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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by War-Face on October 20, 2007, at 18:57:07
I am hoping that people who have taken Wellbutrin and Emsam at different times could compare them for me, with a focus on attention, cognition, energy, anxiety, anti-depressive response, and side effects.
I have been taking Wellbutrin SR 200 mg per day for a few months and have responded pretty well to it (over 200 and I feel pretty angry a lot of the time). My pdoc is confident that I could do even better on Emsam and wants me to give it a shot. My diagnosis would be something like MDD and ADD (inattentive).
I just want to know what I am getting myself into if I do agree to switch.
Sincere thanks to all who can help in advance!
Posted by Phillipa on October 20, 2007, at 21:12:28
In reply to --Compare EMSAM + Wellbutrin--, posted by War-Face on October 20, 2007, at 18:57:07
Wanted badly to try EMSAM but my pdoc said it would be too stimulating for me and wellbutrin was so stimulating for me at l50mg I appeared manic to my pdoc and ended up off the wellbutrin and in the hospital for a week. I'm a very anxious person Phillipa
Posted by d0pamine on October 21, 2007, at 4:29:26
In reply to --Compare EMSAM + Wellbutrin--, posted by War-Face on October 20, 2007, at 18:57:07
I've no longterm experience with Wellbutrin as I only took it for 2 weeks, but it certainly infuses a situation with an ample supply of jittery energy. I found myself running round getting stuff done as if I'd taken a whole bottle of amphetamines all while having hands that shook like a paint mixer and teeth that were trying to chew the tongue right out of my head. Perhaps this would have settled down and felt much more normal in a few more weeks, but I had to quit because it was making me deaf.
For me, EMSAM doesn't provide that "20 pots of coffee" level of energy. Although my response to it is in the same basic direction, it's not nearly to the same extreme. I'd say Wellbutrin pushes me past normal where as EMSAM lets me feel pretty much like a normal person. I really don't feel like I'm taking anything. I just feel normal, with a normal persons level of motivation and a normal persons ability to enjoy. I should note that there are likely some people who have become accustomed to feeling not quite normal upon taking their medication and for them that feeling is psychologically part of what helps them feel better as it's a constant reminder that they're taking something that should help with their problems, and because EMSAM doesn't really provide any such reminder it may feel a little less reassuring and consequently less effective even if all the same symptoms are relieved, but that's just from observation and not personal experience (if that makes any sense at all).
Posted by Phillipa on October 21, 2007, at 19:31:00
In reply to Re: --Compare EMSAM + Wellbutrin--, posted by d0pamine on October 21, 2007, at 4:29:26
Dopamine you didn't find EMSAM anxiety provoking like I did on the wellbutrin? Did you have insomnia or other side effects. Thanks as I still have two boxes of it here. Phillipa
Posted by d0pamine on October 23, 2007, at 16:24:56
In reply to Re: --Compare EMSAM + Wellbutrin-- » d0pamine, posted by Phillipa on October 21, 2007, at 19:31:00
I don't really have tendencies toward anxiety...In fact the only time I've ever even experienced any was when I tried parnate for a few weeks then stopped and when I stopped I felt anxiety for the first time in my life and it was like standing in the midst of a roaring bonfire. I couldn't even drink water without thinking I was going to smother...but I digress. To answer your question, EMSAM doesn't make me chew my tongue anywhere near the extent wellbutrin did and I'm on the largest patch, but I suspect someone with tendencies toward anxiety might have trouble with it.
This is the end of the thread.
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