Posted by bulldog2 on January 10, 2008, at 14:14:33
In reply to Beyond Emsam, posted by ExcellentCamper on January 10, 2008, at 6:03:34
>
> So I've been on the patch for a month at 20/6 mg and then a week at 30/9 mg and now a day at 40/12 mg. Absolutely zero response so far except maybe more irritability and depressive thoughts (but that could be about not getting better). The patches are thoroughly annoying. I've had a couple of them fall off. Even tonight, with this 3M Blisterm tape I researched and my wife found, it was lifting off (you really have to pick your spots carefully, and this one on my upper back seems to get too much flexion when I move my shoulder). I have to take it off before a workout or the area gets red and irritated afterward, and it doesn't hold up well in a hot bath or shower. So I try to work out at the same time in the morning, removing it before I do and replacing it after I've cleaned up. But I don't know what success I would have in summer when I'm sweatier and active at various times in the day.
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> Anyhow ... I'll try to stick with this for the full month on the 12 mg, but I'd like to have some ideas and get feedback on where to go from here.
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> I could try:
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> -- Switching to oral selegiline at a higher dose, 50 or 60 mg, if I don't get any response with this patch. Since I already have to modify my diet with this size patch, the only drawback would be the oral form would make my liver work harder (as I see it). Also, since they only see selegiline here in 5 mg doses, I'd be taking a whole lot of them! Anyone doing this with success?
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> -- Upping my Lamictal 150 mg. Has anyone with unipolar had a lift from doing this? My pdoc mentioned it, but I'm skeptical. Wouldn't that flatten my mood out?
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> -- Trying imipramine, "the gold standard." Most curious to try this.
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> -- Using higher-dose Remeron. Pdoc also said that at high doses, you can avoid the sedation and weight gain side effects. Not sure what my old dose was ...
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> I know that the SSRIs and other SNRIs are not for me, and Wellbutrin had no effect (although I don't think I got up to 450 mg), so those are not options.
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> Best to all of you in your search and recoveries.
>
> WillI also found the patches very irritating as I had red irritated spots for a couple days after I took off each patch. Was beginning to look spotted. You could also try gold standard maois such as nardil or parnate.
poster:bulldog2
thread:805512
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080105/msgs/805569.html