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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jim on April 11, 2000, at 20:15:10
Hi I'm in 6th week of Zoloft, been @ 150mg for a
week. I felt pretty good for 3-4 days in week 4
@100mg. Now I have jaw tightness, spells of uncontrollable yawning and am still quite depressed
at times,more bad days than good ones. Last year, this time, I was on Celexa and didn't like it much either, but I don't think I was as uncomfortable as I am now, my main complaint was apathy, which I also
have now.I have a fairly high stress level, being the breadwinner for a family of 4, incl. an 11-yr old
son with Down Syndrome. I need to stop being "impaired" by either depression or drug side-effects so I can function properly and effectively.I just spoke to my doc, who wants me to start Neurontin, in addition to the Zoloft. I'm ready
to go back to SAMe. I was taking 800mg (4 pills).At my first mtg w/ the doc, she said I could double
the SAMe. I said I can't afford that, so she gave me
Zoloft samples. I saw her again after 1 wk and 3 wks,
at which time she gave me a years supply of samples,
told me to keep taking the medicine (forever) and to
"have a great life."I'd appreciate input from knowledgeable people here:
Do you think 6 weeks is just not long enough to be stabilized? And that I should just be patient.
Do my side effects indicate that Zoloft is not for me?
or that 150 might be too much? or not enough?What about the addition of Neurontin? I don't think
that I have hypomania. But doc felt that I needed it
@ our 1st mtg. Then at the 3rd and last, she decided
that I didn't need the Neurontin, to just stay on the Zoloft. But when I called her this evening, she 1st
said why don't you take 200mg Zoloft, then said stay
at 150, add 300mg Neurontin at nite, after 1 wk, add
one in the am.Also I don't sleep well, hardly ever, but worse on SSRI's. Last year, when I took Celexa, I was also
given trazadone to help sleep, which helped somewhat.I am a person who doesn't like to take ANY meds.
Partly this is idealogical, as I am a holistic
healthcare provider.
I have been depressed, in varying degrees, alot of the time, since early childhood, lots of bereavement around when I was a baby and toddler -2younger siblings died.BTW -I'm 52 today and managed w/o meds until last
winter. But, now I see in retrospect, how much depression has cost me over my lifetime in both missed enjoyment and missed earning power.I realize that I've asked many questions.
Thanks in advance for your responses.
Posted by Mark H. on April 11, 2000, at 20:50:15
In reply to Help-Not Good in 6th wk of Zoloft, posted by Jim on April 11, 2000, at 20:15:10
My heart goes out to you. Although depression can make you apathetic, it's important to keep informing your doctor that the meds she has given you are not making you well. Don't settle for feeling "a little better." And especially don't settle for feeling worse or merely different.
I tried 28 different anti-depressants, adjunctives and over-the-counter products over a period of four years before my doctor and I found the right mix for me. There was nothing subtle about it. On June 21, 1997, a dark, heavy curtain lifted and I began my healing from severe cyclic depression. I'm not always well, but I'm infinitely better than I was three years ago.
Don't give up, Jim, and don't settle for less than being well. If Zoloft doesn't work, try Effexor or another AD. If it keeps you awake at night, take it only in the morning and DON'T use the extended release version. If you need to potentiate it, try adding a bit of a stimulant, such as Ritalin. One size does not fit all!
Good luck, and plese keep us all posted on how you do.
Posted by Sean on April 12, 2000, at 11:26:34
In reply to Help-Not Good in 6th wk of Zoloft, posted by Jim on April 11, 2000, at 20:15:10
Jim -
sounds like you've got a tough situation going there. I can
relate to the apathy aspect of Zoloft, but I'm not
sure if it is worth risking depression. I found
that Neurontin allows me to tolerate more Zoloft
without side fx. I also seem to respond well to Zoloft
within 2-weeks. I get some hypomania, but this usually
releases after about a month.Do you exercise? I think this really helps with
everything. I'm also experimenting with acetyl-L-
carnitine and EPA supplements. I too would love to
never take another antidepressant again. In reality
the risk of suicide is very significant for me and
depression is so insidious in its varied manifestations
that it creeps into your thought processes in
unfamiliar ways.I think 6-weeks is a good try on any drug, so if
you aren't feeling better, I would consider trying
some other meds.> Hi I'm in 6th week of Zoloft, been @ 150mg for a
> week. I felt pretty good for 3-4 days in week 4
> @100mg. Now I have jaw tightness, spells of uncontrollable yawning and am still quite depressed
> at times,more bad days than good ones. Last year, this time, I was on Celexa and didn't like it much either, but I don't think I was as uncomfortable as I am now, my main complaint was apathy, which I also
> have now.
>
> I have a fairly high stress level, being the breadwinner for a family of 4, incl. an 11-yr old
> son with Down Syndrome. I need to stop being "impaired" by either depression or drug side-effects so I can function properly and effectively.
>
> I just spoke to my doc, who wants me to start Neurontin, in addition to the Zoloft. I'm ready
> to go back to SAMe. I was taking 800mg (4 pills).
>
> At my first mtg w/ the doc, she said I could double
> the SAMe. I said I can't afford that, so she gave me
> Zoloft samples. I saw her again after 1 wk and 3 wks,
> at which time she gave me a years supply of samples,
> told me to keep taking the medicine (forever) and to
> "have a great life."
>
> I'd appreciate input from knowledgeable people here:
>
> Do you think 6 weeks is just not long enough to be stabilized? And that I should just be patient.
>
> Do my side effects indicate that Zoloft is not for me?
> or that 150 might be too much? or not enough?
>
> What about the addition of Neurontin? I don't think
> that I have hypomania. But doc felt that I needed it
> @ our 1st mtg. Then at the 3rd and last, she decided
> that I didn't need the Neurontin, to just stay on the Zoloft. But when I called her this evening, she 1st
> said why don't you take 200mg Zoloft, then said stay
> at 150, add 300mg Neurontin at nite, after 1 wk, add
> one in the am.
>
> Also I don't sleep well, hardly ever, but worse on SSRI's. Last year, when I took Celexa, I was also
> given trazadone to help sleep, which helped somewhat.
>
> I am a person who doesn't like to take ANY meds.
> Partly this is idealogical, as I am a holistic
> healthcare provider.
> I have been depressed, in varying degrees, alot of the time, since early childhood, lots of bereavement around when I was a baby and toddler -2younger siblings died.
>
> BTW -I'm 52 today and managed w/o meds until last
> winter. But, now I see in retrospect, how much depression has cost me over my lifetime in both missed enjoyment and missed earning power.
>
> I realize that I've asked many questions.
>
> Thanks in advance for your responses.
>
Posted by KarenB on April 12, 2000, at 12:12:21
In reply to Help-Not Good in 6th wk of Zoloft, posted by Jim on April 11, 2000, at 20:15:10
Jim,
I can empathize with you. I had similar experiences on Zoloft, Paxil, Effexor, Serzone and a couple others. I too have depression which is marked by apathy, lack of energy, trouble getting out of bed in the morning. Then I can be irritable restless and discontent. I was misdiagnosed for years but have recently discovered that my real affliction is actually ADD with HYPOactivity. I was stunned at the prospect of this but the more research I did, the more I was convinced. I am off all drugs now except Ritalin and it is working very well for me. I have enough energy to be alive BUT I am calm and not amped-up. And, my mood is more stable. I AM NOT DEPRESSED!!! I have been depressed most of my life.
Don't know if this may be true for you but do yourself a favor and do a search engine on ADD and ADHD and follow the links and take some tests.
Some interesting things I learned: 1/3 of people with ADD do NOT have hyperactivity. In fact, if hyperactivity is not present, HYPOactivity often is (apathy, sleepiness, lack of energy). One study said that if a person is not diagnosed and treated by their thirties they have an 85-90% chance of developing major depression. Further, the symptoms of ADD like irritability, short temper and impulsiveness in speech (blurting out innappropriate things) can mimic the symptoms of mania, specifically mixed states and rapid cycling.
Check it out. Wishing you the best.
Karen
Posted by bob on April 12, 2000, at 22:01:19
In reply to Re: Help-Not Good in 6th wk of Zoloft, posted by KarenB on April 12, 2000, at 12:12:21
Yeah, 6 weeks is a good trial over all, but you also may be feeling the effects of boosting up to 150mg from 100mg. If that IS the cause, then your body should probably settle down quickly from the change.
Rather than making a series of changes right now (adding more zoloft, adding neurontin, adding a stimulant, switching to effexor), one more week of patience -- IF you can manage it -- may give you a clearer picture if the 150mg/day of zoloft is what you need.
be well,
bob
Posted by CT on April 17, 2000, at 15:11:25
In reply to Help-Not Good in 6th wk of Zoloft, posted by Jim on April 11, 2000, at 20:15:10
> Sorry to hear things are not soo well. Been there many times. I am 2 months into the Zoloft and starting last week I am feeling fantastic!! I am mean really good. I too have experienced the jaw thing and constant yawning. These are subsiding for me. Every so often they recur, but are not as intense. Give the Zoloft a bit more time. I too am on 150mg a day!! I hope you start to feel better because you deserve it!!! Good luck!!
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