Posted by Rick on January 17, 2002, at 19:13:08
In reply to SERZONE a real BITCH for me to taper or reduce !!!, posted by Serzone Guy on January 17, 2002, at 17:23:21
Sorry to hear your plight. Some people can't tolerate Serzone's side effects when TAKING it, but even with its short half-life Serzone has MUCH lower incidence of withdrawal than, say Paxil or Effexor. Nonetheless, it *is* a problem for some people, as your situation demonstrates.
(Although I do wonder if some of your symptoms could be rebound depression/anxiety, even if manifested differently than before.)I once quit 450 mg/day Serzone cold turkey. Maybe that wasn't smart, but I didn't notice any physical distress at all. Of course, that was after "only" one and a half years, not four.
Also, I didn't notice any negative sexual effects at all on 450 mg Serzone (indeed, it seems to *enhance* sensations for me), while Celexa gave me near-complete anorgasmia at a lowish 20 mg and Nardil was even worse. As for the liver thing, 1/200,000 doesn't sound like a lot to me, although I have to admit it's one too many for every 200,000th user. Just hang in there, you'll get through this. Maybe *short-term* usage of a long-half-life benzo would ease the withdrawal.
Good Luck,
Rick
> Greetings,
> I am Serzone Guy, I have been on this stuff for 4 and 1/2 years. I mean it helped me get better, which I do not deny, but I am in my early 30's Am I to take this drug for life ? Now they say Black Box warning, 1 in 200,000 users will die or need a liver. I mean why don't they study this shit better ? 6 to 8 weeks in a clinic, with Psychiatrists passing them out like friggin candy, with the general opinion, people are chemically imbalanced for life, so take the crap for life, isnt a good thorough Study. Now I am caught, cause they never told me when I took this crap, that when I wanted to stop it, or taper it I would feel like SHIT after the 4th day, I mean I feel worse with a reduction after 3 to 5 days as did when I was majorly depressed, but in a new way, locked up pupils, tremors, etc. Flu Pains, knee pains, etc. friggin unbearable, Serzone also gives you a soft bone, numbs your bone so when you orgasm, it barely spits out, with not much sensation. And I only take 200 mg a day, some people are taking 400 to 600 mg a day of this. Had I have been informed of the horrible effects when trying to reduce this, before I started taking it, I would not have ever taken it. I would have tried Prozac with a long half life. If someone out there can tell me how to get off of this stuff slowly over 1 year or 2 years if necessary, I will appreciate it.
> Sincerely - Worried Serzone Guy
poster:Rick
thread:90621
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020116/msgs/90632.html