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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jakeman on June 19, 2006, at 22:20:56
My experience (3 weeks, 6 mg) has been that Emsam produces minimal side effects in comparison to all other AD's that I have taken. I have not had eye troubles or GI side effects. It has produced more motivation for me, some mood improvement but that has diminished some over time. There is some agitiation and insomnia that not has been unmanageable. Will I it stay with it? I don't know.
warm regards, Jake
Posted by Phillipa on June 19, 2006, at 22:36:45
In reply to Follow up on Emsam posts, posted by Jakeman on June 19, 2006, at 22:20:56
Sending you an E-mail now. Love Phillipa
Posted by Jakeman on June 19, 2006, at 23:34:38
In reply to Re: Follow up on Emsam posts » Jakeman, posted by Phillipa on June 19, 2006, at 22:36:45
> Sending you an E-mail now. Love Phillipa
I might add that I'm a believer in therapy, especially dealing with blocked grief. Emsam (as opposed to ssri's) seems to allow me this ability.
warm regards, Jake
Posted by Donna Louise on June 21, 2006, at 8:59:01
In reply to Follow up on Emsam posts, posted by Jakeman on June 19, 2006, at 22:20:56
> My experience (3 weeks, 6 mg) has been that Emsam produces minimal side effects in comparison to all other AD's that I have taken. I have not had eye troubles or GI side effects. It has produced more motivation for me, some mood improvement but that has diminished some over time. There is some agitiation and insomnia that not has been unmanageable. Will I it stay with it? I don't know.
>
> warm regards, Jakejake, I felt better too but not really better until I went to 9mg and stayed there for a few weeks. don't give up too soon. The agitation either went away with the higher dose or the added lamictal or is a side effect that just passes after you give it enough time. Hang in there. It is helping it sounds like.
donna
Posted by Last Chance on June 21, 2006, at 11:48:40
In reply to Re: Follow up on Emsam posts » Jakeman, posted by Donna Louise on June 21, 2006, at 8:59:01
Are others doing better going to a higher dose? Are you leaving it on 24/7? I am still at 6mg, and 1/3 at night - maybe this is a mistake and I should move up. This is day 24. Thanx, Richard
Posted by Jost on June 21, 2006, at 13:34:33
In reply to Re: Follow up on Emsam posts, posted by Last Chance on June 21, 2006, at 11:48:40
If you take the patch (or most of it) off at night, it could well be worth using a higher-dose patch. That's what my pdoc suggested. I did try taking the 6 mg patch off at night, but it seemed to be better to have more. He suggested using the 9 mg patch for 14 hours a day (eg 8 am to 10 pm--but depending on your schedule).
I might try the 12 mg patch, if I still have some insomnia after a week or two. So far, I'm having trouble sleeping, but I'm also experimenting with using ambien and/or sonata.
I find ensam to be a good AD with few side effects (other than insomnia--which of course is really bad if it doesn't subside). But in terms of dosage, 6 mg might not be enough to be therapeutic.
Jost
Posted by Donna Louise on June 21, 2006, at 14:01:10
In reply to Re: Follow up on Emsam posts, posted by Last Chance on June 21, 2006, at 11:48:40
> Are others doing better going to a higher dose? Are you leaving it on 24/7? I am still at 6mg, and 1/3 at night - maybe this is a mistake and I should move up. This is day 24. Thanx, Richard
i have heard of others going up. I am on 9mg and I can tell a big difference. Not enough MAOI-A on the 6mg. I will happily go to 12mg if need be but I am good here. I leave it on 24/7 and always have. I don't know how truly therapeutic it can be if you take it off although I know others have been doing that. I don't even understand how that would help with insomnia, it is still in your system. Maybe it helps in psychological way to take it off. But I think it would hinder the therapeutic effects.
Initally my sleep was not as sound but that has either improved with time or going to 9mg. But I don't have insomnia, I sleep too much.donna
Posted by Jakeman on June 21, 2006, at 19:10:30
In reply to Re: Follow up on Emsam posts » Jakeman, posted by Donna Louise on June 21, 2006, at 8:59:01
>
> jake, I felt better too but not really better until I went to 9mg and stayed there for a few weeks. don't give up too soon. The agitation either went away with the higher dose or the added lamictal or is a side effect that just passes after you give it enough time. Hang in there. It is helping it sounds like.
>
> donna
>
Donna thanks for the encouragement. It is helping.
All meds seem to be a bit of a double edged sword for me. I'll gain something but lose something else, and but on balance the trade-off can be worth it.warm regards, Jake
Posted by Donna Louise on June 21, 2006, at 20:48:06
In reply to Re: Follow up on Emsam posts » Donna Louise, posted by Jakeman on June 21, 2006, at 19:10:30
>
> >
> > jake, I felt better too but not really better until I went to 9mg and stayed there for a few weeks. don't give up too soon. The agitation either went away with the higher dose or the added lamictal or is a side effect that just passes after you give it enough time. Hang in there. It is helping it sounds like.
> >
> > donna
> >
> Donna thanks for the encouragement. It is helping.
> All meds seem to be a bit of a double edged sword for me. I'll gain something but lose something else, and but on balance the trade-off can be worth it.
>
> warm regards, JakeOh, I know, me too. Except with this patch, now that enough time has passed, there is all positive. For the moment anyway. I think I am as good as I can get. Which ain't normal by society's standards by a long shot, but hey, I takes what I can gets and I will take this.
You will be better soon too.donna
Posted by Last Chance on June 21, 2006, at 22:58:42
In reply to Re: Follow up on Emsam posts » Jakeman, posted by Donna Louise on June 21, 2006, at 20:48:06
Thanx Donna, Jake, Jost - I will add a half patch starting tomorrow - will try leaving on at night, but at 6mg I couldn't sleep unless I took it off at least 3hrs before I went to bed. Are you paying attention to diet with the 9 and 12mg. Anyone else noticing decrease in sexual performance? Later, Richard
Posted by Donna Louise on June 22, 2006, at 5:04:03
In reply to Re: Follow up on Emsam posts, posted by Last Chance on June 21, 2006, at 22:58:42
> Thanx Donna, Jake, Jost - I will add a half patch starting tomorrow - will try leaving on at night, but at 6mg I couldn't sleep unless I took it off at least 3hrs before I went to bed. Are you paying attention to diet with the 9 and 12mg. Anyone else noticing decrease in sexual performance? Later, Richard
I don't eat anything listed on the diet anyway but tofu and soybean products. I have had a few bites of tofu and did not notice a difference. Tonight I plan on having about 3 oz with my meal. I am not concerned. According to the PI sheet, the diet is recommended because there wasn't as much testing about it on the higher mg patches. I think one test showed no reaction to foods. I also think, don't know if this right, just my conjecture, that is more about pressure from the FDA and what was holding things up for so long.
I lost my sexual everything on sri's and it hasn't come back. I was hoping with the patch it might and there are reports of selective levels of selegiline actually helping with that. But apparantly for me once I get into the area of serotonin which I need for the depression and anxiety, I lose sexual function. That is my biggest trade off, forgot about that Jakeman, when we were talking about trade offs.donna
Posted by Jakeman on June 22, 2006, at 19:05:06
In reply to Re: Follow up on Emsam posts, posted by Last Chance on June 21, 2006, at 22:58:42
Richard,
I've had an increase in libido since starting Emsam, 6mg.
warm regards, Jake
. Anyone else noticing decrease in sexual performance? Later, Richard
This is the end of the thread.
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