• Anonymous
• September 19, 2009

Parnate (tranylcypromine) "After 15 years of SSRIs and SNRI's, I was told to consider shock therapy or Parnate. Parnate is a miracle drug as far as I am concerned. At 47, I seem to have the energy that I had in my 20s and 30s. I am taking Ambien to deal with the side effect of insomnia and its working great. For once I seem to be able to synchronize up with the rest of the world. The special diet required has not been a problem so far. I seem to have a problem with almonds, but cheese pizza (non-aged cheese only!) is still okay."

• Pds
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 11, 2024

Parnate (tranylcypromine) "With severe depression and suicidal thoughts since I was 17, at 49, it has been a rough ride. I've tried all kinds of meds. Some worked a tiny bit (i.e., just wanting to be dead rather than actively trying to kill myself), but all had unmanageable side effects. 4-5 years ago, I took the genetic test that tells you what medications 'will' and won't work for your body (no guarantee how well it works or side effect strength). Years later, I've gone through the list one by one. I tried the new, fancy drugs first, but all were short-lived or impossible to live with. Parnate was second to last on the list, and all doctors and pharmacists said not to bother since it was 'ancient,' but less than 6 months later, it is BY FAR the best thing I've taken. I feel 'normal' for once in my life. Sleep can be weird, but 1 modafinil cancels any slight tiredness. I've done more with my life in the last 6 months than I have in the last 6 years. Old meds work, or they'd be gone."

• Jano
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 28, 2020

Parnate (tranylcypromine) "I have been on countless drugs over the past 12 years and after attempting suicide in February and then being hospitalized for 5 weeks and then another 4 weeks recently my psychiatrist started me on Parnate a week ago. I am in awe of the change in my mood. I've been discharged from hospital and have no thoughts of suicide or self harm. I am hoping with everything in me that this is going to be the change I need."

• Lurch
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 12, 2019

Parnate (tranylcypromine) "Finally found a psychiatrist that would prescribe an MAOI, An 87 year old doctor in town. By far, the best antidepressant with the fewest troubling side effects I’ve ever used. Be careful with hypotension at first. Start slow! Also, can buy the Brand name drug from Canada for 50% less."

• Pranc...
• May 24, 2015

Parnate (tranylcypromine) "MAOIs surpass all other groups of contemporary antidepressants in my biased opinion. Unlike other medications , parnate enriched me with clarity and motivation, and just simply made me feel better. You adjust to the effects over time but it still makes me functional where I was once disabled. I owe this venerable chemical my gratitude, despite the one horrific yet transient reaction I've encountered on it."

• emg
• September 12, 2016

Parnate (tranylcypromine) "Have been on parnate for over 20 years, use with Trazadone, and I take 40 mg parnate, divided does and 250mg trazadone at HS. I had ect treatments 20 years ago, but had battled major depression since high school. I do believe the parnat has kept me on even keel for many years. I have found with the list of everything else you can not take with it Nutrasweet threw me into a hypertensive crisis..so heads up with that. Other wise, have never had any side effects with parnate"

• dano
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 25, 2018

Parnate (tranylcypromine) "I have kind of atypical depression This drug is the ONLY true antidepressant in the market , I have tried nearly most of ADs even the Nardil didn't work for me. Parnate works fast and and keep working as long you take it on the right dose and time , I can just stop and back on this drug smoothly without side effects ( maybe just some sleepiness after taking the pills ) it may change your life . The only bad thing about parnate that its expensive ( 2 bottles) . Food interactions are joke for me , I can eat whatever without problem, but everyone is different so follow your doctors instructions ."

• sandy...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 7, 2023

Parnate (tranylcypromine) "It SAVED MY LIFE! Other medications made me suicidal... I feel doctors should be held accountable for prescribing all the other JUNK meds that made chronic depression worse to the point you can only think about suicide. PARNATE saved my life!... demand it!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 4, 2014

Parnate (tranylcypromine) "Parnate is a great medicine. It will mess with your sleep cycle and cause severe insomnia but other than that it's great. It improves mood, lowers anxiety (not perfectly but enough), improves sex drive, it gives you energy and in my case I welcomed slight weight loss. I've taken up to 40mg day. It's very important to take Parnate either in the morning or at 2pm. If taken in morning may cause drowsiness at ~2pm. TAKE FOOD WARNINGS SERIOUSLY. If I eat the wrong food my blood pressure definitely increases."

• Tandava
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 23, 2018

Parnate (tranylcypromine) "This medicine must be made available in countries like India. Here they just don't manufacture or import it because doctors don't even consider prescribing it due to their bias against it ( created by mass propaganda by companies marketing useless SSRIs, and anti-psychotics ( read depression inducers)) . I have to import it from Canada has closed down and I shudder at the thought of this medicine being unavailable altogether in future."

• Robli...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 23, 2019

Parnate (tranylcypromine) "This drug has been a miracle for me. Over the last 40 years I've been on virtually every antidepressant. Nothing lasted more than a few weeks. I even went as far as having ECT, with terrible results. 30mg of Parnate has kept me from thinking suicidal thoughts and made life bearable again. The main side effect for me is the dietary restrictions. Unlike most of the people that have posted their experiences here, I have a very strong reaction to tyramine containing foods. Four slices of bacon raised my BP to 222/110. Eating one day old leftover bbq resulted in a trip to the ER. I keep Hydralazine around for emergencies now. I know if I eat the wrong thing because I get a throbbing headache within minutes. Now I am much more careful about the food that I eat. Only fresh foods and no aged cheese or meats for me now."

• Debbic
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 30, 2019

Parnate (tranylcypromine) "I took Effexor for a long time. It was a miracle drug, until it stopped working and I was more depressed than I had ever been before. The psychiatrist I went to see put me on Parnate. It is a relief from the depression. It does work and like other people I have not had a problem with food. My blood pressure was low after taking Parnate so I tried some foods - cheese in particular and I have had no problem with the diet the problem is insomnia. I rarely get more than two or three hours sleep and that affects everything in my life. Even though I don’t sleep some days I have lots of energy; other days I am temperamental because of the lack of sleep. I hope I can find a psychiatrist soon who will prescribe something so I can sleep. The county I just moved to has one psychiatrist that accepts Medicare but is not taking new patients. I get a 3 month prescription which is equivalent to half the price of one month - but it has gone up every time I refill."

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

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

• Emmett
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 10, 2019

Parnate (tranylcypromine) "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."

• mohonk
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 22, 2014

Parnate (tranylcypromine) "Only antidepressant to quell my panic attacks and lessen my emotional reactivity. Only downside is ruined sleep and constant vigilance to prohibited foods and medicines. Also developed a bad sweet tooth. But you will definitely feel much better"

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

Parnate (tranylcypromine) "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."

• Ace
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 24, 2018

Parnate (tranylcypromine) "Parnate was a miracle for me. I’d tried a few SSRI’s And experienced some torturous side effects, plus having to wait 6 weeks every time to see if they worked...3 days on 10 mg of parnate and I felt alive again. My body buzzed and for about a day I felt ecstatic. The dietary restrictions aren’t a problem since I’m vegan, just have to curtail the avocado lust. I did recently discover that the tablets contain gelatine however, so now I’m looking for another MAOI. It’s not the solution to all my problems, and I still need exercise, healthy eating, journaling and time in nature to avoid feeling down/anxious, but it certainly has helped more than any of the other stuff for my mood and depression. It’s a little tricky to get it prescribed in Australia, shrinks are overly cautious about the potential interactions."