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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 Me4GZus on September 17, 2003, at 13:06:37
Hello Everyone,
I have just registered here and thought I'd ask some questions. I am currently experiencing my 2nd episode of depression in my life, the first being 9 years ago, and am taking anti-depressants. The first one the doctor put me on was Effexor RX and it seemed to work for a short time, but then started not to work as well. I took it for about 3-4 weeks. I now am on my 2nd day of Zoloft. Does anyone have any success stories with this med? How long did it take before it started working? My doctor told me that he's had patients that can try a few different meds before they work, inlcuding one that took 8 different meds before the right one was found. I sure hope I don't take that long as I have major depression and anxiety and it is very dibilitating and even interferring with my employment. And I know how difficult it is to get disablilty insurance for depression. Anyway, any responses would be appreciated. Thanks.
Posted by oeps7 on September 17, 2003, at 13:40:26
In reply to New Here with Zoloft Questions, posted by Me4GZus on September 17, 2003, at 13:06:37
Zoloft 50mg is working for me. I was on effexor xr 7 yearsand it stopped working. A small dose of zoloft seems to do the trick. Has decreeased my sex drive, effexor did not.
Posted by Emmy333 on September 18, 2003, at 8:47:02
In reply to Re: New Here with Zoloft Questions, posted by oeps7 on September 17, 2003, at 13:40:26
hi there~ i am on my 3rd day w/ the zoloft after stopping w/ the effexor myself. i have been on zoloft before and i experienced a drastic improvement in my depression and anxiety. i quit taking it b/c i felt so much better (big mistake). needless to say , i have decided that after trying : paxil, zoloft, lexapro, and effexor, the only time i experienced improvement was while on the 50 mg. of zoloft. i hope that it kicks in soon for both of us!! also--a little more advice...i made the mistake of upping my dosage to 100mg. the previous time i was prescribed the zoloft and i really didn't like it. they say that zoloft is given in low dose for depression, high dose for anxiety. hope this helps at all!~
Posted by Me4GZus on September 18, 2003, at 11:34:23
In reply to Re: New Here with Zoloft Questions, posted by Emmy333 on September 18, 2003, at 8:47:02
How long did it take you to feel better when you first took Zoloft (I'm also taking 50MG)? I'm on day #3 and I still don't feel better. Maybe Effexor withdrawls? Thanks for the reply.
Posted by Mats on September 18, 2003, at 11:59:57
In reply to Re: New Here with Zoloft Questions, posted by Me4GZus on September 18, 2003, at 11:34:23
I'm on 200mg Zoloft been increasing my dose from the initial starting dose of 50mg. Been on the med for about 1,5 year. First 6 months where amazing. Now I dont do that good anymore and my depression is creeping back on me.
anyone with suggestions for med change? Been on Celexa before but it made me a sleeping dead.
Posted by Emmy333 on September 18, 2003, at 12:18:23
In reply to Re: New Here with Zoloft Questions, posted by Me4GZus on September 18, 2003, at 11:34:23
it took about 1.5 weeks for me to begin feeling the effects of the zoloft. whereas, with the effexor, i felt it on the first day i took it. i would give it atleast 1-2 weeks before you start feeling some of the effects.
Posted by oeps7 on September 18, 2003, at 12:20:31
In reply to Re: New Here with Zoloft Questions, posted by Emmy333 on September 18, 2003, at 12:18:23
> it took about 1.5 weeks for me to begin feeling the effects of the zoloft. whereas, with the effexor, i felt it on the first day i took it. i would give it atleast 1-2 weeks before you start feeling some of the effects.
Hi Emmy - I started the zoloft about 2 months agon and it worked after 2 weeks - the sexual side effect seem to be the worst on this though.
Helps my depression and anxiety. How are you feeling?
Mary
Posted by Emmy333 on September 18, 2003, at 12:36:17
In reply to Re: New Here with Zoloft Questions, posted by oeps7 on September 18, 2003, at 12:20:31
thanks for the post!! i am feeling okay--i am just happy to be off of the effexor and feeling 1/2 way "normal" again for now. today was my 4th day on the zoloft, so i am sure that i will be feeling something by next week. thankfully, though, i am experiencing no withdrawal symptoms from effexor. however, i have heard that alcohol "cancels" the effects of the zoloft...do you know if that is true or not?? if so, then i won't be feeling better for a while...
Posted by Me4GZus on September 18, 2003, at 12:49:42
In reply to Re: New Here with Zoloft Questions, posted by Emmy333 on September 18, 2003, at 12:18:23
Thanks for the reply. When I took Effexor, I felt something the first day. I'll give it a week or two like you said. It's just kind of hard to deal with in the meantime. I wonder if I could be experiencing Effexor withdrawls and that is aggravating my depression?
Posted by oeps7 on September 18, 2003, at 13:02:15
In reply to Re: New Here with Zoloft Questions, posted by Emmy333 on September 18, 2003, at 12:36:17
> thanks for the post!! i am feeling okay--i am just happy to be off of the effexor and feeling 1/2 way "normal" again for now. today was my 4th day on the zoloft, so i am sure that i will be feeling something by next week. thankfully, though, i am experiencing no withdrawal symptoms from effexor. however, i have heard that alcohol "cancels" the effects of the zoloft...do you know if that is true or not?? if so, then i won't be feeling better for a while...
Hi Emmy,
I'm not sure about that one if you are drinking too much it's bound to make you feel worse. I know when I drank too much the morning after I would feel shaky and panicky.
Posted by Emmy333 on September 18, 2003, at 13:08:36
In reply to Re: New Here with Zoloft Questions, posted by oeps7 on September 18, 2003, at 13:02:15
yeah, it's kind of awol to take an anti-depressant and then still drink alcohol at night , which we all know is a depressant. but, yeah, when i drink too much, i always feel worse the next day.
as far as feeling bad, Me4GZus, i would assume that there will be some sort of withdrawal from the effexor. and from what i have read, it can be pretty bad. hopefully the zoloft can help to control the withdrawal??
Posted by sarah1980 on September 20, 2003, at 3:37:27
In reply to New Here with Zoloft Questions, posted by Me4GZus on September 17, 2003, at 13:06:37
Effexor never worked for me, however zoloft does work for me but only for a few months at a time. It is my all time favorite SSRI, I almost feel like it should be put in the drinking water. It takes about 2 and a half to three weeks to start working. It is all side effects in the beginning and then they start to go away and the depression begins to lift. Try to be patient and optimistic!
Posted by jenneh on September 22, 2003, at 16:28:17
In reply to Re: New Here with Zoloft Questions, posted by sarah1980 on September 20, 2003, at 3:37:27
hey emo
since you're taking the zoloft my guess is that you won't experience side efects (or not as bad) with the effexor. The side effects of going off it usually pop up after 2-3 days - if you arent feeling them , you are probably fine
Love ya
Posted by worrier on September 24, 2003, at 18:13:23
In reply to Re: New Here with Zoloft Questions, posted by sarah1980 on September 20, 2003, at 3:37:27
> Effexor never worked for me, however zoloft does work for me but only for a few months at a time. It is my all time favorite SSRI, I almost feel like it should be put in the drinking water. It takes about 2 and a half to three weeks to start working. It is all side effects in the beginning and then they start to go away and the depression begins to lift. Try to be patient and optimistic!
>Just started zoloft after many unsuccessful trials with other SSRIs,gabitril and remeron. You said in the beginning its all side effects...like what? Just curious so I'll know sort of what I might expect. Paxil screwed me up so badly I am terrified of SSRIs now,but my pdoc thinks zoloft might be "the one". Anyway, any possible info re:side effects would be appreciated. Worrier.
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