15 replies to this topic

[magniloquentc0unt]

Hi everyone,
im thinking about starting a course of moclobemide and am worried of the eventual side effects it might carry
I am aware that monoamine oxidase is a different thing that reuptake inhibition, but still, i wonder if moclobemide (and MAOI in general)
carry the side effects usually occuring from SSRI therapy: i am talking of emotional blunting, apathy, eternal contentness.
I see these as sort of secondary cognitive side effects. I am aware that SSRI improve concentration and memory, prozac did that to me, but the lack of judgment
due to an impaired emotional feedback is a downside.

does anyone have anything to report? thanks alot

[penisbreath]

Moclobemide was the first anti-depressant I tried. I can't recall the exact dose I was on -- it was on the lower end of the spectrum -- but I did find it caused enough apathy to warrant discontinuing after 6 months.

[Tom_]

Those symptoms really aren't SSRI derived.

Anyway while any monoaminergic drug may have side effects, Meclobremide is well tolerated with an unusal mixture.

Also you should be aware that noradrenaline and to a lesser extent dopamine levels are being increased which means apathic states are pretty unlikely.

Common (>1% incidence) adverse effects

• Nausea
• Dry mouth
• Constipation
• Diarrhoea
• Insomnia
• Dizziness
• Anxiety
• Restlessness

Uncommon/Rare (<1%) adverse effects

• Difficulties falling asleep
• Nightmares/dreams
• Hallucinations
• Memory disturbances,
• Confusion
• Disorientation
• Delusions
• Increased depression
• Excitation/irritability
• Hypomania
• Mania
• Aggressive behaviour
• Apathy
• Tension
• Suicidal ideation
• Suicidal behaviour
• Migraine
• Extrapyramidal effects
• Tinnitus
• Paraesthesia
• Dysarthria
• Heartburn
• Gastritis
• Meteorism
• Indigestion
• Hypertension
• Bradycardia
• Extrasystoles
• Angina/chest pain
• Phlebetic symptoms
• Flushing
• Exanthema/rash
• Allergic skin reaction
• Itching
• Gingivitis
• Stomatitis
• Dry skin
• Conjunctivitis
• Pruritus
• Urticaria
• Disturbances of micturition (dysuria, polyuria, tenesmus)
• Metrorrhagia
• Prolonged menstruation
• General malaise
• Skeletal/muscular pain
• Altered taste sensations
• Hot flushes/cold sensation
• Photopsia
• Dyspnoea
• Visual disturbances
• Increased hepatic enzymes without associated clinical sequelae.

[penisbreath]

I love that I get down-voted for sharing my experience.

[magniloquentc0unt]

thanks both for your inputs.. i think tiredness and apathy might also stem from melatonin, ive heard that many feel better/energized a couple of hours after dosing...

[blood]

I spent six enjoyable months on moclobemide... stopped taking it due to insomnia (in hindsight my dose was probably too high)... It's one of the few psychoactive drugs I've been on that I remember fondly. For me, side effects were mild relative to the SSRIs.

[blood]

Oops, double post

Edited by blood, 08 October 2013 - 02:04 PM.

[NeuroNootropic]

I spent six enjoyable months on moclobemide... stopped taking it due to insomnia (in hindsight my dose was probably too high)... It's one of the few psychoactive drugs I've been on that I remember fondly. For me, side effects were mild relative to the SSRIs.

I'm interested in moclobemide. Could you share some more details about why you remember it fondly? What was the dosage and were you taking it in combination with other drugs/supplements?

[nowayout]

Does it really increase sex drive?

The Wikipedia page that claims this happens is a total blowjob for the manufacturer, but I have seen data to the contrary as well.

[blood]

I spent six enjoyable months on moclobemide... stopped taking it due to insomnia (in hindsight my dose was probably too high)... It's one of the few psychoactive drugs I've been on that I remember fondly. For me, side effects were mild relative to the SSRIs.

I'm interested in moclobemide. Could you share some more details about why you remember it fondly? What was the dosage and were you taking it in combination with other drugs/supplements?

- I found it to be quite energising.

- My outlook was more sunny while taking it.

- I never felt like it was subtly altering the underpinnings of my personality (something I have felt with SSRIs).

Edited by blood, 29 October 2013 - 04:20 AM.

[riloal]

blood, were you taking any medication or suplement with moclobemide? thanks

[blood]

blood, were you taking any medication or suplement with moclobemide? thanks

I wasn't taking any other medications, or supplements, at the time.

Edited by blood, 30 October 2013 - 08:27 AM.

[spookytooth]

I used Moclobemide for about a year and did not get similar side effecty to SSRIs. It seemed to work quite well and quickly for both depression and ADHD. The main side-effects I got were insomnia and occasional spaciness.
Sometimes I used it in combination with Methylphenidate the effect of which it seemed to prolong.

It also worked as a strong social anxiolytic for me.

It remains my favorite of the "classic" antidepressant drugs.

Edited by spookytooth, 30 October 2013 - 10:07 AM.

[magniloquentc0unt]

sounds too good to be true! the insomnia, too... one of my biggest problems is hypersomnia, i could literally lie down and fall asleep within 5 minutes in pretty much any situation.
why did you discontinue, then? you tought you were "cured"? how fast was the relapse? any semipermanent improvement?

[spookytooth]

I discontinued the drug because I felt like I didn't need it anymore and I wanted to give my brain some time off of all drugs/medications. Apart from that it seemed to lower my general cognition after about 9 months but that is something that almost all drugs do to me as I do not have a healthy brain to begin with. Fluoxetine etc are much worse in this regard and I suspect this only to be the case in my case which is why I didn't mention it as a side-effect.

I have been in a really good place for quite a while but depression keeps haunting me from time to time and for that I keep moclobemide around. After initially quitting it I used it a few times for a couple of weeks/months when the depression became unbearable.

To answer your other questions: I think it took me about 8 months before I relapsed. And no there are no semi-permanent or permanent effects and I am most certainly not cured ^^

The two factors that have the biggest impact on my depression (apart from medication) are (happy) relationships and studying something I love.

Edited by spookytooth, 30 October 2013 - 12:14 PM.

[blood]

I stopped taking moclobemide because 1) I experienced unpleasant insomnia, and 2) I thought I would be OK without it.

My depression did eventually reoccur, and these days I take Effexor to prevent a further relapse. (Effexor works for me, but has its own pros and cons).