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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 52. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Lauri on September 15, 1999, at 21:11:07
I have been taking this med for about two months, I
experienced a great deal of dizzyness, and now I am experiencing visual problems as if a strobe light is flashing before my eyes. I have found some info on this med and I know in a small number of people visual problems seem to occur. Will this side effect go away?
I just started 300 mg per day about two weeks ago.
I am feeling better and my ruminations, and depression have been relieved and I feel pretty good except for this. I should also say that it only happens when I have been laying down at night or early in the morning when I first get up after a little while it gets better, although I still experience minimal visual side effects. Will this go away over time???
Posted by jamie on September 16, 1999, at 2:34:11
In reply to Serazone, posted by Lauri on September 15, 1999, at 21:11:07
Just use care when getting up. Get up slowly. This is a common side effect in literature. It may lessen in time but I wouln't bet on it completely going away. As long as serzone is working, dizziness while rising isn't a bad side effect at all compared to some of the incapacitating side effects that so many of us have had to deal with. Glad it's going well for you. If that's the only side effect I wouldn't mind.
Posted by Dee on September 16, 1999, at 8:39:37
In reply to Serazone, posted by Lauri on September 15, 1999, at 21:11:07
I'm on Serzone, too.. Some six weeks now. I was anticipating much more side effects than I am actually experiencing. The beginning, and the periods of upping the dose have been rough enough, mainly due to the unfamiliar fits of edgy anxiety. On the whole my experience so far is better than expected.
I am still going through changes, and although I do feel the therapeutic effect, I am not assumin that my system is stable yet. My psychiatrist said I can expect to see the full therapeutic effect without initial side effects six to eight weeks from last adjustment. So what you are feeling, Lauri, is likely to pass.
Now that my anxiety is easing (not gone) I am dealing with my blood pressure plummeting, at least I feel it is. But, I'm not worried.. everything else has passed, and I believe that this sill too.Some two weeks ago I started feeling clear improvement on my depression, first for very short periods of time, but now these periods that used to last anywhere from minutes to a couple of hours last for days! I still get the anxiety attacks even in the good times, but they rarely overwhelm me to the point where they paralyze me. although that still happens.
I am starting to connect with people again, dating even... Sort of. I started on the inteernet and little by little extended the scope to real world. Feels good to be able to do that.So, what I wanted to say, is the side effects you are feeling don't sound too bad. Although you are the only one who can say how much they interfere with your life. Hang on there. I'll check a couple of links where I found the info about Serzone - Although as far as adverse effects go, the best I could do is to check out the old threads on this site.
Wish you well
Dee.P.S. Suomalainen?
Posted by Noa on September 16, 1999, at 11:37:28
In reply to Re: Serazone, posted by Dee on September 16, 1999, at 8:39:37
I am taking 150 mg serzone in the evening, in addition to effexor xr, thyroid meds, and ritalin. In the beginning, like Dee, I noticed huge surges in emotionality, but they have subsided. I also had some dizziness the first week or so. Now, (also about 6 weeks into it) I still have some slight balance problems especially early in the morning, but nothing major. It makes me a bit more cautious when doing things that require good balance, like climbing on a chair, hiking, etc. It also makes me somewhat drowsy in general, and very groggy when I wake up in the morning. I used to take trazodone to sleep, which had a fast acting intense drowsiness, sedative effect, but the serzone takes longer to start and wear off, I think.
Posted by Melanie on September 16, 1999, at 20:27:27
In reply to Re: Serzone, posted by Noa on September 16, 1999, at 11:37:28
> I am taking 150 mg serzone in the evening, in addition to effexor xr, thyroid meds, and ritalin. In the beginning, like Dee, I noticed huge surges in emotionality, but they have subsided. I also had some dizziness the first week or so. Now, (also about 6 weeks into it) I still have some slight balance problems especially early in the morning, but nothing major. It makes me a bit more cautious when doing things that require good balance, like climbing on a chair, hiking, etc. It also makes me somewhat drowsy in general, and very groggy when I wake up in the morning. I used to take trazodone to sleep, which had a fast acting intense drowsiness, sedative effect, but the serzone takes longer to start and wear off, I think.
I took Serzone for several weeks (after coming off Zoloft due to inhibited sexual desire--worked great for my depression, but my husband hated the side effect!!!). I found the dizziness intolerable. My doctor felt that since it was not going away, it probably wouldn't. She changed me to Welbutrin, which was useless. I ended up on Celexa (which was my suggestion in the first place, but who listens to us patients??) and am feeling great--less emotional, with sexual desire again, and no side effects!!!
Hang in there! These new meds are really good, but it takes a while to find the right combination/dosage for each of us.
Posted by Carolyn on September 17, 1999, at 17:23:13
In reply to Serazone, posted by Lauri on September 15, 1999, at 21:11:07
>I am currently on 500mg a day of Serzone and have had many side effects. In the beginning I felt extremely agitated/angry over inappropiate stupid stuff!! That has releived itself as has the dizziness (thank goodness). I still on occasion have the vision strobe light effect, but not everyday. Good Luck!!!
Posted by Renee on December 21, 1999, at 11:11:22
In reply to Re: Serzone, posted by Melanie on September 16, 1999, at 20:27:27
I have been talking serzone for anxiety for about 2 months now.
I started out on 50 mg and am now on 300 and feel no
side effects what so ever. I also dont feel any effect
to help me either.
Is this odd?
Posted by DOUG on December 21, 1999, at 16:34:03
In reply to Re: Serzone, posted by Renee on December 21, 1999, at 11:11:22
> I have been talking serzone for anxiety for about 2 months now.
> I started out on 50 mg and am now on 300 and feel no
> side effects what so ever. I also dont feel any effect
> to help me either.
> Is this odd?
>
>
No. I had the exact same results. I was trying it for social phobia. No side effects but no positive results either.
Posted by Gary on December 22, 1999, at 14:45:54
In reply to Re: Serzone, posted by DOUG on December 21, 1999, at 16:34:03
> >Maybe you need to up the dose. I think I read a study where about 450 mg a day was effective for SP
I have been talking serzone for anxiety for about 2 months now.
> > I started out on 50 mg and am now on 300 and feel no
> > side effects what so ever. I also dont feel any effect
> > to help me either.
> > Is this odd?
> >
> >
> No. I had the exact same results. I was trying it for social phobia. No side effects but no positive results either.
Posted by Cindy on December 22, 1999, at 20:25:59
In reply to Re: Serzone, posted by Gary on December 22, 1999, at 14:45:54
> > >Maybe you need to up the dose. I think I read a study where about 450 mg a day was effective for SP
>
> I have been talking serzone for anxiety for about 2 months now.
> > > I started out on 50 mg and am now on 300 and feel no
> > > side effects what so ever. I also dont feel any effect
> > > to help me either.
> > > Is this odd?
> > >
> > >
> > No. I had the exact same results. I was trying it for social phobia. No side effects but no positive results either.
I loved Serzone...it made me feel less depressed, less socially anxious, and I slept much better. At first, the side effects were bad (dry mouth, irritability, dizziness, some visual effects). But I'd still be taking it if it decreased OCD (now am trying Effexor, and feel a little less obsessed and more "normal" but not as happy as I did with Serzone).--Cindy W
Posted by Dee on December 23, 1999, at 22:45:41
In reply to Re: Serzone, posted by Cindy on December 22, 1999, at 20:25:59
I have been taking Serzone since August, going up slowly first to 300mg, then 450 mg/day.
I found that Serzone takes long to take effect. When I upped from 300 to 450 I gave myself 6 weeks from the day I started with 400 before I would say if I was better than before.Also, I found that whatever beneficial effects I had gained on 300mg disappeared the day I upped the dose, to return some six weeks later.
Serzone works in a very subtle way. (Now I am assuming that it works for me like it is supposed to. I don't really FEEL it working, but I can tell it does as I am observing how I react in some situations. I am actually able to put up with a job that I hate, with only moderate feelings of anxiety when I hove to go there. Pretty good for someone who was unable to leave his room a few months ago. I am getting a little more social, too. Yet when I am asked if I feel any different on Serzone the answer is no.
Serzone did help with some small part of my anxiety, but I had to boost up with buspar, and I've so far found it a good combo.
Hope that some of my experience is helpful. We're all different and if it doesn't work for you, you should switch. Just make sure that you give Serzone a fighting change, because if it does, it is a potentially wonderful drug.
Love
Dee
Posted by Renee N on December 26, 1999, at 2:20:01
In reply to The last post was not by the same Renee who has be, posted by Renee N on December 26, 1999, at 2:13:36
> > I have been taking Serzone since August, going up slowly first to 300mg, then 450 mg/day.
> > I found that Serzone takes long to take effect. When I upped from 300 to 450 I gave myself 6 weeks from the day I started with 400 before I would say if I was better than before.
> >
> > Also, I found that whatever beneficial effects I had gained on 300mg disappeared the day I upped the dose, to return some six weeks later.
> >
> > Serzone works in a very subtle way. (Now I am assuming that it works for me like it is supposed to. I don't really FEEL it working, but I can tell it does as I am observing how I react in some situations. I am actually able to put up with a job that I hate, with only moderate feelings of anxiety when I hove to go there. Pretty good for someone who was unable to leave his room a few months ago. I am getting a little more social, too. Yet when I am asked if I feel any different on Serzone the answer is no.
> >
> > Serzone did help with some small part of my anxiety, but I had to boost up with buspar, and I've so far found it a good combo.
> >
> > Hope that some of my experience is helpful. We're all different and if it doesn't work for you, you should switch. Just make sure that you give Serzone a fighting change, because if it does, it is a potentially wonderful drug.
> >
> > Love
> > Dee
Oops! I messed up(darned that ADD!). I wrote my whole message in the title space on the last response. What I wanted to say was that there are two Rennes here. I am the one who has been posting in December before the Serzone Renee posted. I'll call myself Renee N now so you know which Renee is which.
Posted by yona on July 17, 2000, at 16:35:03
In reply to Re: Serzone, posted by Melanie on September 16, 1999, at 20:27:27
hi there. i am a new serzone recruit.. from paxil. i too need a little support on the side effects. day three here and i feel very dizzy and like i have to throw up all the time. this is especially difficult with my highly physical and fast moving job... any suggestions for dealing with the nausea.. i am trying ginger but i am not sure if the nausea is related to dehydration or indigestion. does anyone know?? also any suggestions on just how long i should put up with this before i try something else. i didn't have side effects on paxil, except that my sex drive dropped to absolute nil. advise from you experienced ones out there would be most helpful.
yona
Posted by Cindy W on July 17, 2000, at 21:03:23
In reply to Re: Serzone, posted by yona on July 17, 2000, at 16:35:03
> hi there. i am a new serzone recruit.. from paxil. i too need a little support on the side effects. day three here and i feel very dizzy and like i have to throw up all the time. this is especially difficult with my highly physical and fast moving job... any suggestions for dealing with the nausea.. i am trying ginger but i am not sure if the nausea is related to dehydration or indigestion. does anyone know?? also any suggestions on just how long i should put up with this before i try something else. i didn't have side effects on paxil, except that my sex drive dropped to absolute nil. advise from you experienced ones out there would be most helpful.
> yonayona, I took Serzone for a while at full dose and am taking 50-75 mg/night to help me sleep, now, in combination with Effexor-XR. When I took Serzone by itself, I usually took it on a full rather than empty stomach, so didn't get nauseous. Have heard that ginger can help with this, though. Good luck to you! (On Luvox, I puked myself silly the first time I forgot to eat with it...after a while, the nausea just went away...suspect this will be the case for you with Serzone; but talk to your pdoc.)
Posted by ksvt on July 18, 2000, at 7:17:56
In reply to Re: Serzone, posted by Cindy W on July 17, 2000, at 21:03:23
> > hi there. i am a new serzone recruit.. from paxil. i too need a little support on the side effects. day three here and i feel very dizzy and like i have to throw up all the time. this is especially difficult with my highly physical and fast moving job... any suggestions for dealing with the nausea.. i am trying ginger but i am not sure if the nausea is related to dehydration or indigestion. does anyone know?? also any suggestions on just how long i should put up with this before i try something else. i didn't have side effects on paxil, except that my sex drive dropped to absolute nil. advise from you experienced ones out there would be most helpful.
> > yona
>
> yona, I took Serzone for a while at full dose and am taking 50-75 mg/night to help me sleep, now, in combination with Effexor-XR. When I took Serzone by itself, I usually took it on a full rather than empty stomach, so didn't get nauseous. Have heard that ginger can help with this, though. Good luck to you! (On Luvox, I puked myself silly the first time I forgot to eat with it...after a while, the nausea just went away...suspect this will be the case for you with Serzone; but talk to your pdoc.)Cindy - why did you decide to lower your dose of Serzone? How long were you on it at full dose?
Posted by Cindy W on July 18, 2000, at 8:24:42
In reply to Re: Serzone, posted by ksvt on July 18, 2000, at 7:17:56
> > > hi there. i am a new serzone recruit.. from paxil. i too need a little support on the side effects. day three here and i feel very dizzy and like i have to throw up all the time. this is especially difficult with my highly physical and fast moving job... any suggestions for dealing with the nausea.. i am trying ginger but i am not sure if the nausea is related to dehydration or indigestion. does anyone know?? also any suggestions on just how long i should put up with this before i try something else. i didn't have side effects on paxil, except that my sex drive dropped to absolute nil. advise from you experienced ones out there would be most helpful.
> > > yona
> >
> > yona, I took Serzone for a while at full dose and am taking 50-75 mg/night to help me sleep, now, in combination with Effexor-XR. When I took Serzone by itself, I usually took it on a full rather than empty stomach, so didn't get nauseous. Have heard that ginger can help with this, though. Good luck to you! (On Luvox, I puked myself silly the first time I forgot to eat with it...after a while, the nausea just went away...suspect this will be the case for you with Serzone; but talk to your pdoc.)
>
> Cindy - why did you decide to lower your dose of Serzone? How long were you on it at full dose?
yona, I decided to lower the Serzone and start on Effexor-XR instead at the suggestion of my pdoc, because the Serzone didn't affect my OCD (I have intrusive thoughts and compulsive rituals as well as "hoarding" of items I can't use). Serzone was an excellent antidepressant for me, made me much less socially anxious, and did NOT interfere with sex for me (unlike Prozac, Luvox, and Zoloft). If you can stick with it, and make it through a couple of weeks of moodiness and apparently nausea (I never experienced that), it's GREAT! I really liked the way I felt on Serzone, except for the intrusive thoughts and all (that wasn't the fault of the Serzone, though).
Posted by Iden on July 18, 2000, at 14:50:34
In reply to Re: Serzone, posted by yona on July 17, 2000, at 16:35:03
> hi there. i am a new serzone recruit.. from paxil. i too need a little support on the side effects. day three here and i feel very dizzy and like i have to throw up all the time. this is especially difficult with my highly physical and fast moving job... ....... for dealing with the nausea.. ....... does anyone know?? also any suggestions on just how long i should put up with this before i try something else. i didn't have side effects on paxil, except that my sex drive dropped to absolute nil. advise from you experienced ones out there would be most helpful.
> yonaYona,
I was on Prozac for years and switched to Serzone. On May 17, I started to taper off the Prozac and taper on the Serzone. I (60 year old, 190 pound male) have been very sensitive to every antidepressant I have tried. The max Prozac I could tolerate was about 13.3 mg / day but it did help. It kept me from deeper depression in the decades-long course of dysthymia. I mention this to point out my sensitivity.
So, I started Serzone at 25 mg once a day and experienced obvious, unpleasant side effects. After 5 days I went to 37.5 mg once a day for 6 more days. Then to 25 mg in the morning and 37.5 at night. I have been working up slowly like this and, for me, feel it is about as fast as I would want to go. I am now at 75 mg in the morning and 100 mg at night. I started 63 days ago on Serzone. When I went from 75 mg in the morning and 75 mg at night to 75 in the morning and 100 mg at night, I felt the return of side effects (irritability, reduced optimism, reduced productivity, grogginess, etc.) as amazing as this may seem to some. I feel that many patients and doctors conclude that a particular antidepressant is not suitable for a particular patient when, in fact, the initial dose may be too high and the dose increase too fast for that aptient.
How does this relate to you? My feeling is that some people are just far more sensitive than others to a particular antidepressant. Maybe your starting dose was just too high for you and you will have to work up like I am doing. It is possible that Serzone is right for you, but starting at a lower dose and working up slowly.
Small doses do take some effort to make. You can buy pill cutters in drug stores which helps in making 25 mg pieces from half of a 100 mg tablet after it is broken in two. You can also powder a tablet and visually divide it up.
My doctor responded to my request to change from Prozac. He is aware on my sensivity to antidepressants so simply told me what the average and maximum Serzone doses are and said to work it up in dose at my own rate. I am pleased to have his understanding and blessing but I would have done it my way anyway.
Iden (first post here)
Posted by yona on July 18, 2000, at 15:00:37
In reply to Re: Serzone, posted by Cindy W on July 18, 2000, at 8:24:42
hi cindy. thanks much for your advise.. also to the others out there. even though i did go see my pharmasist today, (and she said the very same thing i heard from you and in a natural food store yesterday, (ie: don't take it on an empty stomach and do some ginger capsules)), it is good to feel the support of other people dealing with this stuff. today, instead of doing the pills first thing in the morning b-4 work, i did them at breakfast. no nausea. yeah!.. cause yesterday was just a little too intense for me and i was not looking forward to today. as far as i can tell i have become much more sensitive sexually, i can cry and yet just feel it and recover in about 15minutes, and my general mood is relaxed, curious. i think i should check in in about a few weeks and 'report', so if some other poor soul decides to try this med first thang in the morning they will at least know what they are getting into!
anyways, thanks cindy, and the rest. this has been most helpful. yo
Posted by yona on July 18, 2000, at 15:06:36
In reply to Re: Serzone, posted by Iden on July 18, 2000, at 14:50:34
iden.. thanks for the response. the nausea is much better today but i will keep close watch and do the 100 mg pill only once a day, or perhaps like you split it down the middle and do a half in the am and half in the pm. though i am pretty sensitive i do know that after 5 years on 40mg of paxil the effect i was feeling was reduced. i was also wanting my sex drive back even though 5 years without it was a great experience. anyways, thanks for the post. yo
Posted by Cindy W on July 18, 2000, at 21:44:34
In reply to Re: Serzone, posted by yona on July 18, 2000, at 15:00:37
> hi cindy. thanks much for your advise.. also to the others out there. even though i did go see my pharmasist today, (and she said the very same thing i heard from you and in a natural food store yesterday, (ie: don't take it on an empty stomach and do some ginger capsules)), it is good to feel the support of other people dealing with this stuff. today, instead of doing the pills first thing in the morning b-4 work, i did them at breakfast. no nausea. yeah!.. cause yesterday was just a little too intense for me and i was not looking forward to today. as far as i can tell i have become much more sensitive sexually, i can cry and yet just feel it and recover in about 15minutes, and my general mood is relaxed, curious. i think i should check in in about a few weeks and 'report', so if some other poor soul decides to try this med first thang in the morning they will at least know what they are getting into!
> anyways, thanks cindy, and the rest. this has been most helpful. yoyona, hope the serzone helps you! taking it with breakfast should really help.--Cindy
Posted by yona on July 23, 2000, at 6:26:08
In reply to Re: Serzone, posted by Cindy W on July 18, 2000, at 21:44:34
a little serzone update for those of you interested...
in comparison to paxil here is what i experience:
first, i get to cry again!! gaud i had no idea how much the paxil was affecting my ability to express deep felt emotions!
second, i get to come again... i guess everybody knows now that paxil and a good orgasm is an oxymoron.
third, i get to dream again. paxil affected my REM sleep, alot. i have missed that delicious state of being semi-conscious with my own private movie going on in my head.
fourth, i still have really weird sleeping habits, like a cat i still take naps that usually amount to eight hours a day, but i do not sleep 8 hours straight thru.
lastly, i am much more affected by caffeine. 2 cups of tea and i got the shakes.
anyways, mostly posting this for people who are trying to make the change (from paxil to serzone) and are experiencing side effects.
yo
Posted by Iden on July 23, 2000, at 11:41:55
In reply to Re: Serzone, posted by yona on July 23, 2000, at 6:26:08
> a little serzone update for those of you interested...
I know I am -- having tapered off Prozac and onto Serzone a little over two months ago.
>............. lastly, i am much more affected by
> caffeine. 2 cups of tea and i got the shakes.
> anyways, mostly posting this for people who
> are trying to make the change (from paxil to
> serzone) and are experiencing side effects.
> yoI have never been a heavy caffeine user -- in fact, didn't use it until in my forties. As I tapered up my dose of Serzone, I began to have periods of severe irritability and feeling like striking back verbally and physically at people and even inanimate objects. My patience was very low. I discovered that it was Serzone plus caffeine. I stopped caffeine for the last three weeks or so and yesterday at a public event, I had a regular-size can of Pepsi. Just that much caffeine caused another bout of irritability and loss of patience. I was even having thoughts of telling my lady-friend to get lost because she bugged me during a phone call that evening (my perception)-- hours later -- and quite unlike my usual manner. I drank the Pepsi because I was both thirsty (no water available) and I was curious. Just that amount of caffeine was all it took. I now know that I must totally avoid caffeine -- period.
I have been slowly tapering up my dose of Serzone and am now at 100 mg 2x/day. Most of the Serzone side effects I felt initially have subsided significantly.
Iden
Posted by yona on July 23, 2000, at 11:49:15
In reply to Re: Serzone + Caffeine, posted by Iden on July 23, 2000, at 11:41:55
thanks for the update. i got the feeling i am in the same boat. too bad for me because i have self-medicated with caffiene for years... my favorite drug actually. but what you said just made me know it's true for me too... the caffiene has gotta go. whaaaaa. but i will be better for it i am sure. thanks for the post.
yona
Posted by Mary Jane M on September 12, 2000, at 0:30:17
In reply to Re: Serzone + Caffeine, posted by yona on July 23, 2000, at 11:49:15
Can anyone please share their experiences with any of following side effects of serzone?: Does it cause weight gain or increased appetite? Does it help you go to sleep easily (within 30 minutes)? Do you get into deep REM sleep? Are you groggy the next morning? Does it help with panic and anxiety? Does it cause any shaking or tremors? Is libido improved (from being on paxil)?
I am looking for a "miracle"drug to help with all the side effects I'm having form other stuff. I'm sure you can all relate. I had severe postpartum depression 2 years ago which then became diag-
nosed as bipolar II. Any feedback appreciated!!
Posted by Cindy W on September 12, 2000, at 8:51:24
In reply to Re: Serzone , posted by Mary Jane M on September 12, 2000, at 0:30:17
> Can anyone please share their experiences with any of following side effects of serzone?: Does it cause weight gain or increased appetite? Does it help you go to sleep easily (within 30 minutes)? Do you get into deep REM sleep? Are you groggy the next morning? Does it help with panic and anxiety? Does it cause any shaking or tremors? Is libido improved (from being on paxil)?
> I am looking for a "miracle"drug to help with all the side effects I'm having form other stuff. I'm sure you can all relate. I had severe postpartum depression 2 years ago which then became diag-
> nosed as bipolar II. Any feedback appreciated!!Mary Jane, Serzone for me has had no bad side effects. The only things I noticed when taking 450 mg/day were: l) seeing "trails" in the middle of the night when I moved my hands through the air (kind of fun, really) and 2) urgent urination (at times, I had to run to the bathroom; there wouldn't be any feeling of needing to pee, I'd just start peeing). But no tremors, shaking, etc. It did not interfere an iota with sexual functioning. It helped my depression and social anxiety a lot! Plus I slept wonderfully. Now, on Effexor-XR 375 mg/day, I take Serzone 75 mg/day, which helps me sleep (not right away; but I get to sleep maybe an hour later, and sleep pretty soundly, and it doesn't seem to interfere with REM sleep the way Prozac, Effexor-XR, Luvox, and Zoloft do; sorry, never tried Paxil). Didn't seem to affect my appetite, and I don't feel groggy the next morning. But people are all different. Hope this helps!--Cindy W
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