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Varying Meds and Doses?

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Posted 5/29/2015 11:50 PM (GMT 0)
Does anyone vary the mg of the SSRI you take based on how you feel different time of the year? For example, I started out on 25mg of Zoloft for GAD, then as anxiety increased, my Psych increased me to 50mg. This was during the winter where I also suffer from SAD where I was feeling unmotivated, lazy, and disinterested so she added 100 mg of Wellbutrin SR. I felt like I really didn't need the extra "kick" from Wellbutrin so she tapered me down to 75 mg of Wellbutrin IR (Immediate Release?) for 14 days.

Well, the 75 mg of Wellbutrin IR kicked my anxiety into high gear, so I stopped taking it after 7 days and just continued on the 50 mg of Zoloft and I immediately calmed down. I don't know if the unmotivated, lazy, and disinterested mode will return, in which case, I think I would ask about dropping Zoloft down to 25 mg since it's summer.

So my question is- is it normal to have to vary your meds and doses depending on how you feel or the time of year? Also what is with the Wellbutrin IR that although it was a lower dose (75 mg), it increased my anxiety pretty significantly?

Thanks, Rose
Posted 5/30/2015 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
No it is not common to vary your dosage on SSRI's, in fact I can't imagine it working out too well. Most people find a dose that works and stick with that dose, why would you want to go up and down if what you are taking works?

Also Yes the added wellbutrin could of caused more anxiety for you as a side effect. In fact many AD's list increase anxiety for a side effect and it usually last for the first couple of weeks then levels off. It is recommended to stick with it, if you can bear the side effects as they will wear off. It takes a good 6 to 8 weeks for the full benefit of whatever you are taking to take place, sometimes even a little longer.
Posted 5/30/2015 11:33 AM (GMT 0)
Hi

I agree with AL it is not the norm to keep changing your dosage as that can cause problems usually increased anxiety or depression so it is best to reach a dose that works for you and stick with it.

Hibee
Posted 5/30/2015 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the responses. I had a horrible anxiety filled night last night. My problem is the 50 mg Zoloft works well but once it has my anxiety under control I start going in the opposite direction, almost into a depression which is the reason the Wellbutrin was added. Maybe I should just stay on the combination of 50 mg Zoloft and 100 mg of Wellbutrin. It's my own stubbornness of not wanting to be on 2 different meds although I understand it's common.

What is also confusing is that I see a therapist and a psychiatrist separately and the therapist with whom I've been working on techniques to control the anxiety doesn't understand why the psych wants me on 2 meds. She thinks I should ask to switch to Lexapro and see if it has the same result as being on Zoloft and Wellbutrin together. I'm tired of feeling like a science experiment and feel like I'm messing with my brain chemistry. I also feel like my moods swing from one extreme to the other. My mother and great grandmother both had severe bipolar, but my therapist and psych have both diagnosed me with GAD and SAD, not bipolar which when this first started occurring I was terrified that I had. I honestly think the depression issues are as a result of SAD. This is so not fun to play this medicine game to find out what works best.
Posted 5/30/2015 3:47 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, finding the right med or combo of meds sucks to say the least, it is alot of work and trial and error, but in the long run worth it when you find the right one.

As far as what your therapist says, it is not normal for a therapist to suggest a drug that is different then what the shrink is prescribing, they are usually on the same page. However, with that being said. Lexapro is a good drug and many on the forum take it and it helps alot with their depression/anxiety. In fact it is said it is one of the best for anxiety. But in the end the decision is yours, don't feel pressured by your therapist or the shrink.

I will say that right now I'm on 3 drugs for depression and panic, although one of them I will be tapering off of on my next appt with my shrink at the end of June. I've been on a combo of 2 meds for years and find it works best for me.

Whatever you decide know that we will support you, we are here for you and will walk this journey with you.
Posted 5/30/2015 4:20 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks AngelLisa. The therapist and the shrink are in totally different practices, so there is no communication. I really like the therapist, I feel comfortable talking to her and I have been her patient for 5 years. It was only after I was having problems with Zoloft, i.e, still having anxiety on 25 mg, then 50 mg was causing me to feel unmotivated that the therapist referred me back to my primary physician who gave me a referral to the shrink because he felt I needed a dr with more experience with medications.

I've been just seeking the shrink since last year and basically she takes the recommendations I get from the therapist who is well versed in meds for anxiety although she can't prescribe. If Lexapro would keep me more in a steady state vs taking the Zoloft/Wellbutrin combo, I'm willing to try it. I will talk to the shrink about it on my next appt. For now, I'm going to stick with just the 50 mg of Zoloft. I also have Klonopin that I took when I was waiting for Zoloft to kick in when I first started taking it. Sometimes I'm tempted to take it, especially when I have night time anxiety, but I don't know if that is appropriate.

Thanks for listening.
Posted 5/30/2015 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
You were prescribed the klonopin to take as needed for anxiety, so take it if you feel the need to. Many on the forum including myself take a benzo as needed for anxiety attacks, that is what they are for. :) It's okay to take it with your zoloft.
Posted 5/30/2015 4:57 PM (GMT 0)
That's what I thought, but I wasn't sure and never asked the shrink about it. I will take it next time instead of suffering at night.

Thanks!
Posted 5/30/2015 4:59 PM (GMT 0)
Yes please take it, there is no need to suffer if we don't have too. Anxiety is a beast and if we have something to help then by all means we need to do it. :)
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