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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Atmlady on August 10, 2015, at 19:40:18
been wanting to try this for years and am finally at a point where a med change is needed, but am finding no recent posts about it. Could that mean everyone on EMSAM is loving it and no longer checks the board?
Posted by SLS on August 10, 2015, at 21:00:53
In reply to EMSAM - anyone still using this?, posted by Atmlady on August 10, 2015, at 19:40:18
> been wanting to try this for years and am finally at a point where a med change is needed, but am finding no recent posts about it. Could that mean everyone on EMSAM is loving it and no longer checks the board?
Over the years, it has been my impression that Emsam is not as effective as the other MAOIs. I don't recall that there were more than a handful of people on Psycho-Babble who did well with it. However, it is important to take into consideration that the population here consists of people who have failed to respond to multiple treatments. Since Emsam is generally not a first or second line antidepressant, I am guessing that you have failed several drug trials. If Emsam doesn't work for you, this is not an index of the potential for you to respond to other MAOIs.
Just be sure to follow the diet restrictions with Emsam at dosages of 9 mg/24 hr or higher.
What are the symptoms of your condition(s)?
Please take into consideration that I am not a doctor nor a researcher. My impressions are subjective.
Here is an article that suggests that Emsam is actually quite effective:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4200016/
Good luck.
- Scott.
Posted by Hello321 on August 11, 2015, at 15:18:55
In reply to Re: EMSAM - anyone still using this? » Atmlady, posted by SLS on August 10, 2015, at 21:00:53
Emsam is very expensive. The cheapest pharmacy i could find sold it for about $1,300 for a months supply. And you cant buy just a few at a time, you have to buy the whole box at once. So this could have something to do with there not being many posts
for it.Ive been on it for about a month and havent experienced anything, bad or good, from it. But i rarely have a response to psych treatments.
Posted by former poster on August 11, 2015, at 16:11:46
In reply to EMSAM - anyone still using this?, posted by Atmlady on August 10, 2015, at 19:40:18
I've been using Emsam cumulatively for about 3 years. However my job requires me to travel to countries that would not know what to do with a hypertensive crisis, thus limiting me to the 6mg patch. At 6mg it is simply not enough for the severe derealisation / depersonalisation which started when I took Azithromycin antibiotic to treat travelers diarrhoea. 2 months ago I stopped Emsam to try to get better relief from those syptoms with little success.
I'm thinking its time to give up on the SNRI's with the severe side effects and just start taking Emsam 6mg again. Emsam is the antidepressant with the least side effects and I have been on almost the AD's.
The thing with Emsam is you will get the stimulant effect on day 1 or 2. Don't confuse this effect with the true anti-depressant effect which can really take a very long time. For me Emsam works better after 6 months and even better after a year on it.
The only side effect is insomnia. This is classical of MAOI's. I put the patch on the moment I wake up and remove it 6 hrs before bed time.
Occasionally I had the urge to scratch the patch area. If you give in to the urge it will just itch more and more until you scratch it right off. When you feel this urge just let it pass. Check the area for severe redness. Don't put the patch on the same spot 2 days in a row.I hope this helps... Any other questions?
Posted by atmlady on August 14, 2015, at 12:22:30
In reply to EMSAM - anyone still using this?, posted by Atmlady on August 10, 2015, at 19:40:18
I'm so excited!! Doc says I can try EMSAM, but I have to wean off the Prozac first, which I have started. Have been on 60 mgs Prozac and 450 Wellbutrin for years, and it works for my MDD, but I'd like to have an orgasm or two before I die, if you know what I mean. I asked about the new drugs, Brintellex and Viibryd, and he said they are just as bad as the other SSRI's as far as sexual side effects.
So ... currently taking only 40 mg Prozac, then next week down to 20 and then Prozac free for a month before I can try. Not sure if I have to wean off the wellbutrin or if I can just go direct from that to the patch. Crossing my fingers that the MDD doesn't get too bad during the weaning process.
Questions: How is it as far as weight gain? I have gained while on Prozac and hoping I won't have that problem with EMSAM.
Also, how is it with attention/memory - any issues? I'm kinda spacey and not sure whether that's the Prozac or I'm just getting older, but it would be nice to feel a little more attentive and motivated....
Posted by baseball55 on August 14, 2015, at 19:23:19
In reply to Re: EMSAM - I get to try it!!! WHEEE HAW!, posted by atmlady on August 14, 2015, at 12:22:30
but I'd like to have an orgasm or two before I die, if you know what I mean.
Funny line from a book I read a while back - she went before she came.
This is the end of the thread.
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