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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 chiron on February 19, 2007, at 19:33:53
If one of the MAOIs makes you worse, would it be likely that all of the MAOIs would have a similar effect? (I feel like Emsam is making me worse)
Posted by UGottaHaveHope on February 19, 2007, at 20:05:00
In reply to MAOIs + Emsam, posted by chiron on February 19, 2007, at 19:33:53
I empathize with you, but the docs said you don't feel anything from Emsam until 4-6 weeks. You could feel something sooner. I know I felt a lot more anxiety the first two weeks but I discovered that was my fear over taking Emsam.
I just want to encourage you, as hard as it is, to give it time. I know it's hard, and I'm as impatient as anyone, but if you can at all bear it, please try to hold on.
Posted by Phillipa on February 19, 2007, at 21:16:07
In reply to MAOIs + Emsam, posted by chiron on February 19, 2007, at 19:33:53
Chiron what size patch 6mg? My pdoc said they could be cut in quarters as she thought when she might let me try one that I'd only need a piece of a patch. Are you on anything for insomnia and anxiety? Love Phillipa
Posted by Quintal on February 19, 2007, at 21:37:00
In reply to MAOIs + Emsam, posted by chiron on February 19, 2007, at 19:33:53
No, EMSAM is very dopaminergic and not too good for anxiety it seems. Nardil on the other hand has a metabolite that increases GABA throughout the brain, promoting relaxation. Parnate is different from Nardil and EMSAM in many ways, and Marplan is usually said to be like a weak Nardil.
Q
Posted by chiron on February 19, 2007, at 21:53:53
In reply to Re: MAOIs + Emsam » chiron, posted by Phillipa on February 19, 2007, at 21:16:07
> Chiron what size patch 6mg?
Are you on anything for insomnia and anxiety?The 6mg patch. I take ambien for sleep, and I currently don't have anxiety problems.
Thanks :)
Posted by Phillipa on February 19, 2007, at 22:12:37
In reply to Re: MAOIs + Emsam, posted by chiron on February 19, 2007, at 21:53:53
Chiron okay that's good so is EMSAM depressing you more? Love Phillipa
Posted by chiron on February 19, 2007, at 22:22:33
In reply to Re: It may be too soon to tell anything, posted by UGottaHaveHope on February 19, 2007, at 20:05:00
Thanks for the encouragement. I probably shouldn't be posting so early, but I am really down and discouraged.
My dr. just left for two weeks, and said that if I get too agitated from it (which is a common reaction for me), to discontinue it. So far I haven't found it to be activating or cause agitation. I've felt more "down" & like crying.
It reminds me of my recent Topamax experience. A couple weeks of agitation & irritability (shortly after starting), and then a "switch" to feeling non-agitated but feeling like crying all of the time. I will give this a couple more days, and make sure it isn't PMS, but once meds have made my mood worsen, I haven't found that it gets better for me.
Posted by UGottaHaveHope on February 19, 2007, at 22:30:28
In reply to Re: It may be too soon to tell anything » UGottaHaveHope, posted by chiron on February 19, 2007, at 22:22:33
Yes, you need to do the best you can to grab ahold of your emotions. I am not a pdoc, but it is highly unlikely Emsam is having any effect on you after only two days. Maybe 10 days, but not two. I think what is happening is common: You, like me, have placed such high hope in this new drug and are expecting a more immediate response. Thats OK, thats normal. It's normal to want to feel better ASAP.
If you find the strength to remain on Emsam, I predict your pdoc will increase the dose. The theory is the higher the dose, the more energizing effect it will have on you.
Posted by UGottaHaveHope on February 19, 2007, at 22:32:47
In reply to Re: It may be too soon to tell anything » UGottaHaveHope, posted by chiron on February 19, 2007, at 22:22:33
The reason your pdoc said to discontinue if you want because the drug is so new and he like 99-percent of the pdocs have no idea what to expect. When in doubt, the pdoc says, stop it (for liability reasons). I'm telling you, please give it time.
Posted by Chairman_MAO on February 20, 2007, at 16:21:42
In reply to MAOIs + Emsam, posted by chiron on February 19, 2007, at 19:33:53
Not at all. Selegiline is atypical as far as MAOIs go, and is the least effective in terms of depression. The hydrazines (Nardil, Marplan) are considered "typical".
Posted by stargazer on February 20, 2007, at 17:44:39
In reply to Re: MAOIs + Emsam » chiron, posted by Chairman_MAO on February 20, 2007, at 16:21:42
Chiron, from what I've heard...Emsam has one of the mildest side effect profiles compared to the other MAO's.
Sorry it is(or something else unrelated?)causing you more distress, that is always my biggest fear with trying a new medication.
I was pretty lucky with Emsam, I really had no SE's that would discourage me from continuing it but we all have very different responses as you can see if you have read much about AD's.
You could try half of the patch and see if that reduces any of the bad feelings you are having.
I think I had read about someone who did this and was slowly able to increase the dosage after a few weeks. You could just be very sensitive to it even though for many of us, 6 mg is a very tolerable starting dose.I've just gone up to 12 mg and I am wearing 2-6 mg patches, rather than going out and getting more patches. And I have had many bad reactions to others AD's causing me to feel worse, like you are going through.
Stargazer
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