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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Ame-Sans-Vie on August 25, 2006, at 8:45:32
Still feeling positive about the Emsam... still waking up feeling energized, no need for caffeine, etc. No adverse side effects, other than a bit of early morning awakening, but I can't be sure that's attributable to the Emsam at this point. The pro-sexual effects are still very much there as well, and man am I happy about that. So now I'm just waiting on the pharmacy to order in my prescription for the 30mg patches (of course, no one has them in stock).
My B/P at my last appointment with my GP was 121/78; very good for me. So apparently the Avapro was unnecessary after all, or the selegiline has caused my B/P to drop some. Either way, no complaints!
The Xanax is holding steady at 1mg daily now, and I can't believe I was taking *sixteen* times that much this time last year. How could I even function? lol I also ditched the Dalmane (the morning-after metallic taste had started to return). Now switched to ProSom (estazolam) 3mg PRN.
My pdoc says I'm the first of his patients to have both tolerated and benefitted from Emsam 20mg, so this increase in dose will be new territory for both of us. I'm thinking of adding on a bit of DLPA, remembering the positive effect it had during my trial of oral selegiline last year. Any opinions on that?
Cheers,
Michael
Posted by Jimmyboy on August 25, 2006, at 8:58:53
In reply to Emsam Day 28: about to move up to 30mg, posted by Ame-Sans-Vie on August 25, 2006, at 8:45:32
We were talking about the DLPA + EMSAM combo higher up the board. You might want to check that out.
JB
Posted by SLS on August 25, 2006, at 9:05:39
In reply to Emsam Day 28: about to move up to 30mg, posted by Ame-Sans-Vie on August 25, 2006, at 8:45:32
> My pdoc says I'm the first of his patients to have both tolerated and benefitted from Emsam 20mg, so this increase in dose will be new territory for both of us.
Does this mean that your doctor has had patients fail to respond to Emsam?
- Scott
Posted by Ame-Sans-Vie on August 25, 2006, at 9:15:45
In reply to Re: Emsam Day 28: about to move up to 30mg, posted by Jimmyboy on August 25, 2006, at 8:58:53
Thanks a lot, I see that now -- I'll check it out!
Posted by Ame-Sans-Vie on August 25, 2006, at 9:20:51
In reply to Re: Emsam Day 28: about to move up to 30mg » Ame-Sans-Vie, posted by SLS on August 25, 2006, at 9:05:39
Apparently so, though I don't imagine it's been many. He just mentioned in passing that he's prescribed it to "a few" other patients with atypical depressive symptoms and phobic behaviors. The way he talks about it though, I venture to guess that he may have seen results in some of these patients, but the treatment was cut short by side effects. He seems really hyped up about the stuff, and I couldn't imagine he'd be so excited about it if a lot of patients had failed to respond.
Posted by Jimmyboy on August 25, 2006, at 9:53:21
In reply to Emsam Day 28: about to move up to 30mg, posted by Ame-Sans-Vie on August 25, 2006, at 8:45:32
Michael,
How long did it take you to start getting a response to the EMSAM?
JB
Posted by Ame-Sans-Vie on August 25, 2006, at 10:18:20
In reply to Re: Emsam Day 28: about to move up to 30mg, posted by Jimmyboy on August 25, 2006, at 9:53:21
Within the first week I began to feel a definite energizing feeling. Whether or not that was because of the small amounts of L-amphetamine and L-methamphetamine that selegiline metabolizes to, I really can't say. But I find that highly doubtful, as four weeks later I feel that same sense of increased energy; just more pronounced and focused now. In addition, there is certainly some anxiolytic/anti-phobic quality to it. When I started it a month ago I couldn't get by with less than 2mg Xanax daily if I expected to be able to leave my house; now 1mg does just fine.
Posted by Jimmyboy on August 25, 2006, at 10:31:21
In reply to Re: Emsam Day 28: about to move up to 30mg » Jimmyboy, posted by Ame-Sans-Vie on August 25, 2006, at 10:18:20
Great news! i am glad to hear that your early response continued to get better. I am in the first week and I definitely feel like I am better, although nowhere near where I want to be. This is the first MAOI I have tried , so I am optimistic b/c nothing else has worked. I think some people only respond to those. Later
JB
Posted by Phillipa on August 25, 2006, at 11:05:58
In reply to Emsam Day 28: about to move up to 30mg, posted by Ame-Sans-Vie on August 25, 2006, at 8:45:32
No please don't. Be happy with you good luck on EMSAM. Don't mess it up. Love Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on August 25, 2006, at 11:09:17
In reply to Re: Emsam Day 28: about to move up to 30mg » Ame-Sans-Vie, posted by Phillipa on August 25, 2006, at 11:05:58
And you say it's working for severe anxiety too? How does something that makes you have loads of energy help anxiety. See this point confuses me. Love Phillipa ps I am not as med smart as you guys sorry
Posted by jealibeanz on August 26, 2006, at 2:03:13
In reply to Re: Emsam Day 28: about to move up to 30mg » Jimmyboy, posted by Ame-Sans-Vie on August 25, 2006, at 10:18:20
How/why did your pdoc choose EMSAM? Did you bring up the idea?
Posted by ame-sans-vie on August 27, 2006, at 4:02:59
In reply to Re: Emsam Day 28: about to move up to 30mg, posted by Phillipa on August 25, 2006, at 11:09:17
> And you say it's working for severe anxiety too? How does something that makes you have loads of energy help anxiety. See this point confuses me. Love Phillipa ps I am not as med smart as you guys sorry
lol, believe me, I understand it's confusing. I guess the simple explanation would be that Emsam, stimulating though it may be, is in the same league as the other heavyweight MAO inhibitors (i.e. Nardil, Marplan, & Parnate). Something about the MAOI class of drugs seems to lend itself very well to treating anxiety/phobias as well as things along the anergic and otherwise "reverse vegetative symptom" or perhaps even "negative symptom" spectrums. I haven't done research into the very inner workings (on a cellular or molecular level) of MAOIs (selegiline in particular) for quite some time, and so I am, at the moment, at a loss to explain what possible events take place in the brain to provide such broad treatment of symptoms.
So long as things continue heading the direction they have been, I won't tempt fate by questioning it. :-)
btw Philippa, I've not really exchanged many messages on here with you, as my true PB-addict days were a couple years ago, lol... but from what I gather reading some other posts, it seems that you're interested in trying Emsam? For what condition(s), if you don't mind my inquiry? You certainly come across as a very sweet and caring person; I'd just like to understand your situation a bit better (as well as those of many others on the boards, newer members and old familiar faces alike). Of course in exchange, I can offer you that I'm an absolute open book when it comes to discussing my psych history... and sadly, I have extremely extensive experience with treatments of all types... far too much experience for the mere 23 years I've been on this planet.
Take care,
Michael
Posted by Ame-Sans-Vie on August 27, 2006, at 4:15:57
In reply to Re: Emsam Day 28: about to move up to 30mg, posted by jealibeanz on August 26, 2006, at 2:03:13
> How/why did your pdoc choose EMSAM? Did you bring up the idea?
Though it had been in the back of my mind to try for some time, it was my pdoc who ultimately convinced me that Emsam could be worth a shot. This was due to many factors. First and foremost, I've responded rather well to oral selegiline capsules in the past at 10mg daily, along with 1-2 grams per day of DL-phenylalanine. Also, I experienced a pretty terrific result with Parnate last year, though it didn't last. Considering that TCAs, SRIs, and atypicals have all failed for me in the past, I suppose it just seemed natural for him to offer me the latest in MAOI technology.
Posted by jealibeanz on August 27, 2006, at 20:44:49
In reply to Re: Emsam Day 28: about to move up to 30mg » jealibeanz, posted by Ame-Sans-Vie on August 27, 2006, at 4:15:57
So do you think that EMSAM is being regarded as the lastest and greatest for depression treatment by doctors? Or is it more or less going under the radar and being underpromoted/prescribed?
Posted by Jimmyboy on August 28, 2006, at 8:49:18
In reply to Re: Emsam Day 28: about to move up to 30mg » Phillipa, posted by ame-sans-vie on August 27, 2006, at 4:02:59
Micahel ,
Is EMSAM/Selegiline really considered:
" in the same league as the other heavyweight MAO inhibitors (i.e. Nardil, Marplan, & Parnate)."
Lord, I hope so, b/c those treat all the symptoms I have, but for some reason around here people seems to think its not as strong as the other MAOI's.. but ( no offense to anyone) , people around here ( including me sometimes) aren't the most optimistic.Also, could you tell a difference when you stepped up to the 9mg patch, and if so, how long until you started noticing improvements? Thanks
JB
Posted by theo on August 29, 2006, at 22:39:26
In reply to Re: Emsam Day 28: about to move up to 30mg » Jimmyboy, posted by Ame-Sans-Vie on August 25, 2006, at 10:18:20
>In addition, there is certainly some anxiolytic/anti-phobic quality to it. When I started it a month ago I couldn't get by with less than 2mg Xanax daily if I expected to be able to leave my house; now 1mg does just fine.
I'm confused, you say Emsam's anti-phobic then go to say you have to take Xanax to leave the house, which is it?
I'm curious because I tried Emsam for a day and had to stop it because of a family crisis and couldn't deal with start up sides and crisis together. What I do remember from the first day was feeling strange and very anti-social, something I wasn't expecting.
Posted by Phillipa on August 29, 2006, at 22:50:54
In reply to Re: Emsam Day 28: about to move up to 30mg » Ame-Sans-Vie, posted by theo on August 29, 2006, at 22:39:26
Theo did you ever try it again? I am trying to wash out to try it. Would you again if you didn't? Love Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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