Asked my otoneurologist to start me on SERC as I've been reading about it on this website. He faxed a prescription to my pharmacy for 20 pills of 8 mg. As I react to so many meds I guess he wants to give the SERC a trial. I assume 8 mg won't help much as most of you who take it, take large doses. I've been having a difficult time with the pressure, lack of balance, and hurting in my head. Meclizine actually makes it worse. Haven't given valium a try as I don't want to get addicted to it. Had procedures on right ear with both antibiotic and gentamycin and haven't had vertigo and vomiting since January, but this pressure, dizziness and hurting is driving me into the valley of despair.
Hi 20 pills of 8mg is hardly worth prescribing as Serc is not instant, it takes several weeks to start working as a preventative. I took 3 x 16mg per day for about 2 years. Serc worked for me in keeping the violent vertigo away but I needed something else when an attack did happen. I was prescribed buccastem which is similar to valium but I never became addicted. I still carry it around with me as an insurance or comfort but I haven't any vertigo since 2009.
I've been taking serc for over a year at 16 mg twice a day with out issue. About 4 months after I started serc, I added lemon bioflavanoids and vinpocetine and the combination of all 3 have really help with the cholera hydrops and the brain fog.
Deadeye, I was diagnosed several years ago, but it seems to me that long before the diagnosis I was experiencing symptoms. I will be 83 in July and this last couple of years has severely limited me physically and emotionally. The thing that puzzles me is the weakness in my extremities, especially my legs. I don't know if it's due to the MM or from some other cause.
Marion, Maybe the low doses are good place to start, just to make sure you tolerate the Serc. Then you can always ask for gradual increases in your dose. At regular doses, it may not be much better than placebo, but there's a small study suggesting high doses do make a difference. Lots of people here do well with it. It made me a little drowsy, but I'll probably keep it handy, and may try it again sometime.
Hi Marion, I hope you get relief, but as far as weakness in your extremities, I don't think that is from MM or at least I never heard of MM causing that, You should tell your doctor about that.
P.S. Marion, have you told your doctor about your leg weakness? Is this just since you started the Serc? If not... is it in your arms, too? If so, maybe look up Proximal Myopathy, and see if anything might relate to your situation.
I have told both my primary care physician and my ear specialist. It didn't start with the SERC which I just began taking this past Monday. Seeing a neurologist was mentioned to me but not followed up on. I have seen neurologists over the years without them seeming too concerned about the condition. I'm going to look up the info about Proximal Myopathy, AnneT, as you suggested, because the situation is troublesome for me.
marion are you taking a statin drug for cholesterol? That can be a serious side effect of those drugs if you are.
No, Vicki, I don't take any cholesterol drugs, even though my primary care doctor would like me to do so.
Glad it is not that, I hope you get to the bottom of it and feel better soon! Make sure to drink enough water, being dehydrated can make one feel weak.
Am finishing the 8 mg 2x a day of SERC. Called my Dr.'s office today and asked to have the dosage increased to 16 mg dosage 2x a day. Will start that Friday and see how I tolerate it. If I do OK, will then ask for the next higher dosage. Sometimes I think the SERC is helping, but other times I'm not certain. Haven't had vertigo and vomiting since January, but am dealing with the fullness in my head, balance problems, tinnitus, and loss of hearing, and other limitations.