User Reviews for Emsam transdermal

12/08/07, Started 6mg. stopped using 07/11, now the depression is back due to stress related factors,has some sexual side effects,will probably restart using,i just have no drive to do anything...

DX: Bipolar I, PTSD, anxiety. i've tried almost all of the major SSRIs and a few SNRIs to combat debilitating Bipolar Depression. i was on Lexapro for ~10 years and it slowly stopped working. after three years of cyclic suicidal depression and winter agoraphobia, i requested ECT. i requested ECT again and again but the doctor wanted to keep trying medication. i did some research and suggest i try an MAOI. i began EMSAM 6mg/24hr and it got me out of bed in about three days. six months later i'm on EMSAM 9mg/24hr + Lamictal 100mg + clonazepam PRN, and doing very very well despite it being the dead of winter in New England. i have very few side effects usually associated with SSRI's. EMSAM appears to be weight neutral, no sexual side effects (some from Lamictal, however), very sharp memory and brain function (absolutely NO brain Fog that i've noticed), increased energy and decreased isolation, increased range of emotion (the Flat feeling from SSRI's not nearly noticeable). dehydration / need for increased water intake is readily noticeable, especially when combined with Lamictal. food restrictions are not difficult to adhere to.. i am a vegetarian and eat/drink soy products, noticed no issues. some foods that i Cheat (have just a little.. like Soy Sauce or canned soups) give me immediate headaches and mild blood pressure rise (although i take propranolol to prevent migraines so the side effect controllable), caffeine caused increased dehydration, nicotine lozenge caused heart palpitations, taken too close to bedtime causes mild insomnia. out of every antidepressant i've taken (approx 10-15? over 18 years), EMSAM has the least side effects and most effective, without impairing cognitive abilities (memory, Fog) or causing anxiety/panic attacks or major emotional stunting/numbing.Read More Read Less

hello my name is keith. i take other meds with emsam.my depression has gotten worst over the last few weeks.ive started thisilyn,b3 and b12.can these vitiams effect taking emsam?

Shrink told me to do research on emsam patch. SO I called my pharmacist and she told me it would interact with Cymbalta, which I am taking, Dr knows that and I can't get off Cymbalta. Second there are diet restiction. No cheese, bananna, avocada, wine, beer and no coffee. Pharmacist said she was surprised Dr did't tell me the Cymbalta interaction or the diet restrictions..SO can't use Ensam. gosh knows how many other diet restrctons there are. Now at a deadend to treat my debitating depressaion. THere is no hope. OH, and buspar can interact w/ Emsam. I was taking Zoloft whch was my wonder drug, until I came in for refills, DR asked how are you today. I said AH,"kinda depressed. THen she bulled me into taking Proac, a drug I knew I could not take..My life has been ruined because her, original Dr. I got the procac and flused it down the tolet, was so relieved as I had safed myself from dister, and completely forget that I would run out of Zoloft. SHe did such a number on my head, and this is why I am in the condition I am now. I told Dr,NO, don't want prozac, afraid of it. WILL make my head to crazy, had tried it before. She was not listening and immediatly ambush me, PRozac,this...By the time she was done w/me I could thnk straight, was speechles, Stunned. I hate this Dr, till the end of my life..Celexa headaches, Lexapro anxiety,Zoloft would not work after Prozac, anxiety, then killer headaches. NOT gettng ECT.Why did I ever pick up that 2nd perscript for Prazac..why dd I not flush it down the toilet.. Cause I ran out of Zolft get depressed, Dang Dr. was still in my head. My thinking was not right.Read More Read Less

My depression has dissapeared completely. I feel like my "old self" again with a positive outlook, more energy and very few negative thoughts. My side effects are: chills, dry mouth, some trouble falling and staying asleep and irregular heartbeat which I have a history of.

I had the oddest experience with Emsam that I have not seen documented elsewhere on the web, so I wanted to put it out there- about a week after starting (first at 1/4 of a 6mg patch, then at 1/2 and finally at 3/4 of a 6mg patch), my thumbs started to hurt so badly. I could hardly hold the steering wheel of my car, move my laptop around, text on my phone. I thought I had strained them in yoga or something, but the pain just got worse. Finally, the sleep side effects of the Emsam really started to kick in and I'd wake to find that I was clutching all the fingers of my hands down over my thumbs and nearly pulling them out of socket. Think "teeth grinding" but with hands/fingers. (I do also wear an occlusal guard for teeth grinding that I've had for years.) I also started waking up with hot sweats, really "shallow" sleep that would slip directly into and out of unsettling dreams and wasn't very restful, and what kind of felt like a heady/spacey and maybe even heart-palpitating feeling during the day. Combined with the drug not seeming to help my depression at all, I guess I am looking for a new drug. One that doesn't make my thumbs ache. I know not every drug works for every person, but my experiences with Emsam seemed a little undocumented, so I thought I'd share.Read More Read Less

I have been on Emsam 6mg for over 3 years for my treatment-resistant Major Depressive Disorder. I find that the drug makes me feel, not artificially not-depressed, but normal. I have a full range of emotions, not the muted feeling i got from some SSRIs. At first there was slight tremors, a bit trouble sleeping and weight loss. It felt like I'd drunk too much coffee. But those symptoms faded after about 2 weeks. I think there is a bit of an effect on my sex drive. Nothing too terrible, but I notice I am a bit slower to respond. Also, i notice that it magnifies the affects of alcohol. I feel drunk very quickly, but also become sober quickly. I find this discourages over-indulging. Overall, I am extremely pleased with Emsam which allows me to function and enjoy life. Read More Read Less

I put my first patch on today. I am hoping EMSAM is going to be the "miracle drug" I've been looking for for so many years. Of course, I will check back within a couple of weeks to let you all know how my satisfaction with the drug is going.

This medicine has helped me.,but it caused me to lose a lot of weight.,I'm already small and normally weigh 92 pounds., now I'm dangerously at 83 pounds., I'm seriously sick now....

I am on the 12 mg. Emsam patch. I started on the 3 mg. and was increased from 3 to 6 to 9 to 12. I have had an allergic reaction to the adhesive on the patch. It leaves red blotches that itch, all over my chest. I have reported this to the manufacturer and they say they have had similar complaints. Can anything be done?

I suffer from Recurrent Severe Major Depression/ Anxiety. It really didn't start in until I was pregnant w/ my second child. I feel Blessed to have been assigned the Phychiatrist that I have. He tried a list of SSRI's that did nothing, or only worked temporarily. I was to the point where I had ECT, which helped tremendously, until I hit a peak. I have been on the 6mg and 9mg. 9mg works like a charm. The only side effect is that it causes insomnia, but I would rather not sleep than feel like I need to be in the Hospital. The only other problem I've noticed is, sometimes it starts peeling off around the edges, does anyone else have this problem? Also, just wanted to give my Phychiatrist a Big Thank You for getting me through all of this! I don't know at age 24 where I would be w/o everything he's done! Read More Read Less

Was taking 12mg jpatch. It did absolutely nothing for me.

Did not alleviate my depression/anxiety, and actually made it worse because I wasn't sleeping (or had very fitful/restless sleep), wasn't eating, and was twitchy and anxious. Best spot to put the patch was on hip - less allergic reaction. Too expensive with my insurance to keep taking anyhow (6 mg/24 h patch). MAOIs in laboratory settings helped with HSV infections - this helped (Zoloft made me break out every 2-3 wks due to slight immunosuppression) but I have to find something else besides Emsam that will help my mental state and my bank account.Read More Read Less

I have had a positive experience with this drug. Although others have also helped, this one is much easier and more effective for me. Another reason is because of other medical issues. I have several other meds to take daily and this makes it so I have less pills to swallow every day which is a very big positive for me.

severe rash and itching. it takes about 2 weeks for a rash to go away

I have been on the 9mg for over 2 yrs now and it has worked good. I have had no major problems. I am concerned that the mgs are no longer available and the dose will increase???? I understand from the pharmacy there is a risk??? Otherwise GREAT!!!!!!

redness at application site, and hard to keep adhered to skin once sweaty. Increased sweating and moderate dry mouth gets a little easier after several months. Redness still occurs at site.

I was very apprehensive due to the fact that this was an MAOI but now that I have been on it, it is no big deal. It seems to be doing its job. I actually think I may need to have to go up a dose.

Allergic to patch

When I first began this drug, I thought I found a miracle cure. The first month & 1/2 I had not felt so relaxed, steady, clear thinking, back to my old self in I do not know how long. Then I began to hallucinate. Every where I went I saw little filthy dirty naked babies crawling around. Across the road, down isles in grocery and department stores, on the alter at church, in the dump. The pharmacist seemed concerned when I was first prescribed Emsam. He had asked to report to him if I had any problems. I think he felf I would have a problem with the mix of the other drugs I was on. I not only suffer from depression on the norm (in my early life I was able to keep it in check without drugs) but I have a disease that causes depression, the cure for the disease causes suicidal depression. I have gone into treatment 2x for it but to no avail. On a daily basis I take 12-13 other prescriptions so that may have had something to do with my problem with the Emsam. Truly I was so very disappointed that I could no longer take it. As I related in the beginning Emsam was the best thing that happen to/for me in years. The drugs I am on now and before Emsam they keep me functioning but with no real love or passion of life. And with no desire to socialize. No real desire to get up in the morning. Life just seems to be passing me by.Read More Read Less