Posted by Sunnely on December 6, 2000, at 18:39:21
In reply to ????---Serzone + Klonopin, posted by Nic on December 4, 2000, at 10:54:59
> I have been on Serzone for about 5 months now and seems to be working fairly well. Had also been taking Ativan also to help with my anxiety and panicv attacks.
>
> Currently my Pdoc has me on 600mg of Serzone and 2mg of Klonopin a day.
>
> I asked him to take me off the Ativan, because it was affecting my memory. I'm hoping the Klonopin won't have the same effect. The Serzone seems to be making me a little lethargic, and when I first get up in the morning, my vision is really weird. He insist that to get the full benefit of Serzone I need to be on 600 mg.
>
> Was wanting some advice for those who have been on this combo (doses, etc.). Or if other combos work better for them for bipolar and severe panic and anxiety attacks.
>
> Thank You so very much in advance.
>
> Nic+++++++++++++++++++++++
Hi Nic,
A drug-drug interaction may be involved between Serzone (nefazodone) and Klonopin (clonazepam). I believe Klonopin is metabolized by a liver enzyme (called CYP3A4), while Serzone markedly inhibits this liver enzyme. This can cause an increase in the blood level of Klonopin. In effect, you may be getting the effect of as much as 50% more than your current dose of Klonopin. Since Serzone is already a sedating antidepressant, there is an additive sedating effect provided by Klonopin. If you are also taking Ativan on a prn (as needed) basis, this will add further to the sedation.
I am not sure what you meant by your "vision being weird." One visual disturbance commonly reported with Serzone is called "palinopsia" (seeing again), better known as "ghost trails" or "ghost shadows." This is a dose-related phenomenon, i.e., the higher the dose the more it tends to occur. Incidentally, this phenomenon has also been reported with the use of Desyrel (trazodone), a drug with some structural similarity to Serzone.
poster:Sunnely
thread:49893
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20001130/msgs/50081.html