Posted by Timon on February 27, 2009, at 15:21:07
In reply to Re: Emsam/selegiline withdrawl » RUKynd, posted by myco on February 26, 2009, at 11:34:37
I am amazed of the level of sophistication and knowledge of you all on this topic. This information has been very helpful to me on this extreme troublesome time for me and my family. For that I thank you.
I will first apologize for the long post and for not being perhaps completely consistent throughout my description of events. I am still feeling very bad physically and mentally. Im still hospitalized at home trying to recover.
As for the withdraw symptoms the more incapacitating effect I experienced were: impaired speech, vertigo, chills, tremor, restlessness, blurred vision, sudden rise or fall of blood pressure, palpitations, tachycardia, anxiety, insomnia, delirium, muscle cramps, confusion, depression, sudoration, twitching. I will ask my wife to help me compile a complete list for you as soon as I get better.
Besides suffering from these incapacitating episodes or effects, I experienced other interesting SIDE EFFECTS but first I will like to let you know that I am a Crohns / Colitis patient. Before using EMSAM I tried many TCAs, almost all (if not all) the SSRIs available to me, EFFEXOR up to 600 mg daily (yes crazy MD and crazy me for believing) and others, combined with other psychotropic drugs to increase the potency of the antidepressants, including Ritalin 40 Mg. I use plural because for example, my MD prescribed for some time Prozac 80 Mg, Paxil 40 Mg, Wellbutrin 150 Mg and Effexor 75 Mg and Ritalin 40 Mg concurrently (yes, I know, I was very desperate and stupid).
Imagine having to ingest all these medicines with active Crohns / Colitis. Is painful to say the least.
None of them worked or the side effects were too much for me to handle. You have no idea the how EMSAM helped me. I have to admit that EMSAM has been the more effective antidepressant I have used. Also Bristol-Myers helped me with the economical burden. The cost of one months supply of EMSAM is well in the four figures even with the best Health Insurance money can buy here.
Having said that, I had some very interested side effects that developed over the last 24 to 36 hours.
Since my Doctor has no experience using MAOIs of any kind I found myself without help and without any explanation for my symptoms from any of the MDs consulted. Running out of options I decided to contact Bristol-Myers directly. They were of no help since they referred me back to my physician. I tried to find another MD with experience using EMSAM or other MAOI and asked Bristol for help. Bristol refused because of company policies (I assume legal reasons also); BUT they were very interested in what happened to me and they documented everything. I felt frustrated because of the lack of options and for the little knowledge of the several well paid MDs I consulted. My only options are: to fly 1,400 miles and get help from a competent MD in Florida or in a less serious note, use my wife advise and print an ad in the papers Looking for Medical Doctor with experience using EMSAM.
Bristol contacted my physician. At that time she had not answered any of my calls and messages pertaining this effects or symptoms. My guess is that she was not very happy having me looking for information. She then made one of the dumbest mistakes I have witnessed. She called me playing the victim stating that she felt uncomfortable being my treating physician and that I was more than welcome to get a full copy of my medical file.
If I may ask, how will you feel under these circumstances? What would you do?
I do not think is fair to continue to bore you with my story but your input will be greatly appreciated.
Again thanks!
poster:Timon
thread:876580
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20081229/msgs/882852.html