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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by cactus on July 3, 2007, at 18:25:54
I started Zoloft just over a week ago. So far it's been OK. It's had the least start up side effects of any SSRI/SNRI I have ever tried which has really surprised me. I'm on 50mg and would like to know what experiences you have had with this drug. Is it considered stimulating and good for keeping focused?
Posted by Justherself54 on July 3, 2007, at 18:43:01
In reply to Zoloft feedback, posted by cactus on July 3, 2007, at 18:25:54
Ihave been on and off Zoloft over the past 10 years and it was a good med..for me they all poop out after about 1-2 years..I've been up to 200 mg of Zoloft but at that dose it caused my irritable bowel to flare up..
Posted by cactus on July 3, 2007, at 19:18:09
In reply to Re: Zoloft feedback, posted by Justherself54 on July 3, 2007, at 18:43:01
funny you should mention the IBS mine has been terrible since I started it but I'm hoping it will go away
Posted by Racer on July 3, 2007, at 20:50:27
In reply to Re: Zoloft feedback » Justherself54, posted by cactus on July 3, 2007, at 19:18:09
Well, as you probably already know, most serotinergic meds have GI effects in the beginning. I usually assume it's going to happen, when I start a new one, but it often goes away. Or at least gets better.
Personally, Zoloft was the most user friendly of all the SSRIs for me. Fewest side effects, fewest "feeling funny in the head" effects, just felt much more like me. Unfortunately, it also didn't work terribly well for me, but I've got chronic TRD, so I'm not the best person to look to for effectiveness...
Good luck with it. I've been thinking lately of asking to switch back to it, although my pdoc wants me to try EMSAM next, if the current combo doesn't do the trick.
Posted by Justherself54 on July 3, 2007, at 22:13:44
In reply to Re: Zoloft feedback, posted by Racer on July 3, 2007, at 20:50:27
It's a med that I seem to have success with but I have to give it a long period of time before I can try it again as sometimes it won't work again..
Posted by ttee on July 3, 2007, at 22:22:05
In reply to Re: Zoloft feedback, posted by Racer on July 3, 2007, at 20:50:27
I have TRD and on disability because of it. After trying many meds, I realized that I had not had a decent trial of Zoloft and asked my pdoc who wanted me on a MAOI to try the Zoloft first. I was not too excited about discontinuing the other meds I was on to go on a MAOI, so that was my reasoning to try Zoloft first. I started at 12.5 mg three months ago and I am now at 212.5 mg. My depression/anxiety has improved by slightly over 50% with Zoloft. That is after 4 years of the worse depression/anxiety and many failed drug trials. Zoloft has few side effects for me, which is unheard of. I still have insomnia, but I can't be sure if it is caused by the Zoloft or just a symptom of my residual depression. I am battling weight gain, and constipation. For me, Zoloft is 100 times less on the side effects dept, vs. Lexapro (last med I switched to Zoloft from). Lexapro did nothing for my panic disorder and Zoloft keeps it in check. I really don't feel drugged up like so many of the other meds made me feel. The kicker is that Zoloft is genric and cost me about $9.00 for a 90 day supply (non-insurance at Costco), and all the meds that didn't help ran me hundereds each month. Good luck to you.
Posted by ttee on July 3, 2007, at 22:22:54
In reply to Re: Zoloft feedback, posted by Racer on July 3, 2007, at 20:50:27
I have TRD and on disability because of it. After trying many meds, I realized that I had not had a decent trial of Zoloft and asked my pdoc who wanted me on a MAOI to try the Zoloft first. I was not too excited about discontinuing the other meds I was on to go on a MAOI, so that was my reasoning to try Zoloft first. I started at 12.5 mg three months ago and I am now at 212.5 mg. My depression/anxiety has improved by slightly over 50% with Zoloft. That is after 4 years of the worse depression/anxiety and many failed drug trials. Zoloft has few side effects for me, which is unheard of. I still have insomnia, but I can't be sure if it is caused by the Zoloft or just a symptom of my residual depression. I am battling weight gain, and constipation. For me, Zoloft is 100 times less on the side effects dept, vs. Lexapro (last med I switched to Zoloft from). Lexapro did nothing for my panic disorder and Zoloft keeps it in check. I really don't feel drugged up like so many of the other meds made me feel. The kicker is that Zoloft is genric and cost me about $9.00 for a 90 day supply (non-insurance at Costco), and all the meds that didn't help ran me hundereds each month. Good luck to you.
Posted by Phillipa on July 3, 2007, at 22:50:22
In reply to Re: Zoloft feedback, posted by ttee on July 3, 2007, at 22:22:54
You're changing my mind as was going to try low dose of lexapro but I have been on zoloft and only went to 50mg. No side effects but the brochure in my synthroid sample says don't take zoloft with synthroid. Now why would that be the only SSRI? Makes no sense to me and if you goggle synthroid it shows up as well as valium which I'm on. I would like to try the zoloft never gave it decent trial. Love Phillipa
Posted by Justherself54 on July 4, 2007, at 10:24:26
In reply to Re: Zoloft feedback » ttee, posted by Phillipa on July 3, 2007, at 22:50:22
> You're changing my mind as was going to try low dose of lexapro but I have been on zoloft and only went to 50mg. No side effects but the brochure in my synthroid sample says don't take zoloft with synthroid. Now why would that be the only SSRI? Makes no sense to me and if you goggle synthroid it shows up as well as valium which I'm on. I would like to try the zoloft never gave it decent trial. Love Phillipa
Is synthroid the same as Eltroxin? I take thyroid replacement for hypothyroid and have been on many many meds with it, including Zoloft and my levels have always been good..
Posted by Phillipa on July 4, 2007, at 21:53:18
In reply to Re: Zoloft feedback, posted by Justherself54 on July 4, 2007, at 10:24:26
Probably I'll goggle it. And I've never heard of synthroid affecting an ad or benzo. Love Phillipa isn't your thyroid med the new one?
Posted by Phillipa on July 4, 2007, at 22:05:23
In reply to Re: Zoloft feedback » Justherself54, posted by Phillipa on July 4, 2007, at 21:53:18
Yes another brand think it's generic. Love Phillipa
Posted by cactus on July 8, 2007, at 1:17:31
In reply to Re: Zoloft feedback, posted by Phillipa on July 4, 2007, at 22:05:23
well to start on a good note, my brain has calmed and the racing thoughts have slowed down a bit. I know it's only been a week and a half so I'll give it more time. The one thing that concerns me though is the emotional blunting and apathy is creeping back in. This is one of the main reason I don't like SSRI/SNRI's. I just don't seem to give a damn about anything while I'm on them and I only have 2 left to try now from these catergories, lexapro and cymbalta. It's like I need a good kick up the butt to get myself going. I swore black and blue that I'd never take another one again after failed attempts with prozac, luvox, aropax(paxil), cipramil(celexa) and efexor xr, not to mention 3 TCA's and a RIMA (aurorix) MAOI's are out of the question because of the diet restrictions and are looked down upon in Australia, not many GP's or pdocs will prescribe them anyway. Any suggestions would be appreciated and AP's are totally out of the question too.
Posted by Justherself54 on July 8, 2007, at 8:53:00
In reply to Re: Zoloft and SSRI/SNRI related apathy, posted by cactus on July 8, 2007, at 1:17:31
I've been on Lexapro and initially it worked well, but the worst side effect for me was the apathy..Cymbalta isn't available in Canada (I don't think)..so right now I'm taking an MAOI..my pdoc felt I would be a good candidate for following the dietary restrictions and they are easy to follow (and I've lost 13 pounds of the weight gain from SSRI's)..my energy and motivation has increased a lot..having said that, if the MAOI doesn't work for me after I have surgery in September, Zoloft will be my choice again..it truly is the gentler med for side effects, going on and coming off..except for the weight gain..
I'm glad you're feeling better..I would certainly give it a longer trial and increase it as per your doctor's instructions..one note..I was up to 200 mg..and it caused "the trots"..but I have irritable bowel syndrome too..lucky me!
Posted by cactus on July 9, 2007, at 3:12:58
In reply to Re: Zoloft and SSRI/SNRI related apathy, posted by Justherself54 on July 8, 2007, at 8:53:00
thanks for your support. It's just a waiting game again. IBS sucks. How can an individual go from diarrhea to constipation back to diarrhea in one bloody day?
Posted by Justherself54 on July 9, 2007, at 8:49:45
In reply to Re: Zoloft and SSRI/SNRI related apathy » Justherself54, posted by cactus on July 9, 2007, at 3:12:58
yep..not fun..some meds bother it more than others..I did do a trial of Ritalin with a SSRI (can't remember which one) and it worked great for my concentration and focus..but Ritalin will stop working on some and it did with me..sigh..
Make sure to keep us posted on how you're feeling!
Posted by elanor roosevelt on July 12, 2007, at 22:08:48
In reply to Re: Zoloft and SSRI/SNRI related apathy, posted by Justherself54 on July 9, 2007, at 8:49:45
i just got a script for zoloft
but i don't like to be sedatenew strategy
take the adderrall daily but with 2 day breaks each month
take an ad every few days to keep the depression at bay
all the ad's melt down on me but many also kick in immediately
i sometimes take small doses of tianeptine
but the pdoc doesn't knowtoday took nothing but a small dose of xanax late in the day
i have given up on anything working well for any length of time and i am just going to play by ear
This is the end of the thread.
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