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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by AnthonyG23 on April 22, 2005, at 18:42:18
I'm a former user of Serzone who was forced to stop taking the drug after numerous warnings of liver side effects. Now, nearly two years later I've tried so many drugs, all of which were unsuccessful. Serzone had a unique effect on me that no other drug has had. Anxiety, mood, self-esteem, and motivation were all improved while taking the drug. So, I'm wondering if there have been any recent developments in the pharma industry about drugs with similarities to Serzone. It's been a few years since they pulled it off the market so are there any new drugs with similar positive effects?????? I've tried wellbutrin, lexapro, klonopin, paxil, effexor, etc. all unsuccessful.
Posted by Phillipa on April 22, 2005, at 18:51:30
In reply to Anything out there like Serzone??????, posted by AnthonyG23 on April 22, 2005, at 18:42:18
Eight years ago I had a pdoc I worked with put me on this med as a trial. What I do know is that it put me to sleep. Then when I saw my regular pdoc he took me off it. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by scatterbrained on April 23, 2005, at 0:14:52
In reply to Re: Anything out there like Serzone?????? » AnthonyG23, posted by Phillipa on April 22, 2005, at 18:51:30
From my understanding, trazadone is very similar.
Posted by HappyGirl on April 23, 2005, at 0:35:14
In reply to Anything out there like Serzone??????, posted by AnthonyG23 on April 22, 2005, at 18:42:18
Hi:
I am one of former 'Serzone' takers. I was on the Serzone for about four years before it started to lose 'effect,' that I have no idea why this happened. However, afterwards, my pdoc. rx'ed Trazodone which is a sister med. to the Serzone.I took the Serzone, from 450 mg. to 600 mg. that was a 'mass' dosage due to a severity of my Bp depression. However, ... looking back now, ... possibly the Serzone might NOT have worked on me to begin with, although my depression was lifted afterwards, not perfect, but 70-80% range.
Now, with the Trazodone,... started out at 50 mg. before the bed. and currently I've been taking the 225 mg. Unlike the Serzone, I am happy about its 'good' result on this 'transition,' although I had a HARD time to get used to this 'older' A.D. On the otherhand, I recall, the Serzone is MUCH easier for my system to adjust. I can say, it was 'instantly' without any 'prominent' side-effect to concern.
On this board, in the past, there were some discussion in regard to 'Serzone' discontinuation(here, in the US, there is still a generic version of Serzone available) and its replacement.
Then, here is a list-med. similar to the Serzone I copied and pasted in the past:
AD's that have potent 5ht2 antagonism apart from Nefazodone :
Amitriptyline
Trimipramine
Clomipramine
Nortriptyline
Dothiepin
Trazodone
Mianserin
Mirtazapine
H.G.
Posted by AnthonyG23 on April 23, 2005, at 11:48:11
In reply to Re: Anything out there like Serzone?????? » AnthonyG23, posted by HappyGirl on April 23, 2005, at 0:35:14
Yeah, because Serzone has been the only thing that has worked for me. It was the only thing that didn't make me dead tired. Also, the wierdest thing, when I was on the Serzone, people responded to me in an extremely positive manner. I could walk into a room and people would instantly want to conversate with me. It was almost like my extremely positive mood was showing through to others.
These other similar meds, do they have the same liver effects at Serzone?
Posted by cache-monkey on April 23, 2005, at 13:47:25
In reply to Anything out there like Serzone??????, posted by AnthonyG23 on April 22, 2005, at 18:42:18
True, Serzone does have the potential liver side effect. However, according to FDA estimates, the reported rate in the U.S. is about one case of liver-failure for every 250,000 to 300,000 patients using the drug for one year." Even assuming that there's some under-reporting going on, it seems that liver failure is pretty rare.
I don't know where you live, but generic Serzone (nefazodone) is still available in the states. (If you life elsewhere you might be able to have it imported.)
It's your body of course, but if the Serzone was really working for you -- and you can't find anything close -- stay on nefazodone and get blood tests for your liver function at regular intervals. Monthly if you want to, although they recommend 2-3 month intervals.
Just a thought...
cache-monkey> I'm a former user of Serzone who was forced to stop taking the drug after numerous warnings of liver side effects. Now, nearly two years later I've tried so many drugs, all of which were unsuccessful. Serzone had a unique effect on me that no other drug has had. Anxiety, mood, self-esteem, and motivation were all improved while taking the drug. So, I'm wondering if there have been any recent developments in the pharma industry about drugs with similarities to Serzone. It's been a few years since they pulled it off the market so are there any new drugs with similar positive effects?????? I've tried wellbutrin, lexapro, klonopin, paxil, effexor, etc. all unsuccessful.
Posted by HappyGirl on April 23, 2005, at 14:14:04
In reply to Re: Anything out there like Serzone??????, posted by AnthonyG23 on April 23, 2005, at 11:48:11
Hi:
A BIG reason why my pdoc. rx'ed the Trazodone is NO-NEED to worry about 'Liver.' The Trazodone is a VERY safe A.D. which has NO resemblance profile to the Serzone. Once a while during the Serzone therapy, I needed to worry about my liver due to 'press' along with my pdoc.'s suggestion on Liver Issue.However, ... one thing you need to think of, ... in case you want to switch the med., Trazodone is, as I said in my previous response, ... it's NOT like the Serzone on which I felt very mild and easy to take. In my case, it took about 4-6 months to get accustomed to the Trazodone even I was on the miniscule dosage, 50 mg. With time, however my system/chemical accepted the Trazodone gradually and now I've been on the 225 mg. Remember, ... if not more than at least 150 mg., the Trazodone does NOT effect on your depression. Then, it's tough to say whether your system could weather through. For me, it's a terrific A.D., in terms of price/money-wise and efficacy in comparison to the Serzone/Nefadozone.
In my suggestion, ... try to experiment a small dosage of the Trazodone, first to see how things go. From there, you may be able to determine whether the Trazodone is for you or else. Because, a majority of people does NOT like the Trazodone, except a sleeping-aid.
p.s.) I never took other A.Ds. listed above for the Serzone-alternative. I simply went to the Trazodone after the Serzone. Then, I have no clue whether other meds. similar to the Serzone is good or not.
H.G.
Posted by dove on April 25, 2005, at 9:42:41
In reply to Re: Anything out there like Serzone?????? » AnthonyG23, posted by HappyGirl on April 23, 2005, at 0:35:14
Trazadone is Serzone's parent drug. I have been on both (and then some) and liked Serzone better. However, Trazadone is still a good med. What I didn't like about Trazadone was the extreme tiredness I had for the first 3 months. Some people are more tolerant of this side-effect, or adapt quicker to it. I prefer Amitriptyline to Trazadone for better sleep and stronger mood-lifting. I would also promote Nortriptyline as an alternative.
Currently, I do take Mirtazapine (Remeron) for sleep and med augmentation, and it is a viable option. It apparently helps fix and improve sleep architecture, and it definitely improves my sleep and has significant mood-lifting power. As always, your mileage will vary unfortunately.
dove
Posted by todayisagiftxx on April 25, 2005, at 21:36:18
In reply to Re: Anything out there like Serzone??????, posted by HappyGirl on April 23, 2005, at 14:14:04
I used Serzone about 2 years ago and it worked extremely well for anxiety as well as depression. I believe I was on 300mg. I dont remember why I was taken off it at that time but a few months after that my insurance company issued a statement that anyone taking that drug would need to find a replacement as they would no longer cover its costs because of the possible liver damage so I couldnt even take it if I wanted to. I take Trazodone now but I dont really notice similar effects
Posted by HappyGirl on April 26, 2005, at 18:21:28
In reply to Re: Anything out there like Serzone??????, posted by todayisagiftxx on April 25, 2005, at 21:36:18
Hi:
Serzone/Nefadozone and the Trazodone has somehow different efficacy, as you quoted. The reason for this, I have NO clue, however in my 'good' guess, ... the Trazodone is a 'parent'/original A.D. to the Serzone, as we already know. Then, probably, during the process/manufacturering the 'two' meds., there might have some 'differentiality,' although Trazodone is a sister med. to the Serzone.Beside this fact, above, ... I wonder what dosage you've been at. If not more than the 150 mg. Trazodone, this med. has NO A.D. effect, although there are some different potency/efficacy among its takers.
If this dosage/around 200 mg. before the bed. does NOT do anything on your depression as well as Anxiety, ... if it were me, I would get back to the Serzone even I might need to pay the higher price without counting on the Insurance. Because, a feeling well and happiness because of the med. is WELL worth, that a money can not buy. However, this is just my opinion.
Regarding the insurance, I, too have an experience of intervention from my Insurance because of 'high-priced' Zyprexa I've been taking for the past several years due to Bp II. However, I didn't switch to any 'replaceemnt,' as knowing that the Zyprexa is an almost life-saver for me. Without this med., I never be able to enjoy a life I want to cherish despite my M.I., Bipolar.
H.G.
This is the end of the thread.
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