Posted by floatingbridge on July 2, 2011, at 23:02:54
In reply to Re: Encouragement - Emsam, posted by lepus on July 2, 2011, at 21:15:10
Lepus, I don't know why more people don't understand that certain behaviors around anxious people are the very opposite of helpful :-/ Recently I came across a list on an anxiety disorder clinic site about how to talk to someone experiencing panic, and I have been wanting to make wallet cards to just hand it out to some of the people in my life, esp the ones who had entertained
the idea that hospitalization was a good idea for me.Take whatever time you need if you decide to try emsam, o.k. I didn't even want to take my first xanax today--and I have been on it before :-/
So, the only care I took about cutting my
patch was using the same scissors and leaving those scissors with the box in my med cabinet. I am pretty indifferent to germs--that's just me. I didn't think it was important because it is an transdermal that was going to sit on my arm. I was mindful to cut the patch 'lengthwise' against the peel back flap so every piece I could peel back w/o digging
in w/ finger nails. The directions say to avoid touching the sticky part--like applying a bandaid. I was washed my hands after application because they advise that--no accidental transfer to eyes or mouth. I really forgot I was wearing it.After about two-three days I felt a little funny, enough to contact some babblers by babblemail who reassured me this was start up. It was true for me and resolved within hours.
I have also taken the patch off and had slow but immediate decrease in effect, if that is helpful to know.
Are you in contact with the doctor who gave you the samples? Do you have a go-to medication for anxiety if it arises? I think I needed an extra dose of xanax during those transitory start ups.
For me, it reduced anxiety somewhat (not cure it). Maybe my response was atypical. I was very apprehensive about starting, too :-/
Keep posting if it helping.
Oh. The patched can peel up or come kinda off. The directions say just put on a new one. This happened a number of times. I freaked (of course) but long story short, I replaced the patch as directed w/o incident. Hope this is helpful.
> Hi FB,
>
> I have samples of Emsam right here. One is even open from when I was going to apply it this morning. I think maybe I needed a day off to recuperate after the hospital fiasco. I think my muscles were clenched for about 48 hours straight. I'm feeling it today.
>
> Okay, so I will cut the patch. Any scissors will do or do I have to sterilize them? Wash them after I assume?
>
> How did you feel on so little of the patch? Of course you were having the thyroid problems. But you don't think Emsam caused anxiety? That is my biggest fear. My anxiety was high and now it is very terrible thanks to the hospital.
>
> Sorry to hear you also had a bad hospital experience. The weird part of my experience was I think they were actually trying to help me. But my God, threatening an anxious person and yelling at them doesn't help! I went without food! They never followed through on not giving me meds but I definitely went without food. I think these people went to the Josef Mengele School of Psychiatry. Panicking was definitely not okay with any of the staff here, except maybe the social workers. They were very kind frankly and were the only reason I got some meals. But the rest of the staff did not care, would not talk to me, comfort me in any way, give me new tools to cope, call the doctor when I was having an 8 hour panic attack or throw water on me if I was on fire. It was not a safe environment for anyone I don't think.
>
> Very scary.
>
> Thanks for the support, FB. Have you restarted Emsam? I just wish I knew what I could expect...
>
> Is it only at higher doses that it affects blood pressure? I already have low blood pressure, another thing that worries me.
>
> Man, I tried so hard to get help and start some new meds somewhere I felt safe. That did not happen. I'm on my own.
poster:floatingbridge
thread:989991
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20110630/msgs/990030.html