Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 774675

Shown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

EMSAM and chest tightness, twitching

Posted by yznhymer on August 7, 2007, at 23:07:41

The chest tightness I experienced when beginning EMSAM has returned worse than ever. It really had abated for a while. For the last couple of days, it gets worse as the afternoon goes on and by night time its very uncomfortable.

I also find it hard to sit still without twitching, jerking, bouncing, clenching my fists, etc. Trying to settle down to sleep was almost impossible last night until I removed the patch and took .5mg klonopin to help me sleep. Though I slept 6 hours, I felt like spam dumped out of the can when I got up this morning. It was not a good night's sleep. I went from fairly high energy toward the end of last week to no energy at all the last couple of days.

The tightness is not pain, its not heartburn, and it feels different than anxiety in that I'm not feeling worried or nervous nor do I have the feeling that I want to get out of my own skin and run away. But it is uncomfortable and over time its really bothersome. The other thing is that I have a lot of muscle and joint pain and I don't think its related to working out. Any insights?

Otherwise, my mood is pretty good and I'm much more talkative than ever. I'm interested in things, my sense of humor is active, and I'm more inclined to be social than social phobic.

Thanks to anybody who cares to comment.

Y

 

Re: EMSAM and chest tightness, twitching » yznhymer

Posted by Phillipa on August 7, 2007, at 23:10:50

In reply to EMSAM and chest tightness, twitching, posted by yznhymer on August 7, 2007, at 23:07:41

Can you get akathesia from EMSAM? I don't know anyone? Love Phillipa sorry you feel so bad

 

Re: EMSAM and chest tightness, twitching

Posted by Racer on August 7, 2007, at 23:16:45

In reply to EMSAM and chest tightness, twitching, posted by yznhymer on August 7, 2007, at 23:07:41

Well, I know that EMSAM is metabolized into amphetamine, so that might have something to do with the jumpiness, but the tightness around the chest might be a real concern. Does it get worse if you lift your left arm?

Bottom line -- the tightness around the chest should be checked out, and sooner rather than later. It's probably nothing, but just in case...

(And don't you hate it when someone says, "Oh, it's probably nothing...")

It's good to know that your mood is improved, and I hope this keeps up for you.

 

Re: EMSAM and chest tightness, twitching

Posted by yznhymer on August 8, 2007, at 0:15:32

In reply to Re: EMSAM and chest tightness, twitching » yznhymer, posted by Phillipa on August 7, 2007, at 23:10:50

> Can you get akathesia from EMSAM? I don't know anyone? Love Phillipa sorry you feel so bad

Thanks, Phillipa. I had to look that up. I don't know about EMSAM specifically. I'll have to research it. It would explain the movement but not the chest tightness, at least based on what I found so far.

If that's what is going on here, apparently, "Decreasing the dose of the offending medication would be the treatment of choice."

Also, I found "Propranolol should be the drug of first choice. The dose required is usually low. Treatment should result in improvement within three to five days. Other drugs occasionally reported to be effective include clonidine, clonazepam, amitriptyline, and opiods."

So taking off the patch and taking a klonopin was probably not a bad thing to do. If it persists tomorrow, Imna call the pdoc.

Peace out,
Y

 

Re: EMSAM and chest tightness, twitching » yznhymer

Posted by Phillipa on August 8, 2007, at 0:18:48

In reply to Re: EMSAM and chest tightness, twitching, posted by yznhymer on August 8, 2007, at 0:15:32

Definitely call the doc and no patch til you hear from him . Love Phillipa

 

Re: EMSAM and chest tightness, twitching

Posted by yznhymer on August 8, 2007, at 0:44:20

In reply to Re: EMSAM and chest tightness, twitching, posted by Racer on August 7, 2007, at 23:16:45

> Well, I know that EMSAM is metabolized into amphetamine, so that might have something to do with the jumpiness, but the tightness around the chest might be a real concern. Does it get worse if you lift your left arm?
>
> Bottom line -- the tightness around the chest should be checked out, and sooner rather than later. It's probably nothing, but just in case...
>
> (And don't you hate it when someone says, "Oh, it's probably nothing...")
>
> It's good to know that your mood is improved, and I hope this keeps up for you.

Hmmm.... I have no other symptoms that would indicate a heart problem. Of course that is the concern, though I'm not freaking. It probably IS nothing. But it is probably a good idea to get it checked out - I thought it would be worthwhile to get my blood pressure checked out as well since I've started this stuff anyway.

I've read other people have reported "chest tightness" with other drugs. I did mention this to my pdoc after the first two weeks but they had subsided by then. He seemed unconcerned. In fact, he said nothing.

The amphetamine metabolites may be the cause of the jumpiness. I'm just surprised they've kicked in now, after 6 weeks or so. I've just popped a klonopin to see what that does while I'm still awake.

It does seem like the chest tightness is connected to the jumpiness. Both are unnoticeable when I'm up and moving around.

Thanks for the input,
Y

 

Re: EMSAM and chest tightness, twitching » yznhymer

Posted by d0pamine on August 8, 2007, at 4:43:17

In reply to Re: EMSAM and chest tightness, twitching, posted by yznhymer on August 8, 2007, at 0:44:20


> It does seem like the chest tightness is connected to the jumpiness. Both are unnoticeable when I'm up and moving around.
>
> Thanks for the input,
> Y
Twitching? Man that's part of the fun. :-)
Having been on EMSAM for about 1.5 years I experienced several phases of strange things, but nothing that I couldn't just ignore and have go away in a few days or weeks. For 2 days once I felt like I had Parkinson's and simply couldn't stop my body (primarily head) from moving. Then for some time I had these terribly strong myoclonic type jerks whenever I was going to sleep and I think that lasted several weeks (but never did go away entirely). Then there was strange smell day oh yeah and strange taste day and even odd visual stuff day. Oh and I'll never forget twitch week. Heh then there was RLS week where I actually woke several times to find my wife sleeping in another room. It was all pretty fleeting, quite benign and all more than worth it to me. I also had chest pains for a bit but determined they were being caused by the pinto beans and peanuts that I was eating and upon stopping, the pain never returned. I will admit that the insomnia is going to be more than some can stand if they don't find a work around (such as potassium citrate) but I personally enjoyed that as well as it was more like a reduced need for sleep than insomnia. I'm still a huge EMSAM backer in spite of all the little strange thing that may accompany its use, and will likely be switching back to it in a few weeks once I decide Parnate just isn't going to work for me.

 

Re: EMSAM and chest tightness, twitching

Posted by JohnSky on August 8, 2007, at 9:55:24

In reply to Re: EMSAM and chest tightness, twitching » yznhymer, posted by d0pamine on August 8, 2007, at 4:43:17

I also have chest tightness/pain. It normally starts in the mid-afternoon and peaks in the evening. Some days it is light other days it really bugs me. I believe it is a symptom of the anxiety EMSAM causes in me when it ramps up during he day.... I have some control over it in that if I "let go" and don't try and push the feeling away it lessens some. When I get busy with something it fades away quite a bit as well. So I feel it is a effect of the anxiety that EMSAM causes.... and if I don't focus on it it lessens alot. When I get all upset about the feeling it does get worse. When I accept it and breath easy it lessens. Either way I would think in time EMSAM would cause less anxiety and less of this chest pain.

John

 

Re: EMSAM and chest tightness, twitching » d0pamine

Posted by yznhymer on August 8, 2007, at 10:16:51

In reply to Re: EMSAM and chest tightness, twitching » yznhymer, posted by d0pamine on August 8, 2007, at 4:43:17

Woo! Sounds like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and at $17 a day cheaper than a Disney ticket. Thanks for the list. Not only does it alleviate my concern but now I'm motivated to see if I can come up with a few new ones of my own.

Seriously, I think my concern is that a) its nothing serious, b) its not going to be a permanent condition, and c) it won't prohibit me from trying a higher dose to get a better therapeutic response. I developed tinnitus right after starting Wellbutrin and that has not gone away although its been about 3 months since I discontinued it. Likewise, after a 3 month stint on anorgasmic phentermine, I've only partially recovered and its been several months since I discontinued that. In the past, I'd bounce back after a week or so after discontinuation. (On the other hand, with a good diet and exercise which I still continue, I've lost 45 lbs, my cholesterol dropped 60 points, and my liver numbers are back in the normal range). We make trade-offs, but I want it all; I want my old orgasms back, dammit!

Last night I took .5mg klonopin well before bedtime to see what effect that would have. Within half an hour the twitching stopped and the tightness was about 90% relieved. When I went to bed, I don't even remember my head hitting the pillow and I slept 6 hours. Not the 7 1/2 I need but better than the 2 1/2 I survived on for years during my Dark Ages. I'll gladly take the 6 hours and a 2 hour afternoon nap, even if the latter includes tragic raccoon and pussycat dreams. I'm keeping your suggestions about managing sleep in reserve and will probably try the calcium whatever at some point.

I really want this stuff to work out. I've had the best response with it of anything I've ever tried, save Nardil, and the side effects have been negligible. If I can keep the side effects where they are and get a consistently good energy level instead of the recurring drops I've been experiencing, I'll be a happy camper.

Oh, and thanks for the heads-up about dark chocolate. I just worked my way through a Trader Joe's 3 pack. I won't be buying any more.

Best of luck with the Parnate.

Y

 

Re: EMSAM and chest tightness, twitching

Posted by yznhymer on August 8, 2007, at 10:38:32

In reply to Re: EMSAM and chest tightness, twitching, posted by JohnSky on August 8, 2007, at 9:55:24

> I also have chest tightness/pain. It normally starts in the mid-afternoon and peaks in the evening. Some days it is light other days it really bugs me. I believe it is a symptom of the anxiety EMSAM causes in me when it ramps up during he day.... I have some control over it in that if I "let go" and don't try and push the feeling away it lessens some. When I get busy with something it fades away quite a bit as well. So I feel it is a effect of the anxiety that EMSAM causes.... and if I don't focus on it it lessens alot. When I get all upset about the feeling it does get worse. When I accept it and breath easy it lessens. Either way I would think in time EMSAM would cause less anxiety and less of this chest pain.
>
> John
>

Hi John,

Thanks for sharing that. Its almost exactly what I've been experiencing, including the time frame, except for me its been like an anxiety response without the worry component - just the physical symptom. Which is why I thought I'd give a dose of klonopin a try plus I read its a drug of choice to deal with drug induced movement/twitching etc. I took .5mg last night and it worked very well within half an hour. Twitching was gone and the chest tightness was just a shadow of what it was.

With luck, the tightness will go away on its own. If not, I'm happy to know the klonopin is an option (assuming it will work again), though I'd love to be able to rely on just the EMSAM, my therapy (I hit the jackpot with an awesome therapist) and my exercise nutrition regimen.

I've read your other posts in past days but I forget, are you taking anything else for anxiety? Is klonopin an option for you? I know how exhausting and debilitating anxiety can be. It immobilized me for years. I think it helps to hit it from every angle possible - meds, CBT, and exercise. I notice a reduction in anxiety to each of these and lately now that I'm vigorously pursuing all three, I can say I've been pretty anxiety free.

Take care,
Y

 

Re: EMSAM .... Come back EMSAM baby!!!!!!!!!

Posted by d0pamine on August 8, 2007, at 13:43:15

In reply to Re: EMSAM and chest tightness, twitching » d0pamine, posted by yznhymer on August 8, 2007, at 10:16:51

Orgasms not back to what they were???!?!? That's it! That's all I needed to hear. That's it for me and Parnate. I know I said we'd be together forever, but I'm breaking it off. You steal my orgasms and you make me feel like crap. I've taken my last Parnate and am going back to EMSAM, my one and only true pharmaceutical love. I'm sorry I ever left ya baby. Please don't be angry baby. Come take me by the arm like you used to and we'll make things be just like they were, back when we were so happy together? You always were the only one for me, baby. I just didn't realize it until I had that foolish fling with that other MAOI, but I never did love her. I swear. It was all about the neurotransmitters it had nothing to do with love. And anyway it's been hell and I'm soooo sorry I did it. Besides, You're soooo much hotter anyway, my little Samantha (EMSAM). Oh baby I've missed you sooo much. Right down to that crazy wacked out awesome smell that you have when I take you from your foil house every morning and and remove your coverings one at a time. First the big covering OOoooh. Then as I place you on my arm I proceed to take off the rest MMMMmmmm. Then it's just you and me baby, skin to ski....er uh adhesive backed plastic. Oh baby did I already tell you that I've missed you soooo much. Oh hey, easy.. Not now, baby. We'll have to wait. Yeah we gotta wait till at least the morning. Yeah I know baby, I want you now too, but we just can't . We have to wait till the time is right. But I can still hold you in your little foil house and we can talk about the good old days and all the things we're going to do from now till then, because nothing baby and I mean nothing well uh except a lack of health insurance is ever going to come between me and you again. Parnate? Oh she'll be fine. She still has plenty of other suiters who've never met you, my little Sammy. Hey! Wanna go out for a walk? kewl..........

 

Re: EMSAM .... Come back EMSAM baby!!!!!!!!! » d0pamine

Posted by yznhymer on August 8, 2007, at 20:32:13

In reply to Re: EMSAM .... Come back EMSAM baby!!!!!!!!!, posted by d0pamine on August 8, 2007, at 13:43:15

> Orgasms not back to what they were???!?!? That's it! That's all I needed to hear. That's it for me and Parnate. I know I said we'd be together forever, but I'm breaking it off. You steal my orgasms and you make me feel like crap. I've taken my last Parnate and am going back to EMSAM, my one and only true pharmaceutical love. I'm sorry I ever left ya baby. Please don't be angry baby. Come take me by the arm like you used to and we'll make things be just like they were, back when we were so happy together? You always were the only one for me, baby. I just didn't realize it until I had that foolish fling with that other MAOI, but I never did love her. I swear. It was all about the neurotransmitters it had nothing to do with love. And anyway it's been hell and I'm soooo sorry I did it. Besides, You're soooo much hotter anyway, my little Samantha (EMSAM). Oh baby I've missed you sooo much. Right down to that crazy wacked out awesome smell that you have when I take you from your foil house every morning and and remove your coverings one at a time. First the big covering OOoooh. Then as I place you on my arm I proceed to take off the rest MMMMmmmm. Then it's just you and me baby, skin to ski....er uh adhesive backed plastic. Oh baby did I already tell you that I've missed you soooo much. Oh hey, easy.. Not now, baby. We'll have to wait. Yeah we gotta wait till at least the morning. Yeah I know baby, I want you now too, but we just can't . We have to wait till the time is right. But I can still hold you in your little foil house and we can talk about the good old days and all the things we're going to do from now till then, because nothing baby and I mean nothing well uh except a lack of health insurance is ever going to come between me and you again. Parnate? Oh she'll be fine. She still has plenty of other suiters who've never met you, my little Sammy. Hey! Wanna go out for a walk? kewl..........

eeep! I walked into a bad porn movie. In spite of the number Parnate is doing on your sex life, your mood sure sounds good! Are you still going to give Parnate an 8 week trial?

 

Re: EMSAM and chest tightness, twitching - update

Posted by yznhymer on August 8, 2007, at 20:38:45

In reply to EMSAM and chest tightness, twitching, posted by yznhymer on August 7, 2007, at 23:07:41

No twitching or chest tightness so far today. The night is still young but this is a big improvement over the previous two days. Maybe that klonopin just nipped it in the bud.

My energy level is still pretty low but I did a full workout at the gym today... 45 minutes of cardio and about the same on upper body weight training. My mood and anxiety level continue to be good.

Y

 

Re: EMSAM .... Come back EMSAM baby!!!!!!!!!

Posted by KayeBaby on August 8, 2007, at 20:41:19

In reply to Re: EMSAM .... Come back EMSAM baby!!!!!!!!!, posted by d0pamine on August 8, 2007, at 13:43:15

Jeez! You have to stop!
My patch is tingling.


Hahahahahahahaha
Kaye

 

Re: EMSAM .... Come back EMSAM baby!!!!!!!!! » yznhymer

Posted by d0pamine on August 9, 2007, at 4:50:34

In reply to Re: EMSAM .... Come back EMSAM baby!!!!!!!!! » d0pamine, posted by yznhymer on August 8, 2007, at 20:32:13

Nope! I've had it with that stuff. I'm either not man enough or not stupid enough to keep abusing myself like that.

 

Re: EMSAM .... Come back EMSAM baby!!!!!!!!!

Posted by d0pamine on August 9, 2007, at 4:57:28

In reply to Re: EMSAM .... Come back EMSAM baby!!!!!!!!!, posted by KayeBaby on August 8, 2007, at 20:41:19

> Jeez! You have to stop!
> My patch is tingling.
>
>
> Hahahahahahahaha
> Kaye

EMSAM is like the Borg. Eventually it will assimilate everyone into the collective.


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