Monoamine oxidase inhibitors anyone?

Is anyone on one of these that has failed other antidepressants? This is next on my list of things to try. What are your experiences? Thanks

Anybody?

Before I was diagonosed with bipolar disorder I was told I had "atypical depression" (It was atypical because it was freaking bipolar disorder !). Anti depressants didn't work so finally my therapist, in desperation, put me on MAOI, can't remember which one.

I've had bipolar disorder since I was a kid and I started taking the MAOI when I was about 18 and stopped taking them when I was around 20 or 21 (sorry I can't remember exactly). I kept "cheating" on the dietary restrictions had a bad health scare.

That said, that time period was probably the stablest I had been. I wasn't 100% stable because looking back I still had some issues with hypomania but it helped the depression and I don't think it made me anymore hypomanic. I had the label "atypical depression" (and looking back on it a crappy T) and I was just "high spirited" or possible had ADD.

HOWEVER, they are not kidding about the dietary restrictions. I almost had to be hospitalized over a reaction from eating a couple of slices of pepperoni pizza and having a diet coke.

Besides the dietary restrictions there is a very long list of medications that you can't take either - like cold medications and allergy meds and other stuff.

I am on Emsam, a transdermal patch AKA selegiline, which is an MAOI. I try to follow the diet but sometimes cheat and since it is taken in through the skin, instead of the digestive system, it is more forgiving. I have eaten pepperoni pizza without a reaction. Since it is relatively new, it doesn't come in generic and is very expensive, like $700. I will have been on it for two year as of this coming July. The only side effect I have is reddened, dry, itchy place on each arm from the patch - you alternate arms every day. It's not a big deal though... you get used to it. I failed on SSRI, SNRI and then on to MAOI.

If you can't afford Emsam, you can go with the oral meds. They are generic and cheap but you really have to watch your diet. Look up "low tyramine diet" to see the restrictions.

How do you feel on the Emsam? Has it taken your depression away? Is the price 700 for one month? Insurance does not cover it?

I have had short periods of mild depression during the past two years. Is Emsam what is helping me? I'm not sure because I am also having ECT. But considering the period of time between my treatments of stability I would say Emsam is doing its thing.

Yes, It is $700 a month - 30 patches. It is covered by my insurance but I have Medicare Part D for meds and right now I am in the doughnut hole in which I have to pay 1/2 the cost for all brand name drugs. I don't know if you know about Part D but in the first level you pay a copay, I think it was about $75 for Emsam. Then when $2550 has been spent on drugs by the insurance company and you too, then you go to the second level - the doughnut hole. In that level, you pay 1/2 cost of all brand name drugs and the drug maker pays the other half.. for generics I think you pay 87% of the cost. After you have paid $4550 for meds you move to the third level, catastrophic level, and my cost for Emsam will drop to about $35 a month. You stay at the third level until the end of the year when everything starts over again.