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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 lunksmoo on June 18, 2009, at 1:56:34
I have been on Emsam 9 mg for about 7 months now, and it has been awesome because it has pulled me out of a deep, dark despair, and I have a lot of energy. But I am now getting 2 side effects that are supposed to be EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY RARE with Emsam: intense weight gain and loss of libido. I have gained 20 lbs. in the last month, even with watching what I eat (lean proteins, good carbs, little sugar, etc., plenty of water), and exercising 1 1/2 hrs. a day, strength training but mostly cardio. Why in the hell am I gaining weight with all this incredible energy, and eating normal amounts of healthy food? It's sickening. I also have lost all sexual desire, but when I can get it 'up" (I know, ew), I have no problems with performance. I just have ABSOLUTELY NO SEXUAL DESIRE. I feel like a eunuch. Please, somebody explain why Emsam is killing me with 2 of the worst med side effects you can have. It has been worse than Remeron for weight gain (I gained 100 lbs in one year on that) and Prozac (which turned me into a sexual zombie). Help.
Posted by manic666 on June 18, 2009, at 3:51:15
In reply to Emsam: I'm gaining weight and lost sexual desire, posted by lunksmoo on June 18, 2009, at 1:56:34
you have what is known as antidepresant pay back,it gives you something an takes something back, ie, your pork sword function an you weight gain ,viagra for the sword , a sweet f.a for the weight, lifes a bitch
Posted by Phillipa on June 18, 2009, at 12:08:16
In reply to Emsam: I'm gaining weight and lost sexual desire, posted by lunksmoo on June 18, 2009, at 1:56:34
Seems strange as with EMSAM being a patch it doesn't go through the digestive tract. But with the eating restrictions above 6mg wonder if that could affect it. I'd suggestion the achieves very long thread from when EMSAM first came out. Don't remember weight gain being an issue. Phillipa
Posted by Zana on June 18, 2009, at 15:04:43
In reply to Re: Emsam: I'm gaining weight and lost sexual desire » lunksmoo, posted by Phillipa on June 18, 2009, at 12:08:16
What a total drag. And it sounds like you are doing everything right with the exercise and eating. I hope others post about why this would be happening, especially after you have been on it for so long.
I'm glad it's helped with the depression and hope you can find a way around the problems.
Does cialis or viagra help at all?Zana
Posted by lunksmoo on June 19, 2009, at 3:03:41
In reply to Re: Emsam: I'm gaining weight and lost sexual desire, posted by Zana on June 18, 2009, at 15:04:43
I'm going to an endocrinologist in August. I also take syntrhoid, but they have tested that extensively over the past couple of months, and my thyroid levels are normal.
Posted by desolationrower on June 19, 2009, at 8:43:58
In reply to Re: Emsam: I'm gaining weight and lost sexual desire, posted by lunksmoo on June 19, 2009, at 3:03:41
selegiline seems to do something weird with catecholamine release. maybe pramipexole or if you doctor will go for it, bupropion.
-d/r
Posted by bleauberry on June 19, 2009, at 18:53:53
In reply to Emsam: I'm gaining weight and lost sexual desire, posted by lunksmoo on June 18, 2009, at 1:56:34
The most likely culprit is the hormone prolactin. It is influenced directly by dopamine, of which Ensam is influencing strongly. Prolactin is hard to predict. A med might increase it in one person, no effect in another, and decrease it in another. Depends how things are wired. But the effects of elevated prolactin are the ones you described.
Unlike much of the guesswork in psychiatric, prolactin is easily measurable in a lab test. You should do that. If it is elevated, a dopamine agonist can lower it, and sometimes abilify can lower it.
If prolactin is ok, then the next step would be to try blocking the most suspect receptors, which would mean going through trials of remeron, zyprexa, and abilify.
Posted by Alexanderfromdenmark on June 20, 2009, at 12:26:44
In reply to Re: Emsam: I'm gaining weight and lost sexual desire, posted by lunksmoo on June 19, 2009, at 3:03:41
> I'm going to an endocrinologist in August. I also take syntrhoid, but they have tested that extensively over the past couple of months, and my thyroid levels are normal.
Could get your thyroid results in print and write them down here? Normal is a word thrown around a lot.
This is the end of the thread.
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