Posted by laima on July 21, 2006, at 18:53:56
In reply to Re: emsam 6 mg/24 = ? oral selegiline?, posted by jealibeanz on July 21, 2006, at 17:57:38
> Does your doctor seem to have a positive opinion of EMSAM, or think it's mostly hype?Well, he's a med-school affiliated researcher, and has that nonreactive way about him that you might imagine a researcher would have. I do know he consulted with the pharmaceutical company as they developed the drug, and is giving them loads of feedback now, passed along from his patients. I am positive he isn't the only doctor in their circle doing so. I passed on my concerns about how I don't think it's sticky enough, and he put me right on the phone with them and they will be sending me a more detailed questionaire. The lady I talked to seemed very concerned (?).
Overall, I think he has high hopes but knows we are still in the early stages of the drug's use. I get the impression that the company is taking all comments very seriously and that they may try to make improvements to make it easier to use.
Today (being on the 6) I asked, "should I just go back to the pills", and he said "no!" The patch is believed to be much more efficient in terms of getting to the brain, and at the EMSAM conference he just attended there apparently was much talk about how the 6 is simply too weak for most patients. The 9 of course is dicier diet-wise--but still not nearly as dangerous as the pills. He conveyed, "be careful what you eat while on the 9, but if you slip up, it won't be the same level of danger as if you were on the pills".
Overall, I think he shares our hopes, but comprehends improvements and tweaks are needed. This seems reasonable, it's such a new concept. And me, I hope he's right about the dosage and that the 9 provides the relief I am desperate for! I read between the lines---Big push with the 6 involved the fact it didn't really require any dietary restrictions- a big selling point- whereas the 9 and up do require cautions. An MAOI with no dietary restrictions at all- isn't that what so many of us got so excited about? That total diet freedom might not be reality for many of us yet, alas. Maybe one day, hopefully? Perhaps some of the "diet freedom" then is hype. Massive bummer. I am also told to not let up on being careful with any medications that could interact with an MAOI, even on the 6--because no one seems to know for sure what could happen. Obviously they didn't test people for that, and the incidental reports haven't poured in yet.
Back to the point, I think his opinion is overall positive and quite hopeful. The patch is believed to offer a more efficient delivery to the brain, and to be safer diet-wise. The recent conference sounds as though doctors in attendence were overall positive and enthusiastic. One of them apparently has treated over 150 patients with EMSAM successfully- though most didn't respond until they got 9 or higher. It's still so new though there are many unknowns.
Anyone else have a doctor who went to this recent event? Would be interesting to hear what they had to say...
poster:laima
thread:645567
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060717/msgs/669137.html