Must I take Serzone for life ? Hard to taper

[BeHappy]

I am a 32 year old Male, and I have been taking 200mg a day of Serzone, for 4 and 1/2 years. I feel fine now, but every time I ever try to quit it I feel horrible. My first expereience I cut it down to 150mg a day (a 50mg reduction) by the 5th day, my eyelids twitched, flu pains, left knee pain and centers of my eyes felt as tho they were locking up. 2nd time I cut it down by about 13 mg a day, by the 6th day I felt nervous, nervous feeling in my chest and stomach area. Took it back up, felt normal. 2 weeks ago, I cut the smallest corner off, about 5mg a day, by the 4th day, insomnia, and HORRIBLE metal taste in my mouth, increased dream imaging when trying to close my eyes for sleep. Took it up, images went away, sleep returned, but metal taste lasted for 3 days. I mean I do not believe I am imagining this, this is going to be VERY hard for me to get off of. I get sick of people acting like you can chop it in 1/2 for 5 days, chop it again, I mean my Brain and body has had this religiously for 4 and 1/2 years, This stuff makes your brain and body very dependent on it. I can't tell till I reduce it, even in the smallest increments. Does anybody out there have a taper off of Serzone story to share with me, and let me know how you did it, or are doing it ? I mean the smaller the increment, the less eye pains, kneee pains etc. but I still feel like **** after about 4 days, and truly notice a change in my functioning. Any reply will be greatly appreciated. PTSD and Major Depressive episode put me on this, I aq glad I never went higher than 200mg a day. As was suggested years ago

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

You experience, and your conclusions, seem compelling about how difficult it is for you to get off of this medication. I suggest you stop trying on your own, and consult a psychopharmacologist. Since Serzone shares some specific metabolic processing with the benzodiazipine drugs (xanax, valium), you may be able to get off easier by first combining these drugs (lower doses for each), and then getting off the Serzone first.

[timtam]

Hi there,

I cannot help you with Serzone but I have the same with my surrent anti-depressant Ciprimil.  I can live  on 1/4 of a pill every 3 days but to try to stop...LOOK OUT!  I feel totally out of control so I believe that they are addictive and something I will have to take forever.
With Ciprimil I have gained lots of weight and being a model this is not good so the Dr. has changed me to Serzone.  I haven't started taking them yet but was wondering whether you had experienced any problems with weight gain and loss of libido?  I also notice that you shouldn't drink alcohol while taking Serzone also....have you found that?
I have tried to switch medication before and was completely ill so I am hoping I will be ok with Serzone.
Any advise or comments you could offer would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Tam

[BeHappy]

Hi Tam,
        I really haven't gained alot of weight, and before I got on the Serzone, I was so Depressed, I did not have much of a sex drive, but it has comeback with Serzone, not 100% tho, recently I shaved off a small corner for 7 days, and didn't feel to bad, and my libido felt alot more stronger, I felt sensations, and sexual urges thinking about my wife, that I don't feel with the 200mg a day, and the decrease in medicine was probably only 5 mg a day, but there was a increase in libido, I took it back to 200 mg a day, because my Doc says wait till spring to start reducing Serzone, don't do it in the Winter time, and my libido is back to somewhat numb, even tho I can function sexually, it just doesn't have as much feeling, and I don't think about sex that much on 200mg a day, but again HONEST when I decreased it, even in that little amount, I felt a stronger libido emerging, and more sensation. So I hope when my Doc works with me, that I taper it super slow, to avoid those nasty Discontinuation Syndrome symptoms I experienced, when I came down to fast, I went from 200mg a day, to 150 mg a day, and by the 5th day I hurt worse then I ever have, and my pupils felt so wierd and stiff. But Serzone helped me alot also, so I think it is somewhat beneficial to people also.

[Morrison]

I take serzone and have the same problem.  Its impossible.  I am down to 50mg from 300, but can not get down the rest of the way.  Symptoms are terrible and who has time to take off a few weeks from work to go crazy from withdraw?

[BeHappy]

Hi Morrison, comforting to know you are out here, and I am not alone, I think you are AWESOME just in the fact you got from 300mg to 50mg  - I will be THRILLED if I can get from 200mg to 100mg a day for starters. PLEASE reply to this again Morrison, how did you get from 300mg to 50mg ? Please tell me, and tell me how long it took you, and what size increments you cut down. What were some of your side effects, were they alleviated in smaller increments ? I believe a long withdraw plan is the safest, and may I ask How long were you on it ?
I will be so grateful for your follow-up Morrison,
                  Sincerely - BeHappy