Initially, getting Nardil can be quite difficult. Unfortunately, many doctors refuse to prescribe MAOIs such as Nardil. This is due to misinformation and unfounded concerns about their safety profile in regards to potential dietary interactions.
Dr Ken Gillman is a retired clinical psychiatrist and neuro-pharmacologist in Australia, who runs the site Psychotropical. He is an expert in all things MAOI and highly recommends them. He, along with other psychiatrists such as Stephen M. Stahl, MD, PhD and Jonathan M. Meyer, have demonstrated that previous food restrictions were exaggerated, incorrect and based on old food processing methods. Newer technology and higher standards in modern food processing mean there is now a lower risk of foods that were previously thought of as being too risky.
Most doctors will only prescribe SSRI’s (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors), which are almost always ineffective for those who suffer from biological or endogenous depression. In fact, some doctors will be willing to hand out SSRI’s like candy. Many patients, even those with situational depression, receive no benefit, so they go back and try another, and this process is repeated ad infinitum. This is what I like to call the “SSRI Merry-go-round”. I have tried pretty much every SSRI/SNRI there is and wasted about 10 years of my life to severe debilitating depression and social anxiety. If only I had tried Nardil sooner, I could have been enjoying life without severe depression or social anxiety.
I’ve even had psychiatrists refuse to prescribe me Nardil. One psychiatrist flat out refused and kept pushing for ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy) instead. That’s right, some doctors would rather you have a general anaesthetic (which has risks in itself) and your brain be electrocuted than to prescribe an MAOI. While indeed ECT can be effective for depression, it usually isn’t practical as a long term solution.
People who end up on the SSRI Merry-go-round often get very frustrated and feel even more hopeless that nothing will work. As a result, these people often have a higher risk of committing suicide. When doctors have exhausted all the SSRI’s they will move onto trialling various combinations of other psychiatric drugs. This still doesn’t always work for many people (including myself).
It would seem that some doctors would actually prefer the risk of a patient dying from suicide than to simply let them try a MAOI. Yes MAOIs have a small risk, but suicide in treatment resistant depressive patients carries a far greater risk. Not to mention the suffering itself from severe depression/anxiety. You have to wonder how many lives have been lost as a result of doctors refusing to prescribe their patients MAOIs. I would suggest that doctors only prescribe a maximum of two SSRI/SNRI antidepressants then move onto an MAOI. This could potentially save the patient’s life, not to mention years of suffering saved due to depression/anxiety.
Tips on getting Nardil
Many people claim that older doctors with experience are more likely to prescribe MAOIs. In my experience, i’ve found the opposite to be true. The first doctor who prescribed me Nardil was a young general practitioner who recently just became a doctor. Compared to other doctors I’ve seen, I found him to be less arrogant and more open minded. He actually listened to my concerns and was eager to help. I can honestly say that this doctor literally saved my life by prescribing me Nardil. I have found that many older doctors are “set in their ways” and will never change their mind about prescribing patients MAOIs if they haven’t done so before. They often have a more rigid style of thinking that follows a certain protocol.
It is important to do your own research into Nardil first, to show your doctor that you are responsible and understand the (small) risks that can be easily avoided. A doctor is much more likely to prescribe Nardil to a patient who appears to be responsible and well informed. Emphasise that you’ve tried the newer antidepressants without success and want to try something different.
If the doctor still isn’t keen on the idea, show them this letter by Dr Ken Gillman.
If he or she still refuses, it’s time to find another doctor.
Once you have managed to get Nardil, the next step is Starting Nardil.
Any doctors reading this page, I urge you to please consider prescribing MAOIs if you have not done so before. You may just save someone’s life, or at the very least prevent years of suffering. Although this site is intended for to give people information about Nardil in “layman’s terms”, referenced information from medical publications are widely available on Dr Ken Gillman’s site. I highly recommend doctors read through the material on his site about MAOIs.
MAOI Friendly Doctor Database
Please submit details of the doctor who did or didn’t prescribe you Nardil. Once approved, you will see the entry listed here. Please feel free to complete this if you’re a MAOI friendly doctor that is willing to prescribe a MAOI.
