Posted by BrightEyed+Blueberry on June 5, 2008, at 3:10:15
In reply to Re: EMSAM Success Story » undopaminergic, posted by BrightEyed+Blueberry on May 11, 2008, at 23:48:01
Its Bright again posting to my May 11th self....I wonder if what I was experiencing --the sudden onset of my atypical depression after 6 weeks of pretty excellent EMSAM response --was really just...PMS. So now the men aren't interested but could the interplay of hormones have THAT much of an effect on my EMSAM response? I am 35 and really never experienced PMS the way most women Iknew did...not that I was AWARE of anyway (What with being depressed a lot all the time, or being on half hearted SSRI medications, etc.) Obviously if I've always had some symptoms of PMS, they were too light to notice any regularity of occurrence. I was never in pain lying on the couch with my "special" bag of chocolates.... That probably because I was always eating sweets, so who'd know if I was PMSing (boyfriends?!).
But, it fits - the sudden onset of: daytime fatigue, a 3-day binge (voracious and uncontrollable) on bakery fresh and chewy chocolate chip cookies, Straight-up feelings of depression-lack of interest in things-isolating from friends behavior. Very similar to my atypical depression - except this time I'm not actually able to really sleep (in that, ahhh, escape, comfortably under the covers and lose myself from the world way) during my daytime fatigue, and nights still difficult.
So, jury is out for -- wow time flies-- only another couple of days. I should note/calendar if the same things happen again, to note a possible relationship to PMS. But it doesn't make sense to me why an anti-depressant such as EMSAM, an MAOI, would not HELP PMS symptoms, not allow them to break through! They even prescribe that serafim (same ingredients as prozac I believe) for women who suffer PMS, to take only that 1 week of the month, and I guess it works?
We'll see if hormones are somehow wreaking havoc, or if my sudden fall into depression just coincided with an oft-described EMSAM "ramp down" phase that some people have experienced after their initial 6 weeks on it (as described by me and a former poster from 2006, below)
If anyone has any thoughts on this, I'd be curious. Hormones are similar to neurotransmitters, right? But more...systemic? I've forgotten my psychobiology.....
-B+B
> Here's where I'm at, via an old post by Sharzi (wonder how she's doing?):
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> *stars are mine*
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> ***
> - posted by Sharzi on July 19, 2006, at 20:21:13
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> MAOIs are notorious for causing *midafternoon drowsiness* during the *ramp-up phase,* though typically they produce *nighttime insomnia at the same time*. In any case, for most people, this *diminishes over time*. I hardly slept the first month I was on Parnate, except for the hour to hour and a half of sleep that seemed unavoidable in the middle of the afternoon. Then one night suddenly everything was *back to normal and I both slept well at night and stayed awake all day*.
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> ***
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> I'm holding onto that "ramping up phase" bit, the "diminishes over time," and her sudden return to normal. Maybe my blood pressure is low, because now I'm experiencing daytime fatigue AND almost a return of...apathy? or..dare I say it...depression? What I mean is, since Wednesday - probably the anniversary of my 6 weeks on 6mg EMSAM, well, that was the last day I exercised. I've had no desire to exercise for 5 days and I've been totally fatigued mid-day, taking restless nap (disturbed by toddler, what can i do?- spending time at grandmas so i can get help with sleep and fatigue and care of toddler-lucky for that)
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> It's like a return to .... my atypical depression for the last few days. So, now I still have the trouble getting to bed, staying asleep (waking up early and sleeping restlessly next couple hours). I wake up tired and not wanting to be up (almost wishing for sbility to take small dose of Wellbutrin XL for its past "wake-up- bright" ability, no naps or decline in energy, just very steady, tho no anti-dep effects)
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> Could be the xanax and neurontin I've been varying to help with the sleep (Even though I've cut the doses way down) are amplifying the morning/ daytime hangover they always caused in past. i prefer them prn for anxiety/social anxiety situations, NOT sleep. xanax is so short lasting its no wonder more chance I'd wake up middle of night - 4 hours later, like 4am-5am.... so no more that.
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> I know I;m not making sense...kind of too tired to. Exercise helped me feel better - amplified my mood if you will, kept me from getting daytime-tired.
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> I feel like locking my sleeping meds in my safe deposit box 15 miles away (hey - price of gas here $4/gallon its practically $10 to get it!), just shrugging on some ugly dark drapes over my windows for tonight, forcing myself to sleep early, turning computer off (doc says light emanating from tv/computer is stimulating, vs. reading a book (better to read book) - i think she's right, never mind interactivity of internet.).... remembering to take off the patch, and do this every night and just wait this it out....
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> I've read others have had this side effect with daytime fatigue and that it passes - especially if it takes perhaps a couple months to stabilize. I expect to go through all kinds of changes. (what makes people decide to go up to 9mg? not ready for that yet, unless this is where im stuck)....I just hope that THIS (insomnia/daytime fatigue/no energy to exercise or care/ feeling cranky-irritable) goes away. And without adding meds to the mix.
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> Though, I'm adding food to the mix--cookies and chocolate and brownies and milk--cuz I'm bummed out you know? nice combo with the exercise lack. And i was doing so well, 6 week stride of normalcy, not hypomanic, just normal!
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> Totally back to the atypical depression exacerbated by nighttime insomnia! Don't take away my night time sleep, is what I ask of any meds I take - I'm a firm believer in getting enough sleep, and in its place - for me, that's night. I'd be a depressed MONSTER if it wasnt for sleep all these years!
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> This post - maybe nonsensical, but i don't care. Maybe good nights sleep and over next few days can get things to stabilize.
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> That's where I'm at.
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> off for milk and cookies (last week, I would've walked the 3 miles to the store and back to "compensate" for sweets.)
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> L/L
> -Bright (?!)
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>
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> > >
> > > I haven't bothered to measure mine, but maybe it's a good idea to?
> > >
> >
> > Yes, because if it's consistently high, it's a good idea to do something about it.
> >
> > > Or would I *know* -- feel it if my blood pressure were rising?
> > >
> >
> > Severe elevation - hypertensive crisis - can be felt as headache, affecting the back of the head in particular; this needs to be treated promptly. Moderate increases need not be readily noticeable, but tachycardia with palpitations is a hint, and so is reduced heart rate with coldness of peripheral body parts such as fingers, toes and nose.
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poster:BrightEyed+Blueberry
thread:826188
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080528/msgs/833026.html