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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Tony C. on August 1, 2004, at 16:31:23
Tony C. Here, I am on 200mg Daily of Serzone last 7 years. HOW DO I CONVINCE MY DOCTOR I WANT OFF NO MORE THAN 10MG A MONTH FOR 20 MONTHS ? I am about at the end of the rope, and getting mentally exhausted cause of all of this SERZONE Bull Crap. I got down to 180mg over 21 days BUT I went back cause it is to hard to file the 100mg tablets, I need the Doc to give me the 50mg tablets. I also was told by SEVERAL people to please do it under a Docs supervision. NOW it is almost time to see Doc, and he told me before I will need 200mg a day for rest of life, (Is he sure ? I had PTSD and Depression from a Flood, does that constititute a lifetime of Serzone ?) but as we all know SERZONE is pulled, and only the GENERIC Nefazodone is all thats available, and for HOW much longer ? Serzone was great for me, BUT it is addicting, and a DANGEROUS med to get off of to fast, it has a short half life, almost like Effexor. I mean HONESTLY 2 weeks ago, I missed my afternoon 100mg tablet, 3 hours later I felt flat and out of it, that night vicious dreaming every 30minutes to 1 hour with a vivid dream that made my brain feel like it was jumping in my skull, I knew that morning it meant I missed a whole 100mg tablet, sure enough I checked my pill box and there was the Serzone for the afternoon dose the day before. People I got a family to take care of I am the ONLY source of income, I cannot cut this stuff down 25 to 50mg a day for 2 weeks and then again for 2 weeks. I don't care if it take me 2 years, I want off of this medicine SAFELY, and COMFORTABLY - I mean I know people that went from 600mg a day to 500 for a week, then 400 but going from 600 to 500 you still have 500mg backing you up going from 200 to 150 or 100 is to big a leap. I AM READY TO SCREAM !!! Someone please present to me what they think a safe long approach would be to get me off of this safely and help me not shock my brain or system. Please give me a plan that I like, so I can discuss it with my Doctor. He will never go for 10mg a month, he will give me a lecture how they ct it down 25 to 50 a week or halve it every 2 weeks. Oh my I am getting so depressed over this whole freakin thing.
; ( Tony C.
Posted by cherylann on August 2, 2004, at 10:17:46
In reply to HELP !!! I can't take it much longer HELP !!!, posted by Tony C. on August 1, 2004, at 16:31:23
I don't know much about serzone or your situation, but if you want to taper slowly it seems like your doc should accomodate you.
But, if the med is working, and it seems like it is except when you miss a dose, why quit? Just a thought.
Perhaps a new doc is in order?
Best Wishes,
cherylann
Posted by Sebastian on August 2, 2004, at 11:56:23
In reply to Re: HELP !!! I can't take it much longer HELP !!!, posted by cherylann on August 2, 2004, at 10:17:46
Did you say they are taking sezone off the market? That sucks. Maybe you can find a powerfull sedative to mask the withdraw.
Posted by Tony C. on August 2, 2004, at 16:07:29
In reply to Re: HELP !!! I can't take it much longer HELP !!!, posted by Sebastian on August 2, 2004, at 11:56:23
Serzone is OFF the market voluntarily, FDA said in Nov. 2003 they will NOT join Canada and the rest of the world in banning it, cause liver damage is very remote - SO there are 8 companies making the Generic Serzone called ---> NEFAZODONE
It works just as good for me as the Serzone did, and it is alot cheaper $$$ also
I want a Doc to help me, keep givin me advice people PLEASE
Tony C.
Posted by Sebastian on August 2, 2004, at 19:07:10
In reply to Re: (SEBASTIAN) HELP !!!, posted by Tony C. on August 2, 2004, at 16:07:29
Write a letter to the companies, asking if they will keep on going with the meds, and how important they are to you. Phone might be better, email, all of the above. Second, stock up on pills while you can, if you can, cut them, get the strongest, 3 month supply. Then try every med that you can till you find one that is worthy of replacement, as a back up plan.
When I was trying to come off of zyprexa which I have taken almost as long as you on serzone. I cut the pills acording to a half-life chart I made on excel, so the withdraw was most minimal. It worked untill I was almost off it, the part that didn't work was when I had to go back to the doctor(3 months in), I got panic/anxiety about explaining it to the doc and what if I could not take it anymore after I tell him. So I went and told the doc and he wanted the dose up. The difference was my want to come off it, other times failed, but I said to myself it could work (posibly) if I were to cu the pills to the most minimal change and what ever I thought was posible. Long story short I cut a 1/4 off my dose after 6 years. Still a little getting use to it. I didn't realize how dependant I was. So, stock up, hold on to them till your can't get more(rotate), practice cut the dose, what ever is the smallest you can take and try to get the dose lower, incase and so you are more adapt when the crunch comes down. My doctor had wanted me off the zyprexa 2 years ago, so I felt like I had to and I horded extra pills, after many atempts ofcorse, where i lost my mind.
Posted by Tony C. on August 2, 2004, at 23:29:43
In reply to Re: (SEBASTIAN) HELP !!!, posted by Sebastian on August 2, 2004, at 19:07:10
Geez, you told me you LOST YOUR MIND ?
That does not comfort me ; (
Posted by woolav on August 3, 2004, at 8:46:41
In reply to Re: (SEBASTIAN) PART 2 HELP !!!, posted by Tony C. on August 2, 2004, at 23:29:43
Hi Tony, I was on serzone for a while and did like it, but my pdoc advised me to get off it even b4 the fda pulled it. Because of possible liver problems. So, she put on me on celexa. And that workded good for me for about 6 months or so and then pooped out. But thats just how I am. So, you may want to look into Celexa.
Thanks
S
Posted by Sebastian on August 3, 2004, at 19:05:26
In reply to Re: (SEBASTIAN) PART 2 HELP !!!, posted by woolav on August 3, 2004, at 8:46:41
I take celexa too. If I stop that I get depressed and think too fast. Stop the zyprexa, and I get anxiety, panic, can't eat, can't sleep, and I think too fast. I get overwhelmed by thought, with out meds. Maybe just any med can help. I've been cut down now on zyprexa for a year now, and my thoughts are finaly getting back to normal.
Posted by Shadowplayers721 on August 3, 2004, at 20:15:11
In reply to Re: (SEBASTIAN) PART 2 HELP !!!, posted by Tony C. on August 2, 2004, at 23:29:43
Tony,
Can you take an SSRI like Prozac to get off of the Serzone? Prozac makes getting off the other antidepressants not as difficult due to the long half life.
This is the end of the thread.
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