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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by em_kath on January 13, 2010, at 0:35:16
I am currently on the 9mg/24hr Emsam patch and have been for approximately one month. For 2 weeks prior to that I was on the 6mg/24hr dose. I am not experiencing results that I had hoped for and I am wondering if, in the experiences of those also taking Emsam, an increase to the 12mg/24hr dose has been significantly beneficial, or if it might be best to cut my losses and switch to something else. I am going to give it another few weeks before I change anything as that's when I have my next psychiatrist appointment. Have any of you felt significantly better upon switching to the 12mg dose? I am not ready to give up on this medication that I had such high hopes for, but I also don't want to delay alternate treatment if increasing the dose is unlikely to make much of a difference. I have treatment-resistant depression - I have tried multiple other antidepressants with only moderate relief and I am getting frustrated. Thanks for any advice or experiences shared!
Posted by Phillipa on January 13, 2010, at 12:14:34
In reply to Emsam - much improvement with higher dose?, posted by em_kath on January 13, 2010, at 0:35:16
I know one lady who has been on EMSAM 12mg since first out and does very well on it. When you say treatment resistant what other meds have you been on? Phillipa
Posted by inanimate peanut on January 13, 2010, at 15:50:58
In reply to Emsam - much improvement with higher dose?, posted by em_kath on January 13, 2010, at 0:35:16
Well done on the self-control for waiting. Unfortunately, I can't answer your question. I was in hell and heard Parnate was a more powerful drug, so I ditched Emsam and made the switch to Parnate when I was on Emsam 6mg. If the Emsam ends up not working out, I encourage you to go with Parnate-- lots of people on this site have had good luck with it. It brought me out of hell within a week of the switch. The diet isn't that hard.
Posted by em_kath on January 13, 2010, at 16:31:01
In reply to Re: Emsam - much improvement with higher dose?, posted by inanimate peanut on January 13, 2010, at 15:50:58
> Well done on the self-control for waiting. Unfortunately, I can't answer your question. I was in hell and heard Parnate was a more powerful drug, so I ditched Emsam and made the switch to Parnate when I was on Emsam 6mg. If the Emsam ends up not working out, I encourage you to go with Parnate-- lots of people on this site have had good luck with it. It brought me out of hell within a week of the switch. The diet isn't that hard.
Yeah, I've been reading some other threads and there do seem to be a lot of people who have had success on Parnate. I'll suggest that to my psychiatrist next time I see him, because I don't think the Emsam is cutting it. I'm definitely willing to follow the diet for something that works, the benefits would far outweigh the inconvenience! I'm not looking forward to the washout period necessary when switching though :( Thanks for the advice!
Posted by em_kath on January 13, 2010, at 16:39:13
In reply to Re: Emsam - much improvement with higher dose? » em_kath, posted by Phillipa on January 13, 2010, at 12:14:34
> I know one lady who has been on EMSAM 12mg since first out and does very well on it. When you say treatment resistant what other meds have you been on? Phillipa
I've been in treatment for about 8 years and I feel like I've tried everything. I've been on Prozac, Luvox, Paxil, risperidone, Seroquel, I was on Wellbutrin for many years and that was the most effective of all that I've tried but not effective enough, so I tried adding Effexor, thyroid augmentation, and I'm sure a couple that I'm forgetting. I think the only common class of antidepressants I haven't tried are the tricyclics, but as I understand they aren't supposed to be particularly helpful for atypical depression (what I have, among other diagnoses). My psychiatrist seems confident that we will find something and while I'm no expert, I feel as though I've exhausted many options and it's been discouraging.
Posted by Phillipa on January 13, 2010, at 20:06:15
In reply to Re: Emsam - much improvement with higher dose?, posted by em_kath on January 13, 2010, at 16:39:13
Having a pdoc that's optimistic is very helpful. Thyroid okay? Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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