Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 350144

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zoloft at high doses

Posted by dondon on May 24, 2004, at 12:18:21

I have a prescription for zoloft 150 mg/day. I am on remeron and that is my antidepressant. I wanted zoloft because of the DA reuptake inhibition that is possess. I started taking 400 mgs a day to get an amphetamine like effect. I only have enough zoloft for 1-2 weeks if I take it at 400 mgs/day every day.(my doctor prescribed the zoloft at a dose of 150 mgs in the morning)
I heard that amphetamines stay in the body for 2-3 days. So is it possible that I only have to take 400 mg of zoloft every 2-3 days to get the dopamine effect and still have enough to last the whole month?(I'll take 400 mgs of zoloft every 2-3 days because I only was prescribed 150 mg per day)

 

zoloft at high doses

Posted by dondon on May 24, 2004, at 12:32:41

In reply to zoloft at high doses, posted by dondon on May 24, 2004, at 12:18:21

Also, Drugs for adhd like dexedrine, Do they need to be taken every day or can you take them every 2-3 days and still get the full effects every day?

 

Re: zoloft at high doses

Posted by collegeguy on May 24, 2004, at 12:46:37

In reply to zoloft at high doses, posted by dondon on May 24, 2004, at 12:18:21

No no no no, that is a BAD way to approach it. Taking Remeron (which increases serotonin in two ways) and Zoloft at such a high dose is asking for serotonin syndrome, which is no fun at all.

Zoloft, while it has a longer half-life than some of the other SSRIs will not really be effective if taken that sparsely. And if you happen to metabolize Zoloft faster than normal, bouncing the drug levels around in your body like that could result in quasi-withdrawal every 2-3 days.

Zoloft is a weak inhibitor of dopamine and should not be taken for an "amphetamine-like effect" (esp. in combo with remeron). If you need more energy, have your doctor prescribe an amphetamine like Dexedrine (which is mostly dopamine stimulating), or a med like Ritalin (which is a DA reuptake inhibitor, plus DA and NE stimulant).

And while these meds may linger in your system for 2-3 days, they'd do so at *very* weak levels. Dexedrine is out of your system in less than six hours, and that is when taken in spansule form (extended release bead filled capsule). The other psychostimulants are the same. They only last a while (a while being 12 hours if you are lucky) in your system because they've been coated with fancy release mechanisms, like the osmotic pump of Concerta.

 

Re: zoloft at high doses

Posted by SLS on May 24, 2004, at 13:38:52

In reply to zoloft at high doses, posted by dondon on May 24, 2004, at 12:18:21

Hi.

I would advise against taking dosages of Zoloft above 300mg. The maximum dosage recommended is 200mg. I did not react well to Zoloft when I recently tried to push the dosage above 250mg. I felt like I was stoned. I was really out of it. I doubt many people could tolerate 300mg. I do not think that going to 400mg is a good idea.


- Scott

 

Re: zoloft at high doses

Posted by King Vultan on May 24, 2004, at 17:19:49

In reply to zoloft at high doses, posted by dondon on May 24, 2004, at 12:18:21

> I have a prescription for zoloft 150 mg/day. I am on remeron and that is my antidepressant. I wanted zoloft because of the DA reuptake inhibition that is possess. I started taking 400 mgs a day to get an amphetamine like effect. I only have enough zoloft for 1-2 weeks if I take it at 400 mgs/day every day.(my doctor prescribed the zoloft at a dose of 150 mgs in the morning)
> I heard that amphetamines stay in the body for 2-3 days. So is it possible that I only have to take 400 mg of zoloft every 2-3 days to get the dopamine effect and still have enough to last the whole month?(I'll take 400 mgs of zoloft every 2-3 days because I only was prescribed 150 mg per day)


I think what you're doing is rather ill-considered and unwise, particularly if your doctor is not aware of this. I would frankly advise just taking the 150 mg/day you were prescribed and switching to another course of action if you are interested in more of a dopaminergic effect. The only antidepressants that really are dopaminergic are Wellbutrin and Parnate. I think that trying to squeeze a dopaminergic effect out of either Effexor or Zoloft is impractical and problematic.

Todd

 

zoloft at high doses

Posted by dondon on May 24, 2004, at 17:27:04

In reply to Re: zoloft at high doses, posted by King Vultan on May 24, 2004, at 17:19:49

Zoloft does have a meaningful effect on dopamine starting at 300mgs.

 

Re: zoloft at high doses » dondon

Posted by Sad Panda on May 24, 2004, at 23:31:30

In reply to zoloft at high doses, posted by dondon on May 24, 2004, at 17:27:04

> Zoloft does have a meaningful effect on dopamine starting at 300mgs.
>
>

Hi dondon,

It does, but at 300mg you are getting far too much Serotonin, which is not a good thing. Also remember that all AD's are pro-convulsant & no amout of dopamine is going to make you happy while you are thrashing around on the floor. :)

Cheers,
Panda.



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