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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jasonmich on June 6, 2006, at 10:43:34
I've been taking Emsam for exactly four weeks now. I don't feel any better at all! I'm ready to throw in the towel and stop taking this medication. I've tried nearly everything else, so this was my last hope. The side effects aren't bad, but it's not helping me. I think four weeks is long enough, don't you? I think after four weeks I should feel at least a little better. I see my psychiatrist on Saturday.
Posted by Caedmon on June 6, 2006, at 11:47:42
In reply to EMSAM not working, posted by Jasonmich on June 6, 2006, at 10:43:34
Try to be patient. You may require a dose increase, and it may take 2 months to reach a full effect. You've put in this much time and effort in it, perhaps it is worth it to give it an aggressive trial.
It took a dose increase, and about 6 weeks, before I really felt that my MAOI (Parnate) was really helpful. Good luck!
- Chris
Posted by crabwalk on June 6, 2006, at 11:49:09
In reply to EMSAM not working, posted by Jasonmich on June 6, 2006, at 10:43:34
What side effects are you having?
Posted by Jasonmich on June 6, 2006, at 11:53:58
In reply to Re: EMSAM not working » Jasonmich, posted by crabwalk on June 6, 2006, at 11:49:09
I'm not having bad side effects really. I think it makes my insomnia worse. I also think it makes my anxiety worse.
Posted by Jasonmich on June 6, 2006, at 11:54:57
In reply to Re: EMSAM not working, posted by Caedmon on June 6, 2006, at 11:47:42
Thanks... I don't think I'm going to increase the dosage, though. At higher doses a special diet is required, which I'm not willing to do.
Posted by Last Chance on June 6, 2006, at 18:30:03
In reply to Re: EMSAM not working, posted by Jasonmich on June 6, 2006, at 11:54:57
It doesn't seem to be working for me either - couple days ago I used the whole 6mg patch after 7 days of cutting in half. I had a ton of energy - did some physical work that I had only been staring at til then - and felt incredibly good, like I was normal again. That night I couldn't sleep, and at 3am I ripped it off and took an extra .125 Klonapin. Got 2 lousy hrs. sleep with lot's of dreams. Yesterday and today I am back to the half - have 0 energy, even feel like I could pass out if I move too quickly, and am very depressed. Before the full patch day I was in a taper off klonapin, and had gotten down to .125 once in the morning - I knew I would need more Klonapin for the whole patch, so I took .25 in the morning and again evening. I am thinking of trying the full 6mg during the day and taking off a few hrs. before bedtime. Any suggestions? I am really confused about the strong ups and downs I am experiencing - kind of normal for me, but not this extreme. It's a roller coaster, I just never know how I am going to feel. Thanx, Richard
Posted by Phillipa on June 6, 2006, at 22:08:44
In reply to Re: EMSAM not working, posted by Last Chance on June 6, 2006, at 18:30:03
I think Robert David the one with so much success found out from the company that the patch could be cut in halves, quarter. I think he takes off before bed too. And is on 2mg of klonopin. Can you raise your dose of klonopin? Love Phillipa
Posted by pulse on June 7, 2006, at 17:39:14
In reply to Re: EMSAM not working » Last Chance, posted by Phillipa on June 6, 2006, at 22:08:44
robert david is the one who was told by dr. bodkin that it could be cut in half, and i seem to recall that rob tried the 1/2 for awhile, and has since gone back to the entire patch, and removing it at night. *i may not be up to speed on his latest with emsam, so i don't want to state this as a definite.*
far as i've seen here, i'm the only one (yet) cutting into 1/4s and even 1/8s. i've then fluctuated betwen applying 1/4 OR 3/8, but more often 3/8. the longest i leave it on EVER is 4 hrs. per day. i feel i'm - at around 1 week or so - in as close to full remission as i've been in many, many years. i must admit, though, that the half-life that remains feels a tad better. kinda wish i could bottle the half-life.
the stickiest wicket side-effect of all the many i had was with my lower GI tract. now, completely gone, as is the anxiety, and the urinary retension.
only some sleep trouble remains, mostly falling to sleep and waking too often, but i do now get 7-8 hrs vs. none -2 hrs. on the full patch at 24 hours...or applying every other day...or taking it off at 15-16 hrs. for the night. i also wake up refreshed almost every day.
i think it may have been jake who suggested this: perhaps always a good idea to start (or, i'll add) go back to low, and go slow.
i have a hunch that, for some, it's going to turn out that less really IS more with emsam. it IS a med that seems to require alot of patience and possibly also alot of tweaking. i thought i was finished for sure - now i'm so glad i took the risk i did to find my solution.
pulse
p.s . - sorry, but i have no idea what titrating down some on emsam would be like, as my four failed trials were of short duration. when i quit, each of those times, not once did i have any problems whatsoever, just fyi.
Posted by Jakeman on June 7, 2006, at 21:02:02
In reply to Re: EMSAM not working, posted by pulse on June 7, 2006, at 17:39:14
Pulse and others,
I've been on Emsam for two weeks and I have to say it's a work in progress. Upside: heightened cognitive ability (on most days). More motivation (I'm opening my bills and paying them on time). More libido, (not sure what to do about that). Less social fear most of the time. No emotional numbness that I've gotten from SSRI's. In fact my therapy sessions have been more productive than before.
Sleep is more difficult but I'm taking a several things to combat that. I was already taking Lyrica, it seems to help with sleep and anxiety. Plus tryptophan, taurine, magnesium before bed. I also take Restoril (have been for months) and have been experimenting with Roserem (splitting 8 mg pills into quarters.) I upped my night-time klonipin dosage to .5 to 1 mg.
I feel that Emsam has pulled me out of a major depression but I feel it's too early to form any conclusions. I think its definately not a silver bullet (for me at least) but has potential, maybe by adjusting the dosage or with adjunct medications. But take everything I say with a grain of salt, I may change my mind in a week.
Oh and about GI problems, I has a little of that. I started taking a probiotic and the problem went away, by coincidence- I'm not sure.
warm regards and good luck to everybody, Jake
> robert david is the one who was told by dr. bodkin that it could be cut in half, and i seem to recall that rob tried the 1/2 for awhile, and has since gone back to the entire
> robert david is the one who was told by dr. bodkin that it could be cut in half, and i seem to recall that rob tried the 1/2 for awhile, and has since gone back to the entire patch, and removing it at night. *i may not be up to speed on his latest with emsam, so i don't want to state this as a definite.*
>
> far as i've seen here, i'm the only one (yet) cutting into 1/4s and even 1/8s. i've then fluctuated betwen applying 1/4 OR 3/8, but more often 3/8. the longest i leave it on EVER is 4 hrs. per day. i feel i'm - at around 1 week or so - in as close to full remission as i've been in many, many years. i must admit, though, that the half-life that remains feels a tad better. kinda wish i could bottle the half-life.
>
> the stickiest wicket side-effect of all the many i had was with my lower GI tract. now, completely gone, as is the anxiety, and the urinary retension.
>
> only some sleep trouble remains, mostly falling to sleep and waking too often, but i do now get 7-8 hrs vs. none -2 hrs. on the full patch at 24 hours...or applying every other day...or taking it off at 15-16 hrs. for the night. i also wake up refreshed almost every day.
>
> i think it may have been jake who suggested this: perhaps always a good idea to start (or, i'll add) go back to low, and go slow.
>
> i have a hunch that, for some, it's going to turn out that less really IS more with emsam. it IS a med that seems to require alot of patience and possibly also alot of tweaking. i thought i was finished for sure - now i'm so glad i took the risk i did to find my solution.
>
> pulse
>
> p.s . - sorry, but i have no idea what titrating down some on emsam would be like, as my four failed trials were of short duration. when i quit, each of those times, not once did i have any problems whatsoever, just fyi.
>
>
Posted by pulse on June 8, 2006, at 11:23:03
In reply to Re: EMSAM not working- my report- others » pulse, posted by Jakeman on June 7, 2006, at 21:02:02
ty jakeman for the probiotic tip.
i've been down that trail and SO many others - no dice for me, but they do seem to help many others.
keep us posted on your latest with emsam and good luck to you, also.my best regards,
pulse
Posted by katie san diego on June 8, 2006, at 19:37:10
In reply to Re: EMSAM not working- my report- others, posted by pulse on June 8, 2006, at 11:23:03
i have also been on ensam for 5 weeks now. i felt the increased energy after the first week, but it quickly left and i have been severely depressed since. i have been on the higher dose for the last week and still have felt no improvement. I think that i know what the Emsam is SUPPOSE to feel like. The first few days after i started, i was almost manic with additional energy, but i just feel it is not going to change now.
Posted by ZeitGuest on June 9, 2006, at 0:43:16
In reply to Re: EMSAM not working- my report- others, posted by katie san diego on June 8, 2006, at 19:37:10
I just hit the five-week milestone in my Emsam trial. Sorry to say that it is still not working. Four days ago I began cutting adding an additional 1/3 of a (6mg) patch per day to my regular 6mg patch per day dose. (I've been cutting the patch with scissors to get the fractional dose increase.) So far, no beneficial effects as a result of the increased dosage regimen. Needless to say, this is quite disappointing. Sigh.
This is the end of the thread.
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