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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by lymom3 on May 9, 2006, at 16:11:27
I have been on Emsam for a week now. I have exercised a few of the days. I do have an 18 year old son that right now is going to be the death of me so I know I have some other factors going on. I do feel like doing things, for example, walking or even going to the grocery store. I also don't feel the crappy brain fog that I always had with SSRI's...made me feel like I had suddenly turned into an idiot. So I do feel like this medication is helping in that aspect. What I am still dealing with is my sh***y disposition. I realize that being aggravated with my ADHD 18 year old has some effect, but I am quite snippy. I am not the most cheerful ray of sunshine even when I'm at my best, but I really feel like I am more irritable than is even normal for me.
Do any of you have input whether on Emsam or similar situations on different medications? I really think that everyone at work and at home could kill me and not feel bad about it. I did just come off of years of SSRI's and have only been on the patch for a week, so I know I need to give it some time, but it is a lost cause? Is this one of those things that can or will improve or is it one of those things that mean this drug just is not for you?
ThanksLisa
Posted by linkadge on May 9, 2006, at 20:23:17
In reply to Emsam...some improvement, some not...questions, posted by lymom3 on May 9, 2006, at 14:01:33
The transition from an SSRI to EMSAM could cause irritability.
Linkadge
Posted by Phillipa on May 9, 2006, at 22:29:05
In reply to Re: Emsam...some improvement, some not...questions, posted by linkadge on May 9, 2006, at 20:23:17
Link even with a two week washout period? Love Phillipa. I am thinking of try the patch.
Posted by gibber on May 9, 2006, at 23:23:42
In reply to Emsam...some improvement, some not...questions, posted by lymom3 on May 9, 2006, at 14:01:33
Well I think SSRIs do a very good job of curbing irritability and anxiety. At least they did for me. They never did anything for depression so I tried Nardil and am now on EMSAM. The nardil worked very moderately for me and then when I came off and washed out for a few weeks things got horrible. Then I went to oral selegline and got up to 35mg at about 8 weeks and then switched to EMSAM when it came out. So at present I've been on EMSAM for a litle over a week like you. I probably feel better than I have in while but I feel like i'm only 60% of the way there. I'm also back in therapy and trying CBT for the first time so I think that is helping too. I had some break through depression today and when I'm not thoroughly depressed I often do not get excited about things or have much optimism. I'm hoping that in the second month of EMSAM I may see some really big improvements. I think 1 week is too early to make any assessments. I don't think it is unreasonable to experience irratibility after being on SSRIs for years and then start taking a drug that some people find to make them anxious and/or aggitated. Many find though that these feelings subside over time. What exactly are you irritable about? Teenagers can be difficult, is your irratibility justified with him?
Posted by jealibeanz on May 10, 2006, at 9:50:31
In reply to Emsam...some improvement, some not...questions, posted by lymom3 on May 9, 2006, at 14:01:33
Did you have anxiety before? Do you think EMSAM help or adds to anxiety?
Posted by lymom3 on May 10, 2006, at 11:02:51
In reply to Re: Emsam...some improvement, some not...questions, posted by jealibeanz on May 10, 2006, at 9:50:31
I have had anxiety before. I lived with agoraphobia for 30 years before I actually found something that worked for me. I do still get anxious from time to time but not like the old days. I am not as sensitive to the anxiety symptoms as I once was, but I don't notice any real increase or noticable difference as far as that goes.
Posted by lymom3 on May 10, 2006, at 11:43:59
In reply to Re: Emsam...some improvement, some not...questions, posted by gibber on May 9, 2006, at 23:23:42
He is ADHD so his life skills are very much lacking. He's 18 now so that is a part of the frustration. He also let someone in our house that robbed us...of course he didn't think that he was "that kind of kid". I know that he and I are alot alike as I am ADHD also.
It just seems right now though, that everything he does costs me money. He was fired from 3 jobs while he wasn't medicated for a period of time so finding a job not is not exactly easy. We are in bookoo amounts of counselling and all that, but I guess that it's just everything at once with him.
He's realizing that he is 2 weeks away from being out of school and needing to plan a future and I'm realizing that he's 18, he could walk out the door any time he wanted to but that he's not ready to be able to do that and I take that on as being my fault instead of being able to say to myself that he's just not like everyone else and takes extra work.
So I guess in my mind,I have reasons to be a little more irritable, but is it really reasons or just excuses? I'm not sure where the line is on that...
This is the end of the thread.
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