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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by bulldog2 on May 12, 2006, at 8:19:58
I've been reading posts on this board since the days when scott and andrewb used to have very interesting discussions.
Ive been suffering from major depression, anxiety and panic attacks for the last thirty years. The depression has been on and off. The panic attacks occur when I have to speak before a group of people which really has put severe limitations on my career.
In the past couple years adhd and bipolar 2 have been added to the list of diagnoses. I have tried most of the antidepressants with the exception of the maois. My p-doc gave me a script for emsam which I filled and will probably start this Sunday. I am cautiously optimistic and if this doesn't work I would consider another maoi. I guess after thirty years of depression I feel like I'm wasting my life when I should be enjoying things that other people enjoy. At one time I would never have considered an maoi but now I feel like I don't have any more time to waste. It's ironic when I was young I felt like I had my whole life to figure things out but being close to sixty I don't have that luxury anymore.
Posted by kimcrazylady on May 12, 2006, at 9:01:24
In reply to Starting Emsam This Sunday - Probably, posted by bulldog2 on May 12, 2006, at 8:19:58
Stay hopeful that emsam will work. I have been fighting this beast for 20+ years and I've tried every class of AD out there. The only one that works for me is Parnate, which is an MAOi. If nothing else has given you good relief, maybe this will. I also suffer from anxiety and have been told I'm slightly bipolar 2, although other docs have said not bipolar 2.
Regardless, the maoi's are a savior for some of us. I'll be praying the emsam works for you. It sucks feeling like you don't get the same things out of life as others. I think that quite often myself. I've done well, but it's been a constant struggle and I am sure I would have gone farther without the depression beast tied to my back.
Please keep us posted and good luck,
Kim
Posted by RobertDavid on May 12, 2006, at 11:29:22
In reply to Re: Starting Emsam This Sunday - Probably, posted by kimcrazylady on May 12, 2006, at 9:01:24
Good luck with EMSAM. It's worked for me. If it didn't I'd definately try Nardil or Parnate. Just like one SSRI's works better for some than others, certainly one MAOI will work better too. EMSAM would seem to be a reasonable first MAOI try and if it works great. If not, I'd try another. Best of luck.
Posted by UgottaHaveHOPE on May 12, 2006, at 13:41:09
In reply to Re: Starting Emsam This Sunday - Probably, posted by kimcrazylady on May 12, 2006, at 9:01:24
That's great to hear that Parnate helps you. Please elaborate. How long have you been on it? What does it make you feel like? How long did it take for you to feel its effect? What does are you on? Thanks, Michael
Posted by kimcrazylady on May 12, 2006, at 14:49:38
In reply to KimCrazyLady, posted by UgottaHaveHOPE on May 12, 2006, at 13:41:09
> That's great to hear that Parnate helps you. Please elaborate. How long have you been on it? What does it make you feel like? How long did it take for you to feel its effect? What does are you on? Thanks, Michael
Hmm. I generally feel the first effects of Parnate, regarless of dosage, in the first few days. They say it takes weeks to feel anything, but for me, Parnate starts to work right away and then the full effects kick in after several weeks. I was prescribed this drug by a wonderful doctor when I was in my early 20's and had tried every AD out there, including the all new Prozac. I was on Parnate for years and doing much better, so we tapered off it and I went a round without any drugs. I had hoped the years of drug therapy and counseling had "cured" me. Fat chance! Of course, my depression returned. I then tried some of the newer drugs and had no luck, so it was back to the Parnate. I was on it again for about five years when I had a car accident and they discovered I had an aneursym in my ascending aorta. Docs all freaked since I'm high risk for dropping dead due to any BP change, so I choose to go off it since my 60mg dose had kind of pooped out and my doc would not go any higher. Bad, bad move for me. I ended up so screwed up I couldn't function and was on disability from work for four months.
During that time I tried Cymbalta and oral selegiline and a few others, to no avail. I've also done the rounds of multiple meds over the years, but Parnate alone seems to be the best for me. Nothing short of 60 mg will do the trick, but I do feel a slight improvement even when I start out at 20 or 30. My mood improves and I can actually get out of bed. I am able to shower, brush my teeth and even watch a tv show and concentrate on it on the low doses. Funny that things most people take for granted are like gifts from heaven to me. I get energy and want to live life again.
I've been back on the Parnate for a few months and am just getting back to 60 mg. I'm doing well again, thankfully. The SSRI's and SNRI's make me completely nuts (no pun intended). I thought about suicide and cutting up people when I was on Cymbalta last fall. I honestly believe some people have serotonin problems and others have dopamine, etc. problems. I hate that MAO's are not prescribed more. They are NOT as scary as the docs pretend. Heck, most of the old food warnings are even bull. I've had emergency and elective surgery with no anesthesia problems at all. You MUST tell the docs, but they don't worry about it like they used to. I know which foods are safe and the ones I have to avoid. I've had no problems, even with my issues of BP. After finding the aneursym, they did add a BP med because they want mine to be on the low side, but my doc approved me to go back to Parnate. He saw it was either that or I'd have no life so to speak of.
I would love to try the new patch, but I cannot go off Parnate and wash out. It's not an option for me right now. I'm just getting back into my job and doing well. I can't go back to hell so soon! Parnate is not perfect and I did have some sleepy times at first, but over time it works and has few side effects for me. No sexual side effects either...yeah!!
I hope the emsam works for you. For me, Parnate is the difference between a pretty good life and a living hell. Good luck. I hope I answered all your questions without boring you to death. Please keep me posted.
Kim
Posted by Phillipa on May 12, 2006, at 22:37:53
In reply to Starting Emsam This Sunday - Probably, posted by bulldog2 on May 12, 2006, at 8:19:58
Same way I feel same age. Love Phillipa ps please babblemail me so I can give you my E-mail address and keep up with how its working for you.
Posted by UgottaHaveHOPE on May 13, 2006, at 0:23:24
In reply to Re: KimCrazyLady, posted by kimcrazylady on May 12, 2006, at 14:49:38
Did you take Parnate for depression or anxiety or both? Which do you feel Parnate addresses the best? You said you started in your 20s ... do you mind if I ask your age range now?
Posted by kimcrazylady on May 13, 2006, at 18:01:03
In reply to Re: KimCrazyLady, posted by UgottaHaveHOPE on May 13, 2006, at 0:23:24
> Did you take Parnate for depression or anxiety or both? Which do you feel Parnate addresses the best? You said you started in your 20s ... do you mind if I ask your age range now?
I took it for atypical depression, but it also helps with my anxiety. Plus, I deal with my anxiety better than my depression. I've always been high strung, so to speak, so it seems more normal. I wasn't depressed until 16, but I was high strung. I use my anxiety to push myself, but the depression makes me comatose.For me, Parnate helps both, but the depression the most. On a good dose I can live without Xanax, but at lower doses, I can't.
I'm 39 and pushing 40 ;-) So, I've been like this since I was 16 and finally got a doc to give me Parnate in my early 20s since I'd tried practically everything else. It's been a godsend, but as I said, it's not perfect.
Please keep me posted on the emsam. I'm still crossing my fingers the MAOi works for you. You still have a bunch of good years left and you deserve them to be happy!!
Kim
Posted by rvanson on May 13, 2006, at 18:42:42
In reply to Starting Emsam This Sunday - Probably, posted by bulldog2 on May 12, 2006, at 8:19:58
> I've been reading posts on this board since the days when scott and andrewb used to have very interesting discussions.
> Ive been suffering from major depression, anxiety and panic attacks for the last thirty years. The depression has been on and off. The panic attacks occur when I have to speak before a group of people which really has put severe limitations on my career.
> In the past couple years adhd and bipolar 2 have been added to the list of diagnoses. I have tried most of the antidepressants with the exception of the maois. My p-doc gave me a script for emsam which I filled and will probably start this Sunday. I am cautiously optimistic and if this doesn't work I would consider another maoi. I guess after thirty years of depression I feel like I'm wasting my life when I should be enjoying things that other people enjoy. At one time I would never have considered an maoi but now I feel like I don't have any more time to waste. It's ironic when I was young I felt like I had my whole life to figure things out but being close to sixty I don't have that luxury anymore.I know how you feel with not enjoying things like other people do. 26 years with this damn disease. What a waste of life.
Starting Emsam Sunday after a little "discussion" with my Pdoc (like "I am walking out the door and not coming back" type discussion) who wanted to wait for a while and see what happens with other people.
Like I am going to wait another 26 years?
Yeah right, doc !
Good luck to you on the Emsam.
I hope you do feel better!
Will post back here on my results like the rest of the people.
This is the end of the thread.
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