tiredoftherapy21 Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 Hey everyone, just wondering if anyone experienced weight gain on emsam, or any other weird side effects. I am going to try it, if my insurance approves it, I should be starting it on wednesday if all goes well. I am nervous, it is the first drug I have taken that I have to take via a patch.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiredoftherapy21 Posted May 1, 2009 Author Share Posted May 1, 2009 thanks for that suggestion . I will pm her! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiredoftherapy21 Posted May 1, 2009 Author Share Posted May 1, 2009 does anyone else have any experience with it?? I am kinda scared it is going to balloon me up in weight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dopamine Posted May 5, 2009 Share Posted May 5, 2009 does anyone else have any experience with it?? I am kinda scared it is going to balloon me up in weight. Selegiline (the active ingredient in EMSAM patch) is unlikely to cause weight gain, and in fact could lead to weight loss, as a side effect. The primary mechanism of action of Selegiline is to inhibit MAO-B, which in turn increases phenethylamine (commonly referred to as the brain's "endogenous amphetamine") and dopamine levels. I've taken Selegiline tablets, and didn't experience any weight gain but did experience a dramatic increase in libido, general energy levels, blood pressure and a few episodes of transient tachycardia. It is much more of a stimulant, in my reading and experience of the drug, than the somewhat sedating SSRIs family of antidepressants. See [link=http://www.selegiline.com"'>http://www.selegiline.com" target="_blank]http://www.selegiline.com[/link] for more info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
null0trooper Posted May 5, 2009 Share Posted May 5, 2009 The primary mechanism of action of Selegiline is to inhibit MAO-B, which in turn increases phenethylamine (commonly referred to as the brain's "endogenous amphetamine") and dopamine levels. No. Phenethylamine is not an "endogenous amphetamine" though it shares some structural similarities. See [link=http://www.selegiline.com"'>http://www.selegiline.com" target="_blank]http://www.selegiline.com[/link] for more info I should have known you were going off of HedWeb's selective source listings. *sigh* For patient information data RxList is a much better, and safer, reference: 2.1% of patients in clinical trials reported significant weight gain; 5% reported weight loss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dopamine Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 No. Phenethylamine is not an "endogenous amphetamine" though it shares some structural similarities. The phrase "endogenous amphetamine" is not of my making; rather, it has been used numerous times in the research literature on the physiological functions of phenethylamine. The most commonly cited reference to the equivocation is from HC Sabelli et al (1983) at the Rush Medical Center's Department of Psychiatry.1 Others, such as Paul A.J. Janssen et al (1999) at the Janssen Research Foundation Centre for Molecular Design,2 and Raul R Gainetdinov et al (2002) at Duke University Medical Center's Howard Hughes Medical Institute Laboratories3 have used the phrase "endogenous amphetamine" in writing about the role of phenethylamine in human biology (among many others). I should have known you were going off of HedWeb's selective source listings. *sigh* For patient information data [link=http://www.rxlist.com/emsam-drug.htm" target="_blank]RxList[/link] is a much better, and safer, reference: 2.1% of patients in clinical trials reported significant weight gain; 5% reported weight loss. While Hedweb certainly isn't an unbiased perspective, the reference section of the site on Selegiline (I have found) is quite useful for those looking for information beyond the confines of the official FDA-approved labeling of the drug. 1. HC Sabelli, J Fawcett, F Gusovsky, J Javaid, J Edwards, and H Jeffriess. Science Vol 220, Issue 4602, 1187-1188. 2. Paul A. J. Janssen, Jos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
null0trooper Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 While Hedweb certainly isn't an unbiased perspective, the reference section of the site on Selegiline (I have found) is quite useful for those looking for information beyond the confines of the official FDA-approved labeling of the drug. Welcome to Crazyboards. Most people just want to know what they should expect as a patient. The first place to look is the PI sheet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiredoftherapy21 Posted May 11, 2009 Author Share Posted May 11, 2009 i am starting it today. after a whole week and half, of them not covering, it my prior authorization for it, finally came through. and so I only have a small co-pay. thank goodness. I really want to try it and I am running out of drugs to try. so this is good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dopamine Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 i am starting it today. after a whole week and half, of them not covering, it my prior authorization for it, finally came through. and so I only have a small co-pay. thank goodness. I really want to try it and I am running out of drugs to try. so this is good. Good to hear. Keep up posted! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayteana Posted May 12, 2009 Share Posted May 12, 2009 Keep us posted, indeed. I've been wondering how you were doing with the Emsam. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiredoftherapy21 Posted May 15, 2009 Author Share Posted May 15, 2009 I am doing ok, the energy it gives me is amazing! and I am only at 6 mg. no change in mood, but not supposed to see any change till 4-6 weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiredoftherapy21 Posted May 24, 2009 Author Share Posted May 24, 2009 well the emsam still hasnt done a thing for my depression but I am giving it the full 6 weeks to find out if it works. It is making me very energetic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiredoftherapy21 Posted June 7, 2009 Author Share Posted June 7, 2009 is anyone it hard to keep them on during a shower? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lunksmoo Posted June 26, 2009 Share Posted June 26, 2009 Hey everyone, just wondering if anyone experienced weight gain on emsam, or any other weird side effects. I am going to try it, if my insurance approves it, I should be starting it on wednesday if all goes well. I am nervous, it is the first drug I have taken that I have to take via a patch.. I am violently gaining a ton of weight recently on Emsam, and I have lost all sexual desire. It was helping greatly with my depression until recently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lunksmoo Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 Well, I am now going up to the 12 mg patch. I have gained 25 lbs. in the last 3 months on Emsam. I am hungry all of the time. If you go online, you can see there are many who suffer this side effect of increased appetite and tremendous weight gain on Emsam that they have posted on message boards, yet drug web sites keep saying you will probably lose weight on Emsam, and my doctor said Emsam isn't what is causing me to gain weight, even though I work out 1 1/2 hours a day, eat no refined sugar or high carbs, eat only lean low-fat protein, drink 64 oz. of water a day, and cut out caffeine and carbonated beverages. I am eating healthy, but it's just A LOT I've been eating. It's frustrating when you hear how this med is supposed to be weight neutral, and I am eating like a horse and gaining tons of fat on this "weight neutral" drug. Libido has been low, but not too low recently. What I have been feeling over the last 2 months, and has greatly increased over the past 3 weeks, are fibromyalgia, malaise, headaches, dizziness, extreme tiredness with bouts of both oversleeping and insomnia, and some nervousness short of anxiety attacks. I will have a couple of days where I will feel pretty good, then a couple of days where I will feel just crappy with physical effects. I will say this for Emsam: even though I am having many physical symptoms of depression, my emotional depression has been not as much affected. I don't get super-down or overly sad, even when the bad physical effects are happening. Hopefully the increase to 12 mg will stabilize these physical symptoms somewhat. P.S.: I want to apologize for being nasty in previous posts. I have been a little frustrated with the weight gain side effect on this med, and my posts may have been a little over irritating and rude. All of you don't need to hear my bitch complaints in life when you are here to share information and help with everyone's tragedy and triumph in overcoming our illnesses without the unnecessary whining by me. Thanks. Its been a long hot summer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiredoftherapy21 Posted August 5, 2009 Author Share Posted August 5, 2009 I am no longer on emsam, it gave me a very bad reaction after a few months and it even left scars, and didnt help my mood at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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