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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 22 of 22. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by [email protected] on October 3, 1999, at 7:08:30
Hi,
I suffer from dysthemia/depression and anxiety/panic, possibly borderline. I have been suggested to take Serzone or Effexor, but the tendency seems to be for Serzone to get more support. Prozac once worked a few years ago, but now shoots up the anxiety.
I would appreciate it if people could share their experiences, especially on Serzone. I usually wake up in the morning very depressed and crazy, often having disturbing dreams of past events, and Serzone at night-time apparently helps.
Thanks!
Posted by [email protected] on October 3, 1999, at 9:45:45
In reply to Serzone or Effexor? (your experience on either?), posted by [email protected] on October 3, 1999, at 7:08:30
I forgot (and I am not trying to be funny here...) to add that I have also been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder.
Thanks again.
> Hi,
>
> I suffer from dysthemia/depression and anxiety/panic, possibly borderline. I have been suggested to take Serzone or Effexor, but the tendency seems to be for Serzone to get more support. Prozac once worked a few years ago, but now shoots up the anxiety.
>
> I would appreciate it if people could share their experiences, especially on Serzone. I usually wake up in the morning very depressed and crazy, often having disturbing dreams of past events, and Serzone at night-time apparently helps.
>
> Thanks!
Posted by Racer on October 3, 1999, at 12:18:09
In reply to Serzone or Effexor? (your experience on either?), posted by [email protected] on October 3, 1999, at 7:08:30
I've been on both. The Serzone was a disaster all the way around. The Effexor has been a godsend, really a miracle drug for me, at least with augmentation by Prozac.
Good luck.
(Oh, Serzone lowered my bp too much, and made me tense and sick. Effexor was great for anxiety, and helpful for depression. Only with a little Prozac did it fix the depression, too.)
Posted by Noa on October 3, 1999, at 12:35:34
In reply to own addenduum, posted by [email protected] on October 3, 1999, at 9:45:45
I am on both. Effexor does the AD thing for me, but it is hard to tolerate a lot of it. It is augmented by ritalin, thyroid meds, and serzone. The serzone helps me sleep, as the effexor keeps me awake. Good luck. BTW, when I first started serzone, it seemed to make me very moody for a few weeks.
Posted by Janice on October 3, 1999, at 13:14:20
In reply to Re: serzone/effexor, posted by Noa on October 3, 1999, at 12:35:34
I have ADD also, and all the different ADs combined together throughout my entire 10 years of experimenting with them, all together maybe helped 15%. Dexedrine does it for me, on the right dose, 100%. Just thought I'd let you know, maybe save you a decade of your life. Janice.
Posted by [email protected] on October 3, 1999, at 14:17:13
In reply to Re: Serzone or Effexor? (your experience on either?), posted by Racer on October 3, 1999, at 12:18:09
Hmm. There are so many conflicting reports... some do great on one, and not on the other, and vica versa. Real pain the in the neck. Serzone just seems great because it apparently doesnt have the sexual side-effects (I am male)... how are you on Effexor in this regard (or anyone else reading this for that matter)?
Prozac seems to have great AD properties... by the way, apparently Gingko Biloba helps for sexual problems with SSRI's... see http://www.navicom.com/~patty/eng/ging.htm
All in all
> I've been on both. The Serzone was a disaster all the way around. The Effexor has been a godsend, really a miracle drug for me, at least with augmentation by Prozac.
>
> Good luck.
>
> (Oh, Serzone lowered my bp too much, and made me tense and sick. Effexor was great for anxiety, and helpful for depression. Only with a little Prozac did it fix the depression, too.)
Posted by Diane Fleming on October 3, 1999, at 16:01:55
In reply to Serzone or Effexor? (your experience on either?), posted by [email protected] on October 3, 1999, at 7:08:30
I've been on serzone for two years - and it's the best antidepressant I've taken (I've taken Zoloft, Paxil, Remeron, Wellbutrin, Prozac, Tofranil). The SSRIs work for me, but I can't have an orgasm, plus I get an emotionally "flat" feeling with SSRIs. I don't feel depressed, but I don't feel great either. I don't have either the anorgasmia or the flat feeling with serzone.
However, the one side-effect I do have with serzone is fatigue. Sometimes I can't tell if I'm becoming depressed again (I always sleep a lot when depressed) or if the serzone is causing this effect. I've never taken Effexor.
Also, it's trial and error with any drug you take--unfortunately. What works for me might not work for you and vice versa.
Diane
Posted by Noa on October 3, 1999, at 17:13:38
In reply to Re: Serzone or Effexor? (your experience on either?), posted by Diane Fleming on October 3, 1999, at 16:01:55
Each person reacts uniquely to meds.
Posted by Dee on October 4, 1999, at 0:46:01
In reply to Re: Serzone or Effexor? (your experience on either?), posted by Noa on October 3, 1999, at 17:13:38
I am on Serzone, and I am doing relatively good. Never been on Effexor, and it wouldn't be my first alternative, due to my history of drug abuse.
I was researching a lot when I got on serzone, and what I found that it's effects are different for different peole, can be anything from wonderful to horrible.
What almost everyone who takes Serzone seems to agree about is that getting up the dose is a very hard couple of weeks, so it was for me.
If you decide to go on serzone, please hang around here and post what you are feeling - We'll be here and let you know if we had the same kind of experience, and how it did pass for us.I guess changin medication is always a difficult time - I didn't know what to expect, I was feeling something but couldn't tell what it was I felt... Luckily I had lots of folks here assuring me is that what I am feeling is not uncommon, and that it usually passes in a few weeks.
Good luck
Dee
Posted by [email protected] on October 4, 1999, at 3:06:52
In reply to Re: Serzone or Effexor? (your experience on either?), posted by Dee on October 4, 1999, at 0:46:01
Thanks for all the replies. I started two days again with 50mg of Serzone two times a day. I'll keep doing that for a week and see what happens. My sleep has been weird, waking up at night, vivid dreams, not sure whether I like it. But I have been told that one needs to give these things a chance, and that definitely seems to be the case with Serzone. Which, after trying Prozac (which works immediately for me, but puts me on edge after a few days due to anxiety and panic) is a tough thing to swallow.
Anyone have any good advice on timing and dosages? What can I expect over the next few weeks?
Thanks all.
Posted by [email protected] on October 4, 1999, at 4:55:09
In reply to Re: Serzone ... dosages etc., posted by [email protected] on October 4, 1999, at 3:06:52
After having taken my dose of Serzone this morning I am feeling very spaced out and disconnected, and my head feels empty, and I am getting weird body sensations. Will this subside?
Posted by Dee on October 4, 1999, at 11:40:30
In reply to Serzone ... experiences, posted by [email protected] on October 4, 1999, at 4:55:09
Been there, done that... I've felt everything you've described, and more. It took me about six weeks to feel the full therapeutic effect of serzone, and it was a rollercoaster until then.
I guess I am lucky because ALL the adverse effects hav subsided. week 2-3 was probably my worst, with intense, edgy anxiety (almost rage at times). I've heard that that is not all uncommon, so dont let it scare you if it happens to you. (It scared the crap out of me, thought I was loosing it for real.)Actually some of the adverse effects - the sedation and fiilings of emptyness, and the ability to cry (sometimes for no reason) helped me pass the worst.
Keep us posted on how you are doing.
DeePs. What are you upping to? 150x2?
Posted by Noa on October 4, 1999, at 18:26:13
In reply to Re: Serzone ... experiences, posted by Dee on October 4, 1999, at 11:40:30
Yup, I also had both the anxiety/rage/emotionality as well as the sedation/balance problems/spaciness. But they went away after a few weeks. I take 150 mg in the evening, to augment effexor. GOod luck, and Dee's advice is good. Keep us posted.
Posted by diane on October 5, 1999, at 9:12:10
In reply to Re: Serzone ... experiences, posted by Noa on October 4, 1999, at 18:26:13
> Yup, I also had both the anxiety/rage/emotionality as well as the sedation/balance problems/spaciness. But they went away after a few weeks. I take 150 mg in the evening, to augment effexor. GOod luck, and Dee's advice is good. Keep us posted.
I didn't have too difficult a time getting on serzone -
I felt a little sick to my stomach. My dreams
did get vivid, which I like. The side effects do pass.
If they don't after 3-4 weeks, then I'd consider something
else (this is my unqualified self talking - I'm no doctor).
Also, I've given up on other drugs before after 1 or 2 weeks
because the side effects were too much for me. (Wellbutrin,
Prozac--which other people tolerate perfectly well).
You have to decide what you can tolerate.A friend of mine tried serzone and felt so sick, she
stopped after a week or two. It really is an individual
thing (I know this doesn't help much.)One thing that helped with getting on serzone (for me) was
eating regular meals. Do not take the stuff on an empty stomach.Diane
Posted by Doug on October 5, 1999, at 13:55:34
In reply to Re: Serzone ... experiences, posted by diane on October 5, 1999, at 9:12:10
> > Yup, I also had both the anxiety/rage/emotionality as well as the sedation/balance problems/spaciness. But they went away after a few weeks. I take 150 mg in the evening, to augment effexor. GOod luck, and Dee's advice is good. Keep us posted.
>
> I didn't have too difficult a time getting on serzone -
> I felt a little sick to my stomach. My dreams
> did get vivid, which I like. The side effects do pass.
> If they don't after 3-4 weeks, then I'd consider something
> else (this is my unqualified self talking - I'm no doctor).
> Also, I've given up on other drugs before after 1 or 2 weeks
> because the side effects were too much for me. (Wellbutrin,
> Prozac--which other people tolerate perfectly well).
> You have to decide what you can tolerate.
>
> A friend of mine tried serzone and felt so sick, she
> stopped after a week or two. It really is an individual
> thing (I know this doesn't help much.)
>
> One thing that helped with getting on serzone (for me) was
> eating regular meals. Do not take the stuff on an empty stomach.
>
> Diane> I am on my second day of Serzone. Do you say don't take on an empty stomach because of nausea ?
Anyone out there experience anorgasmia with Serzone ?
Posted by diane on October 5, 1999, at 14:26:46
In reply to Re: Serzone ... experiences, posted by Doug on October 5, 1999, at 13:55:34
Yes, don't take serzone on an empty stomach because of
nausea.Serzone is the one antidepressant I've taken that
*did not* cause anorgasmia for me. The ones that did
cause anorgasmia were Paxil, Zoloft. I never tried
Effexor and I was only on Prozac briefly. I was
only on Wellbutrin briefly. I don't remember remeron
having any sexual side effects, but I gained a lot
of weight on remeron and felt arthritic. maybe I just
couldn't bear the thought of sex, so I can't remember
if there were orgasms or not.
Posted by Cindy on October 5, 1999, at 20:53:54
In reply to Re: Serzone ... experiences, posted by diane on October 5, 1999, at 14:26:46
> Yes, don't take serzone on an empty stomach because of
> nausea.
>
> Serzone is the one antidepressant I've taken that
> *did not* cause anorgasmia for me. The ones that did
> cause anorgasmia were Paxil, Zoloft. I never tried
> Effexor and I was only on Prozac briefly. I was
> only on Wellbutrin briefly. I don't remember remeron
> having any sexual side effects, but I gained a lot
> of weight on remeron and felt arthritic. maybe I just
> couldn't bear the thought of sex, so I can't remember
> if there were orgasms or not.Serzone is the one antidepressant I've taken that did not cause anorgasmia. Prozac, Luvox, and Zoloft all caused this. Does anybody know if there are other antidepressants besides Serzone that work for OCD and depression which do not cause anorgasmia? Thanks!
Posted by Doug on October 6, 1999, at 9:11:18
In reply to Re: Serzone ... experiences, posted by Cindy on October 5, 1999, at 20:53:54
I tried Luvox, Celexa, and Paxil. They all caused
anorgasmia.
Posted by terraflux on October 7, 1999, at 17:44:48
In reply to Re: Serzone ... experiences, posted by Doug on October 6, 1999, at 9:11:18
Hello all,
The side-effects when taking Serzone are subsiding, I am up to 100mg at night, and will soon go to 150mg at night, then to 50mg in the morning and 150mg at night, and then take it from there. I am taking Piracetam with Choline again to kick my brain in gear, and once I am up on a proper dosage of Serzone I will re-evaluate and see whether or not I should try Ritalin or Dexedribe for my ADD.
thanks,
Posted by bones on October 7, 1999, at 18:54:59
In reply to Re: Serzone or Effexor? (your experience on either?), posted by Dee on October 4, 1999, at 0:46:01
It's so interesting everyones very difficult responses to meds.
I tend to be doseage sensitive. I was on 10 mg. of Prozac - never more, for a year. Have tried a succession of SSRI's - never able to tolerate the smallest dose (cut in 1/2). However, the exception was Serezone - I went up to a "normal" doseage in the required amount of time - at the end of two weeks I was taking 200 mg/day. (I think even more perhaps 300 mg./day.) So it's interesting reading others responses. That this drug is very difficult to tolerate.
I had to comment. Again it truly affirms that we all have different responses / tolerances to meds.
(I came off Serezone as I have with almost all of the others - I just don't seem to be able to tolerate the SSRI's - get flat, (with Serezone I became irritable too).
Posted by Noa on October 7, 1999, at 19:39:16
In reply to Re: Serzone or Effexor? (your experience on either?), posted by bones on October 7, 1999, at 18:54:59
Had extreme irritability at first with serzone, but it went away after about 3 weeks, as did balance problems, etc.
Posted by Dee on October 7, 1999, at 21:26:11
In reply to Re: Serzone or Effexor? (your experience on either?), posted by Noa on October 7, 1999, at 19:39:16
All that is gone. Only thing I still have a little trouble with is low blood pressure.
This is the end of the thread.
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