Emsam

Emsam is a drug that is used to treat major depression disorder in adults. It helps prevent chemical breakdowns that cause imbalance in the brain. Its main ingredient is selegiline, which is used to treat early stages of Parkinson’s disease, depression, and senile dementia.Emsam comes in a trans-dermal patch which is placed on the skin once daily to deliver a dose of selegiline directly to the blood stream. Like other antidepressants you must be careful as to what foods you eat while taking Emsam. Some serious side effects include:

• sudden and severe headache, confusion, blurred vision, problems with speech or balance, nausea vomiting, chest pain, seizure (convulsions), sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body),
• feeling light headed (fainting),
• twitching muscle movements; or
• painful or difficult urination.

Some side effects that are similar to Paxil side effects, another antidepressant, include:

• constipation, gas, loss of appetite,
• numbness or tingling of the skin,
• dry mouth,
• decreased sexual desire,
• anxiety; or
• restlessness.

Allergic reactions also may include:

• hives,
• difficulty breathing, and
• swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat.

Seek emergency medical attention of any of those symptoms occur. Stop using Emsam at once and call your doctor if there are any new, unusual, or bothersome side effects. Call your doctor immediately if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself. Do not use this medication if you are allergic to selegiline, if you have an adrenal gland tumor (also called pheochromocytoma), or if you plan to have any type of surgery.

You may have thoughts of suicide when starting on an anti-depressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. For the first 12 weeks of treatment your doctor will need to check up on you in regular visits. You must wait at least 5 weeks after stopping Prozac before you can start using Emsam (selegiline).

While taking Emsam one should not drink alcohol or eat foods high in tyramine. Eating foods high in tyramine while you are using Emsam can cause an unsafe rise in blood pressure which can cause life-threatening symptoms.

Use Emsam exactly as directed on the label or as directed by your doctor. Do not use more than the recommended amount of the skin patches or longer than the recommend time. Follow the directions on the prescription label.