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Anyone taking Zoloft? KAREN READ!

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Posted 8/4/2008 1:06 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I was just prescribed zoloft for depression and the dose was 50 mg. I wanted to take the smallest amount for the most benefit so I cut the tablets in half. I also let my Primary know that I did that. I was just wondering if anyone had any experience with zoloft and what I might expect? So far I am not happy with the results. My cognitive functions are on "slow mo.." and I do a great deal of staring and spacing out. I just can't see how they call this an antidepressant since all it does is make you feel sluggish and sleepy. I think I had a flare yesterday caused by lack of sleep (insomnia again) and I was so terribly tired. That and the drug just made it impossible! I had to reach for that dble esspresso! Does it take awhile for the drug to work? And if so how does it work?

Thanks for any input.

Carolyn

Posted 8/4/2008 1:23 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Carolyn,

Just wanted to respond to your post about Zoloft. I was recently put on Zoloft 50 mg. also. I take the full 50 mg. I have not been experiencing the "spacing out" or "being in slow mo" feeling but as you well know these meds effect everyone differently. This is actually one of the ones that I have tried with the least amount of side effects. The feelings that you describe I felt when I took Effexor so I can sympathize. I was SO SLEEPY and then I had to increase the dosage after a week. Luckily I was on vacation when that happened. The side effects did subside after a few weeks. It is just trying to get over that "hump" that is hard. How long have you been taking it? When do you take it? If you are taking it in the morning you may want to switch and take it at night(which is what my Dr. told me). I actually can't take it at night because it wakes me up! Funny, how we are all different. It could be that things will level out after couple of weeks. If you have been taking it for that long and have not felt any relief, you may need to contact the Dr. to see if something else may work better for you.

Hope things get better for you!! Have a great day!

Cyndi

Posted 8/4/2008 1:35 PM (GMT 0)
Carolyn it does take a few weeks for anti-depressants to work. Like Cyndi said we all react differently to meds. Effexor was like taking a sleeping pill and trying to function for me. I can't remember if I have taken zoloft. The only way to find out is take it for a few weeks and if they side affects don't go away try another one. It sometimes takes time to find the right one. I know you want something that will work now.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Posted 8/4/2008 2:39 PM (GMT 0)

Carolyn,

I've been on Zoloft for almost 5 years now.  about 6 weeks ago, my GP upped my dosage to 150mg a day (I was on 100mg).  Personally, I haven't had a problem with it.  I've been on and off a lot of different antidepressants since I was 15 years old-Prozac, Welbutrin, Paxil, Effexor-you name it.  I was placed on Zoloft almost 5 years ago after about 2 years off of any antidepressants.  And, let's just say that I absolutely needed it at the time. sad

Anyway, I think this falls into the category of meds affecting everyone differently. LOL-so, yeah, what Marlee and Cyndi said.  Also, as you probably know, it takes up to 6 weeks to have any real effect on your serotonin levels.  As much as this probably doesn't help you-hang in there.  You can always come here to vent! yeah

Posted 8/4/2008 10:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Carolyn,

I have also been on Zoloff for a few years and i take 100mg aday and it has been a lifesaver to me, it may take alittle while for it to work but that will come to, as with everything you start on it takes awhile. So hang in there and let us know how you are doing.
Posted 8/5/2008 2:14 AM (GMT 0)
Cyndi, I just started taking the Zoloft 4-5 days ago. I take it in the morning. I'm going to give it more time to get used to it. I was just wondering if the sleepyness will ever go away. The best way to describe the feeling is: Brain balm! I just feel like a slug.. so unmotivated. Maybe it's not the right drug for me. I should at least give it a few weeks.
Carolyn
Posted 8/5/2008 2:32 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Carolyn-

I take Zoloft and I would not be without it!!! A lot of us with fibro have super sensitive systems and I'm one of them! I was prescribed 25mg., and I started with only 15mg, cutting the pill and told my Dr. also. I did that for almost two weeks and than gradually worked up to 25mg. It does not seem like much to some people but it works wonders for me. The only side effect I had right in the beginning is it upset my stomach for a few days. I just kept going and it went away.

Try cutting back a little more and see if that helps and let your body adjust. I noticed an improvement in two weeks.

My Dr. knows how sensitive I am and when she prescribes anything for me now, she makes sure it is a tablet that can be cut and not a capsule. :) 

Keep us updated and hope the sleepyness improves. Like we're not tired enough already! GamJill  

Posted 8/5/2008 7:15 PM (GMT 0)
Been on Zoloft and prozac for about 9 yrs. Had the sleepy thing going on in the beginning and asked my pharmacist. He told me to take it at night so that the majority of the side effects happened while I was sleeping and then the next day just one cup of coffee and I was normal again. Not to mention it cured my insomnia!!! tongue Ask your pharmacist, ok?
Posted 8/5/2008 7:18 PM (GMT 0)

Hi,

I take Zoloft 150 1 X's a day at night. I havent had problems with it. I think its the Lyrica that if giving me the foggy feeling or the Fibromyalgia itself vs. the Zoloft. But that is just my 2 cents.

-Monica

Posted 8/6/2008 7:20 AM (GMT 0)
I was put on Zoloft in 1993 and had an adverse reaction to it. I became suicidal. I began wondering if the sweetness of antifreeze would cover the bleachyness of drano. I was afraid of MYSELF! I cried myself to sleep that night and forced myself to stay in bed and NOT get up to experiment. The next day I went through my habitual rituals to get ready for school. I felt like I was watching myself from a camera angle inside my head. I never remembered first hour. During second hour, I just got up and walked out of class. I didn't know where I was going, just walked out. This was unusual for me, and the teacher knew it and sent my table partner to follow me. Somehow, she helped me to the office were I called my father. He told me to call my counselor. When I did, she terrified me even more by telling me I had two choices: 1) have my father take me to the mental health facility, or 2) she would send the Police to come and get me from school. (I did not have a good support system, but PLEASE keep in mind, my case is highly different from millions of others) I am currently going to college to become a counselor so I can use my experience to help others to avoid what I went through. There are phenomenal people out there that will help you the RIGHT way! Just stay in touch with your physician and ALWAYS tell them how you REALLY feel! I did not really want to die! It took about one to two weeks for it to do that to me. I know it works for some people, and THAT IS GREAT, but if you do not feel right, TELL YOUR PHYSICIANS RIGHT AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even if they tell you to give it more time, just tell them you want them to be aware of these symptoms just in case this is not right for you. Maybe keep a journal and monitor your mood changes, thoughts and feelings on/or how you react to something if you notice it is different in anyway than you may have acted or handled it before the Zoloft. Be aware of your thoughts as best as possible with out dwelling on them. It isn't easy, but I think it will help you feel better knowing there is documentation of the changes. If Zoloft is right for you, a journal may help you realize that, and it may help you feel better in being able to see the positive changes it has helped you make. Good Luck :-)
Posted 8/7/2008 3:08 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Teenatoon,
I am so glad it worked out for you. You can be sure that I am taking careful notes about my mental status. The sleepyness went away and I now have this edgy feeling. Almost like PMS (for you ladies who can relate). I was begining to think that my lack of motivation in the begining was permanant.

Also, I did cut the pill down to 12 mg. because I wanted to work my dose up gradually. That way I can function during the day! Which is important with 4 little children.

The nice thing is that I have more energy. I feel lighter in my step. Carrying my toddler around used to feel like my arms were falling out.. no more. So I will keep close tabs on this and let you all know.
Thanks for all the feedback. I appreciate the help
Carolyn
Posted 8/7/2008 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
I am so glad you are taking notes! As I said, It may help you remember how much it is helping if you have a bad day and it crosses your mind "IS this even working anymore?!" your notes will help you see it. I can't stress enough to anyone on anti-depressants "pay attention to how you feel, and MAKE SURE TO LET YOUR DR KNOW OF ANY CHANGES>>>NO MATTER HOW SMALL! It will help them understand if they have helped or not, because people tend to forget that the dr has to go on what we tell them. They can't get inside us to feel what we are feeling. It would make it a LOT easier if they could though. huh? It wouldn't take 3 years for a Crohn's dx or however many years it took for someone to suggest I have fibromyalgia. Think of how many "hypochondriacs" would be properly dx, whether it be a true illness or just the illness of hypochondria. :)


Good luck...Seriously! If you have to be on a meds, you must have been suffering for quite some time. I am sorry anyone has to feel that, especially when you have babies to care for. I know what it is like to feel....lost.... :( Although the path back is hard and bumpy, it is possible. I did it! I went through a lot to get off of the anti-depressants. I had told my Psych that I wanted to wean because I didn't feel like myself so he upped the pill dosage so I had to stay on it. I tried anyway and ended back in the mental health facility with unmanageable anxiety. I was thankful that my family physician listened to me. He helped me wean off of the anti-depressants because the Psychiatrist had switched me to 50-75mg daily of Pamalor/ Nortriptolene (same drug, but one is generic) after my Zoloft incident. I felt distant and felt a void in caring for my own life. I was not suicidal again, but I separated myself from my family, and I got involved with a guy that verbally and mentally abused me. This went on for the three years that I was on Pamalor. Thanks to the FP I was able to go down to 10mg pills and slowly drop the entire daily dose a little every other day to every three days until I was off. It took 3 months to safely wean off of the meds. Once it was out of my system, I felt like a huge weight had been lifted from my chest and shoulders. I felt like I could breathe again! I had the courage to leave the bad boyfriend and leave the town I grew up in. I gained a new lease on life and grabbed it. I moved 90 miles from home, learned who I was, and learned to take on responsibility by myself. We have a VERY close family, so I did go back after my aunt told me that my grandfather had Crohn's and it aggravated his disease when he worried about me so far from home where he couldn't save me if I needed it. This was the 1st time I had been introduced to Crohn's even though "Buppa" had it for up to 50 years already. For a long time, I thought my aunt had made up the disease because.. well.. the name of it. I had not seen it in print, so I (having an overactive imagination) would think of the Sea Hag/ Sea Witch from the cartoon, Popeye, when anyone said it. I did not realize it was a real disease until my GI suggested the possibility of it when we were trying to find the source of my abdominal pain. My OB/GYN had sent me to the GI, the FP I had at the time agreed to it, but suggested it was in my head because of my mental health record. I get that a lot.
I hope this is good advise to anyone reading this. I want people to know what happened to me to know that it is possible. I do not want to DIScourage anyone from anti-depressants, but just be aware of you and how you feel while on them. I have been thinking of going to counseling or maybe talking to my current FP. I (for obvious reasons) am afraid to try meds for myself, but do not let me discourage anyone from them, because some people need them, but not everyone. Learn to be aware of you and how you feel. A journal or notes are the best way to do this.
Good Luck to anyone who uses this advise. (I just started my sophomore year online, so I am NOT an expert yet, I just started classes. I am just someone who has lived it.) tongue
Posted 8/8/2008 5:11 PM (GMT 0)
I was almost afraid to read this post! I just started Zoloft about 10 days ago, and I'm scared to death to hear about any side-effects!
I've been accused of being rather suggestable! I don't think I am. I think I'm just so very sensitive to every change in my body, and those changes can freak me out.
I started out on 1/4 of the 50 mg tablet, for 4-5 days. Then I went to 1/4 in the am, and 1/4 in the p.m. Then I went to 1/2 tablet in the morning. Now today, I'm adding another 1/4 tablet onto things. hopefully, I'll be up to the full 50mg by the middle of next week.
Its really hard to assess side-effects, since I've felt like poop for 15 years now, and have fatigue and brain fog alot of the time. Plus, I just started back on a beta blocker, and I occasionally take xanax..........so who knows which is the culprit for my fatigue/worsening brain fog/etc.
This should be interesting though.
I've heard over and over that we just have to give these types of meds time, in order to adjust to them. I hope that's true. I definitely don't need anything else to make me even more tired and brainless!

I think its hard for most people with physical and emotional problems to really sort out possible side-effects, since we have so many funky symptoms to start with.
I recently had a "friend" tell me she didn't want to talk to me anymore, because I was just too depressing. She said she thought I actually WANTED to feel bad. sad
I sure hope one of these meds works, 'cause I really want to be happy. (By the way.......what does that feel like???)
I was told by a psychopharmacologist once that if you are sensitive, then absolutely go slowly. If you develop side-effects, then back off a little for awhile, and then try going up again later.
Good luck to you!
Posted 8/8/2008 5:25 PM (GMT 0)

I also took Zoloft for 1.5 years on 50 mg. It did wonders for my PMS, helped with my period, helped with my depression and anxiety,mood swings, it pretty much helped with everything.

 

The bad thing, is I gained 30 pounds during the 1.5 years I was on it and it also made me have an attitude of 'I don't care'. I wasn't a zombie, but I didn't care about things that I used to care about. In some ways that was good, b/c it gave me more patience, albeit, too much.  It caused alot of family problems b/c I didn't care what people did. I would just be like oh well.

 

Then I got off it, and slowly that attitude disappeared but in it's wake taught me to be patient. Does the good out weigh the bad? In my opinion it does. Just don't take a larger dose than what's absolutely necessary. Just my 2 cents.

 

Chelle

Posted 8/8/2008 6:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Carolyn,

 

I don't take zoloft but my daughter did for years.  She got on it at first back in high school after suffering with severe depression with suicidal behavior and self mutilation.  It was very hard for her at first she was totaly wiped out by this med and she was on I believe 50 mg also.  She couldnt get up for school because she was so tired and it made her very nauseas.  I dont know how many mornings I spent cleaning up the aftermath of her trying to get to school.  We did change it to her taking it at night but she was still very tired and had to be put on anti nausea meds.  She was no longer hurting herself but just didnt seem grounded at all.  She was spaced out much of the time.  I knew something was wrong and talked to her doctor about it but by this time she had turned 18 and had to make these choices for herself and was afraid to even get off the zoloft and try something new.

 

Barbarann did evertually get off zoloft when she was in her early 20's but it was and has been a horrific exsperience for her.  She went through tons of withdrawel symptoms and still has problems with what she calls "brain zaps"  I had to watch her deal with muscle pain and constantly twitching.  She looked like a darn tweaker coming off a high and was very embarressed to even be around ppl with her ticks.  Barb is now on Adderall(sp) turns out she had ADHD all of her life and this continues in her adult life.  She is feeling so much better and for the first time in her life things are clearer to her now,the confusion is gone and she seems to be trying to get in all that she missed years ago in one fell swoop.  It turns out for her what caused her depression to begin with was her lack of being able to cope at home and in school and social situations.  I feel so bad that she had to go through that because I was clueless about depression and ADHD at the time.

 

I had a horrible exsperience with Paxil myself.  Spent several years walking around like a zombie although not so hard to come off of it.  I now am on prozac and it has been easy going so far.  I am taking 20mg at bedtime and sleeping better without the morning grogginess.  No tummy upsets from it either which is great for me with all the nausea that I have already.  I am already feeling better after 2 weeks on it.  I know that even as bad as the paxil made me feel back then it did save my life.  I was suicidal and was behaving in some very dangerous behavior like wandering the streets at all hours and hurting myself.  Seems some of these behavoirs run in the family.  I just wish I had known more so I could have got on something more suited for me.  I have known several ppl that have been on zoloft though besides my daughter and they also had trouble with it and getting off this drug after being on it awhile is not an easy road to go down. 

 

My daughter ended up with permenant impairment from it.  She still has occasional mind zaps and twitching,specially when she is tired.  I wish you good luck with whatever you end up on but there are so many choices out there now, please dont feel like you have to stay with one thing if you are not feeling well.  I do know that with most anti depressents that there is an initial period of a few weeks to get used to it if your going to get used to it and it takes about a month to really start feeling better but if after a few weeks you are still feeling this bad then I would talk to your doctor about changing to something better suited for you.  Dont dispair though,there is something out there for everyone and you will find it and feel better!!

 

Soft Hug's,

Karen

Posted 8/8/2008 6:07 PM (GMT 0)
I liked the zoloft I made it up to 150mg ut went of it, why i dont know, i am on prozac now.

but our bodies are all different so you cant compare, it didnt make me sleepy.

Posted 8/8/2008 9:48 PM (GMT 0)
Karen,
I am glad that you wrote about your daughter's experience. I definately think I have ADD but the specialist I went to did not agree with me. He just said that I was probably depressed. So I went to my primary with this thought in mind and he suggested the Zoloft. Those side effects really scare me.
Maybe it's time to wean off of it and try something like Adderal. I don't seem to have any focus or motivation on this stuff and my brain feels so sedate.

I called my primary today to tell them about how I felt and they said to try it a little while longer. about mid day I feel real "wired" and edgy but my brain is so mellow. Such a strange way to feel. I'm going to give it another week to see if things improve. It would be a shame if I too was given the wrong drug to help my situation. Because I am nursing I can't take the Adderal. I think that that's the one I need. Well, I guess time will tell
Carolyn
Posted 8/9/2008 7:36 AM (GMT 0)
Hmm maybe I should talk to Barb ,she is on the adderall and is nursing and pumping. They were telling her that such a small amount that might get through wasnt enough to worry about and Kirsten is rather mellow so if any stimulant was getting through I dont know where.
Posted 8/9/2008 3:17 PM (GMT 0)
Karen,
Your daughter should not be taking adderall and nursing! Doesn't her Dr. know that? The Book by Hale says that it is not compatible with nursing. Please contact your daughter immediately and have her Dr. check this out. For the safety of her child, please
Carolyn
Posted 8/9/2008 3:39 PM (GMT 0)
I called and left a message for my daughter as soon as I saw this post. I do know that before Barb started taking anything they already had the baby on several different stimulants,something to do with her health regarding her prematurity. I know in the NICU they had Kirsten and huge amounts of caffine!!! I was shocked at first but then Barb said it had something to do with her breathing. I didnt understand why a baby that was the size of a newborn kitten with a underdeveloped nervous system would need a stimulant when we werent even allowed to touch her because she was so sensitive to stimuli. I will ge back to you when I hear from my daughter.
Posted 8/10/2008 12:39 AM (GMT 0)
Good,
I am glad that you called her. Please let me know how it goes. I'm sure she will be fine.
Carolyn
Posted 8/10/2008 3:50 AM (GMT 0)
Update on Zoloft response... I'm just keeping notes on how the drug is affecting me.

Today I expected to have the "wired feeling" but it didn't happen as bad as it was a few days ago. Well my Aunt Flo came today and that may explain the PMS symptoms..

I'm usually the type of person that worries or obsesses on things. It's really true that this stuff "shuts off" that thinking but it also shuts off the part that needs to be "on" like getting things done around the house. Before I wasn't motivated to clean dishes and I was upset about it. Now the dishes sit and I could care less!

Before dinner I weeded my tomato garden which was over run with weeds. I could have done it for another 1/2 hr but the lawn mowers, leaf blowers and trimmers in my yard and my neighbors got to me. (So much for fresh air and peace and quiet!)
As soon as I woke up this morning my 2 yr old demanded that I take the old vacuum cleaner out of the basement to fix it. So before morning coffee I dragged this thing upstairs. A little while later I was taking it apart and cleaning it. It needs a new belt. The old one had a low spot. My husband was shocked when he heard I was working on it.
I'm laughing more. I have lot's more energy but it's more like a wired energy cause my brain is still on half speed. I play with my kids and interact more with them. Things are looking brighter. I just really need some exersize. Tomorrow I'm going for that hike!
Carolyn
Posted 8/10/2008 3:52 AM (GMT 0)
Oh, and forgot to mention. The fibro pain is still there but less. The castor oil really seems to help. I still do have real achy hips. But I don't seem to wake up with a backache anymore.
Carolyn
Posted 8/10/2008 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Carolyn-
I'm happy to hear that the Zoloft is starting to work. Zoloft gives me the "wired" feeling also at times but I would rather have that than feeling "tired." I have not had the feelings of "not caring less" about dishes etc., - if I only could! :) GamJill
Posted 8/10/2008 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Carolyn,

 

First off,congrats on feeling better!!  I really hope this works out for you.  I too am doing better as time goes by on the prozac.  It's been about 2 weeks for me now and it seems to be curbing my appitite too which is good cause the Lyrica was giving me the munchies lol.  My daughter called me back and all is fine with the medication issue.  Kirstens pediatrician knows all about the adderall and Barb said there are several different forms of the drug and they have her on one that works with the nursing mostly because Kirsten is not exclusivaly on breastmilk but in the process of being weaned so taking in very little milk.  But Barb did say to tell you thank you for the concern =) 

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