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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by James Riley on February 10, 2000, at 0:35:57
I've been on serzone about a year at 100 to 250mg/day depending on situational upsets. I am much clearer mentally that I was on nortriptyline which I took for about 2 years before. I also take lithium because of a manic episode at age 45 while taking Elavil.
Serzone has mild sexual side effects, but it gives me insomnia with 3 am awakening. Falling asleep itself is not a problem. I've tried splitting it different ways AAM/PM; seems to be worse when I take it a night. Anyone had this problem, and if so, any success besides with simple hypnotics, in improving sleep?
Thanks,
Riley
Posted by Noa on February 10, 2000, at 2:02:03
In reply to Serzone Insomnia, posted by James Riley on February 10, 2000, at 0:35:57
Serzone is sedating for me and I fall right asleep. However, ever since starting lithium 2 months ago, I now have middle of the night awakenings (at least once) to go to the bathroom. When I do, I feel a bit edgy and like I don't want to go back to sleep, even tho I am still experiencing the sedated feeling. Like right now. I don't know if it is an addiction to the computer and babble, or if it is a medication thing. Perhaps both. I do know that I am pretty sure that if I took the Serzone in the morning, I would not be able to drive to work or function there.
Posted by harry b. on February 10, 2000, at 19:13:42
In reply to Re: Serzone Insomnia, posted by Noa on February 10, 2000, at 2:02:03
> I do know that I am pretty sure that if I took the Serzone in the morning, I would not be able to drive to work or function there.
I'm only on my 9th day of Serzone. 100mg in
the morn & 100mg at night. You are correct,
it was an eerie drive to work this am because
the Serzone began kicking in about half way to
the office. I had to be very cautious driving.
At work I was off balance for about 2 hours, but
somehow I made a presentation to a client and
got a $700,000. change order to our contract.
After that, I closed the door to my office and
veg'd out for an hour or so.Noa, when do you take the Serzone in the evening?
Early, or just before you go to bed? I've been
taking it around 7pm. Normal bedtime is after 10pm.
I would take it just before bedtime, but the morn
dosage has worn off long before that. On the way
home this eve I was crying while I drove. I think
I need a med that is longer lasting.
Posted by Noa on February 10, 2000, at 19:31:06
In reply to Re: Serzone Insomnia, posted by harry b. on February 10, 2000, at 19:13:42
Harry, Serzone isn't my main AD, so not taking a morning dose doesn't affect me that way. I used to take it around five or six pm, because it would take a few hours for the sleep aid effect to kick in, and I would have difficulty falling asleep and would be sleepy in the morning, if I took it later than that.
Now, though, since starting lithium, it seems the lithium makes the serzone very sedating very fast. So, I take it about an hour before bedtime, or less.
The past two days or so, I have been extremely sleepy all day. It is annoying. Is it possible that suddenly I have a new reaction to my combo, even tho it has been since December? Anyone have any thoughts?
As for the serzone, I havent read too many posts from people who are taking it as their main AD. Maybe I'm wrong.
Posted by Cindy W on February 10, 2000, at 20:48:29
In reply to Re: Serzone Insomnia, posted by Noa on February 10, 2000, at 19:31:06
> Harry, Serzone isn't my main AD, so not taking a morning dose doesn't affect me that way. I used to take it around five or six pm, because it would take a few hours for the sleep aid effect to kick in, and I would have difficulty falling asleep and would be sleepy in the morning, if I took it later than that.
>
> Now, though, since starting lithium, it seems the lithium makes the serzone very sedating very fast. So, I take it about an hour before bedtime, or less.
>
> The past two days or so, I have been extremely sleepy all day. It is annoying. Is it possible that suddenly I have a new reaction to my combo, even tho it has been since December? Anyone have any thoughts?
>
> As for the serzone, I havent read too many posts from people who are taking it as their main AD. Maybe I'm wrong.I liked the Serzone I took for a while and only stopped it because it didn't decrease the OCD, just depression and social anxiety. It made me feel tired the first two weeks, then that wore off (I took it in the morning). Now I take just a tiny amount (40 mg) at night and it helps me sleep (Effexor-XR tends to keep me awake for some reason even though I take it early and then at noon).--Cindy W
Posted by CG on February 11, 2000, at 10:01:20
In reply to Re: Serzone Insomnia, posted by harry b. on February 10, 2000, at 19:13:42
Harry, as you are only on day 10 with Serzone, it is safe to assume your dose is too small and your length of time is still too short for good results. I take Serzone as my only AD. It really stinks but it helps! I didn't think I would ever be able to take it long enough to give it a fair trial. The Doctor went very slowly in increasing the dose. 200 mgs is really not going to do much for long. I increased my doses by 25 mgs about once a week until I am up to 500 mgs a day. The Doctor was not going to get me past 250, but I guess I convinced him that I felt more might work. So, am up to 500 mgs.I think this is really not quite enough. 600 mgs seems to be the limit, as per package insert. I take it 4 times a day and even set my watch alarm so that I get another dose every 6 hours. If I forget to keep the levels high enough, I really crash fast. Mean, hostile, tearful, very nasty. When I do everything right I can fall asleep easily and wake up not feeling groggy, but hate to add that I wake up often in the might. I ain't "all fixed" but something I can live with. The reason I am sticking with the Serzone at all is that finally I am free of hives and itching that I have been plagued with since 1979. Good luck.
Posted by Amy on February 11, 2000, at 16:10:29
In reply to Re: Serzone Insomnia, posted by Noa on February 10, 2000, at 19:31:06
> Harry, Serzone isn't my main AD, so not taking a morning dose doesn't affect me that way. I used to take it around five or six pm, because it would take a few hours for the sleep aid effect to kick in, and I would have difficulty falling asleep and would be sleepy in the morning, if I took it later than that.
>
> Now, though, since starting lithium, it seems the lithium makes the serzone very sedating very fast. So, I take it about an hour before bedtime, or less.
>
> The past two days or so, I have been extremely sleepy all day. It is annoying. Is it possible that suddenly I have a new reaction to my combo, even tho it has been since December? Anyone have any thoughts?
>
> As for the serzone, I havent read too many posts from people who are taking it as their main AD. Maybe I'm wrong.Hi, Noa...It's me again. You old friend from "Celexa makes me gag". I was on serzone for a year to help my insomnia/depression and looking back after having been on other medications since, it didn't help all that much. The sedating effect (unfortunately for me) wore off quicky after my body became used to the med. I wished the sedative effects would have worked longer for me! After they wear off the Serzone does little good. (But that's just my experience.) Being an insomniac I say...enjoy the sedation while it lasts, my son!
Amy
Posted by vroom on February 17, 2000, at 4:19:30
In reply to Serzone Insomnia, posted by James Riley on February 10, 2000, at 0:35:57
> I've been on serzone about a year at 100 to 250mg/day depending on situational upsets. I am much clearer mentally that I was on nortriptyline which I took for about 2 years before. I also take lithium because of a manic episode at age 45 while taking Elavil.
>
> Serzone has mild sexual side effects, but it gives me insomnia with 3 am awakening. Falling asleep itself is not a problem. I've tried splitting it different ways AAM/PM; seems to be worse when I take it a night. Anyone had this problem, and if so, any success besides with simple hypnotics, in improving sleep?
>
> Thanks,
>
> RileyMy doc told me serzone needs to be taken twice a day...morning then evening to work properly. I may have not understood some of the other posters, but thought that several others were just taking the serzone dose once a day. If so, maybe that could affect the benefits it may offer. Just a thought....vroom
Posted by Noa on February 17, 2000, at 4:34:13
In reply to Re: Serzone Insomnia, posted by vroom on February 17, 2000, at 4:29:54
Vroom, if Serzone were my main AD, I would have to take it twice a day. Since it is mainly for sleep, and to augment effexor, my pdoc says taking it just at night is fine.
Posted by Cindy W on February 17, 2000, at 8:52:43
In reply to Re: Serzone Insomnia, posted by Noa on February 17, 2000, at 4:34:13
> Vroom, if Serzone were my main AD, I would have to take it twice a day. Since it is mainly for sleep, and to augment effexor, my pdoc says taking it just at night is fine.
Noa, you mentioned you're taking Serzone to augment Effexor, at night. How much Serzone and Effexor do you take? I'm trying to sleep better so take 40 mg of Serzone at night and 300 mg/day of Effexor-XR. Thanks!--Cindy
P.S. do you sleep better? I slept better at first but lately have a lot of waking up.
Posted by Noa on February 17, 2000, at 18:00:43
In reply to Re: Serzone Insomnia, posted by Cindy W on February 17, 2000, at 8:52:43
I'm on some hefty doses now, having ramped up with the past two major episodes. Effexor XR--375 mg, in morning. Serzone--225 mg at night. It was working well, but since starting the lithium, I get up to pee 3 to 4 times a night, and sometimes, even tho I could go back to sleep, I feel a sort of "itchiness" to be up. Of course, it often, I mean, always, involves wanting to check this board. OK, addiction acknowleged! But were it not for the lithium, I think the serzone would help me sleep all night. What is so frustrating for me is that I finally got to a point last year where I could sleep through the night. This was with the help of my CPAP. When I had apnea events, I of course woke up zillions of times each night, and had to go to the bathroom a lot of those times (for some reason, apnea causes some metabolic changes including increased urine production). So I finally get to sleep all the way through the night, and then--Lithium. And I'm up to pee a lot again.
Posted by CG on February 18, 2000, at 20:31:52
In reply to Re: Serzone Insomnia, posted by Noa on February 17, 2000, at 18:00:43
Noa,
I frequently have to visit the loo every hour, and occasionaly more often. I am only on Serzone as an Ad, so maybe you are getting a double whammy between the lithium and the Serzone. CG
This is the end of the thread.
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