Posted by yznhymer on September 21, 2007, at 14:53:14
In reply to Re: Movin' on up to the Big Time - EMSAM 9mg patch » yznhymer, posted by Brody on September 21, 2007, at 11:00:56
Hi Janet...
Thanks for the response. The link you posted was indeed interesting. I did google on restricted foods for an MAOI diet as well and have been down this road before so its not entirely new. However, what I find online is all over the map and, I think, overly restrictive in some cases. Your approach sounds sensible and is probably similar to what I am inclined to follow. Since I am working on getting my weight down, I'd be staying away from many of the restricted foods anyway. Say "cheese!"
Regarding BMS, it was my understanding that they applied for approval to market EMSAM without dietary restrictions at all doses and the government wouldn't go for it... mostly out of fear that a reaction was "theoretically" possible. I have not been able to find any information about whether they plan to revisit this, or if there have been any adverse reactions to EMSAM since its been in use.
At 6mg, what's been missing is a consistent response. My mood is generally good, and I'm a lot more talkative, but my energy, motivation and focus rise and fall. Too often it still takes a huge effort to get myself moving - its like one part of my mind is geared up and ready but it can't get the rest of me to follow through. I'm particularly affected by cloudy overcast days; sometimes I feel like I'm asleep with my eyes open. I sleep between 5 and 6 hours a night - better, but still not enough. Ambien and klonopin at .5mg as needed are also in the mix, so who knows what the carryover is during the day?
In some ways, it feels like anxiety is more of an issue than the depression, but they have always gone hand in hand for me. In fact, sometimes it seems like the anxiety induces the depression. I'm hitting things from all angles now - diet, exercise, some good therapy, etc. I see a definite positive impact from each of these, and its clear I have some deep issues to work through as well as normal life issues that contribute to my depressive state. Still, it felt like Emsam gave me a foundation on which to build - without it I don't know that I would have been able to employ the other strategies. Its interesting how it worked out - Emsam helped me get it together enough to find a kick-*ss therapist, who in turn worked with me to get myself into the gym and build a good exercise routine, nutrition plan, and to trade off a psychiatrist I've been wanting to dump for years for a much better situation... and so on and so on.
I called in for the 9mg prescription today. It will take a few days for the pharmacy to get it... in the meantime, I decided this morning to use a 6mg patch and a half to get going - I've felt myself slipping lately with the change in seasons so the time is right.
I guess the additional question I'd have for you is what differences in antidepressive response did you experience at the different doses - did Emsam work better for you at 9 and 12 as opposed to 6?
Thanks again,
Y~r
poster:yznhymer
thread:784253
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070919/msgs/784335.html