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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Seeking Peace on July 9, 2007, at 11:45:49
My dad is around so i can't do a search...someone's probably posted about this before, so sorry for a repeat.
Emsam and a hot shower...not bath but shower...
Ok (gross) but due to depression stuff I don't shower every day (esp now am at parents and more depressed...long story).
As people probbly remember from previous posts, i'm struggling with the emsam, wanting to quit, (7 wks so far on 9mg patch...though i've gone back and forth from half patch to slightly more). Have had anxiety issue with patch. Sometimes the anxiety gets really really bad. Racy heart, panicky, no sleep, etc. Sometimes I know that it's the stuff going on with parents that's been really crappy and anxiety producing, but days i do'nt understand why my anxiety has peaked.
One such day/night was Thurs and during night i just took off the patch, didn't put it back on next day. That night i took zyprexa. Next day again back to half patch. So put on half patch Sat/Sun. No zyprexa taken and I was ok with my anxiety..maybe the zyprexa stays in system. Today is Mon. I was fine in a.m. Changed my patch and went to take a shower. After shower i notice an increase in my anxiety which i think will get worse as day goes...i'm alredy debating taking it off.
I just realized..last thurs when anxiety peeked was day I took my last shower (please don't think badly of me...i'm embarrassed).
So my question is...can the shower be a cause for increased anxiety. I tend to take a hot shower..not extremely hot in my opinion but mom thinks i do take hot showers. Has anyone else noticed such a thing? Shower/heat causing more anxiety?
And zyprexa....can i take it mid afternoon or best to just wait till night before bed. Don't want to get sleepy too early...i usually sleep well and have difficulty waking up next day.
Thanks for reading...
Seeking Peace
Posted by Phillipa on July 9, 2007, at 11:56:42
In reply to Another Emsam question, posted by Seeking Peace on July 9, 2007, at 11:45:49
I've heard of people's concern with maybe a patch coming off but I seriously don't see how a shower could cause anxiety. Do you have any phobias? As not on EMSAM but afraid of taking a bath. Could you have a fear of showers? Just a wild stab. Love Phillipa
Posted by Seeking Peace on July 9, 2007, at 12:02:08
In reply to Re: Another Emsam question » Seeking Peace, posted by Phillipa on July 9, 2007, at 11:56:42
Actually i love taking showers (when i get myself motivated enough to do so) and I end up taking a long long one..usually an hr or so if not more. Same today...took a very long shower..
so no phobia about showers/bathing...
I just wonder if somehow water does get under the patch or heats it up due to hot shower and that causes increased anxiety.
It was weird cause I noticed the anxiety after my shower..i was fine before it...and then started thiking and realized the last time i had really severe anxiety was day i took my last shower....
so i was wondering...
Posted by Honore on July 9, 2007, at 12:58:45
In reply to Re: Another Emsam question, posted by Seeking Peace on July 9, 2007, at 12:02:08
Maybe if you took a long hot shower right after putting it on, and possibly depending where it was (eg if hot water was hitting it).
It's possible, but not so likely as in a bath. But only possible, I don't know if there's evidence. It could be that it's absorbed more right after you put it on (again my pdoc's speculation a while ago) and if you put it in a susceptible place.
Also, in hot weather it might be advisable to put it on your shoulder or back, and not stomach, where it's likely to get much hotter.
Overall, those were his speculations, as of December-- I don't know whether there's more information, or his speculations have changed since then. It's always worth experimenting with, though. I'd put it on after the shower, maybe after you cool down, and see if you notice any difference.
Hope this helps a little.
Honore
Posted by KayeBaby on July 9, 2007, at 14:14:43
In reply to Re: Another Emsam question » Seeking Peace, posted by Honore on July 9, 2007, at 12:58:45
I have trouble with the patch falling off so one trick I use it to heat it up with a hair dryer to make it stick well. (it works)
I have noticed that it seems to 'kick' in faster when I apply heat. I don't get anxiety from emsam but I do notice a difference in my mood when I apply a fresh patch. Heat seems to amplify it a bit. makes sense. The patch was designed to work with warm skin both in adherance and release. Heat amps this-not a stretch.
Also, don't feel badly about the time between showering. Depression causes us to neglect these things. I can judge my level of well being by the degree I am able to self-care. it's ok. You are not alone.
Peace,
Kaye
Posted by Brody on July 9, 2007, at 14:33:25
In reply to Another Emsam question, posted by Seeking Peace on July 9, 2007, at 11:45:49
Hi, My thought is that it may be the heat and length of your shower. Perhaps this is not a logical comparison, but here goes: We are in a hot, steamy weather pattern right now, and I have definitely noticed an increase in anxiety.
I take care of 13 horses, so I have to be outside alot. Up until this hot weather hit, the EMSAM was handling my moderate daytime anxiety just fine. I take fairly quick (perhaps coolish) showers, and have not noticed anxiety increases afterwards... but I do feel more of it on and off throughout the day.
Don't know if perhaps the increased anxiety might be induced by a drop in blood pressure, which I am told occurs in these hot spells. I haven't tested that out... need to invest in a home BP monitor.
Tomorrow begins my 8th week on EMSAM.... currently on the 12 mg patch.
P.S. I believe that just about anyone experiencing the evils of depression is well aware of how quickly personal care feels like a chore and how it can slip off of the list!
Posted by Darkness At Noon on July 9, 2007, at 18:06:13
In reply to Another Emsam question, posted by Seeking Peace on July 9, 2007, at 11:45:49
Although the patch is claimed to release selegiline at a constant rate, I feel like the first few hours are particularly intense. Much more stimulant effect.
I remove old patch before showering, apply new patch afterward. If your timing is similar, the anxiety may be due not to the shower, but due to applying a fresh patch.
This is the end of the thread.
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