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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by katie san diego on May 30, 2006, at 14:13:04
how many of you have been on the higher doses of EMSAM? i have had so much anxiety and emotional troulbe with the lowest dose, that i am frighted to move up to the higher patch. does it prove to be beneificial or just cuase more of the scary anxious feelings?
Posted by Pops_1 on May 30, 2006, at 16:08:13
In reply to EMSAM Dosages, posted by katie san diego on May 30, 2006, at 14:13:04
> how many of you have been on the higher doses of EMSAM? i have had so much anxiety and emotional troulbe with the lowest dose, that i am frighted to move up to the higher patch. does it prove to be beneificial or just cuase more of the scary anxious feelings?
I can't answer your question (i'm just starting the 20mg patch) but from your other posts it sounds like EMSAM may not be a great match for you, unless you were to combine it with other anti-anxiety meds like Klonopin. EMSAM metabolizes into various amphetamines which likely account for the anxiety and insomnia some are experiencing. I'm one of those people that benefits from amphetamines w/o feeling very anxious, but I think people prone to anxiety maybe should try EMSAM as a second or third like AD.That said, if you and your doctor are determined to try EMSAM, in your situation I likely wouldn't want to increase the dose until the anxiety feelings abated at the 20mg patch dose. Unless you feel the anxiety was there before you started the patch, but that doesn't sound like the case for you. The side effects likely will only get worse if you go up in dose.
Nardil may have dietary restrictions that EMSAM doesn't, but it's also known to have strong anti-anxiety effects, so if you really need to try an MAOI and adding Klonopin or another anti-anxiety drug to EMSAM isn't an option, maybe Nardil might be worth a try.Good luck, let us know what happens!
Posted by Phillipa on May 30, 2006, at 22:22:30
In reply to Re: EMSAM Dosages, posted by Pops_1 on May 30, 2006, at 16:08:13
How bout cutting the patch in half? You can and it's okay. Love Phillipa
Posted by strugglingsteve on May 31, 2006, at 0:28:25
In reply to EMSAM Dosages, posted by katie san diego on May 30, 2006, at 14:13:04
I am on the 9 mg patch and some of the anxiety has calmed down for me. I live in san diego too. Who is your doctor? Mine is at PCSD in la mesa...
> how many of you have been on the higher doses of EMSAM? i have had so much anxiety and emotional troulbe with the lowest dose, that i am frighted to move up to the higher patch. does it prove to be beneificial or just cuase more of the scary anxious feelings?
Posted by katie san diego on May 31, 2006, at 0:42:07
In reply to Re: EMSAM Dosages » katie san diego, posted by strugglingsteve on May 31, 2006, at 0:28:25
i am in south carlsbad and having a great deal of trouble with doctors. My last doc was a woman who seemed to throw drugs at me without really thinking thru the side effects (ellavil isnt sedating?) or paying attention to the medications i had already told her i had bad reactions too (seroquel), ECT (done that doc!) and finally left her for a recommendation.
this last guy was horrible. he yelled at me for having a crying panic attack in his office while i was in the worst of the scary pannicy depressive state of the EMSAM. I've had severe depression for 13 years now, and i've never had a doctor actually grab a tissue box out of my hands and send me back into the waiting room and demand i calm down before he would speak to me again. it was simple horrible in every way. i wanted to drive my car into a wall and end it all. i need to find someone else super quick and may have to go back to doc #1 and swallow my pride. i didnt realize what good doctors i had in No Virginia until i moved out here.
Posted by katie san diego on May 31, 2006, at 0:47:10
In reply to Re: EMSAM Dosages » katie san diego, posted by strugglingsteve on May 31, 2006, at 0:28:25
> I am on the 9 mg patch and some of the anxiety has calmed down for me. I live in san diego too. Who is your doctor? Mine is at PCSD in la mesa...
>
How long did you stay on the lower dose before moving on to the 9mg. what were the symtoms that make you decide to increase?
Posted by strugglingsteve on May 31, 2006, at 13:44:37
In reply to Re: EMSAM Dosages, posted by katie san diego on May 31, 2006, at 0:47:10
I was on the 6 mg for 5 weeks and it didnt work so my doc increased it to the 9 mg patch. If you need a referral to a good doc, babblemail me and I will give you my docs name and number.
> > I am on the 9 mg patch and some of the anxiety has calmed down for me. I live in san diego too. Who is your doctor? Mine is at PCSD in la mesa...
> >
> How long did you stay on the lower dose before moving on to the 9mg. what were the symtoms that make you decide to increase?
Posted by katie san diego on May 31, 2006, at 18:36:36
In reply to Re: EMSAM Dosages, posted by strugglingsteve on May 31, 2006, at 13:44:37
i dont know how to babblemail! i'm back with the old doctor. she finally called me back today after i ungraciously dumped her 2 weeks ago. we are increasing to 9mg. if this doesnt work, i am seriously thinking of getting off all meds altogether.
my brother did it years ago. he bikes a lot for his endorphins. my sister only uses prozac for short term use when things get really bad, gets therapy, then gets off again. i think that 10 years on ssri's has f*cked me up. i just dont know anymore.
Posted by Donna Louise on May 31, 2006, at 21:44:02
In reply to Re: EMSAM Dosages, posted by strugglingsteve on May 31, 2006, at 13:44:37
> I was on the 6 mg for 5 weeks and it didnt work so my doc increased it to the 9 mg patch. If you need a referral to a good doc, babblemail me and I will give you my docs name and number.
>
> > > I am on the 9 mg patch and some of the anxiety has calmed down for me. I live in san diego too. Who is your doctor? Mine is at PCSD in la mesa...
> > >Hey Steve, hope you are not struggling so much now. That is what I want to ask you. I have raised myself the last 3 days to 9mg by cutting a patch in half and adding midday. I knew I was going to need more for depression. At first I thought it was going to give me rage like Wellbutrin but actually it has made me feel less like that and less anxious too. I still fell a little depressed though. I know a couple of days is soon to tell if 9mg will help with that but I am glad it is seeming to help with the anxiety more, suprise. My question, has going to 9mg helped with the depression, if that is indeed your reason for going up?
Thanks so much,donna
> > How long did you stay on the lower dose before moving on to the 9mg. what were the symtoms that make you decide to increase?
>
>
Posted by strugglingsteve on June 1, 2006, at 0:17:40
In reply to Re: EMSAM Dosages » strugglingsteve, posted by Donna Louise on May 31, 2006, at 21:44:02
I went up on the dosage because the 6 mg patch didnt do anything. So far same story two weeks at 9 mg patch. Never mind that I hate the diet, but at least no side effects so far either. I still have no libido and that sucks but not sure its from emsam as I had no libido before I started it.
> > I was on the 6 mg for 5 weeks and it didnt work so my doc increased it to the 9 mg patch. If you need a referral to a good doc, babblemail me and I will give you my docs name and number.
> >
> > > > I am on the 9 mg patch and some of the anxiety has calmed down for me. I live in san diego too. Who is your doctor? Mine is at PCSD in la mesa...
> > > >
>
> Hey Steve, hope you are not struggling so much now. That is what I want to ask you. I have raised myself the last 3 days to 9mg by cutting a patch in half and adding midday. I knew I was going to need more for depression. At first I thought it was going to give me rage like Wellbutrin but actually it has made me feel less like that and less anxious too. I still fell a little depressed though. I know a couple of days is soon to tell if 9mg will help with that but I am glad it is seeming to help with the anxiety more, suprise. My question, has going to 9mg helped with the depression, if that is indeed your reason for going up?
> Thanks so much,
>
> donna
> > > How long did you stay on the lower dose before moving on to the 9mg. what were the symtoms that make you decide to increase?
> >
> >
>
>
Posted by Jakeman on June 1, 2006, at 0:21:55
In reply to Re: EMSAM Dosages » strugglingsteve, posted by Donna Louise on May 31, 2006, at 21:44:02
An odd thing thing that I have experienced with Emsam is that some of the solid, heavy weight of depression has turned into just plain sadness. Maybe it's because I quit Celexa. But I like feeling my feelings without the drowning weight of depression. Everything feels more workable. I've cried at times, (first time in a long time, especially with my therapist) but it wasn't a bad thing. I've felt better afterwards. It's only been a week though, so who knows.
I think everyone may have various experiences and it may be wise to not read too much into these anecdotal reports. Just a thought.
warm regards, Jake
Posted by Iansf on June 3, 2006, at 1:13:48
In reply to Re: EMSAM Dosages, posted by Jakeman on June 1, 2006, at 0:21:55
> An odd thing thing that I have experienced with Emsam is that some of the solid, heavy weight of depression has turned into just plain sadness. Maybe it's because I quit Celexa. But I like feeling my feelings without the drowning weight of depression. Everything feels more workable. I've cried at times, (first time in a long time, especially with my therapist) but it wasn't a bad thing. I've felt better afterwards. It's only been a week though, so who knows.
>
So many people think depression and sadness are the same thing, but, at least for me, they aren't at all. I find sadness...well, sad. But not painful. Certainly not painful in the way depression is painful. In a certain sense, I actually enjoy feeling sad because I still feel connected to the world. With depression I feel cut off from everything. Not that I'd want to be sad all the time, but it's not something I would want to avoid, the way I LONG to avoid depression.Actually, one of the problems with depression is that it's almost impossible to describe to someone who's never experienced it, or experienced it so little it hasn't really registered with them. They tend to think it's sadness and wonder why you'd make such a big deal of it. Sometimes I wish so badly I could get it across to people, so they could understand just how horrible it really is.
Posted by Jakeman on June 3, 2006, at 2:16:32
In reply to Re: EMSAM Dosages » Jakeman, posted by Iansf on June 3, 2006, at 1:13:48
. Sometimes I wish so badly I could get it across to people, so they could understand just how horrible it really is.
Believe me I know what you mean. And because depression is misunderstood by others, I tend to isolate myself from them when I'm really under the bridge.
warm regards, jake
Posted by Last Chance on June 3, 2006, at 12:17:43
In reply to Re: EMSAM Dosages » Iansf, posted by Jakeman on June 3, 2006, at 2:16:32
I have noticed also that I am feeling more sadness - taking half patch 3mg for 1 week now - it is better than just the heaviness of depression. I am feeling too much anxiety though, and trying to decide if I need more Benzo - currently .125 Klonapin (tapering down for the last year) .5 Xanax. I will try increasing Emsam up to 6mg, and see if anxiety is increased or decreased. Richard
Posted by jetcity10 on June 4, 2006, at 0:00:04
In reply to Re: Emsam, sadness vs. depression, posted by Last Chance on June 3, 2006, at 12:17:43
I too have found myself crying a lot more since being on the EMSAM. It could be that the depression has let up some and that maybe I can now actually feel some of my feelings. (I also feel better at times!)
This is the end of the thread.
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