Warnings


What may interact with EMSAM?

Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:

-atomoxetine
-carbamazepine
-cyclobenzaprine
-dextromethorphan
-MAOIs like Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate
-medicines for pain like meperidine, tramadol, methadone, pentazocine
-most other medicines for depression
-other medicines containing selegiline, like Eldepryl and Zelapar
-rasagiline
-safinamide
-stimulant medicines for attention disorders
-St. John''s wort
-viloxazine
This medicine may also interact with the following medications:

-alcohol
-buspirone
-ephedrine
-epinephrine or racepinephrine
-medicines for nasal congestion like phenylephrine, pseudoephedrine
-norepinephrine
-stimulant medicines for weight loss or staying awake

What should I tell my health care provider before I take EMSAM?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

-bipolar disorder
-high blood pressure
-if you often drink alcohol
-liver disease
-pheochromocytoma
-skin conditions or sensitivity
-suicidal thoughts, plans, or attempt; a previous suicide attempt by you or a family member
-an unusual or allergic reaction to selegiline, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
-pregnant or trying to get pregnant
-breast-feeding

What should I watch for while using EMSAM?

Visit your health care professional for regular checks on your progress. Tell your health care professional if your symptoms do not start to get better or if they get worse. Because it may take several weeks to see the full effects of this medicine, it is important to continue your treatment as prescribed by your doctor. Do not stop taking except on your health care professional''s advice. You may develop a severe reaction. Your health care professional will tell you how much medicine to take.

Patients and their families should watch out for new or worsening thoughts of suicide or depression. Also watch out for sudden changes in feelings such as feeling anxious, agitated, panicky, irritable, hostile, aggressive, impulsive, severely restless, overly excited and hyperactive, or not being able to sleep. If this happens, especially at the beginning of treatment or after a change in dose, call your health care professional.

If your doctor or health care professional increases the dose of this medicine to more than 6 mg a day, ask about possible interactions with foods that contain tyramine because this medicine may interact with these foods to produce severe headaches, a rise in blood pressure, or irregular heart beat. Continue to avoid tyramine-rich foods or beverages for 2 weeks after your doctor reduces your medicine to the 6 mg a day dose or after you stop the 9 mg or 12 mg a day dose. If you start and continue the 6 mg dose, you do not need to make any diet changes.

You may get drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this medicine affects you. Do not stand or sit up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. This reduces the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Alcohol may interfere with the effect of this medicine. Avoid alcoholic drinks.

Your mouth may get dry. Chewing sugarless gum or sucking hard candy and drinking plenty of water may help. Contact your health care professional if the problem does not go away or is severe.

Do not treat yourself for coughs, colds, or allergies without asking your doctor or health care professional for advice. Do not take any medications for weight loss without advice either. Some ingredients in these products may increase possible side effects.

This medicine may affect blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, check with your doctor or health care professional before you change your diet or the dose of your diabetic medicine.

If you are scheduled for any medical or dental procedure, tell your healthcare provider that you are taking this medicine. This medicine can interact with other medicines used during surgery.

This medicine patch is sensitive to certain body heat changes. If your skin gets too hot, more medicine will come out of the patch. Call your health care provider if you get a fever. Do not take hot baths. Do not sunbathe. Do not use hot tubs, saunas, hairdryers, heating pads, electric blankets, heated waterbeds, or tanning lamps. Do not do exercise that increases your body temperature.

Where should I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children and pets.
Store at room temperature between 20 and 25 degrees C (68 and 77 degrees F). Keep this medicine in the protective pouch until you are ready to use it. Get rid of any unused medicine after the expiration date.
To get rid of medicines that are no longer needed or have expired:

-Take the medicine to a medicine take-back program. Check with your pharmacy or law enforcement to find a location.
-If you cannot return the medicine, ask your pharmacist or health care provider how to get rid of this medicine safely.
When you remove a used patch, fold with sticky sides together and put in an empty opened pouch. Immediately throw away in a container with a lid so that children and pets cannot reach it. Wash your hands.