[vanessaG]

Saw a new Pdoc yesterday (fingers crossed for me to find something that FINALLY works for me) and he prescribed me Emsam patch (6mg) and Lithium 450mg 2x a day.

Ive taken many many antidepressants to no avail and prev. pdoc put me on Lamictal and I stuck with that for 5 wks, but it was making me worse and suicidal so I had to stop that.

Does anyone have any experience with these? I have Bipolar II with very very rapid cycling. More depression that the hypomania.

I started Emsam yesterday, just have a very very slight headache, and i started lithium today and I got super tired....like i fell asleep on the couch 2 hrs after i took it....yikes, i hope that is not the regualr side effect!

The Ensam patches are made in 6, 9, and 12mg doses. I did fine until I got up to the 12mg dose. At that point my blood pressure bottomed out and I kept passing out. Not fun. One of the more serious side effect issues with Ensam is blood pressure issues (usually high, not low), so my Pdoc didn't feel comfortable keeping me on it. I wasn't on it long enough to have much experience with the diet changes.

The lithium is a pretty standard dose. You'll probably get very thirsty, drink a lot of liquids, and then go to the restroom a lot. You'll get used to that. The only other issue I had with lithium was hand tremors. They were pretty aggravating, but again, you get used to it after awhile. I don't have the tremors anymore. Sometimes they go away with time, but not always.

[nicoleb2]

I tried the Emsam patch. The nice part about the 6mg is that no dietary changes are necessary. I ended up getting severe headaches from it though, and had to stop using it after 2 weeks.

I also have tried lithium, but had to stop it because it was causing blurred vision in my left eye, which ended up being a permanent change, so i had to get new glasses.

[vanessaG]

nicoleb2-it was a permanent change?! Wow, that kinda concerns me..It seems i always have some weird reaction to medicine, so hopefully i can tolerate these.
farmergirl-ya, i have the 6mg emsam patch, and the only side effect i have so far is a very very slight headache, i can deal with that hopefully it stays that way (or goes away!) Im already feeling pretty thirsty but i guess thats good since i dont really drink too much water. With the lithium did you get your blood levels checked? Ive only been on 2 days but my pdoc didnt mention anything about blood work yet, i go back to him on tue so i guess ill ask then

I know its really early (day 2 of lithium) but im feeling VERY VERY exhausted. I couldnt even get up this morning, i got up 5 min before i had to drive my girls to school and im DRAGGIN so bad today. I wonder if its from the lithium? Or maybe its too early? idk...maybe im just feeling depressed again. Either way i need at least some energy back....i cant do anything. I hope its not the lithium because if its causing this exhaustion, im def not going to be able to stay on it..

[JennaJones]

I started Emsam recently and have feel like there may actually be hope. I have bounced from med to med for decades. Nothing seemed to work for me. I think it may be too early to actually be feeling anything so soon and I'm also in an extensive cognitive outpatient program. I truly don't think I'm having a placebo effect because I am so skeptical of medication. I did get headaches the first few days, but haven't had one today. I hope I finally find the right med. Please... please... that would be such a relief.