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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by yeltom on February 25, 2003, at 17:22:19
I just started Zoloft for the second time. Even though I'm starting at only 12.5 milligrams, I got the aforementioned unpleasant side effect right away. Is there any hope that I will get over this on the way to 100 mg? I.e., is this side-effect transient? I really want Zoloft to work.
Posted by IsoM on February 25, 2003, at 19:09:11
In reply to Zoloft and diarreah: does it get better?, posted by yeltom on February 25, 2003, at 17:22:19
For some the side effects fade after a couple of weeks. For others, they never go away. You'll just have to hope they fade. Having a positive view will help. Wish I could say more.
Posted by laurarn on February 26, 2003, at 10:21:19
In reply to Zoloft and diarreah: does it get better?, posted by yeltom on February 25, 2003, at 17:22:19
I was on Zoloft off and on for six years. Each time I started I had diarrhea and then it went away each time after a couple of weeks. Hopefully yours will too. Good Luck.
Posted by yeltom on February 26, 2003, at 14:52:01
In reply to Re: Zoloft and diarreah: does it get better? » yeltom, posted by laurarn on February 26, 2003, at 10:21:19
Thanks for the hopeful response. Was there anything you did during those initial weeks that successfully minimized the problem? After
the initial weeks, would you say that the problem completely went away or just got better?> I was on Zoloft off and on for six years. Each time I started I had diarrhea and then it went away each time after a couple of weeks. Hopefully yours will too. Good Luck.
Posted by JohnV on February 26, 2003, at 15:20:04
In reply to Zoloft and diarreah: does it get better?, posted by yeltom on February 25, 2003, at 17:22:19
Hmmm..I have a few suggestions, but you may have to work through these on a trial-by-trial basis. I'd suggest using all instead of just one.1) Use Imodium as-per needed for a short period of time.
2) Use an anti-cholinergic like benadryl or even Dramamine/gravol on a regular basis.
3) Add calcium supplements to your diet, which may slow down bowel action.
4) Practise relaxation and possibly ask for a benzo to help.
5) Use Pepto-bismal.Don't forget, with diarrhea you need to drink extra water and should take a multi-vitamin/mineral supplement. I hope that is somewhat helpful. John.
Posted by laurarn on February 26, 2003, at 21:11:02
In reply to Re: Zoloft and diarreah: does it get better? » laurarn, posted by yeltom on February 26, 2003, at 14:52:01
JohnV gave some excellent suggestions for helping with the diarrhea. Especially the one about drinking more fluids.
My diarrhea went completely away after a couple of weeks on Zoloft. It would come back with dosage increases and then once again go away. I hope this is your experience as well as Zoloft was the right med for me at the time.
Posted by Katia on February 27, 2003, at 0:31:32
In reply to Re: Zoloft and diarreah: does it get better? » yeltom, posted by laurarn on February 26, 2003, at 21:11:02
Hi,
I've been looking to find SOMEONE who has had experience with Zoloft on these threads.
Can all of you please tell me of your experiences with Zoloft? How much? How long? How effective? What side effects?
I am on about my fifth week, (started at 50mg for four weeks and now with one week just upped to 100mg.) I am sooo tired! (no diarreah though) I also feel depressed again. (I also just recently finished Effexor). Maybe it's just taking time to kick in. Prior to Effexor, I took Celexa for two months to no effect whatsoever on my depression. This is the first three ADs I've ever taken after suffering a life long depression. I've been reading that SSRIs may not be the most effective and EFfexor (which isn't SSRI) didn't work for me - too many side effects.
I'd appreciate a sharing of experiences - good and bad.
thanks. Katia
Posted by laurarn on February 27, 2003, at 10:10:23
In reply to Re: Zoloft and diarreah: does it get better?, posted by Katia on February 27, 2003, at 0:31:32
Hi Katia. Zoloft was the first psychotropic med I took when my depression led me to feeling suicidal six years ago. It was a wonder drug for me. I started out with 50mg, and then every two weeks increased until I was at 100mg every day. I pretty much stayed on this for several years. It took a few weeks to kick in. But, when it did it saved my life.
My side effects came with each dosage increase, but then eventually went completely away. If Zoloft is right for you then sticking with it through the side effects until they minimize or disappear would be my advice. On the other hand, if the side effects are intolerable you would need to make that call.
Best of luck in finding the right med. You will, just hang in there.
Posted by Katia on February 27, 2003, at 15:34:28
In reply to Re: Zoloft and diarreah: does it get better? » Katia, posted by laurarn on February 27, 2003, at 10:10:23
Thanks so much for replying. I do hope sleepiness goes away...like I was on Effexor, I sleep soooo much and this is coming from an insomniac! It's good to sleep, but a little normalcy would be good!
I will try and ride through the side effects for another three weeks and see what happens. After that it'll be over two months and maybe I'll need to augment or change.
Are you still on meds? If you were on Zoloft for so many years, what happened? I am 32 and have just started to address the fact that I've been depressed most of my life and didn't realize that I could help myself at all. So my journey with ADs started this summer when a suicidal depression hit me combined with lose of a baby and boyfriend...another story.
thanks again.
Katia> Hi Katia. Zoloft was the first psychotropic med I took when my depression led me to feeling suicidal six years ago. It was a wonder drug for me. I started out with 50mg, and then every two weeks increased until I was at 100mg every day. I pretty much stayed on this for several years. It took a few weeks to kick in. But, when it did it saved my life.
>
> My side effects came with each dosage increase, but then eventually went completely away. If Zoloft is right for you then sticking with it through the side effects until they minimize or disappear would be my advice. On the other hand, if the side effects are intolerable you would need to make that call.
>
> Best of luck in finding the right med. You will, just hang in there.
Posted by laurarn on March 1, 2003, at 10:26:45
In reply to Re: Zoloft and diarreah: does it get better? » laurarn, posted by Katia on February 27, 2003, at 15:34:28
Hi Katia. My GP put me on Zoloft to begin with when my depression became too overwhelming. It worked wonderfully for me. I suffered from lifelong depression and never knew what to call it.
But, eventually I began to suspect I might have some other things going on as well. My depression was much better but I was experiencing other symptoms. I decided that I wanted to see a specialist in order to get a full picture. I was referred to a psychiatrist. I was fortunate to find this pdoc as he is quite excellent in what he does.
So, after over one year of weekly visits I now have confidence in me having a correct diagnosis. The point of this is to say that eventually I didn't need the SSRI but did need a different type of med. Zoloft was great for the time I took it. I'd tried Paxil and Prozac and they did not work. But for others, Zoloft doesn't work and the others do wonderfully for them. You just have to find the right one.
Hope this helps.
Posted by Katia on March 1, 2003, at 19:26:59
In reply to Re: Zoloft and diarreah: does it get better? » Katia, posted by laurarn on March 1, 2003, at 10:26:45
Thank you for the input, it does help. It's me too - suffer from lifelong depression but never knew what to call it - just felt very strange and ashamed and needed/need lots of "down" time and time alone, exhausted...
If you don't mind me asking, what is it that you were diagnosed with? Which country are you in?
Katia> Hi Katia. My GP put me on Zoloft to begin with when my depression became too overwhelming. It worked wonderfully for me. I suffered from lifelong depression and never knew what to call it.
>
> But, eventually I began to suspect I might have some other things going on as well. My depression was much better but I was experiencing other symptoms. I decided that I wanted to see a specialist in order to get a full picture. I was referred to a psychiatrist. I was fortunate to find this pdoc as he is quite excellent in what he does.
>
> So, after over one year of weekly visits I now have confidence in me having a correct diagnosis. The point of this is to say that eventually I didn't need the SSRI but did need a different type of med. Zoloft was great for the time I took it. I'd tried Paxil and Prozac and they did not work. But for others, Zoloft doesn't work and the others do wonderfully for them. You just have to find the right one.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
>
Posted by laurarn on March 2, 2003, at 10:08:44
In reply to Re: Zoloft and diarreah: does it get better? » laurarn, posted by Katia on March 1, 2003, at 19:26:59
Hi Katia. I am from the US. My primary diagnosis was depression, unspecified. Others are PTSD, disassociative disorder, NOS, and anxiety disorder.
I have to say the one diagnosis that finally made sense for me was the disaccociative disorder. It explained so many things to me.
Hope you are having success with the Zoloft.
Posted by Katia on March 2, 2003, at 16:46:48
In reply to Re: Zoloft and diarreah: does it get better?, posted by laurarn on March 2, 2003, at 10:08:44
Thanks for your reply. Are you in therapy in conjunction with the meds? that's quite a diagnosis that you have. Disassociative disorder is normally a defense mechanism from a traumatic event? It's an interesting mechanism and amazing that we are able to do it. A lot of the work I've done in the past few years on myself has been about "presence" and trying to stay in body and emotions throughout life, through meditations and yoga and therapy. I was wondering if you do any work around this disorder?
thanks for your sharing your diagnosis.
Katia
> Hi Katia. I am from the US. My primary diagnosis was depression, unspecified. Others are PTSD, disassociative disorder, NOS, and anxiety disorder.
>
> I have to say the one diagnosis that finally made sense for me was the disaccociative disorder. It explained so many things to me.
>
> Hope you are having success with the Zoloft.
Posted by ace on March 5, 2003, at 3:09:17
In reply to Zoloft and diarreah: does it get better?, posted by yeltom on February 25, 2003, at 17:22:19
> I just started Zoloft for the second time. Even though I'm starting at only 12.5 milligrams, I got the aforementioned unpleasant side effect right away. Is there any hope that I will get over this on the way to 100 mg? I.e., is this side-effect transient? I really want Zoloft to work.
When I first went on it I had NO s/effects. But it was a sh*t drug. Second time I had constant diarreah which never abated.
Ace.
This is the end of the thread.
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