![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by dannii on August 9, 2001, at 1:04:28
Hi, I've been on Zoloft for 3 months for depression, I started off with 50mg a day then my doctor put me up to 100mg a day. It wasnt working so he put me on Effexor-xr of 75mg a day,i've now been on this for 2 days, I was wondering if I would get any withdrawel symptoms from coming off the Zoloft?? Also I was wondering how effexor-xr works better than Zoloft?
Thanks
Posted by SalArmy4me on August 9, 2001, at 1:30:43
In reply to please help =o), posted by dannii on August 9, 2001, at 1:04:28
Effexor has a better record in Treatment-Resistant Depression than does Zoloft, possibly due to Effexor's dual action on 5HT and norepinephrine:
Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology
Volume 21(2)April 2001 pp 185-189 Sustained Response to Open-Label Venlafaxine in Drug-Resistant Major Depression:"...The aim of this study was to evaluate the response to venlafaxine in patients with treatment-resistant depression during an extension phase of an open-label study of venlafaxine. After completing the initial 8 weeks of the study, patients could continue venlafaxine treatment for an additional period of up to 10 months. Efficacy results are given for 149 patients with treatment-resistant depression. Response was defined as a 50% reduction in scores on the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS); 69% were responders after 8 weeks of treatment in the initial study phase, and 73% were responders at their final extension-phase visit. The mean MADRS score was 32.8 before treatment, 12.9 by 8 weeks, and 10.8 at the final extension visit. There was a statistically significant reduction of 2.1 MADRS units from entry into the extension phase to the final extension visit. At extension entry, 36.7% patients were in remission, as defined by a MADRS score of less than 12, whereas at the final extension visit, this had increased to 49%. Improvement in Clinical Global Impressions Scale scores (both patient and physician ratings) was maintained throughout the extension period, with 88% of patients reporting some improvement (75% with "very much" or "much") and 92% of doctors noting some improvement in patients (79% with "very much" or "much") at the last extension visit. The safety profile during the extension phase of the study was similar to that found in the initial phase and in other studies. The most common study events were somnolence (21%), headache (18%), insomnia (16%), sweating (16%), constipation (14%), dry mouth (11%), nausea (10%), and dizziness (10%). Patients with resistant depression that was treated with venlafaxine maintained their response for up to 10 months after an 8-week phase of treatment and showed some evidence of further improvement..."
Posted by pellmell on August 9, 2001, at 7:45:36
In reply to please help =o), posted by dannii on August 9, 2001, at 1:04:28
> Hi, I've been on Zoloft for 3 months for depression, I started off with 50mg a day then my doctor put me up to 100mg a day. It wasnt working so he put me on Effexor-xr of 75mg a day,i've now been on this for 2 days, I was wondering if I would get any withdrawel symptoms from coming off the Zoloft?? Also I was wondering how effexor-xr works better than Zoloft?
> ThanksI experienced withdrawal coming off of Zoloft. I was coming down from 200mg, though, and switching to Serzone, a drug which has weaker SRI properties. Effexor is a potent SRI, so it may compensate for the lack of Zoloft in your brain.
If you start feeling SRI withdrawal symptoms ("electric shocks," dizzy "flashes," flu-like symptoms, etc.), take 25 or 50mg of Zoloft when you do. That always cleared them up for me within half an hour. Keep some Zoloft on hand throughout the day for the next week or two. If do go through Zoloft withdrawal, it probably won't start for a few days. Zoloft's half-life is about 26 hours, and its primary active metabolite's is 62-104 hours.
-pm
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.