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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sienna on October 18, 2002, at 15:37:16
Hi,
I just added ZOloft on Tuesday and im a little worried. Well, Ive been freaking out this week and tuesday my pdoc told me to drop by and pick up the zoloft. So ive taken 3 so far and the side effects dont seem to bad, well i dont notice it really but im wondering if anyone has any good or bad experiences from zoloft. and especially wondering how long it took it to kick in. I could really use it as im kind of impulsively suicidal right now.I usually get a very tired depression but right now im more agitated and impulsive. I dont feel as bad as i usually do, but the impulses are really hard to resist. Im staying inside because im afraid ill hurt myslef.
Sienna
Posted by hiba on October 19, 2002, at 1:12:11
In reply to Anyone on Zoloft, posted by sienna on October 18, 2002, at 15:37:16
Hi Sienna,
I have used zoloft with very nice results and what made me stop it is its adverse sexual effects. But in the case of existing suicidal tendency, forget about those sexual side effects and keep concentrating on its effectiveness. It is most likely to kick in within days. If mixed with klonopin it can have wonderful results. Ask your pdoc first before having a mix.
Be patient enough to wait for the coming good days. Bad days will follow very very good days. It is only a matter of time. I can assure you because I have come through the phases (you describe in your message) many times and each time I thought this time is the worst and I am never going to recover. But a recovery is inevitable even if you take an antidepressant or not. Depression will remit naturally, but it is foolish to wait for it, since there are effective treatment options.
Take care,
HIBA
Posted by hiba on October 19, 2002, at 4:50:17
In reply to Re: Anyone on Zoloft, posted by hiba on October 19, 2002, at 1:12:11
Hi Sienna,
There is a correction in my message. There is a word in message as "Bad days will follow very
very good days." I think this is wrong and confusing. What I meant with it is there will be enough bad,hellish days at the initial stages of antidepressant therapy which will resolve over time and good days will take dominance over bad days eventually. It is only a matter of time. Be assured.
HIBA
Posted by kelranji on October 19, 2002, at 10:37:43
In reply to Re: Correction, posted by hiba on October 19, 2002, at 4:50:17
Everyone is different. I took Zoloft last year and kept waiting for it to work. I took it for ten weeks and then got sick of feeling like a zombie so I quit. I was staring into space and not being an active part of conversations. Everyone always asked me what was wrong, and I was ultra paranoid. Never did I fell less depressed on Zoloft. But that's just me.
I'm on Effexor XR now and feel great. In fact I felt great immediately. Not everyone has that reaction either. There are a million negative posts on here about Effexor XR, but I am one of the lucky ones. It genuinely works for me.
Posted by JonW on October 19, 2002, at 11:47:02
In reply to Anyone on Zoloft, posted by sienna on October 18, 2002, at 15:37:16
I've been on zoloft for about 6 weeks now and it's yet to have a *major* effect on my mood. However, it didn't take too long for it to curb my suicidal impulses. Everyone is different and you may respond after 6 weeks. I don't feel that I have, but it can take 12 weeks. Sometimes improvement is imperceptable so don't give up too soon.
Jon
Posted by Sienna on October 20, 2002, at 0:34:33
In reply to Re: Anyone on Zoloft, posted by hiba on October 19, 2002, at 1:12:11
Im on day 4 now and only 25 mgs a day so it will take a while longer i think. i am really agitated though for no good reason. i am waiting it out i need it to work, so i am trying. i see my doc on monday. i am having some very vivid icky dreams and i dont know if its becuase of the zoloft, the geodon or just because i am crazy in general.
anyhoo thanks for writing me,
sienna
Posted by linkadge on October 20, 2002, at 7:22:07
In reply to Re: Zoloft, posted by kelranji on October 19, 2002, at 10:37:43
For some norepinephrine is the answer.
The person who responded well to effexor
probably needed a more activating med.
For me, effexor sent my anxiety sky high.Linkadge
Posted by JonW on October 20, 2002, at 10:02:00
In reply to Re: Anyone on Zoloft, posted by Sienna on October 20, 2002, at 0:34:33
> Im on day 4 now and only 25 mgs a day so it will take a while longer i think. i am really agitated though for no good reason. i am waiting it out i need it to work, so i am trying. i see my doc on monday. i am having some very vivid icky dreams and i dont know if its becuase of the zoloft, the geodon or just because i am crazy in general.
Hi sienna,
I am diagnosed with a bipolar spectrum disorder, social phobia, and atypical depression. So when I initially was agitated from the zoloft my previous pdoc stopped the zoloft. I suspect that's the natural thing to do if there is any bipolar. However, I'm now seeing one of the best specialists in the nation and he restarted the zoloft and stayed with it. Of course, I'm also on mood stabilizers. Anyway, my point is the agitation went away. In fact, it has made me less agitated than when not on it. If you are bipolar you should certainly watch out for reactions to ADs. As you said, 25mg is a very low dose and I assume you'll be increasing it. My pdoc says 100mg is a typical dose and then to take it from there. My personal advice is not to give up on a med too soon, and seek out the best pdoc you can afford if you are not getting better.
Jon
Posted by McPac on October 20, 2002, at 22:52:22
In reply to Re: Anyone on Zoloft, posted by JonW on October 20, 2002, at 10:02:00
Jon,
are you, by chance, taking any Lamictal along with the Zoloft?
Posted by sienna on October 22, 2002, at 20:26:18
In reply to Re: Anyone on Zoloft, posted by JonW on October 20, 2002, at 10:02:00
Im just raised it to 50 mgs. i think the geodon is making me this way. agitated maybe the akasthesia or soemthing. im feeling little better and hoping hte zoloft will help soon. i would upthe geodon but my pdoc only wants to change one thing at a time. probably smart, but i wont see him for 2 weeks now and every day is a very long day. i just have to hold it togehter for 5 more days. I know the number to psych emergency if i get suicidal again and one of these times i probably will end up there, Imjust avoiding it. Thanks for all of you
writing me. Its niceto know people are out there.Sienna
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