Comparing Abilify vs Nardil

For Bipolar Disorder: I am a 24 year old male with Bipolar II. Depression is what I struggle with 98% of the time. I have been taking this med Abilify for about a month now, so long enough. I switched to this from Zyprexa, and that switch was rough. My anxiety came back worse than before on this med and the restlessness was too much for me. I took 5mg and I would get an hour or two of sleep per day and not be able to sit still during the day. I will say that it cured my depression completely, so for that I am grateful. As far as my anxiety, sleep, and overall mood it has not improved. Moving up in dosage caused more restlessness and moving down to 2.5mg or less made me tired and didn't do much for my mood. This med didn't work for me but its not the worst med, give it a shot. I'm switching to Latuda, wish me luck.

For Bipolar Disorder: Worked well for 2 years but has been less effective lately.

For Depression: I've been on Nardil for 30 years after trying a bunch of other non-MAOI meds. It has been the ONLY anti-depressant that has worked for me! For reasons too long to explain, I had to go off Nardil about 10 years ago, and I became SO sick! I had nausea 24/7 for almost 6 months and obviously, was getting more and more depressed! We thought I would start to feel better after some time until finally, I couldn't take it any longer. Within the first 24 hrs of going back on Nardil, I started to feel physically better. A year or two later I tried to go off Nardil again. During a 6 month period, I was only able to wean off 1 of 3 pills, but I was sick the entire time! The moment I take even a half a pill, I'm not sick! Unfortunately, I am physically not able to go off Nardil even if I wanted to! I just hope that I won't ever HAVE to go off Nardil for health reasons because I will just be sick and depressed! Has anyone else experienced that or similar reaction to going off Nardil?

For Depression: Hello, On 29 July 2020 I was called by a sympathetic and capable mental health pharmacist for the UK NHS. She said the NHS has been *officially told* that Nardil will be discontinued “in the near future”. The NHS must safely transfer all UK patients to other treatments in the months ahead. We both acknowledged that MAOIs are often a last-resort—I'd trialled some 6–8 medications before Nardil, over ten years. The clinician was obliged to ask which of those failed meds had shown the most positives for me, or fewest side-effects. After feeling steady on Nardil for 10 years, I don't recall which earlier meds were least worst(!). But it’s discouraging. I asked about Parnate, but it seems unavailable to UK prescribers. I don’t have the whole story. Do ask your doctor or pharmacist very soon. And remember it’s unwise to change medicines or cease Nardil abruptly. Thank you and best wishes!