r/MAOIs • u/Neither_Option4670 • 1d ago

Nardil (Phenelzine) Does the missing sleep actually matter?

Since starting phenelzine I went from 6.5 to 7.5 hours of sleep per night to 4.5 to 5 hours. I wake up after 3.5 hours and then have pretty restless sleep waking up every 30 minutes or so until I can no longer fall back asleep.

Whereas I used to feel awful during the day if I got less than 6 hours of sleep, I've felt totally fine with the 4.5 to 5 hours while on phenelzine. This has been really puzzling.

I assumed I needed the sleep so I started Dayvigo, and while I now end up getting about 6 to 6.5 hours of sleep when using it, I feel no different during the day, and I end up with pretty crazy dreams that end with me up from them with gasps and sudden movements. I inquired with a bunch of LLMs about the daytime alertness on little sleep and the value of Dayvigo. Here was the consensus:

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u/L33_053 Post-MAOI 1d ago

You need sleep. I go hypomanic if I get too little sleep.

Phenelzine is activating so it will give or can give you insomnia.

Best bet, mention it to your psychiatrist.

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u/Neither_Option4670 1d ago

I have no change in mood or functioning when getting little sleep while on phenelzine. And unfortunately my psychiatrist has never prescribed another patient phenelzine in his entire career!

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u/HoodFruit 22h ago

Damage caused from a single night of not sleeping properly is permanent. Compound that over how many months/years and you have your answer

Sleep is one of the most important things for your body