Almost housebound with ME/CFS, now much better with moclobemide and Parnate
- Condition
- ME/CFS
- At worst
- Moderate (mostly housebound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 33 years
- Last post
- Dec 2024
In their words
- Condition: ME/CFS
I've been on MAOIs for ME/CFS since the early 90s, about six months after my initial glandular fever bout.
In context ↗ - At worst: Moderate
which took me from almost housebound to about 80% of normal activity level
In context ↗ - Now: Much better
I've been at about 80% or so of normal functioning since then with ups and downs.
In context ↗ - Began after: glandular fever or EBV
about six months after my initial glandular fever bout
Read from 1 of their posts and comments; links to the one this page draws on
Summary
After glandular fever in the early 1990s they were almost housebound with ME/CFS. Moclobemide raised them to about 80% of normal activity; weaning off it after 1.5 years worsened their symptoms, and they switched to Parnate, staying at roughly 80% of normal function. Eliminating food allergies improved their energy, though symptoms worsened slightly after menopause and maybe after a first COVID vaccination; colds and infections still cause crashes.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- moclobemide (reversible) · Helped a lot
For a start I was on moclobemide (reversible) which took me from almost housebound to about 80% of normal activity level.
In context ↗ - parnate · Helped a lot
Transfered to parnate & have been on it ever since. ... I've been at about 80% or so of normal functioning since then with ups and downs.
In context ↗ - eliminating food allergies · Helped
My energy improved after finding and eliminating food allergies.
In context ↗ - B12 · Helped
Sometimes I've got out of infection crashes with B12
In context ↗ - a drug (whose name I forgot) · Helped
sometimes more recently with a drug (whose name I forgot)
In context ↗
Approaches: Diet · Other antidepressants
Their path
How ill they were on the ME/CFS severity scale, estimated from what they describe at each point, with time counted from when the illness began. Hover or tap a point. 1 step has no time and sits in story order between the steps around it. 2 steps say too little to place on the scale and are only in the table. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| early 1990s | glandular fever; almost housebound before treatmentmy initial glandular fever bout ... took me from almost housebound to about 80% of normal activity levelIn context ↗ | Moderate | |
| about six months after onset | started moclobemide; back to about 80% of normal activityFor a start I was on moclobemide (reversible) which took me from almost housebound to about 80% of normal activity level.In context ↗ | Mild | |
| about 1.5 years later | weaned off moclobemide; symptoms got worseI started weaning myself off it because the doctor who put me on it said I wouldn't need it forever. It didn't go well & various symptoms got worse.In context ↗ | Not stated | |
| — | restarted moclobemide; worked less well than beforeunder medical advice increased the code back up again to where it was, but it didn't work quite as well as beforeIn context ↗ | Not stated | |
| early-to-mid 1990s | switched to Parnate; about 80% of normal function long termTransfered to parnate & have been on it ever since. ... I've been at about 80% or so of normal functioning since thenIn context ↗ | Mild | |
| — | energy improved after eliminating food allergiesMy energy improved after finding and eliminating food allergies.In context ↗ | Mild | Elimination diets (other) |
| December 2024 | still about 80% of normal function; gradual worsening after menopause and first COVID vaccinationI've been at about 80% or so of normal functioning since then ... My symptoms have gradually got a bit worse since I went through menopause & maybe after my first covid vaccination.In context ↗ | Mild |
Adverse events
- Moclobemide, Tranylcypromine (Parnate)“Side effects such as not sleeping are much worse on parnate, though.” In context ↗ Insomnia from treatment
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Brain fog
It improved my exercise intolerance, brain fog, temperature control, tolerance of standing
In context ↗ - Post-exertional malaise
I've had minor crashes due to overactivity & temporary ones due to infections.
In context ↗
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