Posted by beardedlady on April 1, 2002, at 6:15:43
Hi, Dr. Kramer:
My psychiatrist prescribed Serzone (after Ambien, Xanax, Zoloft/Xanax, Xanax/Trazodone failed), and I have been on it for three years. I now take a reduced dose of 250 mg. and will be reducing further on April 15th. (In emergencies, I take Sonata, too.) I am not depressed, but I developed a panic problem related solely to insomnia.
Right now, I sleep wonderfully (though I wake up groggy when I sleep more than eight hours). I started a Super B complex over one month ago, and I am feeling great. I have not needed a sleeping pill since I started the B vitamins! But I am worried about taking Serzone for much longer--the liver thing, you know. Some folks suggested I try SAM-e. My pdoc knows nothing about it but says it's okay to take with the Serzone.
Questions:
1.) Is it? (Okay with Serzone?)
2.) Should I wait until the day I reduce my Serzone dose to 200 mg.? (So I notice the Serzone less?)
3.) Will SAM-e, which is supposed to promote liver health, counteract the possible liver problem?
4.) Could you explain Serzone's black box, in layman's terms, so that I understand my risk (patient years is a tough one)?
5.) Will SAM-e cause problems if you discontinue use suddenly, like other anti-depressants?
6.) Know any good sleep disorder meds for someone who doesn't really have any big problems? (Sleep is really it for me, but if I don't get it, I panic the next night, and then I don't get it again. And then I get depressed.) I don't want sexual side effects or weight gain, of course.Phew. That's a lot. Thanks in advance.
bearded lady : )>
poster:beardedlady
thread:101243
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020327/msgs/101243.html