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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 SGB on June 11, 2007, at 13:39:00
Does anyone have a negative skin reaction to the Emsam patch? If so, how do you treat it? I have site itching, burning, and blistering.
Posted by Phillipa on June 11, 2007, at 17:12:01
In reply to Emsam patch reaction, posted by SGB on June 11, 2007, at 13:39:00
If you didn't have the blistering I'd say cortisone cream but I know my pdoc had a lady on EMSAM that got the blisters and she had to take her off it. Maybe someone else has experienced it did you call your pdoc? Love Phillipa
Posted by SGB on June 11, 2007, at 21:01:27
In reply to Re: Emsam patch reaction » SGB, posted by Phillipa on June 11, 2007, at 17:12:01
> If you didn't have the blistering I'd say cortisone cream but I know my pdoc had a lady on EMSAM that got the blisters and she had to take her off it. Maybe someone else has experienced it did you call your pdoc? Love Phillipa
Yes, I did, and the only option left is the MAOI in capsule form. I've tried the prescription strength cortisone cream, and it hasn't worked. I was hoping there was a magic answer out there somewhere. Thanks for responding.
Posted by Honore on June 12, 2007, at 0:37:58
In reply to Re: Emsam patch reaction, posted by SGB on June 11, 2007, at 21:01:27
Have you tried putting the cortisone cream on your skin before putting on the patch?
I also find, for some reason, that the patches on my stomach don't bother me while they're on, even though they do every place else-- and also itch pretty badly often after I take them off my stomach. So I can keep them on, then take a shower, and use the cortisone cream after I take them off-- and it's tolerable.
Have you found that some boxes are worse than others? I used Emsam in the spring and hardly ever had this reaction-- now I've had it a lot, especially with one box.
Honore
Posted by SGB on June 12, 2007, at 18:09:06
In reply to Re: Emsam patch reaction » SGB, posted by Honore on June 12, 2007, at 0:37:58
> Have you tried putting the cortisone cream on your skin before putting on the patch?
>
> I also find, for some reason, that the patches on my stomach don't bother me while they're on, even though they do every place else-- and also itch pretty badly often after I take them off my stomach. So I can keep them on, then take a shower, and use the cortisone cream after I take them off-- and it's tolerable.
>
> Have you found that some boxes are worse than others? I used Emsam in the spring and hardly ever had this reaction-- now I've had it a lot, especially with one box.
>
> HonoreHonore, I haven't noticed a difference in boxes. I think that there's a progression of less resistance on the part of the body to the adhesive on the patches. It doesn't make any difference which part of my body has the patch, it continues to burn, itch, and blister.
I'll try the cortisone cream on the spot before I apply the patch. I wonder -- does the cream prevent full absorbtion of the medication? Do you know?
Thanks so much for replying.
Posted by Honore on June 12, 2007, at 23:09:49
In reply to Re: Emsam patch reaction, posted by SGB on June 12, 2007, at 18:09:06
Hi, SBG. I don't think the cortisone inhibits absorption-- because I (somewhat vaguely) recall my pdoc's suggesting the idea.
But Emsam is new-- and I can't (and probably he couldn't) be sure. I've tried it a few times, and my impression was that it helped.
I had had a long time off ( three or four months) and noticed a marked difference, especially in the first box of 12 mg I used. (I started on 6 mg when I went back to it-- and don't think I noticed any reaction). I happened to get (by mistake) a box of 9 mg today-- so I 'll be interested to see if it causes the same problems.
I hope you can find some way of staying with it, though.
Honore
Posted by SGB on June 13, 2007, at 13:50:20
In reply to Re: Emsam patch reaction » SGB, posted by Honore on June 12, 2007, at 23:09:49
I also tried 2 6mg patches, and it was better (smaller blishters). I'm at the point of having to give up on the patches and going to the oral medication, which I find very scary.
Posted by Honore on June 14, 2007, at 20:49:23
In reply to Re: Emsam patch reaction, posted by SGB on June 13, 2007, at 13:50:20
The food and drug restrictions on the oral maois aren't that bad, as long as you follow certain basic rules, which your pdoc will give you.
Although there are laundry lists of supposedly prohibited substances, most of that is the result of one hypertensive reaction-- The relevant restrictions are the primary ones, which are clear and pretty limited. The only judgment calls are about foods left out and possibly spoiled-- but my approach was just to avoid them--- and be a bit conservative. At the beginning, you should be careful-- but carefulness is about all you need. That's mostly about looking through the ingredient lists on prepared and processed foods to make sure none of the few problem substances are there.
After a while, you just know what you can and can't have. The same goes for the drug reactions. Plus, you can always call your pdoc, if you're not sure--
The only other thing is some identification in your wallet for emergencies-- so that anyone helping you knows you take MAOIs-- and doesn't give you demerol, etc.
It really isn't that scary-- the reputation for being dangerous isn't deserved-- for anyone who's capable being fairly careful about the prohibited things-- .
Honore
This is the end of the thread.
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