Posted by Tony P on September 25, 2001, at 3:16:26
I had tried Serzone twice before as an adjunct to Wellbutrin, to overcome the insomnia and midight jiiters (see previous threads). Other people seem to find this combination OK. After a third *really* uncomfortable experiment I think I have to conclude that for whatever reason, this is a mix my body will not tolerate.
I was on Serzone for 6+ years (dosages varying from 200-500 mg p.d.). I switched to Wellbutrin ( > 1 month ago) because the Serzone seemed to be losing both its A-D and its sleep promoting qualities. Tried using the Serzone in an effort to overcome the WB-induced insomnia and hyperactivity, twice, with same highly unpleasant reaction descrived below. Both times I took the Serzone after midnight - I've sometimes noted that Serzone by itself has had a paradoxical stimulating effect for me when taken late.
So I thought, one more exeperiment, Serzone (200mg) at normal bed-time at least 5 hr. after last Wellbutrin SR 150 mg dose.Same (extremely unpleasant reaction). Burning skin, but cold extremities; paralyzing anxiety (the opposite pole to the Wellbutrin energizing effect. Measurable fever - 99.4 - 100.2 F; increased heart rate - 96 ppm resting. A general sense of malaise - like having a fever, surprise, surprise; I in fact have one.
Whether this is a form of Serotonin Syndrome I am not enough of an objective self-diagnosing clinician to be sure, although it seems to me there are many points in common. As Cam posted in response to one of my earlier posts, it *shouldn't* be SS, as Wellbutrin is a weak Serotonin agonist (and so for that matter is Serzone, compared to some of the SSRIs).
Tried taking an additional 200 mg Serzone (1 1/2 hours after 200 mg. inital dose), on the (possibly irrational) theory that whatever Serotonin or other brain chemical overload was causing my symptoms, maybe it had saturated, and an additional dsos of Serzone would have the expected calming effect.
Feeling slightly better (more like a _sleepy_ insomniac < g > with less fever) an hour and a half after the last Serzone dose, so maybe I was right, and the unpleasant interaction had saturated. Or maybe its the combined effects of the 2mg Clonazepam, 10 mg Imovane and 50 mg good old Benadryl (the burning skin suggested to me a histamine-mediated reaction), all of which (prescribed with the Wellbutin) I took to try and calm me down. Some auditory hallucinations esp. when I close my eyes - may just be typical hypnogogic effects, since I'm probably on the verge of sleep despite otherwise feeling extremely over-stim.
Well, third time proves the charm, or the anti-charm. It appears this combination is absolutely not for me, however well it may work for others.
I'm still left with the question, what am I experiencing and why? That's two of my questions, but well. It may be becoming a practical issue, since the Wellbutrin, however great I felt on it initially, didn't seem to help much with the crash-and-burn angry depression I've been experiencing in the last 24 hours or so, may've made it worse as I feel angrier on Wellbutrin than on Serzone or nothing. But that's another story.
Why me, O God(dess)??? [subtitute Higher Power of your personal choice here].
Tony p
poster:Tony P
thread:79529
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010917/msgs/79529.html