My Support Forums - View Single Post - Bipolar Check-in #72

BeyondtheRainbow · Jan 04, 2023, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Beth*

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@BeyondtheRainbow, I spoke with med dude very openly, persistently, but without being pushy, about Emsam. He said "I can't prescribe a med I'm not familiar with" and "An AD can cause hypomania" and "That's a really new MAOI...they cause all sorts of side effects and can be dangerous because of the potential issues MAOI's can cause." Later in the appointment he did say he'd "do some reading about that medication Emsam."

As for the enormous research medical univ psych near me (Univ of Calif, Davis School of Medicine)- they are "full to capacity and not taking new patients at this time." (I'm sure they take new patients who are of particular interest to them, referred by so-and-so, just not off the street people.) But, thank you again so much for your support

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I think he truly knows NOTHING about Emsam. It's not an old drug but it has been out since 2006 I think and I'm sure he prescribes plenty of things released later than that. The side effect profile is pretty low and my pdoc says it is less likely to cause mood lability. I don't know why but I am pretty sure I've been told that before.

I hope he really does read about it. I have a feeling it may take an actual pdoc to get Emsam but I don't know what you do when there aren't pdocs available. It's like clozaril, they have to be comfortable prescribing it. Even though Emsam is really a non-issue if you just know that you have to follow the rules strictly to avoid problems.

I do worry sometimes about what will happen when my pdoc retires, whether she'll find someone for me who is comfortable with my MAOI/clozaril combination. I know she'll find another pdoc at the same hospital (important because I need psych to work with anesthesia if or when I need more breast biopsies) and will personally pick someone but it's hard to imagine the same level of support I have now. Ugh.

I'm sorry UC Davis can't take you. I guess I don't know what it is like to get into those places. I went to one big hospital initially because I was in a clinical trial so they wanted me and then I saw my pdoc in private practice for a few years until she moved to the big hospital where I see her now. She brought me along for the ride to the big place so I didn't have to do anything.

I hope the Symbyx works for you. I thought with the prozac included in the mix it was supposed to be more weight neutral? Maybe that's just for some people or maybe I'm making that up.

Please take care of yourself. This has to work out sometime. It did for me and I was a walking mess for years before it was resolved.