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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Last Chance on June 20, 2006, at 11:23:23
It is not working well - I will still give more time, but what I hoped would be my miracle med. is, so far, a failure. I use the full 6mg patch during the day, and 1/3 of it at night - Cannot sleep with the full patch. Even with the third it is still difficult - some nights I take .5
Xanax - sorry I didn't last night, I slept terrible. I haven't even gotten any good dreams with this stuff. Every day I also take .25 Klonapin in the morning and again in the evening. Depression comes and goes just like before I started Emsam - this morning particularly agitated but so far not able to get anything done except this post. It is just not consistent - I get highs, lows, energy, no energy - it is unpredictable. Robert David - are you still doing well with it? Been awhile. Richard
Posted by Phillipa on June 20, 2006, at 12:10:08
In reply to Emsam - Day 23, posted by Last Chance on June 20, 2006, at 11:23:23
I'm sorry was hoping it would be a miracle drug . Will E-mail Robert David and ask him to post. Love Phillipa
Posted by Ripley Snell on June 20, 2006, at 20:38:23
In reply to Emsam - Day 23, posted by Last Chance on June 20, 2006, at 11:23:23
It is not working well - I will still give more time, but what I hoped would be my miracle med. is, so far, a failure. I use the full 6mg patch during the day, and 1/3 of it at night - Cannot sleep with the full patch.
Really? I'm sorry for you. How very unpredictable these meds are. I pursued EMSAM because I'm bipolar, and it's thought that Wellbutrin is best for bipolars, with MAOIs a close second. Wellbutrin makes me practically rabid, so when this "safer" MAOI came around, I was very interested.
Every day I also take .25 Klonapin in the morning and again in the evening.
Why is that relevant? Is it some sort of shame about taking benzos? I notice this all the time on this site--whereas I don't notice it, for example, on alt.support.depression.manic (easily viewable through Google Groups). My Klonopin dose varies from about 10mg a day to about 1.5. When I'm on vacation, that's a good opportunity to cut back. I just don't see what's so wrong about a medicine that has such a wonderful and useful effect with none of the side effects that, say, alcohol would carry. Yes, there's a risk of habituation, but that can be controlled--and habituation isn't that bad--I'm habituated to food and to mood stabilizers. I *must* take both. It doesn't make me feel weak or ashamed though.
Depression comes and goes just like before I started Emsam - this morning particularly agitated but so far not able to get anything done except this post.
Again, very sorry to hear that, especially when the MAOIs are supposed to be good with agitated depression. Have you/your doctor considered augmenting an antidepressant that worked in the past with 1. Lamictal or 2. lithium or 3. Depakote or 4. a stimulant ADD medicine ? You're complaining about a lack of focus, and the ADD medicines are good for that; the benzodiazepines take the anxiogenic edge off them. It may seem like "one foot on the accelerator; one on the brake," but it's not--it's a good synergy. In my experience.
Finally, why such a low dose? Sometimes side effects get better when you raise the dose . . . 6 does nothing for me, but 12 is quite effective. If 12mg/day EMSAM helps your mood, but you get too nervous, well, add in more Klonopin.
I think people forget how *rare* an antidepressant that actually WORKS is.
Or you could take Remeron and Effexor together; known to psychopharm types as "rocket fuel"--but not anxiogenic at all.
Good luck!
Posted by Last Chance on June 21, 2006, at 1:08:29
In reply to Re: Emsam - Day 23 » Last Chance, posted by Ripley Snell on June 20, 2006, at 20:38:23
Me taking .25 Klonapin in the morning and again in the evening - Shame, No - that's just how much I take - From what I observe on this site, most posters state all the meds they are taking. If I stay on the patch, I would like to increase to .5 twice a day, but right now my doc will only prescribe 30 .5's per month. Richard
Posted by Last Chance on June 21, 2006, at 1:14:15
In reply to Re: Emsam - Day 23 - Ripley Snell, posted by Last Chance on June 21, 2006, at 1:08:29
Oh, and Ripley - it is my understanding that most start on the 6mg patch - I am not ruling out raising the dose to the 9 or 12, but right now it's the 6. Pretty simple, really. Richard
This is the end of the thread.
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