Posted by JohnX2 on December 7, 2001, at 21:22:40
In reply to Re: Serzone Do Over? » JohnX2, posted by Cindylou on December 5, 2001, at 6:04:12
Thanks Cindy,I'm so glad things are working out for you.
One of the reasons I've wondered about a serzone
do-over is because zyprexa is not making me
drowsy, which was very unexpected. I think that
serzone makes one drowsy by indirectly
lowering excitatory glutamate stimulation. With
the lamictal being a glutamate balancer and
generally uplifiting, I was thinking that it
could also be "banding" the potential for
drowsiness on the zyprexa, and hence maybe
Serzone.I've actually hit some sort of majic bullet
of meds, and I have no freakin clue what it
is because I have been changing meds recently
more often than I change my underwear.Anyways I added in Zanaflex (a noradrenergic med),
which is similar to clonidine and helps to
stabilize noradrenaline flow (and reduce tension
headaches, cns activated muscle spams). I found
the dosing on this to be too laborous because
it would poop out every 3 hrs, but it did help
with muscle spasms and klonopin withdrawl.
So then I would feel anxious and on a whim I added some oldy
Manerix to my mix. Ironically the Manerix gave
me trademark symptoms of excess serotonin, which
I never experienced before on manerix, so I lowered
the dose and then the next day I felt "beautiful".
Body less achy, care free, the whole kit and
kabbudle. Paradise. No mania attached.
But this has sort of come and go.I've wanted to add an SSRI (zoloft) to the zyprexa, but my
pdoc is a weany and doesn't like to prescribe
anti-depressants to people he considers bipolar.
At one point in time I was taking Zoloft + Klonopin
and I actually got a similar "wonderful response"
for some stupid reason I quit the combo. When
I took Zoloft alone it caused severe tension
headaches and mania. So I think the 2nd time
with klonopin, the klonopin was acting more as
a mood stablizer as it is an anti-convulsant.
Ughh, I'm trying to get off klonopin, and it
seems as though adding in an SSRI if it helps
with the residual depression isn't a bad idea.Also, I'm going to try topomax, it has a mode
of action as far as being an anticonvulsant
that is similar to klonopin.Good luck to you. I hope you continue to do
well. I wish I hadn't tossed my old Serzone, I
would test it "on-the-sly" if I had leftovers.-john
> Hi John,
> I'm also on Lamictal (I know we've "chatted" before on this board...)
>
> I take Serzone along with the Lamictal, and I only take 75 mg. -- 50 at night and 25 in the morning. I've never taken Serzone alone (without the Lamictal).
>
> The AMAZING thing is that I don't have any negative side effects with the Serzone, as of yet! And for me, that is nothing short of a miracle. I always have horrible side effects on antidepressants -- SSRIs, SNRIs, tricyclics -- I think I've tried them all. When my doctor told me that Serzone most likely will cause fatigue I thought I was doomed. But, at least at this low dose, I don't have fatigue. Just good night sleeps, and greatly lowered anxiety levels.
>
> Now, I did try increasing to 100 mg, and then I experienced fatigue -- not unmanageable, but enough to go back to the 75. My doc says the low dose is good for anxiety, but not for depression -- I would have to get up to something like 400 mg. I'm not sure I could handle going that high. but maybe with time I can make it.
>
> All this to say, I think it's worth a shot trying the Serzone again with the Lamictal, and just start out really low. Hopefully we can both work our way up on the Serzone like we did on the Lamictal!
>
> Best of luck to you,
> cindy
>
>
> >
> > I'm scratching my head wondering if I should
> > give Serzone another go.
> >
> > 1st time I took it the med comletely alleviated
> > myofacial pain and tolerance to stimulants,alcohol.
> > Plus I had awesome sleep. The downside of drowsiness,
> > unsteadiness, and cognitive dysfunction was bad enough
> > to discontinue the med.
> >
> > My question is, now that I am taking Lamictal,
> > perhaps my Serzone response would be better? I thought
> > when I took Zyprexa it would wipe me out like
> > Serzone because they both antagonist alpha-1
> > adrenoreceptors, but fatigue has not been a problem
> > on Zyprexa. I would prefer to not be on an
> > anti-psychotic.
> >
> > Any thoughts regarding Serzone vs. Zyprexa? My other
> > thought was that I could take Provigil with
> > Serzone or Adderall to combat the fatigue.
> >
> > -john
poster:JohnX2
thread:85820
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011202/msgs/86248.html