![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
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 Ame-Sans-Vie on October 16, 2006, at 4:32:33
Actually, I haven't used it for the past two weeks or so. The early-morning awakening became overly problematic, and the Dalmane just wasn't cutting it anymore. I wasn't about to go back to barbiturates or meprobamate to take care of this side effect; not after I tried so hard to get off them.
And strangely enough, the pro-sexual effect of the drug became just too overwhelming -- I spent so much time thinking about sex that I actually considered low-dose paroxetine to quiet things down "down there"!!
The AD effects of Emsam weren't so wonderful for me anyway. Just increased energy, some anxiolysis, and of course the aforementioned libido increase. Not enough for me to continue on with it.
For the record, I had been on the 40mg patch for a couple months now, along with 0.5mg alprazolam TID and 30mg flurazepam HS. And for anyone who's concerned about narcotic use (medically supervised, of course) while using Emsam, just thought I'd share that during the last few weeks of my Emsam trial I developed a pretty bad case of bronchitis and then caught the cold immediately afterward. Was ill for over three weeks straight. My doc gave me Levaquin (levofloxacin) 500mg QD x 7 days for the bronchitis, and I went back and forth between the narcotic/antihistamine combination syrups Tussionex (hydrocodone polistirex/chlorpheniramine polistirex) and Phenergan with Codeine. No problems whatsoever, which was great seeing as how cough drops do just about jack s*** for me, dextromethorphan is absolutely MAOI-contraindicated, and Tessalon Perles (benzonatate) cause me pretty severe GI distress. So of course, YMMV, but for me hydrocodone and codeine were just fine.
So, what's next on the list for me now? Well, I'm of course sticking with the Xanax at 1.5mg daily (sometimes less) and occasional Dalmane or Halcion for sleep (depending on whether my particular problem that week has to do with sleep latency or early-morning awakening, lol).
I think I'll go back to Dexedrine or Desoxyn, but at a more moderate dose than I've previously taken (something like 20mg/day Dex or 10mg/day Des). That's really just something to hold me over until I can try Shire's new lisdexamfetamine dimesylate which has recently been declared approvable by the FDA... or perhaps one of Shire's other drugs in the pipeline: SPD465, a new 16-hour release form of Adderall. I'll keep you all updated!
Cheers,
Michael
Posted by Phillipa on October 16, 2006, at 11:47:02
In reply to Guess Emsam is a bust... sigh..., posted by Ame-Sans-Vie on October 16, 2006, at 4:32:33
Another EMSAM failure I think this med is a bust. Sorry about this Michael. Love Phillipa
Posted by ed_uk on October 18, 2006, at 14:17:07
In reply to Guess Emsam is a bust... sigh..., posted by Ame-Sans-Vie on October 16, 2006, at 4:32:33
Nice to hear from you Michael, I'm sorry the Emsam didn't work out. Did you find Levaquin made you anxious? Some people apparantly do.
Ed
Posted by Phillipa on October 18, 2006, at 20:43:25
In reply to Re: Guess Emsam is a bust... sigh... » Ame-Sans-Vie, posted by ed_uk on October 18, 2006, at 14:17:07
Ed levoquin made me almost run a car off the road when it first came out it's horrible. Love PJ O
Posted by ed_uk on October 19, 2006, at 15:19:33
In reply to Re: Guess Emsam is a bust... sigh... » ed_uk, posted by Phillipa on October 18, 2006, at 20:43:25
Hi PJ
>levoquin made me almost run a car off the road when it first came out it's horrible
Why PJ, what happened?
I hear Levaquin is widely used by GPs in the US. GPs in the UK hardly ever prescribe levofloxacin (Levaquin, Tavanic). It's mainly used to treat serious infections which have been demonstrated to be resistant to multiple classes of antibiotics. It's mainly reserved for hospital use.
Amoxicillin (Amoxil) is preferred for respiratory tract infections, middle ear infections, bacterial sinusitis etc. Erythromycin is used a lot for pneumonia. Trimethoprim and cefalexin (Keflex) are popular for uncomplicated cystitis. Co-trimoxazole (Bactrim, Septrin) is never prescribed for cystitis in the UK anymore, it has been replaced by trimethoprim alone which has less side effects.
GPs in the UK almost never prescribe expensive new antibiotics actually. They're used a lot in hospitals though, to treat serious infections.
Ed xx
Posted by Phillipa on October 19, 2006, at 21:07:13
In reply to Antibiotics » Phillipa, posted by ed_uk on October 19, 2006, at 15:19:33
Ed bet they dont use Z pacs either? That's one of the most popular here. The levoquin and I just didn't jive. And when I just had to take Cipro and Flagyl I was praying for the l0 day when it was over. I made it phew!!!!!!Love PJ O
Posted by Phillipa on October 19, 2006, at 21:08:21
In reply to Antibiotics » Phillipa, posted by ed_uk on October 19, 2006, at 15:19:33
Ed google levoquin it can make you psychotic. Love PJ O
Posted by ed_uk on October 20, 2006, at 14:39:22
In reply to Re: Antibiotics » ed_uk, posted by Phillipa on October 19, 2006, at 21:07:13
>Ed bet they dont use Z pacs either?
No, they don't use azithromycin (Zithromax) very much at all, it's far too expensive. 5-7 day courses of other antibiotics are used instead. Azithromycin is mainly reserved for the treatment of the sexually transmitted infection chlamydia, a single 1g dose is usually curative.
>Flagyl
Metronidazole (Flagyl) is widely prescribed in the UK, but ALWAYS as a generic. Brand name Flagyl is virtually never used. Dentists often prescribe 3-5 day courses of metronidazole.
Ed xx
Posted by ed_uk on October 20, 2006, at 14:47:05
In reply to Re: Antibiotics » ed_uk, posted by Phillipa on October 19, 2006, at 21:08:21
A new official warning has just been added to levofloxacin in the UK.......
Psychotic reactions have been reported in patients receiving quinolones, including levofloxacin. In very rare cases these have progressed to suicidal thoughts and self-endangering behaviour- sometimes after only a single dose of levofloxacin. In the event that the patient develops these reactions, levofloxacin should be discontinued and appropriate measures instituted. Caution is recommended if levofloxacin is to be used in psychotic patients or in patients with history of psychiatric disease.
Posted by Ame-Sans-Vie on October 21, 2006, at 9:00:53
In reply to Re: Guess Emsam is a bust... sigh... » Ame-Sans-Vie, posted by Phillipa on October 16, 2006, at 11:47:02
Sorry it took me so long to post back; I've been busy, busy, busy lately!!
>> Another EMSAM failure I think this med is a bust. Sorry about this Michael. Love Phillipa
Well, it definitely isn't a wonder-drug (but what is?)... but I'm sure some benefit greatly from it. I'm doing all right these days though. I actually feel quite a bit better off the Emsam; just a pinch of Xanax throughout the day and I'm pretty darned productive. About to go into the studio for the first time in years and record an album with my new band!! :-D
Oh, btw, I got your e-mail response to me a little while back, but Gmail is giving me some technically difficulties lately (argh...). I'll respond as soon as I can.
>> Nice to hear from you Michael, I'm sorry the Emsam didn't work out. Did you find Levaquin made you anxious? Some people apparantly do.
>> Ed
Nice to see you as well, Ed. :-)
As far as the Emsam goes, eh... I've grown to accept over the years that you win some, you lose some.
Actually I had no problem with the Levaquin personally, though my mother recently had to take a course of the stuff and it nearly drove her out of her skull! Then again, I *was* taking, errr, "healthy" (lol) doses of Tussionex (~2 tsp per dose... believe that's 20mg hydrocodone polistirex and 16mg chlorpheniramine polistirex) throughout my antibiotic treatment, so that may have contributed to my relative well-being. ;-)
Take care, you two!
Cheers,
Michael
Posted by irishcatholic on October 24, 2006, at 9:49:46
In reply to Levaquin psychosis » Phillipa, posted by ed_uk on October 20, 2006, at 14:47:05
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had big trouble with Cipro, also a quinolone.
This is not a quack internet rumor or trial lawyers on the prowl for $$, I read about quinolone side effects in the Wall St. Journal.
There is an active quinolone group on Yahoo.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.