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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by bulldog2 on June 8, 2006, at 9:14:20
I decided to discontinue emsam for a couple reasons. First I have high blood pressure and it went higher on emsam. I doubled my dose of blood pressure medicine and my blood pressure remained elevated. I also developed dry eye and that was painful. The opthamologist gave me drops for the dry eye and said don't be a guinea pig. Let any med be out for a while to see what's its side effects are. I was only on emsam 12 days and it did seem to be working a bit but I didn't think it was worth the risk of damaging my eyes or keeping my blood pressure elavated.
Posted by Phillipa on June 8, 2006, at 14:16:36
In reply to Had to Discontinue Emsam, posted by bulldog2 on June 8, 2006, at 9:14:20
I agree it's a new med and noone knows what can happen. I'm still waiting to see how others respond. Love Phillipa
Posted by Ripley Snell on June 9, 2006, at 7:13:17
In reply to Had to Discontinue Emsam, posted by bulldog2 on June 8, 2006, at 9:14:20
I can't exactly dislike an antidepressant that feels like I'm making a sticker-book :-) (And that forces me to shave little squares on my chest.)
I have found EMSAM to be gentle and very effective. My mood is significantly improved, as is my resilience. I have little anxiety.
The first night I couldn't sleep at all. And, being bipolar myself, the EMSAM seems to be destabilizing me a bit--lots of spending (but I saved receipts and I can return stuff!); a tendency to stay at home and get really involved with fiddly stuff, such as filing bills for three hours; and, at times, irritability. It helps ME to use my anti-manic, Seroquel, at a higher dose while on EMSAM.
The extrapyramidal symptoms--dry eyes, mouth, nose, is annoying as heck. At night I have to put that mineral oil based ointment in my eyes, and during the day put lube drops in them about 10 times. And I' constantly chewing gum. It's worth it, though--I think.
P.S. I got a cheap BP monitor (Consumer Reports pointed out that Omron, a very good maker, also makes the Wal-Mart brand, and so I got a great monitor for $16) and my BP has been totally stable. --RS
Snell
Posted by Crazy Horse on June 9, 2006, at 9:43:49
In reply to still trying EMSAM on » bulldog2, posted by Ripley Snell on June 9, 2006, at 7:13:17
> I can't exactly dislike an antidepressant that feels like I'm making a sticker-book :-) (And that forces me to shave little squares on my chest.)
>
> I have found EMSAM to be gentle and very effective. My mood is significantly improved, as is my resilience. I have little anxiety.
>
> The first night I couldn't sleep at all. And, being bipolar myself, the EMSAM seems to be destabilizing me a bit--lots of spending (but I saved receipts and I can return stuff!); a tendency to stay at home and get really involved with fiddly stuff, such as filing bills for three hours; and, at times, irritability. It helps ME to use my anti-manic, Seroquel, at a higher dose while on EMSAM.
>
> The extrapyramidal symptoms--dry eyes, mouth, nose, is annoying as heck. At night I have to put that mineral oil based ointment in my eyes, and during the day put lube drops in them about 10 times. And I' constantly chewing gum. It's worth it, though--I think.
>
> P.S. I got a cheap BP monitor (Consumer Reports pointed out that Omron, a very good maker, also makes the Wal-Mart brand, and so I got a great monitor for $16) and my BP has been totally stable. --RS
>
> SnellGood to hear Snell..glad it's working for you. I'll be slapping on the patch in 5 days myself.
Monte
This is the end of the thread.
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