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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by LouieG on July 30, 2000, at 18:14:02
I've taken Paxil, Prozac, Celexa, Wellbutrin, Effexor, Desyrel, Neurontin and to this date, nothing has worked. Effexor helped for a while but the withdrawals were awful. With about 2 hours of sleep a night and feeling tired and depressed all the time I'm willing to try anything. Someone told me about Serzone, does work? does it help with sleep? side effects?, how long before it start lifting depression? Please help, I'm desperate. Louie
Posted by Cam W. on July 30, 2000, at 20:52:20
In reply to Serzone, how long before it starts to help?, posted by LouieG on July 30, 2000, at 18:14:02
Louie - Like all current antidepressants, Serzone may take up to 8 weeks to notice any substantial antidepressant effect. You need to be patient and ride out the start-up side effects and seeming lack of effect. Your body has to adjust to the medication by decreasing some neuroreceptors and increasing others. Serzone does seem to help improve sleep patterns and it seems to be devoid of the sexual problems of the SSRIs (in most people).
Other side effects with Serzone (headache, nausea, drowsiness, etc), as with most antidepressants, are usually most severe during the start-up phase of the antidepressant, as your body is adjusting.
If Serzone doesn't work for you, there are several strategies to augment an antidepressant's actions; not the least of which is talk therapy (esp. cognitive behavior therapy). You need to work with your doctor during the treatment if you want to achieve a lasting remission.
Talk to your doc about the augmentation strategies that he/she feels comfortable using and go from there (if Serzone monotherapy doesn't work).
Why did you stop the Effexor if it was working? The withdrawl effects are usually only seen upon stopping the drug. How long did you take the Effexor and how high was your dose raised?
Good luck with your next antidepressant - Cam.
P.S. Sunnely and the regulars (Scott, the Johns, Andrew, and many others) may have some ideas of augmentation strategies.
Posted by LouieG on August 2, 2000, at 0:19:33
In reply to Re: Serzone, how long before it starts to help? » LouieG, posted by Cam W. on July 30, 2000, at 20:52:20
Cam W. thanks for your response, I am seeing also a therapist that's also helping, but I feel it's not enough. The reason I stopped the effexor is because it stopped working all together, I was taking 150 mg/daily. Now the doctor put me on Serzone, desyrel and ativan, I started to sleep a lot better, my anxiety levels have dramatically improved and I hope soon enough this feeling tired, irritable and depressed goes away soon enough
Posted by Cam W. on August 5, 2000, at 9:42:47
In reply to Re: Serzone, how long before it starts to help?, posted by LouieG on August 2, 2000, at 0:19:33
Louie - How are you feeling? It's a few more days of taking Serzone. Any changes? The irritability and tiredness may be a combination of Serzone and Ativan. Are you taking the Ativan regularily or just as needed? Cutting back slightly on total daily dose may take some of the edge off of being tired and irritable. Ask your doc about this.
Good luck! - Cam
Posted by LouieG on August 5, 2000, at 12:37:11
In reply to Re: Serzone » LouieG, posted by Cam W. on August 5, 2000, at 9:42:47
Thanks Cam for your concern, I'm starting to feel great, my axiety levels are very low, I'm able to sleep and my depression is lifting very quickly. I'm not sure if the Ativan is doing the trick for now, or the Serzone has started to work. Either way, I feel much happier. I do soon enough want to stop taking the anxiety pills, I guess they're extremely addictive. I'll keep you posted. Louie
This is the end of the thread.
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