Emsam is a prescription drug that is approved for the treatment of depression. This eMedTV article explains how Emsam works to relieve depression symptoms and also lists available strengths, possible side effects, and more.
Headaches, diarrhea, and insomnia are among the most commonly reported side effects of Emsam. This eMedTV resource describes other common side effects and also outlines some more serious side effects that you should report to your healthcare provider.
For those who are taking Emsam, sexual side effects (such as impotence or a decreased libido) may occur. This eMedTV page describes other possible Emsam sexual side effects and explains how frequently these problems were reported in previous studies.
Weight loss appears to be a side effect of Emsam. This eMedTV segment explores Emsam and weight loss, explaining why the medication may cause weight loss in some people and what to do if you experience too much weight loss while taking Emsam.
Insomnia is one of the common side effects reported with Emsam. This eMedTV segment explains how common insomnia is with the antidepressant and lists some suggestions for improving your sleep habits if you are having trouble sleeping with Emsam.
There are several side effects of Emsam, and dry mouth appears to be one of the common side effects. This eMedTV article provides suggestions that may help with symptoms of a dry mouth (such as avoiding caffeine and sipping water often).
Emsam is used to treat adult depression but is not recommended for use in people under the age of 18. This eMedTV article describes how Emsam works and explains that there are no universally accepted off-label Emsam uses.
The recommended starting Emsam dosage for treating depression is one 6 mg patch applied each day. This eMedTV segment lists factors that can affect your dosage and provides some general tips on when and how to take the medicine.
There are several lethal food and drug interactions that can occur with Emsam. This eMedTV segment covers other Emsam warnings and precautions, such as the safety of taking Emsam while breastfeeding and people who shouldn't take the drug.
This eMedTV page explains that Emsam drug interactions may occur if Emsam is taken with certain other drugs, such as caffeine or narcotics. This page covers other drugs that can potentially interact with Emsam, as well as the problems that can occur.
Aged, spoiled, or fermented foods should be avoided if you are taking more than 6 mg per day of Emsam. This eMedTV page examines several Emsam food interactions that can occur with foods containing tyramine and lists which foods to specifically avoid.
This eMedTV Web page warns against buying any of the fake, substandard, and potentially dangerous drugs sold as "generic Emsam." The earliest date that an approved generic for Emsam could become available is 2018, when the patent for Emsam expires.
The FDA classifies Emsam as a pregnancy Category C drug, meaning it may not be safe during pregnancy. This eMedTV page explains the results of animal studies on Emsam and pregnancy, as well as the situations in which a pregnant woman may take Emsam.
It is not known if Emsam passes through breast milk. This eMedTV page explains that there has been no research done on Emsam and breastfeeding in humans, but the drug does pass through breast milk in rats and may pass through breast milk in humans.
Chest pain, an irregular pulse, and seizures are some of the symptoms of an Emsam overdose. This portion of the eMedTV archives outlines other possible signs of an Emsam overdose and describes the steps that may be taken to treat an overdose.
Taking Emsam could potentially raise the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior. This eMedTV article discusses Emsam and suicide in more detail, noting some specific signs of suicidal behavior to look out for (such as insomnia or suicide attempts).
Emsam alternatives can include therapy, other depression drugs, ECT, and alternative therapies. This page on the eMedTV Web site describes various alternatives to Emsam, including a detailed list of other antidepressants that can be used.
