Posted by Tony C. on May 29, 2004, at 19:30:31
In reply to Re: I GOT A PLAN FOR SERZONE/NEFAZODONE WEANING, posted by traveler on May 29, 2004, at 18:25:34
That is my ONLY knock against Serzone thus far after 7 years. 3 Years ago my former Doc said ok its been 4 years, cut it down 50mg for a week, then again the 2nd week. Now I want to say, I have heard some say they got off fine rather quickly, and one friend I had named Steve said NEVER quit Cold Turkey, or it will disable you, he claimed it did him like a stroke or something. Well this is EXACT sequence that transpired for me. After knocking off 50 mg first day I felt fine, 2nd day I got headache and my taste was altered, I could not taste anything right. 3rd day I felt achy like the flu, but much worse, vivid dreams and less sleep. 4th day I felt like a Zombie, meaning like I was detached from reality, best way to describe it is like an entity trapped in my head. 5th day my left leg was numb like it was not attached to my body a very odd and hard sensation to explain, and just plain flat staring into space, but not depression, and my pupils felt as tho they were twitching and my vision was jumpy - it scared me to death, I did some research on the PC and saw what I was experiencing was DISCONTINUATION SYNDROME from tapering to fast for me 50mg after 4 years was to fast. I saw where resuming regular dose returns you to normal rapidly, so I did that and I returened to normal within 2 days of resuming regular dose. I now shudder to think how I would be now after 7 years. I tried shaving miniscule amounts before, and didn't feel quite as bad as the 50mg reduction, HOWEVER my taste goes after 1 or 2 days, and mild aches, some more vivid dreaming, but not as bad as the 50mg reduction .... SO I am thinking slow and low is the best, some Doctors are totally aware of this problem with these medicines, and the good ones reccommend now higher that a 5% reduction every week or two even if it takes you over 1 year to get off of it, that is my choice, cause they seem hell bent on getting it off the market, and as I said bottom line is $$$, so I think I better prepare for this Journey, and talk my Doctor into it. If the FDA would clarify once and for all that it still be on the market after further review, and a Generic company like TEVA the one who makes my nefazodone announced they will NOT stop making it, I would stay on this as long as possible. I have been on generic now 9 days, even tho it is claimed to be the same strngth I feel it was off by 5 or 10% possibly up to 20 as my doc told me they can be 10 to 20% weaker or stronger and still called equivalent. Anyhow mine I feel was lower, cause I had some taste disturbances.... transient tho, the one night about 4 days into the generic my kneee hurt for no reason for about 2 minutes, so bad I almost vomited, then I laid down and started shivering like you do with a fever it lasted about 20 minutes and went away, some fleeting joint aches also. I have had some stomach ache, mild which could be the different inactive ingredients, binders fillers etc. I am getting used to, I feel better each day, so I must be getting accustomed to the Generic strength which I feel is a little weaker, but still effective. So yes it is better than not having it in my opinion and I really hope it is available for us that choose to stay on it. Best of luck, you tell your Doctor how you feel, hopefully you will be a lucky one that has mild, or no withdrawal sypmtoms. Please keep me posted, I want to hear how your doing.
Sincerely - Tony C.
poster:Tony C.
thread:351903
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040527/msgs/351955.html