Psycho-Babble Medication | about biological treatments | Framed
This thread | Show all | Post follow-up | Start new thread | List of forums | Search | FAQ

Re: Need advice - Parnate, Emsam, Dexedrine? » evenintherain

Posted by em_kath on January 19, 2010, at 10:52:49

In reply to Need advice - Parnate, Emsam, Dexedrine?, posted by evenintherain on January 12, 2010, at 16:57:29

I am in a similar situation where I'm considering Parnate and it is a difficult decision with the risks. I am leaning towards switching to it because, like you, I am starting to think of it as one of the few options left (I have tried many, many different medications with little to no success), and I have heard that it's pulled people out of deep depression after nothing else worked. I have been on Emsam for 6 or 7 weeks and I have not had success on the lowest 6mg dose or the dose that I am on now, the 9mg. But the transdermal delivery largely makes the diet a nonissue. I know to be on the safe side you are supposed to follow the diet on the higher doses, and while I started out following the diet on 9mg, I have gradually been eating more 'forbidden' foods and I am currently not following the diet very strictly at all (though I have been too scared to try aged cheese, I eat most cheeses without worry). I have heard from others that the dietary restrictions are only a precaution on Emsam and that there have been no reports of hypertensive crisis. However I am not on the higher 12mg dose, so I can't say if it becomes an issue then. One of the few positive things I have noticed on Emsam is that I sleep very well. Also, there don't seem to be any sexual side effects (FYI I am female). The only real side effect I have experienced (aside from a reduced tolerance to alcohol) is orthostatic hypotension, where if I stand up too quickly I lose vision for a few seconds and get lightheaded, and yesterday morning I lost my vision for a few minutes before it returned (and fainted for a moment). But this is not unique to Emsam, it can be a side effect with all MAOIs.
So my experience with Emsam has not been satisfactory, and I have decided to switch. Whether I switch to Parnate or something else will depend on the recommendations of my psychiatrist. I have not heard many positive things about Emsam, though I suppose it must be helping somebody or it wouldn't be on the market. I am not convinced that it is strong enough for severe depression, which I have, and you seem to have. If I could go back, I would not bother with Emsam, but of course you might react differently to it than I did, and since you are so concerned about the diet it might be worth a try. If it doesn't work, you could always upgrade to Parnate, but I think that requires another washout period that I am personally not looking forward to. It's always a tough decision with MAOIs. I hope things work out for you and you find something that helps!


Share
Tweet  

Thread

 

Post a new follow-up

Your message only Include above post


Notify the administrators

They will then review this post with the posting guidelines in mind.

To contact them about something other than this post, please use this form instead.

 

Start a new thread

 
Google
dr-bob.org www
Search options and examples
[amazon] for
in

This thread | Show all | Post follow-up | Start new thread | FAQ
Psycho-Babble Medication | Framed

poster:em_kath thread:933399
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100113/msgs/934350.html