Posted 12/17/2007 8:09 PM (GMT 0)
EMSAM-A DRUG THAT REALLY WORKS WELL!!!!!!!!
I have been diagnosed with bipolar manic depression and found out through my own discovery process that I am not bipolar. Every drug I have been on has brought about drug-induced mania. Yes, many of the drugs for depression can cause mania. The drugs, SSRI's worked temporarily for 3 months and then stopped working. I have had treatment resistant depression. I am a highly educated person who hasn' t worked for the last ten years cuz I have had no consistency of wellness. Even to the point of suicide 3 times. My poor husband and children. They were so lost, didn't know what to do to help me. I was in and out of psych. hospitals. It was so surreal, not even me. It felt like hell here on earth.
I really didn't want to speak to anyone, didn't trust people, never socialized like my real bubbly self, was basically a zombie due to all the side effects of the drugs and the depression. I hid out from the world, even my extended family, even my husband and children, my friends. I felt I had nothing to offer them, just wanted so much for my hubby to send me a life preserver in the ocean of darkness and pain. It was so horrible I can't even put it into words. You have to experience to understand the deepest, darkest depths of depression.
Well, thanks to my mamasita she sent me a newsletter from the Johns Hopkins University of Medicine. It mentioned EMSAM, an MAOI patch. It is actually selegiline( the drug name). I started researching the internet and found all kinds of threads on the EMSAM patch. WOW!!!!!!! There was hope, real hope.
Many of these people helped me by writing in forum rooms about it. I also went to the EMSAM website and read on it. I went to my psychiatrist and she prescribed it for me.
For the first time in my life I actually feel NORMAL. It is actually a better delivery system too instead of orally taking drugs for depression. It's because it bypasses the digestive system and goes directly through the bloodstream.
Now, let me tell you a few things about it.
First there are 3 dosage strengths. ( 6 mg, 9 mg. and 12mg.) They say with MAOI's that they have dietary restrictions. On the 6 mg. there are none. But, when you go to 9mg or 12mg. then there are. You aren't supposed to eat sauerkraut, cheese(aged), Sausage bananas, etc. If you eat these foods they say it can cause a hypertensive crisis. I have had no problem eating my favorite cheddar cheese and pizza from Pizza Hut. A person from the Emsam thread mentioned that they have to say there are diet precautions because they just have to cover themselves just in case something happened.
Emsam also takes time to work, not as quick as the SSRI's. You have to be PATIENT! It took me about 6 weeks to kick in and I had to go to the 9 mg. I am still on 9 mg. and it's almost 3 months now.
It also has a history of not pooping out like the SSRI's and the other drugs for depression.
Another thing is some people have complained about redness where they apply the patch. I and others have had a little redness but nothing to fret about. I just put on a little anti-itch cortisone cream( I use prescription
Triamcinolone Acetonide cream that my regular doctor gave me. Or, you can just use regular over the counter cortisone.
Oh, another thing. It can be very expensive if you don't have insurance-$500.00 for a month. But, my insurance company pays for it so I only pay $40.00.
Oh, also my libido is very strong and I have lost 15 lbs.
I feel so happy, calm, energetic and ready to start my day!!!!!!!!! EMSAM is my miracle drug.
I hope this helps people who are still suffering. Nobody should go through that. It's horrible. Life is meant to be joyful, especially at Christmas. =0) smile
I really wanted to pass on the love, and hope others gave to me. We are all here to help each other in this world.
If you want to write me back feel free. I am here for anyone. Please keep the faith. There is an answer to everything.
Love and peace to all of you,
Faith23