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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Janelle on October 7, 2001, at 15:39:23
Does Serzone work like Remeron in terms of a LOWER dosage being MORE sedating and the HIGHER you go, the LESS sedating it is? I have read on here and in other places that with Remeron a low dose (i.e. 15mg) is quite sedating, but as you go higher (30 mg, 45 mg) it becomes LESS sedating. Is this pattern also typical of Serzone? Thanks!
-Janelle
Posted by Blood and Fire on October 7, 2001, at 17:45:59
In reply to Question about SERZONE ..., posted by Janelle on October 7, 2001, at 15:39:23
I've never heard of that being true with Serzone. But in order for Serzone to be effective, one has to take a high dose (400-600 mg), according to the studies done on it: http://www.vh.org/Providers/Conferences/CPS/16.html
Posted by allisonm on October 7, 2001, at 19:49:04
In reply to Question about SERZONE ..., posted by Janelle on October 7, 2001, at 15:39:23
I took Remeron for about 2 years and found the higher doses were most sedation. I had to be very careful when I took 45mg doses and made sure I was home because it would make woozy, sleepy quickly, and unbalanced on my feet. I had to go to bed quickly. This never happened at 15 or 30mg.
I'm on Serzone now -- it augments Wellbutrin SR that I'm taking. Serzone is sedating, and the sedation has increased with the dose, but the sedation is nothing like Remeron. I also have found no weight gain with Serzone.
Good luck.
Allison
Posted by JohnX on October 8, 2001, at 22:11:02
In reply to Question about SERZONE ..., posted by Janelle on October 7, 2001, at 15:39:23
> Does Serzone work like Remeron in terms of a LOWER dosage being MORE sedating and the HIGHER you go, the LESS sedating it is? I have read on here and in other places that with Remeron a low dose (i.e. 15mg) is quite sedating, but as you go higher (30 mg, 45 mg) it becomes LESS sedating. Is this pattern also typical of Serzone? Thanks!
> -JanelleRemeron is sedating because it has a
unwanted side-effect of being an anti-histamine.
Serzone is sedating because it has an unwanted
action of blocking a norepinephrine receptor.Remeron has 2 primary modes of action:
5ht-2 antagonism (serotonin receptor antagonism)
alpha-2 antagonism (noradrenealine feedback antagonism).
At the higher doses, the alpha-2 antagonism increases
levels of norepinephrine in the brain and this
sometimes offsets the drowsiness caused by the
unwanted anti-histamine side effect. (you'll notice
that sleep aids have anti-histamines in them,
primarily diphenhydramine (benadryl)). Its also
possible (in my view) that once you have taken
the time to reach the high dose (45mg) that maybe
the body has adjusted to the anti-histamine and
it may just be a coincidental observation that
the drowsiness goes away at the high dose. I take
remeron to help me sleep, it doesn't sedate me during
the day. Before this, I was guzzling anti-histamines
to help me sleep, so I suspect that my body is
used to the anti-histamines and that's why Remeron
doesn't make me drowsy.Serzone is a weird cookie. The body breaks it
down into various metabolites that are psychoactive.
One metabolite blocks the 5ht-2 receptors, another
stimulates the other serotonin receptors. One of
the metabolites blocks the alpha-1 adrenoreceptor
which causes the drowsiness (caffeine stimulates
this receptor). It also is a weak reuptake inhibitor
of norepinephrine (which would be stimulating).
When I took Serzone, I just got
more drowsy at the higher dose. But, because the
drug is complex and has various metabolites running
through your system that each have their own 1/2 lifes
(the time for the body to excrete 1/2 of the med),
people can get different responses.So basically the maker of Remeron
would like to find a better version that does
not block histamine. And the maker of Serzone
would like to find a better version that doesn't
block alpha-1 receptors.Sorry if this is too technical.
good luck
John
Posted by Chloe on October 9, 2001, at 17:36:11
In reply to Re: Question about SERZONE ... » Janelle, posted by JohnX on October 8, 2001, at 22:11:02
This is the end of the thread.
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