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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 18 of 18. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Linkadge on August 23, 2002, at 8:56:06
Serzone seems to have a good side effect
profile, how good is it as an AD.Has anybody been on it and SSRIs at different
times? How do they compare?
Linkadge
Posted by joy on August 23, 2002, at 13:14:22
In reply to How effective is Serzone, posted by Linkadge on August 23, 2002, at 8:56:06
It did not work for me, but it works for some folks. I seemed good first 10 days and as I increased like you are supposed to, I got very agitated and had crying jags constantly, my pdoc took me off after a few weeks. I found Paxil to be much more effective; also Prozac. You just have to see what works for you.
Joy
Posted by terra miller on August 23, 2002, at 16:10:50
In reply to How effective is Serzone, posted by Linkadge on August 23, 2002, at 8:56:06
hi. this by far was my favorite. i took it at bedtime because i was having trouble sleeping. i didn't take it during the day (i took full dose at night, which isn't uncommon.) because it made me drowsy. i had really good results with it. i only quit because one side effect that i got was too bothersome for me and i switched off of it. but if i hadn't had that or minimal side effects, then i would definitely still choose to be on it. i thought the AD effect was calming. i tried zoloft for a few weeks (which made me suicidal) and prozac for one week (which just made me feel crazy). that's all the experience i have with ssri's.
terra
Posted by nikioct73 on August 23, 2002, at 19:47:48
In reply to How effective is Serzone, posted by Linkadge on August 23, 2002, at 8:56:06
I tried it and it made me very sick..N/V...for three days and i gave up on it...
Posted by North on August 24, 2002, at 14:23:27
In reply to Re: How effective is Serzone, posted by nikioct73 on August 23, 2002, at 19:47:48
I've found Serzone to be only partially effective. I take 450mg/day once/day at bedtime. I've had no bad side effects.
Posted by cybercafe on August 24, 2002, at 21:43:50
In reply to Re: How effective is Serzone, posted by North on August 24, 2002, at 14:23:27
How is Serzone for
1. general anxiety
2. panic/agoraphobia
Posted by North on August 24, 2002, at 22:01:43
In reply to How is Serzone for anxiety? , posted by cybercafe on August 24, 2002, at 21:43:50
From what I understand, and what I've read in the PDR, Cyber, Serzone hasn't been approved for general anxiety or panic/agorophobia. It's supposed to cause less anxiety than the SSRI's and some of the other AD's. Some, myself included, think Neurontin is helpful for general anxiety. I didn't notice Serzone helping much in that department, but there are many different kinds of brain function.
Posted by terra miller on August 25, 2002, at 0:28:14
In reply to How is Serzone for anxiety? , posted by cybercafe on August 24, 2002, at 21:43:50
i took it for post-traumatic stress- which has within itself panic and anxiety. i was significantly calmer. i took the same dose/dosing as North mentioned.
terra
Posted by cybercafe on August 25, 2002, at 0:56:21
In reply to Re: How is Serzone for anxiety? , posted by North on August 24, 2002, at 22:01:43
> From what I understand, and what I've read in the PDR, Cyber, Serzone hasn't been approved for and some of the other AD's. Some, myself included, think Neurontin is helpful for general
yep... neurontin is an awesome drug :) ... though my doc claims i will get desensitized to it, and wants me on zyprexa
>anxiety. I didn't notice Serzone helping much in that department, but there are many different kinds of brain function.
hmm... does serzone lead to less thinking... or rumination? obsessing ?
Posted by Jotho on August 26, 2002, at 15:25:40
In reply to Re: How is Serzone for anxiety? , posted by cybercafe on August 25, 2002, at 0:56:21
Hi...it's been a long time since i've been on this board. I am curious about the one-per-day dosage mentioned several times. I find that I ocassionally forget my morning dosage and would like to try the once-per-day aproach (now taking total of 300mg daily for two weeks after 100mg and then 200mg, one week each). Thing is, I have two problems that developed when I started on Prozac in the beginning of the year...nightime itchiness all over my body (usually starts 7-8pm) and great difficulty falling asleep. So far, the Serzone has not given me the sleepiness i was hoping for, and wonder is it possible I need a greater amount of Serzone at night, or could the nightime dose be what is triggering the itchies, sleep difficulties etc.?
So far, I feel somewhat less anxious, but the AD effect seems to have been minimal at best. Is 2 weeks at 300mg too soon to foretell the total response, AD-wise?
PS...I missed my morning dose today and, as usual, feel tired and sluggish and mentally cobwebbed..........thanks in advance for any help, jotho
Posted by terra miller on August 26, 2002, at 22:46:38
In reply to Re: How is Serzone for anxiety? , posted by Jotho on August 26, 2002, at 15:25:40
i had to take it all at bedtime to get the effect. when i was splitting it, i was having to fight drowsiness (it wasn't too bad) during the day, and at night it wasn't enough. so took it all at bedtime. perfect!
Posted by Jotho on August 27, 2002, at 7:39:14
In reply to Re: How is Serzone for anxiety? » Jotho, posted by terra miller on August 26, 2002, at 22:46:38
Thanks for your response.
One question...I am taking 150mg in the a.m. and 150mg p.m....do i have to slowly switch over, say, 100mg in a.m. and 200mg in p.m. for a week, then 50mg morning and 250mg at night? Or can i just, in one day, switch to the 300 mg at night...and how long before bedtime do you take it?
Thanks.....jotho
Posted by terra miller on August 28, 2002, at 0:10:59
In reply to Re: How is Serzone for anxiety? » terra miller, posted by Jotho on August 27, 2002, at 7:39:14
hi. definitely talk to your doc to make sure you are on the same page. when i switched to taking it all at night, i just changed right away all at once. i honestly can't remember if i took it just before bed or an hour before bedtime. it was one of those. that's why you should check with your doc to make sure.
terra
Posted by Anyuser on August 28, 2002, at 1:35:44
In reply to Re: How is Serzone for anxiety? » terra miller, posted by Jotho on August 27, 2002, at 7:39:14
Posted by Jotho on August 28, 2002, at 7:23:40
In reply to See this post re night dose » Jotho, posted by Anyuser on August 28, 2002, at 1:35:44
Posted by waterlily on August 30, 2002, at 20:35:26
In reply to How is Serzone for anxiety? , posted by cybercafe on August 24, 2002, at 21:43:50
I take 400 mg of Serzone at bedtime in addition to Wellbutrin SR 150 mg twice a day. I take it to reduce generalized anxiety and occasional panic attacks. It was very difficult to get used to at first. Side effects like dizziness, increased anxiety, and inability to concentrate almost made me quit. Fortunately I stuck it out and was functioning normally within a month. I have found that I still have a good deal of stress and I'm not a calm person by a long shot, but I'm not always worrying about worrying. Sure, I'd love to be calm under pressure and not worry about my children, but so long as I'm not worrying about my mental health all of the time I'm reasonably happy.
Posted by jotho on August 31, 2002, at 9:16:40
In reply to Re: How is Serzone for anxiety? , posted by waterlily on August 30, 2002, at 20:35:26
Hi Waterlilly....I started my 300mg regimen exactly 2 weeks ago after a one week startup with 100mg a day and another week on 200mg. The AD effect has been minimal so far. I am now switching to a one per day (nightime) dosage, yet I still have problems sleeping (I thought, and was hoping, that Serzone would make me drowsy). How does it work for you in that department? Also, are you saying that it took 4 weeks on 400mg to see improvement in your state of mind? How did you determine that 400mg was the dosage for you? Any insight would be helpful.........thanks
Posted by waterlily on September 4, 2002, at 17:50:18
In reply to Re: How is Serzone for anxiety? » waterlily, posted by jotho on August 31, 2002, at 9:16:40
I was on Wellbutrin already and it was controlling my depression fairly well so I wasn't looking for much in the way of an AD effect from Serzone. I just wanted relief from constant anxiety that Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac, and imipramine did nothing for. I went up slowly with the dose since the side effects were causing me problems. I ended up at 300 mg for a few months and during that time I did feel some relief from the anxiety, or at least the anxiety about anxiety. When I went back to my pdoc, he asked me if I'd like to increase the dose. I figured it couldn't hurt much so I did. I think my anxiety has gotten better since the increase. It is certainly tolerable, since I worry about normal things now instead of whether I am a major mental case. I haven't experienced any panic attacks or near panic attacks since I started on it either. I can't say exactly when the beneficial effects started because it seemed like such a gradual thing. I'm not sure that 400 mg is the right dose or if I could benefit even more from a higher dose. As far as sleep goes, I have been extremely fortunate to not have sleep problems even during major depressive episodes. If I can't sleep because something is really bothering or worrying me, I just take some Ativan.I know this response doesn't give you any clear-cut answers. I wish I could say that I experienced a certain benefit after a certain amount of serzone after a certain amount of time, but it just didn't work that way for me.
I wish you the best with your treatment.
This is the end of the thread.
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