Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 749498

Shown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Loving EMSAM

Posted by SoozyWoozy on April 13, 2007, at 11:36:54

I researched EMSAM using this board before I started on it 23 days ago. I wanted to add my 2 cents. I really like what I feel so far. I have had severe atypical depression and some mild OCD for as long as I can remember. I was being treated with SSRIs before I decided I wanted to try a more natural route - which I did for almost a year before giving up. I got a new doc and he suggested that I try the "new" EMSAM. I had never tried an MAOI before.

I am only getting one side effect - some insomnia. The patches don't bother my skin at all thank heaven. I do put on a little Aveeno skin cream where the previous day's patch was in order to help my skin stay healthy. I first noticed that my energy was up and I felt motivated to do more. I have been more productive at work and my home is spotless. My mood has improved - but that has been slower to come around. I had been so incredibly paralyzed that the motivation made a huge difference just by itself. Now at almost 4 weeks, I am getting a much improved mood and, my gosh, I can't stop thinking about sex. And I am driven to seek out people, conversations and company - YAY!

The lack of sleep is the only trouble I am having but my pdoc said it was ok to take some melatonin at night. That has helped me tremendously. I am still not getting all the sleep I would like (8-9 hours per night is what I need) but I am getting 5-7 on average. Even on nights where I wasn't taking enough melatonin and got relatively little sleep, I still felt good the next day - alert and productive.

I haven't been eating as much. Food just isn't terribly appealing - I love that side effect. I definitely don't crave carbs (bread, pasta, crackers, etc.) like I did on SSRIs.

I am only on the one med - the 6 mg/24 hr patch of EMSAM. EMSAM is great so far.

 

Re: Loving EMSAM » SoozyWoozy

Posted by Phillipa on April 13, 2007, at 11:57:45

In reply to Loving EMSAM, posted by SoozyWoozy on April 13, 2007, at 11:36:54

Have you seen the long thread by Robert David the first to try EMSAM? He used 2mg and then l.5mg of klonopin for sleep. He did great. Love Phillipa

 

Re: Loving EMSAM

Posted by SoozyWoozy on April 13, 2007, at 12:22:45

In reply to Re: Loving EMSAM » SoozyWoozy, posted by Phillipa on April 13, 2007, at 11:57:45

Yes, I have read all the EMSAM related threads. Personally, I think it is better to take as little prescription medication as possible...so I don't think I would ever add a second med. But of course you have to do what you need to do for your own health.

 

Re: Loving EMSAM

Posted by greywolf on April 13, 2007, at 18:59:10

In reply to Re: Loving EMSAM, posted by SoozyWoozy on April 13, 2007, at 12:22:45

Soozy,

That's great to hear. I hope things continue to go well for you.

Greywolf

 

Re: Loving EMSAM

Posted by Bob on April 13, 2007, at 21:40:37

In reply to Loving EMSAM, posted by SoozyWoozy on April 13, 2007, at 11:36:54

The part about thinking about sex all the time kinda scares me. I've been know to be sexually obsessive in the past, and one of the last things I would need would be a treatment that caused an unstoppable sex drive. Unbelievable, that was one of the eventual effects ECT had on me - I became more obsessed with sex!

 

Re: Loving EMSAM » Bob

Posted by Phillipa on April 13, 2007, at 21:58:38

In reply to Re: Loving EMSAM, posted by Bob on April 13, 2007, at 21:40:37

Well that's interesting about the ECT. I did at one point do student nursing on a brain damage floor. You know accidents where people were getting well. But the obsession with sex was quite evident there. Wonder if it has something to do with the brain healing ? I have no idea. Love Phillipa

 

Sleep can be a problem on all MAOIs

Posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 13, 2007, at 23:38:26

In reply to Re: Loving EMSAM » SoozyWoozy, posted by Phillipa on April 13, 2007, at 11:57:45

That is great you are doing so well on Emsam and thank you for posting your success.

Less appetitie? Thats natural when you are taking a drug that most certainly makes you feel more energized.

I had three months on Emsam, and felt like a 6 on a scale of 10 for generalized anxiety. I am now trying Nardil (week two) in hopes of hitting 10, but sleep has been even worse and lots of daytime sedation. But they say nasty side effects go away over time. We'll see.

On Emsam, sleep seemed to get better over time. I know you dont want to add another med, and thats good. My pdoc prescribed me 4mg of Klonopin (great, safe med) and I took 2 at night and 1 + 1 during the day.

My miracle drug for sleep and insomnia has always been Seroquel. He upped my dose to 200mg and eventually I got it back down to 100g. But a few times, and here is what I would advise you if you dont want to add any other meds, I took pure Benadryl for allergies with doc's consent (do NOT Benadryl for cold because you can have a reaction).
Michael

 

Re: Loving EMSAM » Phillipa

Posted by Bob on April 14, 2007, at 0:34:22

In reply to Re: Loving EMSAM » Bob, posted by Phillipa on April 13, 2007, at 21:58:38

> Well that's interesting about the ECT. I did at one point do student nursing on a brain damage floor. You know accidents where people were getting well. But the obsession with sex was quite evident there. Wonder if it has something to do with the brain healing ? I have no idea. Love Phillipa

Your guess is as good as mine, Phillipa. I used to think I understood something about brain chemistry and how treatments putatively affect it, but I am quite humbled these days.


 

Re: Loving EMSAM

Posted by chiron on April 14, 2007, at 8:58:19

In reply to Loving EMSAM, posted by SoozyWoozy on April 13, 2007, at 11:36:54

yeah! I'm glad it is working so well for you.
I've been on it 5 weeks now (20 days 6mg, 16 days 9mg). Now that my period has started, I am feeling better (I hope it will last). I definitely had a rough time getting to this point though.

But I think I'm feeling more uncomfortable being alone. Luckily I had plans last night, but when I got up at 7 this morning I immediately felt freaked out about being in my place alone. Because my mood is better I can actually enjoy being with people, but I guess I'm not enjoying being alone.

Do you think this is an adjustment phase? I hate feeling this way. I'm going to be running over to my mom's in a minute just to get out (and I'm not that close to my mom).

 

Re: Proud of you for staying on Emsam » chiron

Posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 14, 2007, at 16:16:30

In reply to Re: Loving EMSAM, posted by chiron on April 14, 2007, at 8:58:19

Glad youre mood has improved after five weeks on it. Just wait til how you feel in 2-3 more weeks. That is when it is really supposed to kick in. So happy for you, Michael

 

Re: Proud of you for staying on Emsam

Posted by chiron on April 14, 2007, at 19:55:52

In reply to Re: Proud of you for staying on Emsam » chiron, posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 14, 2007, at 16:16:30

> Glad youre mood has improved after five weeks on it. Just wait til how you feel in 2-3 more weeks. That is when it is really supposed to kick in. So happy for you, Michael

Thanks for your support Michael.
Today I seemed to dip from where I was the last two days. Did you experience a transitional phase where you went back and forth?

 

Re: Proud of you for staying on Emsam » chiron

Posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 14, 2007, at 22:52:26

In reply to Re: Proud of you for staying on Emsam, posted by chiron on April 14, 2007, at 19:55:52

Yes of course I had days where I didnt feel as good as I did on others, but thats the case with EVERY med. Dont worry about it or focus on it. Just tell yourself tomorrow is a new day and I will feel better.

 

Re: Proud of you for staying on Emsam » UgottaHaveHope

Posted by Phillipa on April 14, 2007, at 22:59:55

In reply to Re: Proud of you for staying on Emsam » chiron, posted by UgottaHaveHope on April 14, 2007, at 22:52:26

Michael you're an inspiration to this board. Always so optimistic and positive. Love Phillipa


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