Posted by noa on May 21, 2003, at 4:14:10
In reply to Re: Effexor and serzone together, posted by Luka on May 20, 2003, at 22:35:18
> Do you have experience taking just one or the other alone ?
Yes, I took Effexor for a few years before adding Serzone.
> If so, what effects are there with both, which you do not have with just one or the other ?
>
> Any side effects made worse ? Any good effects made better ?The reason I started the Serzone is because I needed a higher level of AD effect but couldn't tolerate higher doses of Effexor because of SEs such as myoclonus, sweating, insomnia, agitation, headache, bladder problems, word-retrieval problems, etc. etc. I had been taking a small dose of trazadone for help sleeping (ie, counteracting the insomnia from the effexor), but it was working less effectively. The pdoc suggested that I discontinue trazodone and introduce Serzone, both for the insomnia and the AD effect.
The Serzone did add more AD effect, and quieted the myoclonus, and helped with sleep. I find it quite sedating, so I take it at night. It is worn off by morning. Being able to lower the effexor dose helped with the other SE's. The only one that still really bothers me is the bladder problems, although since I lowered the effexor recently to 225 from 262.5, this is a bit better.
I started with a higher effexor: serzone ratio, but gradually increased the Serzone and decreased the Effexor because of the Effexor SE's. I was on the 500:262.5 doses for a few years, until recently lowering the Effexor to 225.
Serzone has initiation SEs that some people find rough. For me, it was grogginess, balance problems, and emotional lability. But these faded within about 2 to 3 weeks. For me, I am very glad I stuck through the initial SE's, because Serzone has helped a lot.
My understanding is that Serzone blocks the serotonin from activating the postsynaptic 5HT2-A receptors, which, at least in part, account for the muscle twitches (myoclonus) and muscle tension. The Serzone has made the myoclonus nearly non-existent, save for the occasional twitch which I think is no more than what the average person has. But I still have akithisia, though not as bad as before, which is experienced at night as restless legs. For that I take a very small dose of ativan.
poster:noa
thread:227822
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030520/msgs/228038.html