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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Phillipa on July 10, 2013, at 23:01:48
In reply to Re: Started Emsam 6mg patch » Phillipa, posted by damnthislife on July 10, 2013, at 8:53:55
I just talked with Robert and I thanked him for you. He is doing fine himself. I had no problem with his replying. But then we talked a lot for a long time. So You are well? Phillipa
Posted by damnthislife on July 11, 2013, at 7:45:57
In reply to Re: Started Emsam 6mg patch » damnthislife, posted by Phillipa on July 10, 2013, at 23:01:48
Not really sure why I couldn't reply. It said something about a filter or being blocked and this was from my personal gmail account to his personal mail account.
Thank you for thanking him!
Doing well... eh, I'm the same at this point. Posting day 4 in a minute.
Posted by damnthislife on July 11, 2013, at 7:48:02
In reply to Re: Started Emsam 6mg patch, posted by antennastoheaven on July 9, 2013, at 9:43:19
So day 3 was a pretty bad today. I'm assuming this is the onset of the medication and possibly a side effect but I was even more tired than normal. I went home and around 730pm I was ready for bed. I was out like a light when I hit the pillow. I talked with my doctor, we are going to meet up next week and discuss possibly increasing to 9mgs. She orginially wanted me on that doesage at first, but I asked for just 6mgs.
Today is nothing new to report. Still woke feeling tired after 8.5 hours of sleep, still tired at the moment after being awake for 3 hours.
Posted by Phillipa on July 11, 2013, at 20:11:52
In reply to Day 4 (6mgs), posted by damnthislife on July 11, 2013, at 7:48:02
You haven't been it on very long? Phillipa
Posted by damnthislife on July 12, 2013, at 6:49:20
In reply to Re: Day 4 (6mgs) » damnthislife, posted by Phillipa on July 11, 2013, at 20:11:52
Yesterday (day 4) was a little better with side effects. Still no improvment in depressive symptoms. Woke up this morning still dragging *ss and feeling tired at this moment. The kind of tired where you close your eyes and they feel like they're burning. Thank god for coffee!
Posted by Beckett on July 13, 2013, at 23:00:02
In reply to Day 5 (6mgs), posted by damnthislife on July 12, 2013, at 6:49:20
You might need to go up to 9mgs to put a dent in depressive symptoms.
Good luck to you.
Posted by damnthislife on July 15, 2013, at 7:12:57
In reply to Re: Day 5 (6mgs), posted by Beckett on July 13, 2013, at 23:00:02
Well, I cannot say I have felt a single thing, yet. I was away all weekend so I couldn't report on day 6 and 7, but there wasn't a change. I'm still having no issues with the patch sticking, nor issues with the adhesive causing a rash or irritation.
Posted by damnthislife on July 15, 2013, at 7:14:23
In reply to Re: Day 5 (6mgs), posted by Beckett on July 13, 2013, at 23:00:02
> You might need to go up to 9mgs to put a dent in depressive symptoms.
>
> Good luck to you.My doctor agrees with you! She too said that we will discuss that this week when we meet (about going up to 9mgs).
Thanks for the luck, I need it!
Posted by Beckett on July 15, 2013, at 13:19:45
In reply to Re: Day 5 (6mgs) » Beckett, posted by damnthislife on July 15, 2013, at 7:14:23
Let us know how it goes if you will. I may be going back on it myself. Good luck to us all!
Posted by damnthislife on July 15, 2013, at 14:10:04
In reply to Re: Day 5 (6mgs), posted by Beckett on July 15, 2013, at 13:19:45
> Let us know how it goes if you will. I may be going back on it myself. Good luck to us all!
I take it you had to go up to the 9mgs to feel anything?
Posted by Beckett on July 15, 2013, at 20:47:07
In reply to Re: Day 5 (6mgs) » Beckett, posted by damnthislife on July 15, 2013, at 14:10:04
Yes, though 6mg is a bit more stimulating. I went to 12 once and constantly felt faint. Maybe I did I not give it enough time. I went back to 9 and stayed there. I did not realize how much it was doing (besides making me cycle) until I went off to start tramadol for neuropathy.
Anyways, I wish you the best. Some people say Emsam is a weak AD. I found it better than any ssri/snri.
Posted by damnthislife on July 19, 2013, at 7:38:01
In reply to Re: Day 5 (6mgs) » damnthislife, posted by Beckett on July 15, 2013, at 20:47:07
I still have nothing new to report, just wanted to add that I met with my pdoc last night. After I'm finished with his round of 6mgs patch, I have a script for the 9mg patch. If that doesn't show any signs of help, she is moving me onto Parnate.
From this point on, I will only report back if there are signs of improvement. If you see nothing on this, assume there is none. I will document however when I start 9mgs patch.
Posted by damnthislife on August 5, 2013, at 10:34:33
In reply to Day 12 (6 mgs), posted by damnthislife on July 19, 2013, at 7:38:01
Today is the 2nd day of wearing the 9mgs patch. First notice, the patch is bigger than the 6mgs. As I said, I wouldn't reply anymore if I had no more improvements, and I didn't. Now, being that I'm on day two, I'm seeing a lot of appetite surpression so far, which I'm greatly enjoying. By now, at lunch time, I would have ate my entire lunch... yet I still have a yogurt and banana left over for late. This is VERY rare and hopefully a good sign. I'm still waiting to see in the next few weeks if my energy slowly starts to return. I will report back here and there with any new info.
Posted by SLS on August 5, 2013, at 16:28:00
In reply to Day 2 (9 mgs), posted by damnthislife on August 5, 2013, at 10:34:33
> Today is the 2nd day of wearing the 9mgs patch. First notice, the patch is bigger than the 6mgs. As I said, I wouldn't reply anymore if I had no more improvements, and I didn't. Now, being that I'm on day two, I'm seeing a lot of appetite surpression so far, which I'm greatly enjoying. By now, at lunch time, I would have ate my entire lunch... yet I still have a yogurt and banana left over for late. This is VERY rare and hopefully a good sign. I'm still waiting to see in the next few weeks if my energy slowly starts to return. I will report back here and there with any new info.
Thanks for the update.
Good luck!!!
- Scott
Posted by damnthislife on August 6, 2013, at 8:18:28
In reply to Re: Day 2 (9 mgs) » damnthislife, posted by SLS on August 5, 2013, at 16:28:00
Continuing to notice appetite supression, which again I must say is great! I'm not craving junk food (carbs, chocolate) like I was before. I'm easily satisfied with the meals I eat and they're becoming more and more healthy. With this, I'm noticing my weight decreasing pretty fast. As of day 3 I still have had no interaction with the patch and no signs of hypertension. I don't however, have any increase in energy. This is a dose that may very well need some time to get into my system. I see my pdoc at the end of this month.
Unless anything new happens, I will report back only if there are other symptoms being helped or negative reactions.
Posted by damnthislife on August 9, 2013, at 13:24:15
In reply to Day 12 (6 mgs), posted by damnthislife on July 19, 2013, at 7:38:01
Just a small update...
I still have no symptom relief when it comes to energy/sleeping too much, but I have really noticed that my cravings for junk food is non-existent. Again, this is a HUGE plus! I use to crave chocolate like crazy! We have some good sweets in the house at the moment, and I haven't looked twice at them. I'm also noticing while my appetite seems to be normal and I get hungry after every 3 hours of a normal portioned meal, I do not get the shakes like I need to eat or I'm going to pass out.
Hopefully these are all good signs of things to come.
Posted by damnthislife on August 13, 2013, at 9:38:24
In reply to Day 5 (9 mgs), posted by damnthislife on August 9, 2013, at 13:24:15
Still no continued relief from major depression symptoms of lethargy and fatigue. I still have zero cravings for chocolate/sweets/junk food. I was out to dinner recently and my family ordered a mixture of desserts. I didn't even look twice at them, where normally I would have helped finish all of them. I'm also noticing that my heart will start to race after a cup of coffee. On that note, I will be switching to either decaf or decaf tea.
Still hoping for relief from my main symptom of excessive sleepiness. Seeing my doctor in 3 more weeks to review my response to Emsam as a whole and discuss switching to Parnate if this doesn't work.
Posted by Phillipa on August 13, 2013, at 20:34:40
In reply to Day 8 (9mgs), posted by damnthislife on August 13, 2013, at 9:38:24
Not that great. You are still able to go out and function and socialize though? Phillipa
Posted by damnthislife on August 14, 2013, at 9:01:50
In reply to Re: Day 8 (9mgs) » damnthislife, posted by Phillipa on August 13, 2013, at 20:34:40
Yeah, it's not what I was hoping for, honestly.
I'm still able to socialize and function... just exhausted still.
Starting to question if this really is depression. I'm running out of options.
Posted by Phillipa on August 14, 2013, at 20:46:08
In reply to Re: Day 8 (9mgs), posted by damnthislife on August 14, 2013, at 9:01:50
If not depression thoughts on what it is? Infection? Phillipa
Posted by damnthislife on August 15, 2013, at 7:48:13
In reply to Re: Day 8 (9mgs) » damnthislife, posted by Phillipa on August 14, 2013, at 20:46:08
I wish I knew the answer to that. I feel like I'm searching for a tear drop in the middle of an ocean.
Posted by damnthislife on August 23, 2013, at 7:49:28
In reply to Re: Day 8 (9mgs) » Phillipa, posted by damnthislife on August 15, 2013, at 7:48:13
Almost 3 weeks now on 9mgs of Emsam. I still have no relief from daytime fatigue. I still continue to see reduced carb/sugar cravings and from this I have lost 13 lbs since starting emsam. I'm happy about that, but disappointed in the lack of boost I was hoping to get. I see my Pdoc next Thursday and we will be moving to Parnate.
Posted by damnthislife on August 27, 2013, at 8:36:22
In reply to Day 2 (9 mgs), posted by damnthislife on August 5, 2013, at 10:34:33
I'm at the closing days of my Emsam experience. I have about 5 patches left after today (9mgs) but I still see no benefit for taking this. I continue to have reduced cravings for sugar/carbs and that is probably the dopamine effect. No increase in energy, no relief from daytime sleepiness.
I see my pdoc on thursday and that will probably be my last day on Emsam. I will be switching to Parnate after this.
All in all, Emsam did not work for me, but that is not to say it won't for you. The price for me was expensive, around $600 for a month supply. That 6mg and 9mg. If you want my opinion, have your doctor write you a script (if you only need the 6mg patch) for the 12mg patch, and cut it in half. You will save money, and have 2 months supply since they all cost the same amount.
I hope this thread helps some, though my experience was few and far in between. Do I have Atypical Depression? I still continue to wonder this. If my Parnate experience (which I too will document on this site) doesn't help, I will be left with the conclusion that depression is not the reason for my fatigue/sleepiness and rather another symptoms of another illness.
For the record, I have been tested for everything under the sun through blood work, allergy testing, infectious disease, sleep studies (very mild sleep apnea). I have tried everything. You name the doctor/specialist and I have been to them. Supplements, and prescriptions... more than you can imagine.
If this is not a mental disorder, I am left to believe that possibly my very mild sleep apnea is causing this and I will find another sleep speicalist. After that, I will be left with nothing more than accepting that this will be my quality of life (age 31).
Good luck to all future Emsam users!
Posted by Tomatheus on August 27, 2013, at 11:28:32
In reply to Emsam Fail, posted by damnthislife on August 27, 2013, at 8:36:22
Hi Damnthislife,
I just wanted to say that I'm sorry to hear that your Emsam trial didn't work out. It sounds like you gave the medication plenty of time to work, but that it just didn't seem to help you where you needed it the most. I wish you luck with Parnate, and I hope you ultimately find a treatment intervention that brings you relief.
T.
Posted by damnthislife on August 27, 2013, at 12:37:01
In reply to Re: Emsam Fail » damnthislife, posted by Tomatheus on August 27, 2013, at 11:28:32
Thanks, Tomatheus! I appreciate that!
I know we have talked before... but did you ever find relief for your hypersomnia/CF related issues? If I recall correctly, you were on Nardil and it worked great, but you had an issue with hypertension?
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