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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 RedAli on January 1, 2001, at 22:25:44
I was on Serzone for over a month - and the side effects were tooooo much for me to handle. I was warned of: constipation - had diarrhea, sleepiness - could not sleep, decreased sexual side effects - still had no desire, I was so confused all the time I could not function, and the depression was no better. I do have a question: has anyone else had or ever heard of neurological problems resulting from serzone use? After starting serzone I started having 'flashes', or a sensation that the room was spinning around me (while sitting still). It was kind of like a surprised or a shocked feeling - just out of the blue. I have been off the serzone completely for a few weeks, and although these flashes have lessened, I continue to have them repeatedly every day. I wonder if the serzone has done some kind of damage.
(BTW - my NURSE PRACTITIONER - no p-doc as I have Kaiser Permanente and I don't think my treatment for depression can wait 2-3 months to see a p-doc, feels that these 'flashes' are anxiety attacks - even though I have NEVER had an anxiety attack in my life and they didn't start until after the serzone - just thought I'd mention this)
Posted by r.anne on January 1, 2001, at 23:05:46
In reply to SERZONE - Neurological Side Effects???, posted by RedAli on January 1, 2001, at 22:25:44
I have had those flashes, too, and never heard anyone else mention them. They were very scary and hard to describe but the shocked feeling and dizziness were there. When I quit certain antidepressants it went away. I agree with you because my anxiety feels different than that unless that's a very intense anxiety sort of shocker. The drugs can cause some anxiety too I hear.
Posted by Noa on January 2, 2001, at 7:29:00
In reply to Re: SERZONE - Neurological Side Effects???, posted by r.anne on January 1, 2001, at 23:05:46
I didn't have them, but anything is possible. We each have different reactions to meds.
I suppose it could have been anxiety attacks, perhaps triggered by the unexpected sensations caused by the meds, or it could have been a direct effect of the meds, too.
Each of us responds differently. Often there are patterns, but often, we don't have the reactions that have been listed but that doesn't mean that our reactions are not real.
I hope your medical providers will keep an open mind about that and not conclude that their hypothesis is the only plausible one.
Posted by Joy on January 2, 2001, at 9:09:05
In reply to SERZONE - Neurological Side Effects???, posted by RedAli on January 1, 2001, at 22:25:44
I had terrible crying jags on Serzone all the time after the first couple of weeks. I only stayed on 4 weeks, but I did not like that med at all. I hope you feel better.
Joy
I was on Serzone for over a month - and the side effects were tooooo much for me to handle. I was warned of: constipation - had diarrhea, sleepiness - could not sleep, decreased sexual side effects - still had no desire, I was so confused all the time I could not function, and the depression was no better. I do have a question: has anyone else had or ever heard of neurological problems resulting from serzone use? After starting serzone I started having 'flashes', or a sensation that the room was spinning around me (while sitting still). It was kind of like a surprised or a shocked feeling - just out of the blue. I have been off the serzone completely for a few weeks, and although these flashes have lessened, I continue to have them repeatedly every day. I wonder if the serzone has done some kind of damage.
> (BTW - my NURSE PRACTITIONER - no p-doc as I have Kaiser Permanente and I don't think my treatment for depression can wait 2-3 months to see a p-doc, feels that these 'flashes' are anxiety attacks - even though I have NEVER had an anxiety attack in my life and they didn't start until after the serzone - just thought I'd mention this)
Posted by Noa on January 2, 2001, at 10:47:17
In reply to Re: SERZONE - Neurological Side Effects???, posted by Joy on January 2, 2001, at 9:09:05
> I had terrible crying jags on Serzone all the time after the first couple of weeks. I only stayed on 4 weeks, but I did not like that med at all. I hope you feel better.
> Joy
I had crying jags too, for about 3-4 weeks, but then they ended, as did the other initial adverse effects (zombi-ism, balance and coordination problems, etc.). I have now been taking Serzone for about a year and a half, in combo with Effexor, Adderall, and Thyroid meds, and the adverse effects I had initially are long gone (they lasted about 4 weeks).
Posted by RedAli on January 2, 2001, at 19:45:43
In reply to Re: SERZONE - Neurological Side Effects???, posted by r.anne on January 1, 2001, at 23:05:46
You are the 2nd person (other than myself) to mention these 'flashes' - it's good to hear that yours have stopped - gives me some hope. Thanks
Posted by MB on January 3, 2001, at 23:45:41
In reply to SERZONE - Neurological Side Effects???, posted by RedAli on January 1, 2001, at 22:25:44
You didn't, by any chance, switch to Serzone from an SSRI, did you? If so, the sensations you are describing might be from *comming off* of the SSRI, and not from the Serzone. The flashes you describe sound exactly like what I've experienced withdrawing from SSRIs: "brain shivers," "electric shock-like" sensations in the head, etc.
Posted by r.anne on January 11, 2001, at 23:34:02
In reply to Re: Thank you, posted by RedAli on January 2, 2001, at 19:45:43
> You are the 2nd person (other than myself) to mention these 'flashes' - it's good to hear that yours have stopped - gives me some hope. Thanks
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
You're welcome. It's so nice to get a thank you sometimes! Those flashes were really scaring me so I know what you're going through. I still don't know what that was but I also felt something with my heart at the same time.
Posted by r.anne on January 11, 2001, at 23:36:16
In reply to Re: SERZONE - Neurological Side Effects???, posted by MB on January 3, 2001, at 23:45:41
> You didn't, by any chance, switch to Serzone from an SSRI, did you? If so, the sensations you are describing might be from *comming off* of the SSRI, and not from the Serzone. The flashes you describe sound exactly like what I've experienced withdrawing from SSRIs: "brain shivers," "electric shock-like" sensations in the head, etc.
****
No, I hadn't tried SSRI's yet at that time. I was on imipramine and went on another tricyclic. I think serzone, though, is an ssri if I'm not wrong.
This is the end of the thread.
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