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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by HavahJ on December 22, 2006, at 20:38:46
Can anyone make a comparison between emsam and abilify?
Posted by endof90 on December 23, 2006, at 21:26:51
In reply to compare abilify and emsam, posted by HavahJ on December 22, 2006, at 20:38:46
> Can anyone make a comparison between emsam and abilify?
I happen to be on both. According to what I know, Emsam is a MAO inhibitor Antidepressant. It affects both MAO A+B. (Nardil is a MAO that works mainly on MAO-A) Abilify on the other hand is considered an Atypical Antipsychotic. It's main indication is to stabililize Bipolar Mania and in certain cases Schizophrenia. Lately it has been used to augment certain antidepressant medications, as they have found it to help depression. I am considered to be Bipolar-2. I have never experienced a full blown mania. I have had episodes of Hypomania, but my lows are much worse than my highs. I was not that enthusiastic to be put on an antipsychotic, but after my psychiatrist explained that it was now being used in this manner I acquiesed. I've just about come to the end of the road w/Emsam, as I have been on an unconventional dose of 24mg/day ((2)- 12mg patches)since October. The addition of Abilify has helped me stay on this dose for the past 4wks., because prior to starting it I was really falling into another depressive episode. I started @ 2.5mg and have built up to 10mg presently. I'm not 100%, but am alot better than I had been before starting it. Hope this helped answer your question.
Posted by Emme on December 24, 2006, at 7:42:29
In reply to compare abilify and emsam, posted by HavahJ on December 22, 2006, at 20:38:46
> Can anyone make a comparison between emsam and abilify?
Not from personal experience. But I know someone who is on a combination of Emsam and Abilify and doing pretty well.
emme
Posted by stargazer on December 27, 2006, at 22:53:32
In reply to Re: compare abilify and emsam » HavahJ, posted by endof90 on December 23, 2006, at 21:26:51
Endof90...are you still on the Emsam? How do you know that it is doing anything and that the depression is being kept at bay due to the Abilify? Does you doc plan to wean you off the Emsam?
I never heard of anyone on such a high dose of Emsam. Any side effects and have you had hypertensive reactions from taking other meds or eating certain foods? Does your insuror cover the cost of Emsam or do you have topay out of pocket since a daily patch (whatever dose)costs around $500/month. Most insurors, I'm sure, would never cover more than one patch per day of any dose (6,9,12 mg). That's why I'm interested.
Stargazer
This is the end of the thread.
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