![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 32. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Nefazodone Man on August 20, 2007, at 17:47:30
Dear people, I am now on my 10th year of Nefazodone Therapy for PTSD and Clinical Depression - My wife works in a Pharmacy in our city, and I am the ONLY guy on it. I mean it works, and thank the LORD my liver is still fine after 10 years on it - But I am getting worried, as I feel like I am the ONLY one taking it, or one of about 10 people left taking it. I called TEVA the other day and they said they have NO PLANS to stop making it. I have always taken 200mg a day. I don't switch cause the withdrawl for me is BRUTAL, I do not feel I can handle it. Anybody else on this Medicine NEFAZODONE, formerly known Brand Name SERZONE - Please share some stories with me. Thanks - Nefazodone Man
Posted by olysi79 on August 20, 2007, at 18:22:13
In reply to Am I the only one left taking NEFAZODONE ???, posted by Nefazodone Man on August 20, 2007, at 17:47:30
hey there... don't worry about it!... You've been on it 10 years, it works for you, and trust me.. you're not the only one on it! Many people still take it, and it works well for them. You should be safe my friend
:)
Posted by Maxime on August 21, 2007, at 17:53:44
In reply to Am I the only one left taking NEFAZODONE ???, posted by Nefazodone Man on August 20, 2007, at 17:47:30
Serzone was taken off the market in Canada ... not sure about the US.
Glad you have something that works for you!
Maxime
Posted by Phillipa on August 23, 2007, at 11:51:20
In reply to Re: Am I the only one left taking NEFAZODONE ??? » Nefazodone Man, posted by Maxime on August 21, 2007, at 17:53:44
Still in the USA generic only. I was prescribed it but my liver enzymes were off at the time or rather just returned to normal so I didn't continue seemed like a pretty good med though. So just get your enymes checked and you should be fine. I may go on it again as more time has passed. More normal. Phillipa
Posted by Nefazodone Man on August 23, 2007, at 12:16:05
In reply to Re: Am I the only one left taking NEFAZODONE ???, posted by Phillipa on August 23, 2007, at 11:51:20
Hello, I have been on it 10 years, it is EXCELLENT for Anxiety and Sleep, if you can get thrught the side effects of the 1st few weeks till your body adjusts to it. FOR THE RECORD Brand name was voluntarily withdrawn, GENERIC still available - FDA
currently has no plans to take action on it as they feel depression is a SERIOUS illness, and all available meds should be available to help an individual - For me its NEFAZODONE last 10 years - So far my Liver Enzymes are ok - They say if your liver Enzymes go 2 to 3 time the Upper Limit of normal you should discontinue - 2 to 3 tims, not a few points - I am glad this Med is here for me, as it is the ONLY one that helped me in my case
And ONLY 200mg Daily for 10 years -
Nefazodone Man
Posted by Phillipa on August 23, 2007, at 12:20:55
In reply to Re: Am I the only one left taking NEFAZODONE ???, posted by Nefazodone Man on August 23, 2007, at 12:16:05
What was your starting dose and did it make your tired? All the SSRI's wire me. Most get tired not me don't know why. Phillipa
Posted by brooke484 on August 23, 2007, at 19:37:51
In reply to Am I the only one left taking NEFAZODONE ???, posted by Nefazodone Man on August 20, 2007, at 17:47:30
I took it about 6 months ago and it worked great. Totally stopped my panic and I didn't have any side effects. Unfortunately it didn't get rid of my derealization so it was on to something else. Glad you found something that works for you.
Posted by Phillipa on August 23, 2007, at 19:54:43
In reply to Re: Am I the only one left taking NEFAZODONE ???, posted by Nefazodone Man on August 23, 2007, at 12:16:05
Excellent that it works so well for you. The liver enzyme issue and it's European and Canadian ban scared me off but no side effects started on low dose and still have a full bottle may visit that route again isn't it a lot like an antihistamine? Phillipa
Posted by Jimmyboy on August 24, 2007, at 9:48:12
In reply to Re: Am I the only one left taking NEFAZODONE ???, posted by Nefazodone Man on August 23, 2007, at 12:16:05
Hi Nefazodoneman,
I took Nefazodone for a very long time, from the time it first came out in 1995 until about 2004 when they pulled the brand name Serzone off the US market. It did not bring me remission, but definitely allowed me to function at a pretty high level.My question to you is: How hepful do you feel it is for anxiety?
i ask this b/c I have found other combos that have probably been more helpful for the depression, but I have started having worse anxiety and panic attacks, which I neve had while taking Nefazodone. Thanks for the comments, I am seriously considering starting back on it.
JB
Posted by Nefazodone Man on August 24, 2007, at 10:31:18
In reply to Re: Am I the only one left taking NEFAZODONE ??? » Nefazodone Man, posted by Jimmyboy on August 24, 2007, at 9:48:12
Phillipa, I took 50MG TWO times a day to start for 1 week, then bumped it up to 75mg twice daily for 1 more week, then FINALLY 100mg twice daily for the last 10 years - My Depression was vegatative, and horrific, I lost 60 pounds, and must of slept 1 hour in 3 months and tried all kinds of Meds, then SERZONE which is NEFAZODONE worked for me, it was the ONLY Med I repsponded to in such a positive way. No that might not be for everyone, but I responded so well I only ever had to take 200mg whci is really not a high dose as you can go to 600mg a day. I was to take it 12 Hours apart, but I slept better taking 2nd dose earlier, so my regimen has been 11:00am and 5:00pm 6 hours apart for 10 years. My liver tests have all been fine so far, hope they always are. Best Wishes - Nefazodone Man
Posted by Nefazodone Man on August 24, 2007, at 10:41:23
In reply to Re: Am I the only one left taking NEFAZODONE ??? » Nefazodone Man, posted by Jimmyboy on August 24, 2007, at 9:48:12
Hi Jimmyboy,
In all HONESTY besides the Vegatative Depression I had, the Anxiety was accute, when the Depression hit me, I thought I had a stroke, my left arm felt like it had 200,000 volts going up and down it. NEFAZODONE for me acted as a DUAL agent, it lifted my depression, and restored my sleep gradually over time like no other medicine did. But the BONUS I got was the Panic Attacks have all but been eliminated on this 200mg a day. In the last 10 years I have had maybe 2 or 3 Pretty Bad Panic Attacks. But they were short lived, I recognized them and how to roll with them, overall I give Nefazodone an A+ for squashing Anxiety, and I heard that from alot of current users and former users that it was VERY EFFECTIVE for Panic Attacks. I mean I am not in complete remission, I do not know that anyone that suffered a Major Deprssion like me can ever be in complete remission but I have been pretty darn good, and I do not have those fearful feelings traveling out of town, or the diahrea traveling, or the Light Headedness in Stores, etc. you know the feelings. DEPRESSIION IS CRIPPLING, SO IS ANXIETY - I HAD BOTH - 200mg a day keeps them under check. Best wishes and keep us updated. I mean SERZONE the Brand Name was voluntarily removed, not forced to be removed by the FDA - I take TEVA Nefazodone and it works just s good, if not better then the Brand Name, no difference in my experience. My Anxiety is a BEAST that is currently tamed, and as long as my liver holds up I believe this is the right med for me to tame it. Sincerely - Nefazodone Man ! ; )
Posted by Jimmyboy on August 24, 2007, at 12:53:21
In reply to Re: For JIMMYBOY about Anxiety and Nefazodone, posted by Nefazodone Man on August 24, 2007, at 10:41:23
Thanks for the quick response,
Like I said, I am a huge fan of Nefazodone. Now that I think of it, during the 9 years I took it I never once had a full blown panic attack like I do now. These are something totally new and they are terrible, very crippling.I have a few bottles of Nefazodone at my parents house and I am visiting next week. I think i am going to start back. The only side effects I had from taking it was that it cured my insomnia 100%. Even after I quit taking it my lifelong insomnia has all but vansihed.
Also, I have had many liver function tests done
over the years and all have been fine. I believe this drug got a bad rap and a lot of people who could be helped by it are scared off by the black box warning and the fact that its sometimes very hard to get. ( None of the pharmacies in my community have it- I had to order it online)Best of luck
JB
Thanks againJB
Posted by Jimmyboy on August 24, 2007, at 13:44:27
In reply to About Anxiety and Nefazodone, posted by Jimmyboy on August 24, 2007, at 12:53:21
Nefaz Man -
I looked up "Nefazodone+anxiety" on Google scholar and apparently there have been many studies done, mostly in the late 90's that show that it is indeed very helpful for several types of anxiety and panic attacks, etc. How long do you beleive it takes to get this effect? I know for depression it takes 3-4 weeks, but it seems like the anti-anxiety effects would come on much sooner. Any thoughts would be apppreciatedJB
Posted by Phillipa on August 24, 2007, at 19:43:09
In reply to Re: For PHILLIPA about Nefazodone, posted by Nefazodone Man on August 24, 2007, at 10:31:18
Thanks so much for the info sounds like it is very good for sleep and anxiety. I'm sure the dose I took was much lower. So it can go as high as 600mg and no sleepiness during the day. Fantastic. Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on August 24, 2007, at 19:57:57
In reply to Re: About Anxiety and Nefazodone, posted by Jimmyboy on August 24, 2007, at 13:44:27
Jimmyboy found my bottle and was prescribed start at 50mg and titrate up to 200mg at night. Unfortunately I was scared off the med and stopped at 50mg. Phillipa
Posted by Darwin on August 25, 2007, at 19:42:50
In reply to Am I the only one left taking NEFAZODONE ???, posted by Nefazodone Man on August 20, 2007, at 17:47:30
Nefazodone is the only medication which completely relieved my dysthymia. The relief came quickly ... within a few days of starting. Unfortunately, it only lasted a month before I started experiencing persistent fatigue. I tried stopping and restarting but I was never able to achieve the relief I experienced during the first month of treatment.
Posted by Phillipa on August 25, 2007, at 21:54:35
In reply to Re: Am I the only one left taking NEFAZODONE ???, posted by Darwin on August 25, 2007, at 19:42:50
Darwin how high was your dose? Any side effects? Did you up the dose to try and achieve it's good effects again? What do you take now? Thanks Phillipa
Posted by Darwin on August 27, 2007, at 21:47:50
In reply to Re: Am I the only one left taking NEFAZODONE ??? » Darwin, posted by Phillipa on August 25, 2007, at 21:54:35
> Darwin how high was your dose? Any side effects? Did you up the dose to try and achieve it's good effects again? What do you take now? Thanks Phillipa
Phillipa, it's been many years since I took nefazodone and I don't recall what dosage I took. When nefazodone quit working for me, I tried adjusting the dosage up and down to no avail. The primary side effect was a persistent intense fatigue which ultimately forced me to quit Nefazadone. Now I take amitriptyline which helps a little but not to the extent that Nefazodone did during the first month I took it.
Good luck,
Darwin
Posted by Phillipa on August 27, 2007, at 21:53:58
In reply to Re: Am I the only one left taking NEFAZODONE ???, posted by Darwin on August 27, 2007, at 21:47:50
Oh drat!!!! I was hoping you'd say something wonderful. Phillipa
Posted by Jimmyboy on August 28, 2007, at 12:25:17
In reply to Re: Am I the only one left taking NEFAZODONE ??? » Darwin, posted by Phillipa on August 27, 2007, at 21:53:58
I mentioned this in a previous post, but wanted to ask again to see if anyone had any input.. Does the help with anxiety take the standard 3-4 weeks to start working like the antidepressant effects?
I would think that aspect of the medicine would start working much sooner, any thoughts on that? Thanks
JB
Posted by brooke484 on August 28, 2007, at 12:49:44
In reply to NEFAZODONE - anxiety relief, posted by Jimmyboy on August 28, 2007, at 12:25:17
I noticed relief in 1-2 days after starting. My panic stopped.
Posted by Phillipa on August 28, 2007, at 19:49:07
In reply to Re: NEFAZODONE - anxiety relief, posted by brooke484 on August 28, 2007, at 12:49:44
Seriously were you on any benzos at the time. Thanks for the positive response. Phillipa
Posted by brooke484 on August 28, 2007, at 20:46:27
In reply to Re: NEFAZODONE - anxiety relief » brooke484, posted by Phillipa on August 28, 2007, at 19:49:07
No, I wasn't taking anything else. It worked really great, but it did not help with my main symptom which is derealization.
Posted by Phillipa on August 28, 2007, at 21:46:50
In reply to phillipa, posted by brooke484 on August 28, 2007, at 20:46:27
Brooke what has helped you with that? Phillipa
Posted by Jimmyboy on August 29, 2007, at 11:12:33
In reply to Re: Am I the only one left taking NEFAZODONE ??? » Darwin, posted by Phillipa on August 27, 2007, at 21:53:58
Anyone know how long it usually takes for your body to adjust to taking Nefazodone?> I took my first dose last night and passed out cold and slept hard for 10 hours.. I used to take it but can't remember how long it takes to get used to it.
Thanks
JB
Go forward in thread:
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.