The side effects of the patch form couldn't be worse than that of the pill form.
Why of all medications, an MAO inhibitor as the first patch form. I would have expected to see a Prozac patch.
The benefits by avoiding first pass metabolism through the liver are avoided, IIRC.
My thoughts exactly. Who would use an MAOI where a second-generation SSRI is available?
MAO's have so many horrible side effects that the market is really restricted. So, the makers, are trying to sell this in a different form. Prozac is selling fine in pill form for now.
Why of all medications, an MAO inhibitor as the first patch form?
I'm not familiar with this particular medication but the reason could possibly be to minimize side affects (like stomach upset). Another reason is that a patch would be a 'sustained released' version of the med. (Effexor & Wellbutrin, for example, are now available in sustained release capsule forms.) The advantages being once daily convenience and even levels of the drug in the bloodstream. Another possibility might be that a patient will be able to use a lower doseage--another bonus for limiting side effects.