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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by MariaU on March 30, 2001, at 17:08:20
Hello,
I have been on serzone for 3 years. My memory which used to be fabulous is very poor.
Has anybody experienced memory loss on serzone?
Thanks,
Maria
Posted by SalArmy4me on March 30, 2001, at 19:54:09
In reply to Serzone and memory loss, posted by MariaU on March 30, 2001, at 17:08:20
Are you certain that you are not just tired? or anxious? These can cloud memory.
{I have been on every antidepressant and psychotropic drug known to mankind and still have no problems with memory--as evidenced by my piano-playing recall and ability. I don't believe that psychotropics have any effect on memory.}
> Hello,
>
> I have been on serzone for 3 years. My memory which used to be fabulous is very poor.
>
> Has anybody experienced memory loss on serzone?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Maria
Posted by PuraVida on March 31, 2001, at 3:31:29
In reply to Re: Serzone and memory loss, posted by SalArmy4me on March 30, 2001, at 19:54:09
I think sometimes I may have had - I've been on for 2 years. What dosage are you on?
Posted by SalArmy4me on March 31, 2001, at 9:56:34
In reply to Re: Serzone and memory loss, posted by PuraVida on March 31, 2001, at 3:31:29
It was a while ago that I was on Serzone, but I took it once at bedtime and more than a recommended dose. Maybe you are taking it twice a day or something and the drowsiness that occurs is what you assume to be memory loss too. Do you know what I mean? {I think it can be taken once-a-day without loss of benefit}.
{Addendum: Some tricyclics have been confirmed to cause cognitive problems, but the only other psychotropic medication that I know can cause memory disturbances is topiramate.}
>
> I think sometimes I may have had - I've been on for 2 years. What dosage are you on?
Posted by MariaU on March 31, 2001, at 10:59:15
In reply to Serzone and memory loss, posted by MariaU on March 30, 2001, at 17:08:20
I am taking 3-4 mg/day depending on season. Short-term memory loss is easily explained by drowsiness or "spaciness" induced by serzone. Long-term memory loss is harder to explain.
Maria
Posted by jb on March 31, 2001, at 12:29:39
In reply to Serzone and memory loss, posted by MariaU on March 30, 2001, at 17:08:20
> Hello,
>
> I have been on serzone for 3 years. My memory which used to be fabulous is very poor.
>
> Has anybody experienced memory loss on serzone?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Maria
Hi, Maria. I assume you're referring to short-term memory loss, such as not being able to recall something someone asked you to do this morning, perhaps. Are you on Serzone monotherapy? Any augmenting benzodiazepines or other meds? I have not experienced short-term memory affect on Serzone monotherapy, but I have been particularly sensitive to this effect with benzodiazepines, notably Klonopin. From what I have read in various PubMed searches, the short-term amnesia is a common effect of most benzodiazepines. Further, there is an additional issue, contained in the PubMed article, below, about the interaction of Serzone and particular benzodiazepines, whereby the effect of particular benzodiazepines might be magnified. I would at least discussion with my psychopharmacologist the possible of similar interaction between benzodiazepines and other antidepressants. Lastly, with regard to benzodiazepines, I've seen several studies which conclude the amnestic effect is not attributable to the decreased vigilance or alertness, based upon controlled comparisons with otherwise healthy adults subjected to sleep deprivation.Oh, although the below article indicates that, in the clinical trial, patients taking Serzone monotherapy did not experience short-term memory deficits, be aware of the low sample size and other limitations, such as duration of the study, dosage, etc. I would not feel comfortable concluding from the study that Serzone does not interfere with short-term memory. The conclusion of the article, at the very bottom, seems more reasonable, to me.
John
Kroboth PD, Folan MM, Lush RM, Chaikin PC, Shukla UA, Barbhaiya R, Salazar DEDepartment of Pharmacy and Therapeutics, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA.
One hundred two healthy men were evaluated in one of three studies conducted to evaluate the coadministration of nefazodone, 200 mg twice daily, and three benzodiazepines: triazolam, 0.25 mg; alprazolam, 1 mg twice daily; or lorazepam, 2 mg twice daily. In the first study, psychomotor performance, memory, and sedation were assessed at 0, 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, and 9 hours after single doses of triazolam alone and again after 7 days of nefazodone. Data from 6 of 12 subjects in this study were evaluable because of a dosing error in the other 6 subjects. In the subsequent two parallel design studies, groups of 12 volunteers received 7 days of either placebo; nefazodone, 200 mg; alprazolam, 1 mg twice daily; or alprazolam plus nefazodone or, in the second study, either placebo; nefazodone; lorazepam, 2 mg twice daily; or lorazepam plus nefazodone; the studies were identical, double-dummy, double-blind designs. Psychomotor performance, memory, and sedation were assessed at 0, 1, 3, and 8 hours after the 8 a.m. dose on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 of the studies. In all studies, blood samples were also obtained at testing times so that effect/concentration comparisons could be made and so full pharmacokinetic analyses could be done for separate studies. Nefazodone had no effect on psychomotor performance, memory, or sedation relative to placebo in any study. The mean maximum observed effect (MaxOE) on psychomotor performance and sedation were increased when triazolam was given after 7 days of nefazodone (p < 0.05); also, triazolam concentration was 60% higher at this time. Alprazolam and lorazepam impaired performance on day 1 (mean MaxOE, 34 and 30%, respectively) relative to placebo and nefazodone. By day 7 of alprazolam or lorazepam, psychomotor impairment decreased, indicating the development of tolerance. Alprazolam plus nefazodone increased psychomotor impairment (MaxOE, approximately 50%) and sedation relative to alprazolam alone on days 3, 5, and 7 (p < 0.05). Higher alprazolam concentrations explained the increased impairment in the alprazolam plus nefazodone treatment group; however, it is also possible that there was a delay in the development of tolerance. There were no differences in psychomotor impairment, memory, sedation, or lorazepam concentration detected between the lorazepam alone and lorazepam plus nefazodone treatments. This is consistent with the absence of a pharmacokinetic interaction between nefazodone and lorazepam. These results indicate that if the coadministration of a benzodiazepine is required in patients receiving nefazodone therapy, clinically significant interactions would be less likely with those eliminated by conjugative metabolism such as lorazepam. In cases where a benzodiazepine eliminated by oxidative metabolism is required, a reduction in initial dosage and careful clinical evaluation for signs of psychomotor impairment may be appropriate.
Publication Types:
Clinical trial
Randomized controlled trial
PMID: 8830061
Posted by MariaU on April 1, 2001, at 16:24:45
In reply to Re: Serzone and memory loss, posted by MariaU on March 31, 2001, at 10:59:15
Thanks John. I am on Serzone monotherapy. Memory loss is both short- and long-term. I am an academic so this is more than bothersome.
I am reluctant to use other drugs. This physchodrugs trial'n'error is a cruel process.
Maria
This is the end of the thread.
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