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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 UgottaHaveHope on December 28, 2007, at 0:32:21
To me, Emsam was one of the greatest inventions of our time. It was a bold approach by the psychiatry industry, devising a skin patch to transmit a powerful MAIO directly into the blood stream, therefore bypassing taking the same medicine orally and avoiding many food restrictions.
However, for numerous reasons, Emsam has yet to come close to meeting its high expectations from within the pdoc industry. Perhaps they picked the wrong MAOI for the patch, or it was marketed poorly (I never saw an Emsam ad or commercial) or the ridiculous price of the patch turned off both patients and health insurance companies.
All I know is the website www.Emsam.com is gone. I sure hope the actual medicine does not follow it.
Posted by clipper40 on December 28, 2007, at 1:54:36
In reply to Will Emsam survive????, posted by UgottaHaveHope on December 28, 2007, at 0:32:21
Sorry for hijacking your post above. I generally try not to do that but I was just so surprised at your comment about EMSAM probably not making it. That's so sad. I hope it does manage to pull through. I agree with you that it hasn't been marketed much. There don't seem to be a lot of doctors using it which is a shame. So often I think they just keep trying yet another SSRI when that isn't what the patient needs. This would really be an awful turn of events of EMSAM were taken off of the market.
Posted by CoutureMan on December 28, 2007, at 2:24:03
In reply to Will Emsam survive????, posted by UgottaHaveHope on December 28, 2007, at 0:32:21
Hi UHHope,
The Emsam webite is still up. I just went there.CM
> All I know is the website www.Emsam.com is gone. I sure hope the actual medicine does not follow it.
Posted by Maxime on December 28, 2007, at 20:08:35
In reply to Re: Will Emsam survive???? » UgottaHaveHope, posted by CoutureMan on December 28, 2007, at 2:24:03
Posted by UGottaHaveHOPE on December 29, 2007, at 1:02:04
In reply to The site is still running. Maybe you made a typo. (nm), posted by Maxime on December 28, 2007, at 20:08:35
From what I heard from insiders, and I guess you know yourself, it never has come close to meeting sales expectations. Surely they will keep it around indefinitely as it is helping some ppl. Surely.
Posted by stargazer2 on December 29, 2007, at 11:08:12
In reply to Re: Apologies, you're right, but ..., posted by UGottaHaveHOPE on December 29, 2007, at 1:02:04
Hi Michael...Unfortunately, one never knows when a med will be eliminated from production or do they?
I'm not sure how much the drug companies really take into consideration the patients using the meds, especially their history and lack of response to other meds before the one proposed for elimination. Unless something has changed since the early 90's when Marplan was discontinued by Roche, no information was communicated to the patients who relied on Marplan for complete elimination of their depression (my situation).
I still have an article written by a physican in CT (JAMA, 12/14/94-Vol 272, No 22) about how this decision caused the destabalization of a woman with Psychotic depression (7 hospitalizations in 10 years prior to taking Marplan). He obviously had not been notified of Roche's decision. Roche responded by saying they would supply Marplan for another two years for any patients needing the med.
I don't think my pdoc was aware of this and I think he thought I had a very good chance taking the newer SSRI's that had been recently released at the time. But I never found another med that helped me like the original Marplan did. Years and years went by with partial treatments and many , many relapses.
Hopefully, discontinuation of meds by pharmaceutical companies can't be randomly done anymore based purely on market share and profits..or can it? Does anyone know for sure about this?
It is very concerning that any drug someone is stable on, especially those older and less well known, can be eliminated and cause a relapse for any of those patients taking it successfully.
Emsam may not survive due to poor marketing and pricing, but that is not the patient's fault and they should not be made to suffer for the lack of planning on the manufacturer's behalf.
Having experienced the same thing with Marplan makes me very concerned if a decsion like this is
might also be made for Emsam.Stargazer
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on December 30, 2007, at 12:16:01
In reply to Re: Apologies, you're right, but .../Ugotta, posted by stargazer2 on December 29, 2007, at 11:08:12
I'm sure it will stay around as long as it has its patent, but after that ... yikes.
Posted by BGB on December 30, 2007, at 15:03:04
In reply to Re: Apologies, you're right, but .../Ugotta, posted by stargazer2 on December 29, 2007, at 11:08:12
Didn't they bring Marplan back? Not that it did you any good back then, of course, I was just wondering for curiosity's sake.
Also, the small non-chain pharmacy I use also does compounding, and the pharmacist there said that when drug companies discontinue drugs, they can compound them. He mentioned that he has another patient on some non-psychotropic drug (I forgot what) that was discontinued twenty years ago. It works for her so her doctor still prescribes it and he still compounds it.
So, even if one of our favorite meds is discontinued, we are never left out in the cold! The local compounding pharmacy is to the rescue!
Posted by BGB on December 30, 2007, at 15:26:23
In reply to Compounding Pharmacies » stargazer2, posted by BGB on December 30, 2007, at 15:03:04
I almost forgot to mention that the beauty of the compounding pharmacy is the plethora of novel delivery systems available. Compounding pharmacists can make drugs into syrups, creams, gels, lollipops and even gummi bears. That's right, I said gummi bears! If you don't believe me, look it up!! :-P
P.S. I think the next time I'm there I'm gonna try to get me some Valium gummi bears! I could market them as Sleepy Bears. I may be on to something.... ;-)
Posted by stargazer2 on December 30, 2007, at 18:48:39
In reply to Compounding Pharmacies » stargazer2, posted by BGB on December 30, 2007, at 15:03:04
yeah, marplan came back,not sure exactly when but I did try it within the last year and it did nothing for me. Unfortunately, the med never comes back as the same formula that was originally developed.
I'm not too familiar with compounding pharmacies and I was unaware that they can make up a drug that has been discontinued.
Unfortunately with the lack of quality of generic meds today, you would be doing this for more meds than not and I'm sure insurance is not covering the meds from the compounding pharmacies or are they?
I'm on Nardil now which does not work like the original formula and no one has said they have had success with compounding it.
At the time Marplan was discontinued,no solution was given to me and I went for many years without any stability or confidence about life. I never was able to succeed in anything and wallowed those years away like a ship without a rudder. My pdoc had no solution for me but trials and trials of meds that took months before they were deemed useless. I was a walking testtube dummy for psych meds.
I'm much older and smarter now and rely on other options than my pdoc's suggestions but back then I was a faithful patient with no options but to follow his advice. This was definately one of my downfalls, too much adherence to his methodologies and not enough researching and challenging him for alternative choices.
I got old being compliant and I resent the years I spent wasting my life with medications that didn't help me at all.
Stargazer
Posted by d0pamine on January 1, 2008, at 5:49:19
In reply to Re: Compounding Pharmacies, posted by BGB on December 30, 2007, at 15:26:23
Maybe they suspect the potential for some nasty long term problems and want to wait to let the fallout rain down on as few guinea pigs as possible or alternatively see that there is no fallout after a couple years then start their ad blitz with a warm fuzzy feeling that can only be had from a couple years of success. I'd think that for a pharma co like this, remarketing an MAOI would be a daunting challenge, given the irrational climate of fear surrounding the general public where MAOIs are concerned.
Posted by former trx resistant on January 1, 2008, at 15:46:09
In reply to Compounding Pharmacies » stargazer2, posted by BGB on December 30, 2007, at 15:03:04
This a terrible way to start the New Year. Please read my posts under EMSAM miracle! I haven't been on it 4 months and I'm going to lose the life it's taken me 9 years to get back! I don't think so. WE need to rally, join forces, go public (if you can) go to Oprah etc. I'm an unemployed attorney with past background as pharmaceutical rep. I know doctors that testify before Senate committees on other drug and health issues. If this happens, or rather before it does happen, WE MUST STOP IT FROM HAPPENING! I will do what I can but like any other world issue I am but one voice.
As far as compounding into patch for unique delivery system, don't think anyone I know will do it. But let's hope it never need to go that route.
Posted by former trx resistant on January 1, 2008, at 15:57:03
In reply to Re: Compounding Pharmacies, posted by BGB on December 30, 2007, at 15:26:23
Yes you could as to sleepy gummy bears. But as to patch, anything "ingested" orally will go through the gut which means we're back to scary food restrictions, like a couple of drops of over ripe fruit or raisins or tofu etc causing immediate massive stroke. So let's keep it transdermal. Also for those of us who suffered seizures as a result of our first experience with SSRI (nasty side effect you don't believe will happen to you, than does) the transdermal delivery makes this so very safe. Otherwise I'm back to planning exit.
I just had brain scan yesterday, mere precaution and check up. Just got email and neurologist says the scars from seizures in 2000 and (1) in 2005 now require me to take seizure meds for the rest of my life or I can't drive. Lovely, because I'm allergic to Dilantin and all the other make me feel like sh_t.
Posted by former trx resistant on January 1, 2008, at 16:03:24
In reply to Re: Compounding Pharmacies/BGB, posted by stargazer2 on December 30, 2007, at 18:48:39
Stargazer, me, too exactly. If doctor says, you must do it. Mine didn't listen to the weird auras I reported several months before my massive seizures happened. Again, thanks to finding this group, I wouldn't have had 4 good months in 9 years. So I am deeply grateful.
DR. Bob, are you listening? I have been telling my docs to tell their patients about what a service to the world you provide.
Posted by Greenmtn on January 2, 2008, at 5:34:33
In reply to Re: Compounding Pharmacies, posted by former trx resistant on January 1, 2008, at 15:57:03
Thats surely nasty news to get from your brain scan. I hope you can weather this and keep going with addition of new unwanted meds. Hopefully the side effects will be mild and the Emsam will keep you feeling good.
Hey everybody:
What's the best way for us Psyco-Babblers to fight for Emsam? Does anyone have any ideas so we can figure out how to band together? Anyone with experience in doing something like this?
Posted by trx resistant on January 7, 2008, at 13:13:10
In reply to Former TRX: some thoughts, posted by Greenmtn on January 2, 2008, at 5:34:33
Yes we need to get a plan. I talked to my pdoc and said start trying it and those not helped by SSRI instead of just cranking up their dosage. He said it's primary care docs that need marketing because they Rx more than anyone. But their closed minded because they don't want liability from old side effects such as cold medications or diet restricttions. Bristol Reps are not doing there jobs or their marketing team doesn't want this to work. give me a week to get through this brain tumor issue plus now I caught that horrible flu/cold virus and I will call Bristol. The more of you who place telephone calls on 800 numbers, even if you only think you might want this option available, should place a call. They do keep track of inquiries. Many voices speak louder than one. Help.
Posted by Greenmtn on January 9, 2008, at 4:02:56
In reply to Re: Former TRX: some thoughts, posted by trx resistant on January 7, 2008, at 13:13:10
Yes I will call in to Bristol Meyers and tell them how great their Emsam is. The more we know the better. And the more very positive feedback they get the better. My pharmicists tech (relatively small pharmacy) said he knows of at least one other patient using Emsam. Not alot considering how much other stuff they probably dispense.
BTW I accidently was taking psuedoephidrine for nose congestion for about a week with no reaction. I do NOT suggest anyone do likewise.
This is the end of the thread.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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