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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by strugglingsteve on July 3, 2006, at 21:04:36
I am up to 12 mg of emsam and still no response to it. I did 6 mg patch for a month then the 9 mg patch for a month and now into my second week at 12 and nothing yet. Its very disappointing as I see others doing ok. I have severe depression and agitation. I also take lithium which has calmed me down quite a bit but I just cannot get over that hump into feeling good.
Posted by Phillipa on July 3, 2006, at 22:15:14
In reply to Emsam at 12 mg, posted by strugglingsteve on July 3, 2006, at 21:04:36
Steve it's late most of the posts are in the am. Love Phillipa
Posted by Jakeman on July 3, 2006, at 22:44:06
In reply to Emsam at 12 mg, posted by strugglingsteve on July 3, 2006, at 21:04:36
> I am up to 12 mg of emsam and still no response to it. I did 6 mg patch for a month then the 9 mg patch for a month and now into my second week at 12 and nothing yet. Its very disappointing as I see others doing ok. I have severe depression and agitation. I also take lithium which has calmed me down quite a bit but I just cannot get over that hump into feeling good.
Steve not everyone's doing ok, I've see many people augmenting Emsam with other AD's or other mood augmentors. I've just added on Lamictal. Someone I read about is using a tricyclic with Emsam. I feel all these attempts are trying to fill in a piece of the puzzle. We'are with you.
warm regards, Jake
Posted by Donna Louise on July 4, 2006, at 6:24:52
In reply to Re: Emsam at 12 mg » strugglingsteve, posted by Jakeman on July 3, 2006, at 22:44:06
> > I am up to 12 mg of emsam and still no response to it. I did 6 mg patch for a month then the 9 mg patch for a month and now into my second week at 12 and nothing yet. Its very disappointing as I see others doing ok. I have severe depression and agitation. I also take lithium which has calmed me down quite a bit but I just cannot get over that hump into feeling good.
>
> Steve not everyone's doing ok, I've see many people augmenting Emsam with other AD's or other mood augmentors. I've just added on Lamictal. Someone I read about is using a tricyclic with Emsam. I feel all these attempts are trying to fill in a piece of the puzzle. We'are with you.
>
> warm regards, Jake
>
>jake is right, Steve. I don't know if anyone is using just the patch. It is taking a village, so to speak. I am on the 12mg now too and now things are starting to look up. It may just be that is what some of us need and it takes awhile to really work. Hang in there, we are supposed to give these things many weeks to work, starting over on the timeline with each dose increase. We are lucky if we feel results sooner.
donna
Posted by jealibeanz on July 4, 2006, at 8:18:20
In reply to Re: Emsam at 12 mg » Jakeman, posted by Donna Louise on July 4, 2006, at 6:24:52
Donna, do you think there is a significant difference from the 9 mg to 12 mg patch? How long have you been at 12?
Posted by ZeitGuest on July 4, 2006, at 20:04:49
In reply to Re: Emsam at 12 mg » Jakeman, posted by Donna Louise on July 4, 2006, at 6:24:52
> jake is right, Steve. I don't know if anyone is using just the patch. It is taking a village, so to speak. I am on the 12mg now too and now things are starting to look up. It may just be that is what some of us need and it takes awhile to really work. Hang in there, we are supposed to give these things many weeks to work, starting over on the timeline with each dose increase. We are lucky if we feel results sooner.
>
> donnaI'm one of those few people just using the patch with no side dishes (apart from a few aborted attempts to take a low dose of Klonopin, which made me feel drowsy and stupid).
I've been using Emsam for 8-1/2 weeks (six weeks at 6mg; two weeks at 9mg; four days at 12mg), and it's just not working very well for me. The agitiation is somewhat lessened at the higher doses (MAO-A inhibition boosting my serotonin levels?), but not by very much. The AD effect is, well, maddeningly SUBTLE, if it's there at all -- no sun-suddenly-breaking-through-the-clouds moment for me thus far. Most disappointingly, the patch has had no effect on my social anxiety. I was hoping for an effect akin to Nardil without the side effects, but no dice.
If nothing changes at the 10-week mark, I'll be de-patching and heading back to the drawing board. In the meantime, I'll be prowling this board probably too obsessively, looking for a preponderance of anecdotal evidence to support my next game of meds roulette... Will it be Lamictal? Big bad Nardil? What's up with that D-Cycloserine stuff? (Michael Bell, please report in.) Or will it be back to Prozac in the hope that our four-month vacation apart will make us feel like newlyweds again?
Posted by jealibeanz on July 4, 2006, at 20:41:58
In reply to Re: Emsam at 12 mg, posted by ZeitGuest on July 4, 2006, at 20:04:49
What about going higher than 12 mg?
Posted by Donna Louise on July 4, 2006, at 22:10:25
In reply to Re: Emsam at 12 mg, posted by jealibeanz on July 4, 2006, at 8:18:20
> Donna, do you think there is a significant difference from the 9 mg to 12 mg patch? How long have you been at 12?
There has been significant improvement. I have been on it for about 2 weeks. But I have also started lamictal and that is giving significant improvement too. It is a great combo for me so far.
Posted by Donna Louise on July 4, 2006, at 22:13:32
In reply to Re: Emsam at 12 mg, posted by ZeitGuest on July 4, 2006, at 20:04:49
> > jake is right, Steve. I don't know if anyone is using just the patch. It is taking a village, so to speak. I am on the 12mg now too and now things are starting to look up. It may just be that is what some of us need and it takes awhile to really work. Hang in there, we are supposed to give these things many weeks to work, starting over on the timeline with each dose increase. We are lucky if we feel results sooner.
> >
> > donna
>
> I'm one of those few people just using the patch with no side dishes (apart from a few aborted attempts to take a low dose of Klonopin, which made me feel drowsy and stupid).
>
> I've been using Emsam for 8-1/2 weeks (six weeks at 6mg; two weeks at 9mg; four days at 12mg), and it's just not working very well for me. The agitiation is somewhat lessened at the higher doses (MAO-A inhibition boosting my serotonin levels?), but not by very much. The AD effect is, well, maddeningly SUBTLE, if it's there at all -- no sun-suddenly-breaking-through-the-clouds moment for me thus far. Most disappointingly, the patch has had no effect on my social anxiety. I was hoping for an effect akin to Nardil without the side effects, but no dice.
>
> If nothing changes at the 10-week mark, I'll be de-patching and heading back to the drawing board. In the meantime, I'll be prowling this board probably too obsessively, looking for a preponderance of anecdotal evidence to support my next game of meds roulette... Will it be Lamictal? Big bad Nardil? What's up with that D-Cycloserine stuff? (Michael Bell, please report in.) Or will it be back to Prozac in the hope that our four-month vacation apart will make us feel like newlyweds again?
>Why don't you try lamictal with the patch before giving up on it? Has made a big difference for me and can't hurt. If you don't like it, you can quit it.
donna
Posted by Crazy Horse on July 5, 2006, at 10:00:40
In reply to Emsam at 12 mg, posted by strugglingsteve on July 3, 2006, at 21:04:36
> I am up to 12 mg of emsam and still no response to it. I did 6 mg patch for a month then the 9 mg patch for a month and now into my second week at 12 and nothing yet. Its very disappointing as I see others doing ok. I have severe depression and agitation. I also take lithium which has calmed me down quite a bit but I just cannot get over that hump into feeling good.
Steve,
I'm so sorry you are still suffering so badly! With 25 years of this sh*t, i know how you feel..and i'd like to help you if i can. First of all, please feel free to Babblemail me anytime. And, can you please tell me what your diagnosis is, and all the meds you have tried. I am certainly not a Doc, but i do have A LOT of experience w/ depression and anxiety. My diagnosis is Major depression w/some atypical features, GAD, social anxiety disorder, and OCD. But, although i still have my "Bad Days" i'm a currently doing quite well on EMSAM, Trazodone and Klonopin.
I'll be waiting for your B-Mail, and will answer you promptly. Hang in there...I know this is hard to see right now, BUT THINGS WILL GET BETTER.Sincerely, Monte
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