Posted by BarbaraCat on September 22, 2002, at 22:33:04
In reply to BarbCat/Lynda/Jill, posted by McPac on September 22, 2002, at 15:40:08
> Barb....what effects did you 'hate' about being on Zoloft?
I didn't hate Zoloft at all, in fact it was a very good AD, better in my opinion than Paxil, Celexa, Wellbutrin, Effexor and Prozac. I needed a respite from the anxiety and depression and it did this beautifully. I felt carefree, confident, optimistic with very little getting me down or concerning me. The problem arose when I realized that I wasn't feeling things as deeply as I needed to - the good things, like attending a symphony that previously moved me to tears and thinking 'oh, that was interesting but rather a waste of time' or hearing about something that I previously cared passionately and morally about and wondering what the fuss was all about. I felt that everything was A-OK and all would work out, which is a worthy sentiment, however, it was more apathy than philosophy. I had some sexual dysfunction, but probably not as much as commonly reported. It was more like if a sexual encounter happened I had a fine time, but if it didn't I wasn't too bothered. Exercise? Sure, it felt pretty good to work out but if I didn't no big deal. Everything became no big deal and that started bothering me.
I started Wellbutrin at the suggestion of my pdoc to add a little dopamine to counteract the serotonin apathy, but Wellbutrin has the NE curse and it wired me too much. One of the things that happens as serotonin increases is dopamine decreases, so the pleasure and sparkle kind of dry up. In the end I couldn't live with the apathy, tried other ADs to no success, lived without any ADs for 2 years off and on and started Remeron one year ago because of encroaching depression. I'm doing well at 11.5mg. I must say that with Zoloft-induced breezy attitude I handled work alot better, effortlessly zooming up to a high stress career. That same career nearly killed me when I was back to my neurotic but compassionate self. You know what we need? A good SSRI that has dopamine and none of that stinkin' NE. - Barbara
poster:BarbaraCat
thread:1924
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020922/msgs/120782.html