Posted by RN320 on May 5, 2008, at 18:31:30
In reply to EMSAM Success Story, posted by BrightEyed+Blueberry on April 29, 2008, at 1:47:02
Hi Bright! Finally someone with a success story somewhat similar to mine! I started on EMSAM when it first came out and was available- about 2 years ago now. I've been at the max 12mg dose since September of 06, doing really well. 2007 was a horrible year for me from a med/surg perspective. I required brain surgery a year ago this week (and had major, lifethreatening complications that lasted for about 2 months after the surgery. My recovery is still not 100% and I've been told that it may never be), and then shortly after i fell at home and fractured (shattered) my left ankle, which required 2 surgeries (and complications of acute renal failure leading to heart failure and a stay in the ICU for CHF because I was given too many fluids to correct the acute renal failure). I tell you this because I would have NEVER been able to handle the stress of all that was going on around me and with me if it hadn't been for being stabilized on the EMSAM.
You mentioned the breakdown of EMSAM into amphetamine and methamphetamine. What I've been told by a psychopharmacologist and my psychiatrist is that the broken down components of EMSAM are just the metabolites of amphetamine alone (no meth). That's how it shows up in your urine drug screens and blood drug screens- amphetamine. Because they're just metabolites that are being excreted, they're not supposed to have any effect on the patient whatsoever. Some people say that they can "feel" it. I didn't, but just as you stated- life has improved, becoming more organized, pleasant, social, brighter and even during times of extreme stress at best I just drop out for a few days and sleep- it's the only way I can cope and my therapist and psychiatrist say that they feel that when the stress is that great that I (for some unknown reason other than the sheer amount of pressure/stress I feel myself under is just too much) "override" my meds. It simply means that I take them, but they don't work. Once I can calm myself down or get calmed down with the help of others, I'm ok and life again is copacetic.
I think that it's important to have reaslistic expectations of success of meds like EMSAM. Every time I've said to my psychiatrist or therapist that I think it's just a "miracle drug" they respond that they're really happy to see me doing so well, but that I need to understand that it's not a 100% cure all by itself. Compared to where I was 7+ years ago- I sure FEEL cured!
Best wishes to you on your journey!
/RN320
poster:RN320
thread:826188
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080430/msgs/827396.html