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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by wishingstar on April 21, 2007, at 16:51:44
Got a question regarding the 6mg emsam patch and alcohol. Going out for a special occasion tomorrow and I'd like to have a drink while I'm there.. just one and nothing too strong. I've recently been on the emsam patch.. pulled off the last one on Wed evening and none since. I know the food restrictions are less important with the 6mg patch, but does this stand for alcohol as well? Would one drink be okay?
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 21, 2007, at 17:27:06
In reply to emsam and alcohol, posted by wishingstar on April 21, 2007, at 16:51:44
I did.
Just make sure you have a designated driver or ride home.
Have fun, Michael
Posted by wishingstar on April 21, 2007, at 17:29:55
In reply to Re: Drink all you want on Emsam, posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 21, 2007, at 17:27:06
Posted by Phillipa on April 21, 2007, at 22:44:23
In reply to Re: Drink all you want on Emsam, posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 21, 2007, at 17:27:06
Well that's good no just bottled beer. Love Phillipa must be feeling much better.
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 22, 2007, at 0:12:46
In reply to Re: Drink all you want on Emsam, posted by Phillipa on April 21, 2007, at 22:44:23
I am a lightweight, even tho Im 6-4, 230.
I drink ANYTHING that does NOT taste like alcohol.
:)
Posted by Shortstop on April 22, 2007, at 12:34:37
In reply to I am a sissy and dont drink beer » Phillipa, posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 22, 2007, at 0:12:46
I've been on Emsam three weeks. Over the past week, I've noticed that I get buzzed more quickly -- two beers or glasses of wine feel like three or four -- and it's a better buzz, too. More like a high than a run-of-the-mill alcohol buzz.
I wouldn't want to encourage anyone to drink up to experience this -- and, indeed, be aware that you, too, may find you get "happy" faster while drinking on top of seleginine -- but I think the effect is worth noting and reporting to fellow Emsamians.
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 23, 2007, at 0:03:48
In reply to Emsam and Drinking, posted by Shortstop on April 22, 2007, at 12:34:37
Posted by stargazer on April 23, 2007, at 9:17:52
In reply to LOL You created new word: 'Emsamians' (nm) » Shortstop, posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 23, 2007, at 0:03:48
I too experienced greater effect of alcohol (etoh) with Emsam and other psych drugs, so I would always err on the side of caution before imbibing especially when not at home.
I would say all psych docs will say NEVER drink with any of the psych meds, since the drinking is not going to help the situation you're in, especially since etoh is a known depressant and the meds are being used to relieve depression.
Essentially you are undoing what the drugs are meant to do, so you really are just setting yourself back, especially in the early stages of trying to find a med that will work for you. It's hard enought to know what the med is doing, let alone the med and the alcohol together.
Drinking more than an occasionally glass or two (Max) of wine or beer, IMO, is just setting yourself up for failure and most of us have failed so many times, the risk is not one I would go with for a buzz or anything else beneficial from the alcohol. Too big a gamble.
You might as well just use etoh alone than with another prescribed doc.
And of those who do drink, are you being honest with your pdoc about how much your drink and what do they say about it?
Stargazer
Posted by Shortstop on April 23, 2007, at 10:31:20
In reply to 'Emsamians', love it..../Drinking issues, posted by stargazer on April 23, 2007, at 9:17:52
Stargazer, I'm a very moderate drinker. Two beers a night and that's it. Good for the heart /and/ the constitution, they say! On a weekend at a social gathering I might have three or four, tops, if it's a long-running event. In fact, that's what I did just this Saturday. I ended up having four beers -- but that was over a six-hour period.
Plus my issue is anxiety, not so much depression. Certainly they're related, but I don't think it's a big gig to sip beer in moderation on this stuff. I never get sloshed. In any case, as it happens, my next appointment with my pdoc is tomorrow. I'll ask his opinion and let you know what he says. He obviously has liability to think about, but he's generally very open and honest with me about things like this. He'll tell me if there's a real contraindication with moderate alcohol consumption and seleginine.
And by the way, tomorrow marks the three-week point for me on Emsam 6 mg. Apart from the alcohol-ehancement effect, I still don't notice any changes in mood or anxiety relief. My plan is to go eight weeks and then decide whether to keep shelling out the $40 copay or simply stick with my old program, benzos (Klonopin .5 every night before bed, Xanax .5 as needed during the day.)
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 23, 2007, at 11:03:22
In reply to Re: 'Emsamians', love it..../Drinking issues, posted by Shortstop on April 23, 2007, at 10:31:20
Shortstop: I like your Emsam plan. It kicked in for me out of nowhere during weeks 6-7. So I am very happy that you are committed to 8 weeks because by then you will definitely know.
Now another thing: Before you quit the drug, try going to the 12mg patch. There have been a few ppl on here reporting that it treats anxiety better at that dosage. I asked my pdoc, who is one of the founders about Emsam patch, and he said he has seen that in certain cases, too, the 12 hitting anxiety better.
That is what I will go to if Nardil does not work out for me (got five weeks to go), the 12 patch.
And REMEMBER: The No. 1 reason drugs don't work for people is NOT because the drugs DONT work, it's because people DONT have the PATIENCE to stay on them long enough for them to kick in. Proud of you, man.
Posted by Shortstop on April 23, 2007, at 11:28:18
In reply to Re: I like your Emsam plan, BUT ..., posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 23, 2007, at 11:03:22
UGHH (or can we just call you "Hope" for short?), thanks again for the encouragement. But here's the thing about going to a stronger dose. I *have* had a bit of an uptick in waves of anxiousness, but I chalk these up totally to the power of pyschosomatic suggestion. I knew I would get this effect, because part of my GAD is fear of unusual physiological feelings such as those brought on by drugs. This is so strong in me that even the benzos -- sedatives! -- brought on panic attacks when I first started them. So I'm sure I'd go through more of the same should I increase my dose of Emsam. Others have talked about getting the jitters, etc., from Emsam at low doses, so the idea that adding more would reduce rather than increase that kind of effect seems really counter-intuitive.
Posted by stargazer on April 23, 2007, at 15:54:50
In reply to Re: 'Emsamians', love it..../Drinking issues, posted by Shortstop on April 23, 2007, at 10:31:20
SS, Yes, I'm curious to hear your pdoc take on moderate etoh consumption too. Thanks. SG
Posted by Honore on April 23, 2007, at 17:02:42
In reply to Re: 'Emsamians', love it..../Drinking issues/SS, posted by stargazer on April 23, 2007, at 15:54:50
My pdoc also seemed fine with the idea of having a glass of wine or two on social occasions, or even to relax at home. At least so I inferred from his discussion of which wines not to have.
I haven't particularly made a distinction between wine and other alcohol in moderate amounts. But then I don't drink that much. Sometimes if I'm very tense, I have alittle, but not much.
But I've never had any problem.
Honore
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 24, 2007, at 1:54:30
In reply to Re: I like your Emsam plan, BUT ..., posted by Shortstop on April 23, 2007, at 11:28:18
Well you need to stay on 6mg patch for 8 weeks and then we can talk about things then. Hang in there, and good luck. GAD is my primary issue, too.
Posted by Shortstop on April 25, 2007, at 11:44:21
In reply to Re: I like your Emsam plan, BUT ... » Shortstop, posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 24, 2007, at 1:54:30
> Well you need to stay on 6mg patch for 8 weeks and then we can talk about things then. Hang in there, and good luck. GAD is my primary issue, too.
Doc says six, UGGH; if nothing by then, we're trying the 9 mg patch for six weeks. After that, if still nothing, it's back to plain ol' benzos.
He also said nothing about restricting alcohol consumption beyond the dietary guidelines. For me, I believe that means bottled beer but not tap if I go up to the 9's (or the 12's). Not because of the alcohol, just because of the tyramine content (which, as most here know, can present blood pressure problems when combined with MAOIs).
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 25, 2007, at 14:37:50
In reply to Re: I like your Emsam plan, BUT ..., posted by Shortstop on April 25, 2007, at 11:44:21
SS, instead of thinking or speculating what might go wrong, let's be positive about this six-week trail and not think about or talk about other options. You need to get in the mindset that 6mg is going to really kick in.
However, I must say if I wouldve quit after six, it wouldve been a major blunder. It wouldve never had it kick that 7th week like it did. Let's just play this by ear and see how things go. Im always here for you man. Michael
Posted by Shortstop on April 26, 2007, at 13:33:09
In reply to Re: I like your doc's plan for Emsam » Shortstop, posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 25, 2007, at 14:37:50
> Im always here for you man. Michael
Thanks, Michael! Much appreciated. SS
This is the end of the thread.
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