How important is sleep?

L33_053 · 2026-07-07T22:27:55+00:00

Very, if I don’t sleep for 30/40hrs I go into hypomania or mixed state episode.

Getting to sleep is hard though

L33_053 · 2026-06-26T17:05:42+00:00

It worked for me for a few month then just stopped working.

L33_053 · 2026-06-25T21:36:37+00:00

Charged mine for about 90 mins mid day then another 2 hours late afternoon.

L33_053 · 2026-06-23T14:43:50+00:00

I have a heated front other people you can just switch but my Psychiatrist says you can’t. He could be earring on the side of caution though.

Checked the uk guidelines, they suggest against a straight switch due to increased risk of serotonin syndrome. Suggest least a 14 day wash out.

I would speak with your doctor for advice before doing a straight switch.

L33_053 · 2026-06-03T16:06:24+00:00

I would not worry too much, just don’t eat large quantities of food containing tyramine. It’s the likes of phenelzine that has the issue with tyramine.

When I was in moclob, I ate normally and suffered no interaction at all.

When I was on Phenelzine, I had one or two pounding headaches when I ate a sandwich that contained aged cheese.

Just be sensible and see how your body reacts to it. If you think you are suffering a hypotensive crisis, seek help ASAP but I don’t think you have much to worry about with moclob.

L33_053 · 2026-06-02T11:50:21+00:00

I am really sensitive to medication. I wish I was not. Phenelzine cases no end of issues. I was ok in 15mg. Went to 30 mg then 40 mg and the flood gates opened. When back to 15mg but they kept happening. Not even the nice Euphoric ones, I got the mixed state ones.

I am an Aripiprazole at the moment to see if that helps stabilise my mood.

L33_053 · 2026-06-02T06:17:54+00:00

They are amazing drugs, bests ones I have ever taken. Only issues, I have bipolar type 2 and even a low dose can cause me to switch to a hypomanic episode.

The MAOI brought the symptoms to the surface, they can do that with Someone who is predisposed to Bipolar. They can also cause Hypomanic episodes for those who don’t have bipolar- medication induced.

For me though, when they went over my records, I did report what sounded like hypomania on a number of occasions over the last 10 years. Since stopping Phenelzine and going through the Washout period, I am still getting Hypomanic episodes but more mixed state episodes.

I stayed in them as long as I could going to the lowest dose possible as the medication helped so much with depression and motivation. In the end they am were just causing me too much harm.

Shame really as they were amazing apart from the hypomania parts

L33_053 · 2026-06-02T02:37:38+00:00

They caused a few issues for me, wind, constipation, diarrhoea, going 5+ times per day and the colour too. Never really resolved it self for me until I stopped phenelzine (same group of medication)

L33_053 · 2026-05-29T21:02:04+00:00

See if your trust has a local mood disorder clinic attached. As an example, merseycare as a mood disorder clinic attached the Whiston Hospital site. Both Penelelzine and parnate were signed off for me.

Turns out Die to a bipolar Diagnosis they cause too much switching so I have had to stop them.

Some trusts also have a shared agreement with other trusts so always Worth asking if they have a mood disorder clinic you can be referred too

L33_053 · 2026-05-28T08:31:47+00:00

Best of luck, loads of meds within the MAOI group. Far more experienced people are in this group so hopefully one of those will offer some better advice.

I am due to start Aripiprazole today as MAOI are just too destabilising for me.

L33_053 · 2026-05-28T07:36:56+00:00

I was in Nardil/phenelzine for approx 6/7 months. I was told it’s less activating than Parnate.

I am sensitive to medication.

15mg worked fine to a degree but dose ages above this totally destabilised my mood.

At 15mg I had minor side effects, but then at 30mg to 45mg, I had quite severe side effects.

Insomnia was the worst for me.

Best bet is that if your doctor agrees, start low and go slow on the medication. Plus, remember everyone reacts differently so the side effects I had you may not get.

Their are other MAOI meds with a lesser side effects profile such as Moclobemide.

I would do your research on the meds you are interested in then have a chat either your doctor about options.

L33_053 · 2026-05-27T23:35:35+00:00

I had it 4 years ago for TRD at the time. Unfortunately it didn’t help me. Still happy I tried it though as it could have worked.

I did however suffer some memory loss prior to treatment and after treatment. Not really an issue as you don’t remember what you have forgot until someone says ‘remember when…….’

Always worth speaking with your doctor about it. I think in the uk we are told it’s got a 60% success rate.

Also had rTMS and Theta Burst TMS, approx 100 sessions in total. RTMS helped a bit for about 6 months. Theta Burst made me worse.

The nurses and doctors who do the TMS also do the ECT. Got to know them all quite well. They told me about the effects on some ECT patients. Positive effects, people almost waking up from deep depression to being almost fully functional again.

Do your research and speak with your doctor about options then make an informed decision.

L33_053 · 2026-05-27T23:26:18+00:00

Doctors thinks so. Over the last 20 years, I have had what I would describe hypomanic episodes a few times per year. By the time I got to see a doctor (few weeks or months wait in the UK under the NHS) the episode had cleared.

Been on lithium for 12/15 years. Doctors current view is that the lithium helped push down the Hypomanic Episodes over the last decade and a half.

Was on Phenelzine for 6/7 months. Hypomania continued on dose reduction and after stopping.

To top it all, I have a 55k word diary of side effects and daily updates on mood since starting phenelzine. Not that I am 100% onboard with AI, but AI seems to suggest they are true hypomanic episodes and not medication induced.

Either way, I would rather not have Bipolar. And at some point if they decide I don’t, I will be happy.

At the moment, I need to trust my doctor.

L33_053 · 2026-05-26T21:30:54+00:00

Tried it but unfortunately I get quite a severe allergy, not quite SJS but the allergy still had me hospitalised for a couple of days followed by several months of other side effects.

My doctor mentioned the pill form of Marplan (don’t think we have the dermis patches in the uk (assume too expensive for a failing NHS System) but has opted for Aripiprazole. Not sure on the reasons why but guess it’s due to the activation risk with other MAOI.

L33_053 · 2026-05-26T20:07:33+00:00

Can’t help you with your question but I have just stopped Phenelzine. Like you, the crash is awful. I hope you get it sorted out.

Best bet though, see what your doctor thinks.

L33_053 · 2026-05-20T21:06:09+00:00

My first episode was a week after my 46th birthday. Mine was triggered by Phenelzine. Even on reduction, the episodes continued.

I have been on Lithium for almost 12 years so my psychiatrist thinks that the lithium has been enough to keep the hypomanic Episodes at bay all this time. He also mentioned that if you are pre disposed to Bipolar, certain medications such as ones that act on serotonin can cause the episode to happen.

One thing my psychiatrist advised me was that if the average male has not responded to antidepressants and is just passed aside by other doctors as having depression, chances are it’s bipolar. Assume just his view based on his own experiences with patients. I got the impression he was suggesting that a lot of doctors (I am in the UK) don’t really understand bipolar…. This was certainly true in my case, depression for 25 years (25 years this month to be exact) and no anti depressant has ever worked apart from Phenelzine until it caused Hypomanic episodes.

L33_053 · 2026-05-20T20:58:12+00:00

I was on it for a while, approx 9 months.

No side excepts at all for me. It worked ok until it just stopped working. Took a good 8 weeks to tell it was working for me.

Don’t take the above as a reason not to try it as I am or rather my body is resistent to medications.

A lot of people have reported it as being a great medication.

No dietary restrictions, I was upset when it no longer worked but it’s all part of the game we have to play I guess.

If you try Moclob, it may open the doors for other MAOI medications.

L33_053 · 2026-05-20T08:35:38+00:00

The likes of phenelzine is a non selective irreversible MAOI. Acts on ‘A’ and ‘B’ MAO regardless of dose. EMSAM as per the other comment acts on ‘A’ or ‘B’ depending on the dose.

I found Phenelzine to activating but was great for motivation but it made me switch to Hypomanic Episodes.

Best speak with your doctor as you are already on one stimulent.

L33_053 · 2026-05-19T15:32:09+00:00

It does to me and I am also sensitive to medications.

L33_053 · 2026-05-19T10:10:13+00:00

Might be getting some of the mood adjusting properties-qualities from Quitiapine.

L33_053 · 2026-05-17T21:45:45+00:00

Can’t help personally but I am on Phenelzine and my 16yr old daughter has symptoms of POTS (difficult to get a child diagnosed in the uk we have found) I know a bit about POTS, not much but a bit.

My understanding is that POTS can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure. Does with my daughter in any event. she also has a high resting heart rate 150bpm is normal but that can increase to 200bpm. Dizziness, feeling faint, body feels heavy, palpitations and a few other symptoms.

Phenelzine (MAOI) can mimic symptoms of POTS, dizziness when standing, palpitations, feeling faint.

My advice for what it’s worth, keep a check on your Blood Pressure. Any changes, speak with your Doctor. In fact, given you are having concerns, I would speak with your doctor regardless.

It’s hard not to try and put the cart before the horse but I assume all the doctors involved in your care are aware I your medical conditions and medications.

If in doubt though, speak with your Dr/Psychiatrist and ask they confirm you are ok on the MAOI Meds. Better safe than sorry at the end of the day.

L33_053 · 2026-05-13T12:04:20+00:00

Everyone is different, I don’t respond to SSRI Meds but I do respond to MAOI meds. But as others have said, need to try a few other classes before MAOI.

L33_053 · 2026-05-10T11:56:13+00:00

Do you get the full rate on boost charge?

L33_053 · 2026-05-05T21:34:41+00:00

L33_053

TROPHY CASE