Treatment Update

Big changes afoot.

Parnate will be introduced not next Friday, but the Friday after. This is a precautionary measure to ensure that I won't have a serious hypertensive crisis. All MAOIs demand that one adhere to strict dietary restrictions and the doctors wish to avoid even the slightest possibility I'll have a reaction. I'm curious to see if I will lose substantial amounts of weight like I did last time I was on the medication. I dropped fifty pounds in a matter of two or three months. Weight fluctuations are common with bipolar, of course, and so accordingly I make a point to keep pants of three separate waist sizes just in case.

I'll be on 40 mg, which is a pretty substantial dose. If I don't respond to 40 mg I will be increased to 60 mg. The good thing about Parnate, however, is that the positive effects are evident in around a week---at most two. In addition, my Seroquel dosage is being gradually increased to 600 mg, which is a very hefty amount. Right now I've been fighting the sedation, and will continue to have to fight for the next few weeks as my body adjusts to it.

At the moment, I am waiting for the brain scan/genetic profile people to get here. Up until now, they've been extremely flaky and unreliable. I hope this changes soon.