Nefazodone and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• May 1, 2021

For Depression "I have been taking nefazodone for 20 years. When my psychiatrist told me a few years ago only one company made it, I started putting back as much as I could. I was prescribed 3 a day but would skip one and put back ever so often. The fear of not having it and withdrawals from a drug again was too much for me to handle. The time is here. No more nefazodone being made. I have tapered down to 100 mg, but my blood pressure goes sky-high at night. I’m a heart patient, and I am so concerned. I’m not sure if it’s an anxiety attack or if it’s something else. I wake up with it in the middle of the night. I feel doomed. The doctor suggests trazodone for replacement, but I’m not sure if it will help. I just can’t believe this is happening. I’m afraid I’m going to have a stroke or heart attack during the night. Hope nobody else is going through this. Praying for everyone having a hard time."

• PW_...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 15, 2019

Nefazodone "I started experiencing anxiety and panic attacks in graduate school at age 22 and was diagnosed with hypochondriasis and agoraphobia a few years later. For 20+ years thereafter, I tried more than two dozen medications, including benzodiazepines, tricyclics, MAOIs, and SSRIs, all with no success. At age 48, my new psychiatrist recommended that I try Serzone (nefazodone) along with a small dose (1 mg at bedtime) of Klonopin (clonazepam). This combination worked tremendously. I have taken both medications continuously for 25 years (I'm 67 now), and I haven't suffered a panic attack or from hypochondriasis or agoraphobia since 1995. I take 200 mg of nefazodone per day (at bedtime)."

• Nic...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 29, 2021

For Depression "I have been taking nefazodone for 20 years. I was a mess before finding this drug. I suffered from debilitating anxiety and depression. I am now unable to get the drug and was forced to switch to another. My doctor prescribed Viibryd because it is comparable to nefazodone. Not. I have only been on it for about a week. This drug causes anxiety at first and then is supposed to taper off. We will see. My anxiety couldn’t be worse. I have now been given an additional drug to sleep. The sad thing here is nefazodone did the work of both drugs. I hope it comes back. I will switch back in a heartbeat. If anybody has found a comparable that works, please post. Thanks."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 18, 2021

For Depression "I am having an awful time, without this nothing works, one month out and I'm anxious, dizzy, having sick spells, and am afraid. I have stroke-like withdrawal symptoms. My world has been turned upside down. Two months ago, I graduated, got a job in my new field, then bam no meds. And I'm afraid I may lose everything I achieved because now I can't even drive my car because of stroke-like panic attacks. Been on this med since 1997, and doing great as a mom, student, grandmother, and sole person of my family."

• Bea...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 11, 2021

For Anxiety "I was on Nefazodone for 26 years after trying several other antidepressants that had side effects. It had no side effects and made me feel like myself again. Now that it has been unavailable for almost a year, I have had to go off of it while starting Trazodone. I have been off of Nefazodone for a month and on Trazodone for 2 months. I am anxious, depressed, scared, and cry every day. I am hoping the Trazodone will start working since it is the closest thing to Nefazodone. I have been going up in 25 mg increments since starting it. I don't want to have to try something else. I am outraged at Teva. Apparently, they don't care about us. I believe that Nefazodone is or was used by so few people that it wasn't worth their while to make it. Back in April, I tried calling and writing Teva and the FDA and got nowhere. I am praying it will be made again, but I don't know how difficult it would be to transition back."

• tin...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 12, 2021

For Depression "Tried 7 different medications before going on this one. Been on it for 20 years. I don't suffer anymore, and this medicine has been a Godsend. I hope it comes back soon. I realize there is a drug shortage on this medicine, so I cut it in half to save as much as I can. My anxiety, depression, and bad mood came back like a monster, like it did 20 years ago. Please, Teva, hurry and bring this back so the ones like me don't run out."

• Ron...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 25, 2022

For Anxiety "This medication literally saved my life. It is unlike all other antidepressants. The other antidepressants I tried, and there were many of them, actually increased my anxiety. I would wake up with fear, terrible fear each morning after another sleepless night, and it just got worse from there. This r/x might not work for you, we do not share the same body chemistry, but I assure you, if it does, you'll want to live again."

• Jac...
• June 8, 2023

For Anxiety "I have taken this drug for many years. I’ve tried many others before, and all they did was cause dizziness or more anxiety for me. When they took this off the market, I struggled to live my life normally. I have not been the same! When I found out that they were manufacturing it again, I was so relieved! I just had my doctor fill it for me, and I am a happy camper. I had agoraphobia for 7 years before they put me on nefazodone. I can’t begin to tell you what I went through with two young children to take care of. But I found a self-help group, and this medication saved my life!"

• Bir...
• August 9, 2021

For Panic Disorder "They need to figure something out. Hey, Teva, there are people suffering badly. The withdrawals are horrible. Been on nefazodone 20 years, what a lifesaver, now back to severe anxiety and panic. Bring back nefazodone."

• Bir...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 22, 2021

For Panic Disorder "I rely on this. It made such a positive impact on my life, too. It took away my anxiety. Now, hearing there's no more and a shortage, I've been cutting my doses in half and back to severe depression and massive anxiety."

• Che...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 15, 2022

For Anxiety "I took nefazodone along with bupropion SR from 2000 until 2020. In December 2020, my pharmacy told me they would not be able to fill it anymore. I was given no warning from the pharmacy or my doctor this would happen. I had to taper off quickly. During 2021, I continued taking bupropion SR but had severe anxiety that worsened as the year progressed. I found out at the end of December 2021 that it would be available again. I was able to refill it with a local private pharmacy within days. I am now gradually tapering back up to my full dose. My doctor is monitoring my liver enzymes every few weeks just to be safe. Nefazodone is the only drug that works for my anxiety. I am unable to take SSRIs or any other psych meds besides nefazodone and bupropion SR. I have a prolactinoma, which causes lactation when I have tried any other psych meds. Please note: Nefazodone is available in the US again. Many large chain pharmacies have issues with their suppliers, but this should be temporary."

• Res...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 27, 2016

For Anxiety "I took my first dose of nefazodone this morning at about 10:30 for anxiety. I went about it being hopeful because I read all the positive things about this drug on this website, and I have to say it is not worth it. I got 60 pills yesterday and thought I would take as prescribed by my physician 100 mg twice a day. I would NEVER take this medication again. It is probably just me, but within an hour after taking it, I got weak in my legs and arms, my head started feeling weird, I felt anxious more than I did before I took this medication. It may just be me, but I won't take another dose of this. I take doxepin 25 mg twice a day, and I thought I would get something better that wasn't a weight gain medication, but I would rather carry the we"

• AZ ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 7, 2021

For Anxiety "I see there are lots of reviews praising this drug - OK. I was given a prescription for Serzone years ago, and I was told it was okay to drink on it. One night, I had been drinking, also smoked a little weed, and was taking some OTC diet pills that contained guarana to perk me up. I ended up having a MAJOR meltdown, a huge panic attack. That was in '97, and I have not been right since with low-grade anxiety 24/7, with some anxiety attacks fairly often. Sure, it may have been the combo, but my PCP knew that I was drinking and smoking on this. His fault? MY fault? No matter... I have been permanently damaged, Serzone was part of that."