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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by JohnNov on April 12, 2004, at 13:26:36
Change in personality, I have been taking Zoloft for 1 year now. 100 mg per day for the last month down from 200mg. 1mg Klonopin at bedtime. Zoloft dose range from 25mg to 200mg. I am new to this group and really need to talk to someone besides a doctor about my feelings and frustrations with medicines. Short history, over the years I have taken Prozac, Serzone, Celexa etc. It is as if I am stuck in the middle at 100mg of Zoloft not happy, some depression. My Doctor recommended I go up to 150mg then 200mg of Zoloft per day. When I move up to that dose, my depression is gone, but most of what I call “me” is gone also. At 200mg even my wife notices and compliments the difference in me (except the libido side effects) Something is missing and that is the part that scares me. At 200mg of Zoloft per day it will be days of weeks before I get this feeling that I am not really me that I am the person that 200mg of Zolft has created. It is almost like a panic attack but then it subsides and I go on for a few more weeks. It is like my inner self it trying to break out of the medicated me. Am I crazy or going crazy? Has anybody experienced this feeling at 200mg of Zoloft. I find relief from the depression but I have no motivation to disagree with anybody or anything. Happy to participate in any activity but find it hard to initiate. Agree with whatever my wife wants to do. Finding it very easy to focus on her, perfect husband. Yet somehow there is a small voice that keeps calling me. Please help, does anybody else have these emotions feelings ?
Posted by terrics on April 13, 2004, at 9:41:02
In reply to Zolft, Changed Personality, posted by JohnNov on April 12, 2004, at 13:26:36
I was on zoloft for 10 yrs; and zoloft with klonopin for the 2nd 5 yrs. The last 2 yrs I was on 200mg. Yes, zoloft took something away from me. I was glad to be rid of the depression, could care less about the libido, but I was very happy that I was less angry and argumentative. terrics
Posted by JohnNov on April 13, 2004, at 18:22:05
In reply to Re: Zolft, Changed Personality » JohnNov, posted by terrics on April 13, 2004, at 9:41:02
> I was on zoloft for 10 yrs; and zoloft with klonopin for the 2nd 5 yrs. The last 2 yrs I was on 200mg. Yes, zoloft took something away from me. I was glad to be rid of the depression, could care less about the libido, but I was very happy that I was less angry and argumentative. terrics
Thanks, appreciate your comments. It is that "something" that I just can't understand. When it hits me, I am very uncomfortable with the 200mg dose. I wish it would go away as Zoloft has made my life better in so many ways.
Posted by Iansf on April 13, 2004, at 19:26:15
In reply to Zolft, Changed Personality, posted by JohnNov on April 12, 2004, at 13:26:36
> Change in personality, I have been taking Zoloft for 1 year now. 100 mg per day for the last month down from 200mg. 1mg Klonopin at bedtime. Zoloft dose range from 25mg to 200mg. I am new to this group and really need to talk to someone besides a doctor about my feelings and frustrations with medicines. Short history, over the years I have taken Prozac, Serzone, Celexa etc. It is as if I am stuck in the middle at 100mg of Zoloft not happy, some depression. My Doctor recommended I go up to 150mg then 200mg of Zoloft per day. When I move up to that dose, my depression is gone, but most of what I call “me” is gone also. At 200mg even my wife notices and compliments the difference in me (except the libido side effects) Something is missing and that is the part that scares me. At 200mg of Zoloft per day it will be days of weeks before I get this feeling that I am not really me that I am the person that 200mg of Zolft has created. It is almost like a panic attack but then it subsides and I go on for a few more weeks. It is like my inner self it trying to break out of the medicated me. Am I crazy or going crazy? Has anybody experienced this feeling at 200mg of Zoloft. I find relief from the depression but I have no motivation to disagree with anybody or anything. Happy to participate in any activity but find it hard to initiate. Agree with whatever my wife wants to do. Finding it very easy to focus on her, perfect husband. Yet somehow there is a small voice that keeps calling me. Please help, does anybody else have these emotions feelings ?>
I have not taken Zoloft, but I can relate to what your saying from my experience on Prozac. I too felt quite happy but somehow didn't really care about much. EVERYTHING was all right as far as I was concerned. I was at my mother's bedside when she died and about all I felt was, so what, that's fine with me. I felt somewhat separated from everything floating in my own happy little world.
Posted by harryp on April 14, 2004, at 2:59:38
In reply to Zolft, Changed Personality, posted by JohnNov on April 12, 2004, at 13:26:36
Hello,
I can absolutely relate to what you're describing. I have experienced this personality effect from all the modern serotonergic drugs. Usually I would quit taking them, because although my depression is very bad, not "being me" or being able to feel emotions normally was even more horrible. In addition to many other people's anecdotes, I have heard from my psychiatrist that this is a well known side effect of the SSRI's.
After awful experiences with Remeron, Paxil, Effexor, and Lexapro, I was dangerously sick and considering hospitalization and ECT. My psychiatrist was very worried, and suggested trying a MAOI. I decided on Parnate, since it reportedly didn't cause weight gain or drowsiness. My doctor was obviously not comfortable prescribing it, but I was pretty desperate to try something new.
To conclude, my depression went into significant remission for the first time in years. Aside from slightly diminished sexual response, there are no mental or emotional side effects. I couldn't believe it.
I have read several professional books on psychopharmacology, and have become pretty discouraged. One text said that all the modern AD's have done is offer different (sometimes worse!) side-effects from their predecessors. There is considerable evidence that they are inferior to the tricyclics and MAOI's when it comes to actually treating severe depression. Several authors have hinted that the MAOI's are actually the best antidepressants known to man, but for liability reasons most doctors don't dare prescribe them.
I suggest you ask your doctor about trying a tricyclic. There are several available, and hopefully your doctor will have an opinion on which would be best. Taking a MAOI is serious business, but you should consider that too if your depression is severe and the TCA's don't work.
Posted by terrics on April 14, 2004, at 16:06:10
In reply to Modern antidepressants clinically disappointing » JohnNov, posted by harryp on April 14, 2004, at 2:59:38
I am on a bunch of meds, but the one I think helps the most is lithium. It is not only used for bp,but unipolar depression as well. terrics
Posted by rod on April 14, 2004, at 16:20:43
In reply to Zolft, Changed Personality, posted by JohnNov on April 12, 2004, at 13:26:36
Yup, the SSRIs litterally cripple my mind and turn me into an emotionless, wimpy dwarf with cognitive dysfunction (worse than before). I hate them all, altough just tried celexa, lexapro, prozac and zoloft.
Roland
Posted by JohnNov on April 14, 2004, at 17:42:13
In reply to Re: Zolft, Changed Personality, posted by Iansf on April 13, 2004, at 19:26:15
I think there is a mental and emotional blunting. Removes more than the depression. When on a higher dose. I find that I can go weeks without realizing that I have diminished capacity to feel emotions, and think complex thoughts. Sometimes this is almost comforting that I don't have to feel everything, just be in the moment. Time goes by quickly, problems can be ignored. As I said before, in a moment of more lucid thought I realize the med curtailed my emotions and thoughts. I have often wonder if a person could cross over a certain dose and never look back. Is that what the doctors call a therapeutic dose ? I guess this is all part of my problem, things could be worse.
This is the end of the thread.
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