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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by UgottaHaveHope on December 14, 2006, at 23:25:35
Will someone who has taken Ensam for a few months or extended period let us know how they are doing? Is it the great drug it promised to be? Michael
Posted by tensor on December 15, 2006, at 11:17:35
In reply to People who have been on Ensam for months?, posted by UgottaHaveHope on December 14, 2006, at 23:25:35
>Is it the great drug it promised to be?
Which drug isn't promised to be great :-)
Sorry, have no experience about Emsam, but I hope people are doing great on it and it would be nice to hear their progress.
/Mattias
Posted by RN320 on December 15, 2006, at 11:18:06
In reply to People who have been on Ensam for months?, posted by UgottaHaveHope on December 14, 2006, at 23:25:35
Hi Michael-
I've been on EMSAM since the first week of June, and am currenlty on the 12mg dose. Things have improved greatly for me- not so much in mood, but in anxiety reduction and the ability to be more organized and accomplish things. I also am able to take more of an interest in things around me, and am able to think more positively. To me, having battled almost 6 years with treatment resisitant depression, it's a miracle drug. Am I all better? Definitely not. I still can't handle a lot of stress or change and have bad days, but they are less intense and less frequent than before EMSAM.
Hope that answers your question.
Regards.
/m
Posted by Phillipa on December 15, 2006, at 13:48:17
In reply to Re: People who have been on Ensam for months?, posted by RN320 on December 15, 2006, at 11:18:06
I know there are more which they would stop lurking and post. Love Phillipa
Posted by stargazer on December 15, 2006, at 20:00:24
In reply to Re: People who have been on Ensam for months?, posted by Phillipa on December 15, 2006, at 13:48:17
I don't qualify...only on one month. Doing well but my comments don't count yet...I have posted my progress in another thread at top of page for anyone interested in just a month's time.
SG
Posted by stargazer on December 19, 2006, at 11:33:36
In reply to Re: People who have been on Ensam for months?, posted by RN320 on December 15, 2006, at 11:18:06
RN320,
Is your insuror paying for Emsam or do you pay out of pocket? I have found out that Emsam is not on my drug formulary which is not surprising considering the cost ($500/mo) but since it's working for me I'd rather not switch risking a relapse. I guess I could take oral selegilene which is not the same formulation and might not help with depression.
I had left my job a few mos ago and pay COBRA at $600+/month and cannot get an individual plan since I have depression as a preexisting condition and no one will insure us. Unless I get a job with benefits it will be a mess to figure all of this out.
What do you do?
Stargazer
Posted by RN320 on December 19, 2006, at 15:51:45
In reply to Re: People who have been on Ensam for months?, posted by RN320 on December 15, 2006, at 11:18:06
Stargazer-
I'm on SSD and have Medicare, so I'm enrolled in one of their stupid prescription drug programs. This year getting the EMSAM was not a problem. Next year will be a different story, and for that reason I'm probably going to have to go off of it and switch over to a different MAOI (Nardil or Parnate) unless my pdoc can get me samples. He's the largest prescriber of EMSAM in the metro Detroit area, and you'd think that they'd want to keep him happy, but the rep told my pdoc that they're not going to be handing out samples in large quantities to pdocs due to the "sheer (alleged) cost" of the patch. I had talked to him about putting me on oral selegeline, and he said that he won't do it because at the dose required to treat depression (in order to absorb as much through first pass metabolism in the gut as the patch delivers transdermally) would be too high. It has nothing to do with dietary restrictions like some earlier poster on a thread suggested...he says that it would be physiologically dangerous for me. He reminded me that the safe oral doses of selegeline are for treatment of Parkinson's. There's at least one person who posted a positive experience with it, though. I think that it's cruel once you find a drug that finally works for you- to have to deal with the strong possibility that you won't be able to stay on it due to Medicare Drug program "rules", insurance restrictions and financial constraints. I hope that you find a solution to your impending problem. Happy Holidays.
/m
Posted by Phillipa on December 19, 2006, at 20:00:31
In reply to Re: People who have been on Ensam for months?, posted by RN320 on December 19, 2006, at 15:51:45
Martha you two need to get together. Love Phillipa You two are the only success EMSAM stories I know of.
This is the end of the thread.
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