Posted by Noa on May 25, 2000, at 18:36:34
In reply to Re: new meds yet again, posted by Tina1 on May 25, 2000, at 17:46:36
Nikki and Tina,
Nefazodone (called Serzone here in the States) works nicely for some people. Here are some things to look out for:
1. Initial side effects can indeed be rough. Many here have reported feeling rage and emotionality during the first few weeks, but that this wore off. Same deal with sedation, coordination and balance problems, fogginess. If you can get through the first month, these things are likely to go away.
2. As discussed by Adam and others above, it seems that some people react badly to a metabolite of nefazodone (what is left when the body begins to break the nefazodone down). One theory is a genetic vulnerability--perhaps a missing enzyme or something. Perhaps Adam can chime in here and explain this more (I know he can explain it *better*).
I find nefazodone helpful with sleep and to a certain extent, with anxiety. I recently increased my nefazodone dose and decreased my effexor dose, and I do feel better with this recipe than I did before. The effexor has a tendency to make me antsy, agitated, fidgety, sleepless.
I worry about you having to go through 3-4 weeks of hellish symptoms and difficult side effects on top of that. Is it possible for your doctor to prescribe an anxiolytic medicine for short term use to help if you have panic symptoms, during the period of time before the nefazodone really kicks and and the initial bad effects wear off?
Finally, the idea of the rushed interview with the doc really irks me. Do you have any alternatives? Perhaps a private doc for a one time consult just to get a more thorough evaluation of your med needs?
poster:Noa
thread:34617
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000517/msgs/34664.html