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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 46 to 70 of 70. Go back in thread:
Posted by Donna Louise on September 30, 2006, at 21:34:25
In reply to Re: discontonuimg Emsam, posted by jealibeanz on September 30, 2006, at 21:30:08
> Yeah, you're right. It's just that I've been so susceptible in the past, I don't want to go down that road again.
I can surely understand that. You can always try it and then pull it if you don't like what happens. Trying these things is not some kind of binding contract. That is the way I think of it, otherwise I doubt I would try anything. No, that is not true. When I am in the middle of a bad depression I would drink lye if I thought it would help. Well, that is an exaggeration....donn
Posted by Phillipa on September 30, 2006, at 21:43:36
In reply to Re: discontonuimg Emsam » jealibeanz, posted by Donna Louise on September 30, 2006, at 21:34:25
Donna how bad are your depressions are you in bed all day and night? Or functional? And I thought the patch med stayed in your sytem for days? Love Phillipa
Posted by Jost on September 30, 2006, at 22:42:08
In reply to Re: discontonuimg Emsam » Donna Louise, posted by Phillipa on September 30, 2006, at 21:43:36
One other question occurred to me, which maybe a strange one, but only because of some SEs I'm having: did you happen to use rozerem?
Just curious, no particular reason to think it.
Jost
Posted by jealibeanz on October 1, 2006, at 0:15:27
In reply to Re: discontonuimg Emsam » jealibeanz, posted by Donna Louise on September 30, 2006, at 21:34:25
Was the gain throughout your entire trial with EMSAM or when you got to higher doses? How long were you on it?
Posted by Another Phil on October 1, 2006, at 1:16:41
In reply to Re: discontonuimg Emsam, posted by jealibeanz on October 1, 2006, at 0:15:27
Just to add my two cents.... I started with oral selegeline in January, then switched to the Emsam 6mg patch about a month after it came on the market (the end of March?). For me it was a fantastic antidepressant. I've tried a lot of others and had very limited success. For the first time in a few years, I had the energy and motivation to work out every other day, and even worked up the nerve to ask out a woman I work with (previously unthinkable).
The reason I had to stop taking it is that I simply could not pay attention. I'm a highly-organized person; but while on Emsam, it got to the point that I was afraid that I was going to really screw up my finances, because I just couldn't pay attention. For years, I've taken Dexedrine spansules to help me pay attention. I thought that maybe the combination of the two was too activating, so I'd try not taking them sometimes; it really made no difference to my ability to concentrate whether or not I took the Dexedrine.
Well, I'm taking Parnate now. It is a very good antidepressant, as some have mentioned, but I wouldn't make the decision to take it lightly. I had a *very* traumatic ramp-up period. But...that's another topic.
Phil
P.S. I almost forgot, I gained about 7 pounds while on Emsam (and I hadn't gained a single pound in the past 12 years or so--except while taking Zyprexa), but that may have due to the Neurontin I was taking because I couldn't sleep otherwise. Lot's of laughs.
Posted by SLS on October 1, 2006, at 1:27:57
In reply to Re: discontonuimg Emsam » SLS, posted by Donna Louise on September 30, 2006, at 21:25:38
Hi Donna.
> I have never had the classice bipolar I mania so I don't know how that would effect my sleep. I imagine I would be up painting the garage or some other productive activity...
No, you'd be up painting all of your neighbors' houses red in lamb's blood after watching "The Ten Commandmants".
> I have just had this major agitation, irritablity, panic and rage one minute, then fine the next and then towards the end of my run with the patch I fell into a pretty serious depression.
What were you like immediately before starting the patch?
> We raised my lamictal to 200mg a few days before I quit the patch and I don't know which to credit for the cessation of my bipolar type symptoms.
Lamictal can work fast as an antidepressant when you increase the dosage. I don't know so much about manic symptoms.
> Either it was drug induced or the lamictal is working really really well for me. Or reboudn as we talked about before. Whatever, I am going to run with it as long as it lasts. BTW, I had much more subtle symptoms of soft bipolar before I started the patch, the patch just seemed to bring it to the surface. Probably any type of peripherally active stimulant would do the same thing. I won't be finding out, not going there, no siree.
Any family history? How old were you when you first displayed any kind of mood or anxiety symptoms?
- Scott
Posted by SLS on October 1, 2006, at 1:30:53
In reply to Re: discontonuimg Emsam » SLS, posted by Donna Louise on September 30, 2006, at 21:25:38
Hi Donna.
> I have never had the classice bipolar I mania so I don't know how that would effect my sleep. I imagine I would be up painting the garage or some other productive activity...
No, you'd be up painting all of your neighbors' houses red in lamb's blood after watching "The Ten Commandmants".
> I have just had this major agitation, irritablity, panic and rage one minute, then fine the next and then towards the end of my run with the patch I fell into a pretty serious depression.
What were you like immediately before starting the patch?
> We raised my lamictal to 200mg a few days before I quit the patch and I don't know which to credit for the cessation of my bipolar type symptoms.
Lamictal can work fast as an antidepressant when you increase the dosage. I don't know so much about manic symptoms.
> Either it was drug induced or the lamictal is working really really well for me. Or reboudn as we talked about before. Whatever, I am going to run with it as long as it lasts. BTW, I had much more subtle symptoms of soft bipolar before I started the patch, the patch just seemed to bring it to the surface. Probably any type of peripherally active stimulant would do the same thing. I won't be finding out, not going there, no siree.
Any family history? How old were you when you first displayed any kind of mood or anxiety symptoms?
- Scott
Posted by jealibeanz on October 1, 2006, at 5:59:22
In reply to Re: discontonuimg Emsam, posted by Another Phil on October 1, 2006, at 1:16:41
Did you start the Neurotonin after EMSAM?
Posted by Another Phil on October 1, 2006, at 10:57:24
In reply to Re: discontonuimg Emsam, posted by jealibeanz on October 1, 2006, at 5:59:22
> Did you start the Neurotonin after EMSAM?
Yes. The only purpose of the Neurontin for me was to help me sleep, since I was having moderate insomnia with the Emsam.
Phil
Posted by Donna Louise on October 1, 2006, at 14:47:04
In reply to Re: discontonuimg Emsam, posted by Another Phil on October 1, 2006, at 1:16:41
> Just to add my two cents.... I started with oral selegeline in January, then switched to the Emsam 6mg patch about a month after it came on the market (the end of March?). For me it was a fantastic antidepressant. I've tried a lot of others and had very limited success. For the first time in a few years, I had the energy and motivation to work out every other day, and even worked up the nerve to ask out a woman I work with (previously unthinkable).
>
> The reason I had to stop taking it is that I simply could not pay attention. I'm a highly-organized person; but while on Emsam, it got to the point that I was afraid that I was going to really screw up my finances, because I just couldn't pay attention. For years, I've taken Dexedrine spansules to help me pay attention. I thought that maybe the combination of the two was too activating, so I'd try not taking them sometimes; it really made no difference to my ability to concentrate whether or not I took the Dexedrine.
>
> Well, I'm taking Parnate now. It is a very good antidepressant, as some have mentioned, but I wouldn't make the decision to take it lightly. I had a *very* traumatic ramp-up period. But...that's another topic.
>
> Phil
>
> P.S. I almost forgot, I gained about 7 pounds while on Emsam (and I hadn't gained a single pound in the past 12 years or so--except while taking Zyprexa), but that may have due to the Neurontin I was taking because I couldn't sleep otherwise. Lot's of laughs.
I experienced the same inability to stay on task. I was all over the place and thought that could be from trying to do so much at once. Now that I am off, I think I am worse, that could be the lamictal. My friends say I was always getting easily diverted but I never noticed it as a problem. Now I end up with 4 pot holders in the living room and I am not sure why. I am thinking about revisting strattera. I can't remember why I stopped taking it before. It is a good thing my pdoc takes copious notes.
Posted by Donna Louise on October 1, 2006, at 14:49:19
In reply to Re: discontonuimg Emsam » Donna Louise, posted by Phillipa on September 30, 2006, at 21:43:36
> Donna how bad are your depressions are you in bed all day and night? Or functional? And I thought the patch med stayed in your sytem for days? Love Phillipa
I am not functional when depressed and do stay in bed alot. I don't know how long the patch stays in your system. I have been off it now since tues. That makes 6 days. I feel good right now. I doubt it will last. Never has.
Posted by Donna Louise on October 1, 2006, at 14:50:39
In reply to Re: discontonuimg Emsam donnalouise, posted by Jost on September 30, 2006, at 22:42:08
> One other question occurred to me, which maybe a strange one, but only because of some SEs I'm having: did you happen to use rozerem?
>
> Just curious, no particular reason to think it.
>
> JostI have not used that drug, it sounds like a benzo that we don't get in the US? I use klonopin.
Posted by Donna Louise on October 1, 2006, at 15:05:33
In reply to Re: discontonuimg Emsam, posted by SLS on October 1, 2006, at 1:27:57
> Hi Donna.
>
> > I have never had the classice bipolar I mania so I don't know how that would effect my sleep. I imagine I would be up painting the garage or some other productive activity...
>
> No, you'd be up painting all of your neighbors' houses red in lamb's blood after watching "The Ten Commandmants".
>
> > I have just had this major agitation, irritablity, panic and rage one minute, then fine the next and then towards the end of my run with the patch I fell into a pretty serious depression.
>
> What were you like immediately before starting the patch?
>
> > We raised my lamictal to 200mg a few days before I quit the patch and I don't know which to credit for the cessation of my bipolar type symptoms.
>
> Lamictal can work fast as an antidepressant when you increase the dosage. I don't know so much about manic symptoms.
>
> > Either it was drug induced or the lamictal is working really really well for me. Or reboudn as we talked about before. Whatever, I am going to run with it as long as it lasts. BTW, I had much more subtle symptoms of soft bipolar before I started the patch, the patch just seemed to bring it to the surface. Probably any type of peripherally active stimulant would do the same thing. I won't be finding out, not going there, no siree.
>
> Any family history? How old were you when you first displayed any kind of mood or anxiety symptoms?
>
>
> - ScottI just typed a long and fascinating reply, hit some button or other and it went to some cyber grave. I can't do it again. Abbreviated version. Adopted, anxiety since I can remember, got really bad when I was 9 and that was when the migraines started. I self medicated from 13-30 so I don't know what the natural course would have been. All that I know is I sure added some fuel to the kindling fire. (oh, how clever of me).
i was feeling alright, stable before the patch as i was on effexor. we had been waiting 4 years for the patch in hopes it would solve the side effect problems of sri's and since i have hepatitis the bypass would be a blessing for my poor liver. I think I felt pretty good on the patch at first because of all the effexor still in my system. I only did a 10 day washout directly from 75mg. (I must love pain and agony..actually i like to just get it over with).
I would paint my garage first before I started on the neighbors house by the way.
Posted by Donna Louise on October 1, 2006, at 15:07:22
In reply to Re: discontonuimg Emsam, posted by jealibeanz on October 1, 2006, at 5:59:22
> Did you start the Neurotonin after EMSAM?
i have never taken neurontin. I started lamictal after the patch however.
Posted by Donna Louise on October 1, 2006, at 15:09:47
In reply to Re: discontonuimg Emsam » jealibeanz, posted by Donna Louise on October 1, 2006, at 15:07:22
Posted by WeeWilly on October 1, 2006, at 17:38:27
In reply to Re: discontonuimg Emsam » jealibeanz, posted by Donna Louise on October 1, 2006, at 15:07:22
Howdy mates,
It's been a couple days past 4 weeks now with the Emsam. I had thought it was past 5 weeks until I re-checked the date I started and its only been 4 weeks and 2 days. This afternoon I began to feel better. I've been on the 12mg patch for over 2 weeks. Each day I would plan to only use the Emsam with nothing else, but like today I often get frustrated so I added 5 drops of liquid Selegeline and also Adderall 30mg's. I am determined to give the Emsam a thorough trial. I may be going above the label dosage in a week or so depending on my response by then. How are others doing? Anyone had luck with a higher dose? Well I will keep you all informed on how this goes. Best wishes
Posted by jealibeanz on October 1, 2006, at 17:58:27
In reply to Re: discontonuimg Emsam » jealibeanz, posted by Donna Louise on October 1, 2006, at 15:07:22
So you were on Lamictal and EMSAM at the same time? Anything else? Would Lamictal add to you concentration difficulties?
Posted by Phillipa on October 1, 2006, at 18:10:26
In reply to Re: discontonuimg Emsam, posted by jealibeanz on October 1, 2006, at 17:58:27
Am I reading wrong? I'm reading that Donna and sorry forgot your name were on ADD or ADHD meds first and all had concentration problems. Since I don't have that problem wonder if the patch would act differently. Plus I'm unipolar depression with high high anxiety? Love Phillipa
Posted by jealibeanz on October 1, 2006, at 18:16:55
In reply to Emsam Update, posted by WeeWilly on October 1, 2006, at 17:38:27
> Howdy mates,
>
> It's been a couple days past 4 weeks now with the Emsam. I had thought it was past 5 weeks until I re-checked the date I started and its only been 4 weeks and 2 days. This afternoon I began to feel better. I've been on the 12mg patch for over 2 weeks. Each day I would plan to only use the Emsam with nothing else, but like today I often get frustrated so I added 5 drops of liquid Selegeline and also Adderall 30mg's. I am determined to give the Emsam a thorough trial. I may be going above the label dosage in a week or so depending on my response by then. How are others doing? Anyone had luck with a higher dose? Well I will keep you all informed on how this goes. Best wishesSo you were on liquid selegiline before EMSAM? How did that go? Why the switch? How can you compare the two in terms of efficacy and side effects?
Posted by Another Phil on October 1, 2006, at 18:22:14
In reply to Re: discontonuimg Emsam, posted by Phillipa on October 1, 2006, at 18:10:26
> Am I reading wrong? I'm reading that Donna and sorry forgot your name were on ADD or ADHD meds first and all had concentration problems. Since I don't have that problem wonder if the patch would act differently. Plus I'm unipolar depression with high high anxiety? Love Phillipa
No, you got it right. I've been taking Dexedrine for years (it's not ideal, but it helps). My concentration problems while on Emsam were much worse than the ones I had years ago, pre-Dexedrine.
Phil
Posted by Phillipa on October 1, 2006, at 19:43:31
In reply to Re: discontonuimg Emsam, posted by Another Phil on October 1, 2006, at 18:22:14
So do you feel that most will get concentration problems on EMSAM? Love Phillipa
Posted by Another Phil on October 1, 2006, at 20:11:53
In reply to Re: discontonuimg Emsam » Another Phil, posted by Phillipa on October 1, 2006, at 19:43:31
> So do you feel that most will get concentration problems on EMSAM? Love Phillipa
I don't think I'm qualified to answer that, but from reading lots of anecdotes about Emsam here, I think it's a rare side-effect. For what it's worth, I once took some Lorazipam while I was on Emsam and found it much easier to concentrate. My guess is that the Emsam was just too activating for me and that my thoughts were coming too quickly for me to process them effectively (and that the Lorazipam slowed things down).
Posted by Donna Louise on October 1, 2006, at 20:21:54
In reply to Re: discontonuimg Emsam, posted by Phillipa on October 1, 2006, at 18:10:26
> Am I reading wrong? I'm reading that Donna and sorry forgot your name were on ADD or ADHD meds first and all had concentration problems. Since I don't have that problem wonder if the patch would act differently. Plus I'm unipolar depression with high high anxiety? Love Phillipa
i was not on ADD meds.
Posted by WeeWilly on October 1, 2006, at 23:01:02
In reply to Re: Emsam Update, posted by jealibeanz on October 1, 2006, at 18:16:55
Hello,
I obtained liquid selegeline after I began this Emsam trial. Never tried the oral selegeline previously. Most likely, if the Emsam will be an effective treatment for me, I will require a high dose above the 12mg. I can't say I'm all that optomistic about this med, but I just gotta keep hopeing. Best wishes and keep fighting.
Posted by Phillipa on October 2, 2006, at 19:00:15
In reply to Re: Emsam Update » jealibeanz, posted by WeeWilly on October 1, 2006, at 23:01:02
Isn't there a message board somewhere that has peoples comments on how they are doing on EMSAM? Love Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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