EMSAM Reviews (SELEGILINE)Average Rating: 3.6 (65 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare EMSAM with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by length of time drug was taken from shortest to longest duration (reviews with no time reported listed first). Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) |
More on EMSAM: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR EMSAM | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 4 | Major Depressive Disorder w/BPD | F | 33 | 6 mg patch 1X day | 10/16/2020 Patient History | 3 | for mdd | insomnia is beginning to make it impossible to continue at this dosage. I don't think 6 mg will do it: but I'll try. I can't use trazadone because it causes seizures, I take 8 mg Klonopin. and 100 mg of Atarax.. Parnate didn't give me same problem. at 50 mg; just not as effective, The washout period will be hell. | M | 51 | 9mg 1X day | 5/26/2016 | 4 | Depression | Dry mouth | Just stared | M | 56 | 1 days 6 mg | 3/13/2016 | 5 | History of atypical depression | So far just falling asleep. Benadryl helped. | Perhaps this is a bit premature, but on my 4th day I am feeling terrific. The first antidepressant I took was Nardil 30 years ago. That worked liked a dream but had to stop because of severe insomnia, Like most people on this thread, I have tried almost every antidepressant that was available before 2010. None alleviated my depression as well as Nardil. I "winged it" for the next 14 years. Retirement, Covid, and some serious health problems set me back and I found myself unable to get out of bed and could not complete the simplest of tasks. Causing problems with my spouse. Because of my experience with Nardil I requested Emsam. I was surprised my HMO approved it. Like Nardil, I started feeling good within 3 days. This is my 4th and I am up, dressed, and ready to go! My only complaint is the cost. Fortunately my insurance covers all but $75 but the retail is almost $2000/month - so this is out of reach for many people. Well off patent time and needs a generic. | M | 70 | 4 days 6 mg 1X day | 1/23/2024 | 5 | Depression | No real side effects to speak of. I normally get a reaction from adhesives, I can't wear a band-aid without a rash but I have had no irritation or redness with this patch. I've had more vivid dreams. There are NO negative sexual side effects, it seems to enhance sex if anything...but maybe that's just because I'm not depressed anymore. | LOVE it, I call it the "happy patch" : ) | F | 45 | 4 days | 4/15/2007 | 2 | major depression | anger, stabbing pains on lower side of ribs, slight diarrhea. | while my depression improved a bit, as well as my libido, it wasn't worth the tradeoff of SEVERE anger. i felt the exact same rage when i was on Wellbutrin -- both drugs inhibit the reuptake of norepinephrine -- which is the cause of the anger side effect. | F | 48 | 7 days 6mg 1X day | 5/18/2013 | 5 | Anxiety | 51 | 10 days 12mg | 10/12/2019 | 3 | Major Depression | Red outline of patch remains several days after removed | Started 6 mg patch after SSRIs stopped working and nothing else I tried "stuck" for depression relief. I think Emsam is helping, but jury is out. 6th day on 6 mg had a massive "rage" episode - threw everything I touched and slammed every door for a couple of hours before escaping to bed. After that got depressed again and couldn't control crying. Upped dose to 9 3 days ago. First few days of new dose it definitely stops the constant teariness/weepiness, but it's not the "rebirth" I felt when I first took Zoloft 3 years ago and had the most "normal", depression-free year of my life (until it just stopped working). On Emsam, I continue gaining weight rapidly (leave it to me to GAIN weight while depressed instead of lose) and feel fat pushing out on my skin which is quite uncomfortable. Not sure if it is Emsam related or not. Dr. wants to increase dose. | F | 37 | 13 days | 4/12/2007 | 2 | DEPRESSION | NONE | Felt a buzz the morning of the 2nd day, but do not believe its doing much now. I am at 6/24. | M | 54 | 19 days | 9/27/2007 | 1 | Depression | The patch left marks on my chest een after 30 days. In addition my heart rate become even more irregular and pulse was low 42bpm then at the normal Brady Cardia rate 58bpm. Dr's were considering a pace maker. Emotionally I was not much better either. Discontinued Emsam and heart returned to normal as test by Dr. in a running stress test. So Emsam can have heart rate impact for certain people. | M | 60 | 45 days | 10/4/2009 | 3 | Major depression | Headaches (which went away after 10 days) Severe insomnia which I'm still dealing with. | After taking a tricyclic for 25 years (Imipramine) I felt it stopped working as well and I tired of the side effects. Tapering off to try Emsam was hell, and once I was able to start the patch, it did not start working immediately. I noticed a slight difference after 2 days, slightly better improvement after 1 week, and more improvement after a month. The problem is once it kicked in, I developed severe insomnia. I'm on Restoril for sleep right now which is pretty powerful and makes me feel groggy all day. My sleep is still not great and I can often be exhausted. I also need to take my patch off two hours before bed in order to sleep at all even with the Restoril. I'm praying this side effect goes away since I like the patch. It suppresses my appetite and I've lost a few pounds, I do not crave sweets anymore, I have stopped obsessively shopping which used to be a major problem. I have no more constipation- regular bowel movements. It has helped with my depression and anxiety quite a bit- not perfect, but I feel good. I have no issue with redness from the patch itself and I have pretty sensitive skin. Has anyone else had the insomnia and it went away? Would appreciate feedback. | F | 47 | 60 days 6mg patch 1X day | 10/10/2016 | 1 | depression | Don't even bother trying it. Was neutral in terms of mood and just gave me intolerable insomnia and a chronic urinary tract infection. | Went off it 2 weeks ago and I STILL can't sleep The cure is worse than the disease. | F | 45 | 60 days | 6/7/2008 | 3 | Atypical depression | Insomnia, constipation, headaches, irritation at patch site, dizziness/blackouts on standing, blood pressure issues | Depression gone, but can I survive the side effects? | F | 48 | 90 days 9 mg 1X day | 2/27/2022 | 4 | depression | Lexapro and Wellbutrin alone were not quite enough. I was still findng it hard to get up and face work. I gained weight on Abilify. Emsam worked after a short time and got me feeling much better and able to face some actual crises that arose. The only complaint about Emsam is that I have recently experienced insomnia, which we are watching. | M | 58 | 120 days 6 1X day | 9/17/2010 | 3 | Major Depression - severe | Emsam worked great for treating many of the symptoms of my depression. I was on the lowest dose, which supposedly has no drug interaction. I had a stroke (TIA /mini-stroke) while on the patch. It appears to have been caused by a food interaction (I did not take any other medications while on the patch). I wish that their claims of no food interactions at lower doses were true, because Emsam did seem to help my depression. | The other scary thing was that the ER staff was unfamiliar with Emsam and almost gave me a med that interacted with it and did actually prescribe a take-home med that had an interaction (I realized it before taking the med, thank God). I should note, the hospital that made the error was a highly rated teaching hospital. I think that providing patients and the medical community with better education and easier access MAOI's and drug / food interactions information would be a responsible step on the part of the drug manufacturer. | F | 29 | 2 weeks 6 mg 1X day | 8/16/2011 | 3 | Major Depression and Severe Anxiety | Major insomnia and Severe diahrria. Stomach cramps. | I liked the way it made me feel. But not sleeping and diahrria is just too much. | F | 59 | 2 weeks 6mg | 10/16/2016 | 2 | severe depression | Insomnia, homicidal thoughts not related to my illness--these were new and disturbing. Caused frequent urination I was already having with Interstitial cystitis to get worse. I was up all night and up to pee 6-7 times. No thanks. | I wish I'd have had the luck that other people have. Instead of giving it a 1, I gave it a 2 because I think people with severe depression should be encouraged to at least try something to improve their lives. I couldn't shake the insomnia for anything and my dr. wanted to add Zyprexa so I could sleep. He didn't believe it made my IC worse and didn't believe it gave me homicidal thoughts. Oh well. I have tried nearly EVERY anti-depressant out there and just struggle with therapy. sigh. | F | 36 | 2 weeks | 6/19/2009 | 4 | Treatment resistant depression | Insomnia, loss of appetite. | 6 mg patches work best for me. I went up to 9 mg but I had major insomnia and greatly increased depression. 6 mg patches greatly decrease my anxiety and help with the depression without the sleepiness caused by most other depression meds. Though it does not make sense to me, on several occasions I have cut 12 mg patches in half, and it does NOT work the same as whole 6 mg patches do. I have a huge increase in depressive symptoms, agitation and insomnia. Last time I cut a 12 I thought I would have to go to the ER for the severe depression I experienced. | M | 51 | 3 weeks 6 mg patch 1X day | 4/27/2015 | 5 | *started waking up at night after I've fallen asleep easily *I feel generally anxious all the time *lots of headaches *skin irritation from adhesive *thirsty all the time *cold all the time | I started at 6 mg and until I got to 12 mg I didn't really feel better mood wise.I think if I wasn't so tired and having so many headaches I'd feel pretty good right now. But I don't know how long I can stand the side effects. | F | 57 | 5 weeks 12mg 1X day | 1/13/2011 | 3 | bipolar depression | I haven't had any side effects. The patch doesn't bother my skin at all. | I have noticed some improvement in my depression since starting Emsam but then I am also having ECT every couple of weeks. It is getting better. | F | 56 | 5 weeks 9 mg 1X day | 9/9/2011 |
EMSAM (SELEGILINE): Selegiline is an antidepressant (monoamine oxidase inhibitor) that treats depression by restoring the balance of certain natural substances (neurotransmitters) in the brain. Selegiline can improve your mood and feelings of well-being. This medication is a patch for use on the skin. FDA Approval Date: 2006-02-27 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)