Posted by Tony P on September 2, 2001, at 22:13:00
In reply to Re: What helps Panic Attacks/Depression BEST?, posted by Kathleen6674 on September 2, 2001, at 14:15:23
I just wanted to offer an experience to balance Kathleen's bad time on Serzone.
I agree the drowsiness from Serzone can be hard to take at first, but it does mostly go away, only very slowly. I got my Dr. to let me start at just 50mg in the day, then work up gradually from there. In the end, I took my whole daily dose at bedtime (200-400 mg. depending mostly on season).
From what I've read and experienced, for most people Serzone has about the least (& fewest) side-effects of any A/D. The drowsiness is the worst. It does seem like for every medication, there's someone for whom it's the Drug From Hell - Remeron was mine.
YMMV,
Tony P
> > I been getting advice that Buspar and Serzone is a good combination. Anybody agree? Ps... I am very sensitive to side effects!
>
> I had HORRIBLE side effects on Serzone, and I didn't find it worked much, if at all, as an antidepressant - I think the only reason it kept me from offing myself was that it made me too sluggish to even lift myself out of bed most days.
>
> Seriously, you may be different, but of all the meds I've tried, I'd say that Serzone is the worst, both in terms of not being much of an anti-d, and in terms of side effects (slept 14-16 hours a day and was still tired; was always on the verge of tears; BAD leg cramps while walking, sleeping, or attempting to exercise; severe muscle weakness (i.e., couldn't ride a bike it was too taxing); fever-type symptoms if I missed a dose or increased the dose.
>
> Pretty much, if anyone asks me about Serzone, I tell them to stay far, far away. I'm an anxious type myself, and my doc thought that maybe the sedating effects of the med would offset that - well, I certainly was calmer, if you have a taste for understatement - I seemed extremely mellow because I was a total zombie! I ended up quitting my job because I couldn't work on the stuff - I couldn't stay awake long enough on the stuff without crying at my desk. Just a bad, bad experience.
>
> I don't know what I'd recommend - perhaps trying the BuSpar, since your doctor already prescribed it, although I've read some iffy stuff about it, too.
>
> Maybe talk to another doctor??? Or tell your doctor you need to hurry, just like you told us?
>
> Sorry I don't know too much about other meds.
poster:Tony P
thread:77417
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010902/msgs/77476.html