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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by valene on June 15, 2006, at 17:32:48
I picked up my 30 day supply of 6mg Emsam today and I am afraid to try it after reading the reviews on this board. Most of them have been negative.
Big chicken here, I am also afraid of all SSRI's and read on Medscape that Effexor/cymbalta now can cause glaucoma, so that is out.
Does anyone have a suggestion? I am on xanax, 2mg. that's it. My pdoc is really pushing for an antidepressant and I have resisted up til saying yes to the EMSAM. She is "putting my feet to the fire" and making me take an A/D!
Thanks, Val
Posted by willyee on June 15, 2006, at 19:20:41
In reply to Got my EMSAM scared to try it :-(, posted by valene on June 15, 2006, at 17:32:48
Shes not making u take it,dont take it,in fact if ur sooo filled with anxiety on the onstart chances are you might notice every little thing and be discourgaed away.
If yyou are that concerned prior to using a med,i mean to the point in which u sound,i think you will only make it harder for the medication to work.
Its your body,no ONE can force u to put drugs in it,thats criminal!
Posted by Jakeman on June 15, 2006, at 20:13:19
In reply to Got my EMSAM scared to try it :-(, posted by valene on June 15, 2006, at 17:32:48
> I picked up my 30 day supply of 6mg Emsam today and I am afraid to try it after reading the reviews on this board. Most of them have been negative.
>
> Big chicken here, I am also afraid of all SSRI's and read on Medscape that Effexor/cymbalta now can cause glaucoma, so that is out.
>
> Does anyone have a suggestion? I am on xanax, 2mg. that's it. My pdoc is really pushing for an antidepressant and I have resisted up til saying yes to the EMSAM. She is "putting my feet to the fire" and making me take an A/D!
>
> Thanks, ValVal, what is your diagnosis? Do you need more motivation? If you really don't want an AD then I wouldn't take any. You may want to do some research on selegeline...there's a lot of data out there. If you want to be cautious cut the patch in half and try it that way for a week or so and see how you feel. I'm sticking with it for now and have been mostly pleased, but I still in an experimental mode.
warm regards, Jake
Posted by Phillipa on June 15, 2006, at 20:20:58
In reply to Got my EMSAM scared to try it :-(, posted by valene on June 15, 2006, at 17:32:48
Valene weren't you doing fine with only the benzos? Who's pushing you to take EMSAM it's a powerful med. Love Phillipa
Posted by cecilia on June 15, 2006, at 21:43:20
In reply to Got my EMSAM scared to try it :-(, posted by valene on June 15, 2006, at 17:32:48
I would run, run run from a doctor who is "making" you take a med!!! It's your body. And if you've never been on an AD why on earth would she start you on a brand new one like Emsam? At least with the ones that have been on the market longer there's more knowledge about potential side effects. Cecilia
Posted by valene on June 15, 2006, at 22:19:17
In reply to Re: Got my EMSAM scared to try it :-( Valene, posted by cecilia on June 15, 2006, at 21:43:20
Sorry, I should have mentioned that in the past I have tried some of the SSRI'S and was on Prozac for a few years but I didn't feel it helped me. I tried Paxil, Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Serzone and Effexor and none of them really worked much except the Effexor. I am very med sensitive. I do think my pdoc has my best interest at heart and I am depressed. I have a hard time getting going in the morning. Very unmotivated but agitated at times.
The famous psychopharmacologist I saw in Boston, Dr. Salzman, said that Lexapro would be a good one for me to try but I hesitate to try any more SSRIs. He also said EMSAM could work for me. I have GAD and SAD with depression.
As to my psychiatrist making me take an A/D, she won't if I tell her I will not take anything. She just wants to see me get out of this depression. I think she prescribed the patch because I mentioned I had seen some good reactions to it here and that Dr. Salzman said it would be okay to try it. I will probably try cutting it in half and see how that goes.
Val
Posted by valene on June 15, 2006, at 22:26:47
In reply to Re: Got my EMSAM scared to try it :-( » valene, posted by Jakeman on June 15, 2006, at 20:13:19
I have GAD, social anxiety and depression. I do need motivation. I have a very hard time doing things and even getting myself going in the morning. Feel paralyzed some days. I plan to cut the patch in half at first. Thanks Jake, I hope that EMSAM works for you. Val
> Val, what is your diagnosis? Do you need more motivation? If you really don't want an AD then I wouldn't take any. You may want to do some research on selegeline...there's a lot of data out there. If you want to be cautious cut the patch in half and try it that way for a week or so and see how you feel. I'm sticking with it for now and have been mostly pleased, but I still in an experimental mode.
>
> warm regards, Jake
>
>
Posted by valene on June 15, 2006, at 22:32:29
In reply to Re: Got my EMSAM scared to try it :-(, posted by willyee on June 15, 2006, at 19:20:41
You're right, Willyee, wrong choice of words by me, she can't make me take anything and she won't. I realize I will be hypervigilant for side effects. Hopefully I can get past this.
> Shes not making u take it,dont take it,in fact if ur sooo filled with anxiety on the onstart chances are you might notice every little thing and be discourgaed away.
>
> If yyou are that concerned prior to using a med,i mean to the point in which u sound,i think you will only make it harder for the medication to work.
> Its your body,no ONE can force u to put drugs in it,thats criminal!
Posted by valene on June 15, 2006, at 22:38:20
In reply to Re: Got my EMSAM scared to try it :-( » valene, posted by Phillipa on June 15, 2006, at 20:20:58
> Valene weren't you doing fine with only the benzos? Who's pushing you to take EMSAM it's a powerful med. Love Phillipa
I am doing okay on the xanax but I am quite depressed much of the time - she wants to see me more motivated to do things, less miserable feeling, so I think I will end up trying it.
Val
Posted by Phillipa on June 15, 2006, at 22:41:18
In reply to Re: Got my EMSAM scared to try it :-( » Phillipa, posted by valene on June 15, 2006, at 22:38:20
I just E-mailed you. Love Phillipa
Posted by Jost on June 16, 2006, at 3:25:14
In reply to Re: Got my EMSAM scared to try it :-( » valene, posted by Phillipa on June 15, 2006, at 22:41:18
There seems to be the usual mix of reactions, I thought? I'm taking ensam, now on 9 mg, because of taking it off at night for better sleep. (Itg's 4 am, but I kept it on part of the night, so I might have trouble getting back to sleep now--it does seem to cause some insomnia for me, but I also have a shoulder problem, which was bad today.)
It definitely improves my mood and anxiety level.
I'm in the introductory phase: the 6 mg for about 25 days, and now the 9 mg for two or three.
It's not that scary a drug, at least for me-- although I resisted the idea of it at first--
Sometimes, it's a matter of biting the bullet-- in the sense of diving into the pool, against reluctance to step onto the unmerry-go=round of expectations, concerns, self-questioning. I had to, even though parnate and cymbalta have helped me.
So far, I do think it's making a positive change, I really do. Of course, these things are hard to calibrate, but remember-- you don't have to keep taking it if it's disappointing. Not fun to have to go through it, but there's a reasonable chance it won't happen that way.
I hope it works for you, if you do decide to give it a try..
Jost
This is the end of the thread.
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