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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Phillipa on August 23, 2007, at 19:54:43
In reply to Re: Am I the only one left taking NEFAZODONE ???, posted by Nefazodone Man on August 23, 2007, at 12:16:05
Excellent that it works so well for you. The liver enzyme issue and it's European and Canadian ban scared me off but no side effects started on low dose and still have a full bottle may visit that route again isn't it a lot like an antihistamine? Phillipa
Posted by Jimmyboy on August 24, 2007, at 9:48:12
In reply to Re: Am I the only one left taking NEFAZODONE ???, posted by Nefazodone Man on August 23, 2007, at 12:16:05
Hi Nefazodoneman,
I took Nefazodone for a very long time, from the time it first came out in 1995 until about 2004 when they pulled the brand name Serzone off the US market. It did not bring me remission, but definitely allowed me to function at a pretty high level.My question to you is: How hepful do you feel it is for anxiety?
i ask this b/c I have found other combos that have probably been more helpful for the depression, but I have started having worse anxiety and panic attacks, which I neve had while taking Nefazodone. Thanks for the comments, I am seriously considering starting back on it.
JB
Posted by Nefazodone Man on August 24, 2007, at 10:31:18
In reply to Re: Am I the only one left taking NEFAZODONE ??? » Nefazodone Man, posted by Jimmyboy on August 24, 2007, at 9:48:12
Phillipa, I took 50MG TWO times a day to start for 1 week, then bumped it up to 75mg twice daily for 1 more week, then FINALLY 100mg twice daily for the last 10 years - My Depression was vegatative, and horrific, I lost 60 pounds, and must of slept 1 hour in 3 months and tried all kinds of Meds, then SERZONE which is NEFAZODONE worked for me, it was the ONLY Med I repsponded to in such a positive way. No that might not be for everyone, but I responded so well I only ever had to take 200mg whci is really not a high dose as you can go to 600mg a day. I was to take it 12 Hours apart, but I slept better taking 2nd dose earlier, so my regimen has been 11:00am and 5:00pm 6 hours apart for 10 years. My liver tests have all been fine so far, hope they always are. Best Wishes - Nefazodone Man
Posted by Nefazodone Man on August 24, 2007, at 10:41:23
In reply to Re: Am I the only one left taking NEFAZODONE ??? » Nefazodone Man, posted by Jimmyboy on August 24, 2007, at 9:48:12
Hi Jimmyboy,
In all HONESTY besides the Vegatative Depression I had, the Anxiety was accute, when the Depression hit me, I thought I had a stroke, my left arm felt like it had 200,000 volts going up and down it. NEFAZODONE for me acted as a DUAL agent, it lifted my depression, and restored my sleep gradually over time like no other medicine did. But the BONUS I got was the Panic Attacks have all but been eliminated on this 200mg a day. In the last 10 years I have had maybe 2 or 3 Pretty Bad Panic Attacks. But they were short lived, I recognized them and how to roll with them, overall I give Nefazodone an A+ for squashing Anxiety, and I heard that from alot of current users and former users that it was VERY EFFECTIVE for Panic Attacks. I mean I am not in complete remission, I do not know that anyone that suffered a Major Deprssion like me can ever be in complete remission but I have been pretty darn good, and I do not have those fearful feelings traveling out of town, or the diahrea traveling, or the Light Headedness in Stores, etc. you know the feelings. DEPRESSIION IS CRIPPLING, SO IS ANXIETY - I HAD BOTH - 200mg a day keeps them under check. Best wishes and keep us updated. I mean SERZONE the Brand Name was voluntarily removed, not forced to be removed by the FDA - I take TEVA Nefazodone and it works just s good, if not better then the Brand Name, no difference in my experience. My Anxiety is a BEAST that is currently tamed, and as long as my liver holds up I believe this is the right med for me to tame it. Sincerely - Nefazodone Man ! ; )
Posted by Jimmyboy on August 24, 2007, at 12:53:21
In reply to Re: For JIMMYBOY about Anxiety and Nefazodone, posted by Nefazodone Man on August 24, 2007, at 10:41:23
Thanks for the quick response,
Like I said, I am a huge fan of Nefazodone. Now that I think of it, during the 9 years I took it I never once had a full blown panic attack like I do now. These are something totally new and they are terrible, very crippling.I have a few bottles of Nefazodone at my parents house and I am visiting next week. I think i am going to start back. The only side effects I had from taking it was that it cured my insomnia 100%. Even after I quit taking it my lifelong insomnia has all but vansihed.
Also, I have had many liver function tests done
over the years and all have been fine. I believe this drug got a bad rap and a lot of people who could be helped by it are scared off by the black box warning and the fact that its sometimes very hard to get. ( None of the pharmacies in my community have it- I had to order it online)Best of luck
JB
Thanks againJB
Posted by Jimmyboy on August 24, 2007, at 13:44:27
In reply to About Anxiety and Nefazodone, posted by Jimmyboy on August 24, 2007, at 12:53:21
Nefaz Man -
I looked up "Nefazodone+anxiety" on Google scholar and apparently there have been many studies done, mostly in the late 90's that show that it is indeed very helpful for several types of anxiety and panic attacks, etc. How long do you beleive it takes to get this effect? I know for depression it takes 3-4 weeks, but it seems like the anti-anxiety effects would come on much sooner. Any thoughts would be apppreciatedJB
Posted by Phillipa on August 24, 2007, at 19:43:09
In reply to Re: For PHILLIPA about Nefazodone, posted by Nefazodone Man on August 24, 2007, at 10:31:18
Thanks so much for the info sounds like it is very good for sleep and anxiety. I'm sure the dose I took was much lower. So it can go as high as 600mg and no sleepiness during the day. Fantastic. Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on August 24, 2007, at 19:57:57
In reply to Re: About Anxiety and Nefazodone, posted by Jimmyboy on August 24, 2007, at 13:44:27
Jimmyboy found my bottle and was prescribed start at 50mg and titrate up to 200mg at night. Unfortunately I was scared off the med and stopped at 50mg. Phillipa
Posted by Darwin on August 25, 2007, at 19:42:50
In reply to Am I the only one left taking NEFAZODONE ???, posted by Nefazodone Man on August 20, 2007, at 17:47:30
Nefazodone is the only medication which completely relieved my dysthymia. The relief came quickly ... within a few days of starting. Unfortunately, it only lasted a month before I started experiencing persistent fatigue. I tried stopping and restarting but I was never able to achieve the relief I experienced during the first month of treatment.
Posted by Phillipa on August 25, 2007, at 21:54:35
In reply to Re: Am I the only one left taking NEFAZODONE ???, posted by Darwin on August 25, 2007, at 19:42:50
Darwin how high was your dose? Any side effects? Did you up the dose to try and achieve it's good effects again? What do you take now? Thanks Phillipa
Posted by Darwin on August 27, 2007, at 21:47:50
In reply to Re: Am I the only one left taking NEFAZODONE ??? » Darwin, posted by Phillipa on August 25, 2007, at 21:54:35
> Darwin how high was your dose? Any side effects? Did you up the dose to try and achieve it's good effects again? What do you take now? Thanks Phillipa
Phillipa, it's been many years since I took nefazodone and I don't recall what dosage I took. When nefazodone quit working for me, I tried adjusting the dosage up and down to no avail. The primary side effect was a persistent intense fatigue which ultimately forced me to quit Nefazadone. Now I take amitriptyline which helps a little but not to the extent that Nefazodone did during the first month I took it.
Good luck,
Darwin
Posted by Phillipa on August 27, 2007, at 21:53:58
In reply to Re: Am I the only one left taking NEFAZODONE ???, posted by Darwin on August 27, 2007, at 21:47:50
Oh drat!!!! I was hoping you'd say something wonderful. Phillipa
Posted by Jimmyboy on August 28, 2007, at 12:25:17
In reply to Re: Am I the only one left taking NEFAZODONE ??? » Darwin, posted by Phillipa on August 27, 2007, at 21:53:58
I mentioned this in a previous post, but wanted to ask again to see if anyone had any input.. Does the help with anxiety take the standard 3-4 weeks to start working like the antidepressant effects?
I would think that aspect of the medicine would start working much sooner, any thoughts on that? Thanks
JB
Posted by brooke484 on August 28, 2007, at 12:49:44
In reply to NEFAZODONE - anxiety relief, posted by Jimmyboy on August 28, 2007, at 12:25:17
I noticed relief in 1-2 days after starting. My panic stopped.
Posted by Phillipa on August 28, 2007, at 19:49:07
In reply to Re: NEFAZODONE - anxiety relief, posted by brooke484 on August 28, 2007, at 12:49:44
Seriously were you on any benzos at the time. Thanks for the positive response. Phillipa
Posted by brooke484 on August 28, 2007, at 20:46:27
In reply to Re: NEFAZODONE - anxiety relief » brooke484, posted by Phillipa on August 28, 2007, at 19:49:07
No, I wasn't taking anything else. It worked really great, but it did not help with my main symptom which is derealization.
Posted by Phillipa on August 28, 2007, at 21:46:50
In reply to phillipa, posted by brooke484 on August 28, 2007, at 20:46:27
Brooke what has helped you with that? Phillipa
Posted by Jimmyboy on August 29, 2007, at 11:12:33
In reply to Re: Am I the only one left taking NEFAZODONE ??? » Darwin, posted by Phillipa on August 27, 2007, at 21:53:58
Anyone know how long it usually takes for your body to adjust to taking Nefazodone?> I took my first dose last night and passed out cold and slept hard for 10 hours.. I used to take it but can't remember how long it takes to get used to it.
Thanks
JB
Posted by Nefazodone Man on August 29, 2007, at 11:37:13
In reply to NEFAZODONE - how long to adjust?, posted by Jimmyboy on August 29, 2007, at 11:12:33
Hi Jimmy boy it tok me 2 weeks to 4 weeks Max before I really started to adjust, but I did - Passed out ? or just got tired and went to sleep ? - Nefazodone is good for Sleep Anxiety, for me it was and still is after 10 years
Nefazodone Man
Posted by Jimmyboy on August 29, 2007, at 13:02:16
In reply to Re: NEFAZODONE - how long to adjust?, posted by Nefazodone Man on August 29, 2007, at 11:37:13
Thanks Nefazodone Man,
maybe I was a bit dramatic, I didn;t pass out, just went to sleep very fast and slept very hard. I think I should have started at a much lower starting dose also. I am going to lower it quite a bit and work my way up. Thanks
JB
Posted by Nefazodone Man on August 29, 2007, at 13:07:20
In reply to Re: NEFAZODONE - how long to adjust?, posted by Jimmyboy on August 29, 2007, at 13:02:16
I went 25mg twice a day for 5 days - the 50mg twice a day for 5 more - Then 75 mg twice a day for 5 more days then 100mg a day twice a day 11:00 AM and 5:00pm for last 10 years -
Works for me, live is fine so far, hope it always is - I do think this med got a bad rap, I just saw where a study showed the IRAQ Soldiers with PTSD responded best to Nefazodone - It is good you just need to get your liver checked every 3 or 4 months to 6 months with a simple blood test -
Best Wishes
Posted by brooke484 on August 29, 2007, at 14:05:36
In reply to Re: phillipa » brooke484, posted by Phillipa on August 28, 2007, at 21:46:50
Imipramine and Lexapro
Posted by Phillipa on August 29, 2007, at 21:42:03
In reply to Re: NEFAZODONE - how long to adjust?, posted by Nefazodone Man on August 29, 2007, at 13:07:20
More than interesting as my therapist today said she saw a touch of depression but anxiety she said PTSD. My first diagnosis ever was that and she's a PHD. Very good. And the strange thing as up here she sent me to a ppoc who did the nefazodone but I got scared with the liver thing. I see my pdoc another one next week and she'd said if the luvox didn't work out we could try that. So on your word I think I will. Phillipa
Posted by Nefazodone Man on August 29, 2007, at 22:05:22
In reply to Re: NEFAZODONE - how long to adjust? » Nefazodone Man, posted by Phillipa on August 29, 2007, at 21:42:03
Dear Phillipa, here is another statistic - 7,000,000 users World wide have used this Medicine, and I think there is like 200 to 300 known cases of Liver Damage, maybe 20 Transplants and Deaths - Now when I freaked about the liver thing I used my calculator
lets takes 7,000,000 users since it 1st came out and divide it by ummm lets say 1000 Liver Failure Cases ( A BIGGER MADE UP NUMBER THAN 54 OR WHATEVER FOR EXAMPLE ) 1000 Liver Damage Cases (EXAMPLE) divided by 7,000,000 users = Virtually almost 0% chance of liver Damage - Definitely way less than even 1% chance - So the Risk is small, and I pray all of our livers will be fine - But Tylenol is BRUTAL on your liver, Lipitor is Hard on it, there is lots of Meds that are hard on your liver - Before the Brand Name Serzone was VOLUNTARILY removed By Bristol Myers Squibb, I talked to an Established Psychiatrist about my Liver Fears, he said it was a good med, and the he NEVER saw liver damage in ANY of his Patients he prescribed it to ever, and some took way high does, but he said people would not prescribe it as much now cause of the Black Box - I hope my liver always holds up, as it has for 10 Years on this Drug - I mean there is NO GUARANTEE with anything in life, someone could have an idiosyncratic reaction to a few tylenols or anything - Just get your liver checked at 1st with a simple Blood test, and get it checked again early on into the therapy for your piece of mind, don't drink alcohol and listen to the Doc. AGAIN for me in 1997 it was the ONLY Med that solved my HELLISH Depression with Anxiety from PTSD - Nothing else worked. And like I believe ( IF IT AIN'T BROKE, THEN DON'T FIX IT ) And for me to have FINALLY found a Drug that brought me relief and then be forced to switch it because of a less than 1% virtually a 0% chance of Liver Damage, was DEPRESSING in itself, cause NOTHING worked for me, I was suicidal, emaciated, sleepless, constipated, etc. VERY GRATEFUL for SERZONE/ NEFAZODONE - And pray everyone liver will hold up including mine - I mean at forst the scare was so bad, they made people think everyone that took it had liver failure, at than point I was on it 5 to 7 years, and reading all that HYPE I thought my liver was done if I took 1 more, then I got a liver test, liver was fine, and I though hey I have been on this 5 to 7 years and no ill effects so far. As for my quick Withdrawl Symptoms, 1 Psychiatrist told me he felt I was that sensitive cause my Brain is imbalanced, and Nefazodone keeps it right where it needs to be for me to function, so I would proably need Nefazodone for the rest of my life, and that is FINE with me as long as my liver holds up, it has for 10 years. My last Doctor said I am right where I need to be 200mg Daily, no more and no less - - - Remember adjusting usually takes 2 to 4 weeks as it did for me, and slow jumps up I found are better than big jumps - - keep in touch ! Nefazodone Man
Posted by Phillipa on August 29, 2007, at 23:24:23
In reply to Re: NEFAZODONE - how long to adjust? To Phillipa, posted by Nefazodone Man on August 29, 2007, at 22:05:22
Great post and I graciously thank-you have a bottle here and will ask to try again next week when see the pdoc. You can always babblemail me too. Where my name is blue click on and a form appears and you write what is like an e-mail to me only I can see it. Thanks Phillipa
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