Posted by hok on March 15, 2003, at 22:17:35
In reply to Sublingual Selegiline - more questions » hok, posted by not exactly on March 15, 2003, at 21:20:48
> I've tried selegiline in both patch form (worked very well for me) and oral (mixed results). I'm intrigued by the concept of sublingual administration, but I haven't tried it yet. Could you get the same sublingual effect by placing a standard oral tablet (or part of one) under the tongue? How about powder from opening a selegiline cap?
>
> Also, it would seem that regardless of the physical form (liquid, tablet, powder), only some of the medication would be absorbed directly thru the mouth. Doesn't the rest eventually get swallowed and thereby result in the same first-pass metabolism byproducts? Or do you spit it out instead? How long do you leave it under your tongue?
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> - Bob
>Bob,
You're quite a rare species on this board. It seems not many current posters have had experience with the patch. Do you mind if I pick your brain regarding your trial with the patch in exchange for answers to your own questions? I think we're all curious about what to expect from selegiline in its new form. So here goes...
1) How long ago was the trial that you were in?
2) Was it an open-label trial or was it being tested against something else?
3) Could you give us a brief description of your depressive symptoms (e.g., melancholic, atypical)?
4) Can you provide a subjective rating for the selegiline patch in terms of an antidepressant? In other words, can you compare its efficacy to anything you've been on before?
5) What were the side effects?
6) Was there any issues with being able to tolerate the high dose in patch form (e.g., overstimulation/ increased side effects)? This is more of a personal question because I'm concerned I won't even be able to handle 30 mg in patch form if I can only tolerate 5-10 sublingually. Any thoughts?
7) How much of the oral form have you been taking? My experience with the oral tablets was like taking poison, causing the irritablity of Wellbutrin-like effects times ten.
8) What is your current treatment?
Any other knowledge on the subject would be much appreciated?
As for your questions... I'm quite doubtful you would have an equal effect by placing an oral tablet under your tongue. All the sublignual brands I have come across come suspended in a citrate base to provide better absorption, so I think this aids the process a lot. As for the powder from a capsule...hmmm...it seems likely that this should work. How effectively, who knows though.I typically leave the drops under my tongue for about 10 minutes [seemingly ample time] to provide full absorption. At first, I was actually swallowing the remainder of what was left. But after about a week, when the full effects were kicking in, I found that swallowing the remainder was probably one of the causes of my feeling adverse side effects. I have since spit out any remainder left over after the 10 minute absorption period. Hope this answers your questions. Why not just buy the sublingual form next time to try it out?
-HK
poster:hok
thread:208454
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030314/msgs/209554.html