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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by theo on January 29, 2004, at 20:35:58
When do you folks out there taking Zoloft take it, morning or evening? Is it activating or does it make you tired. I'm taking Wellbutrin XL 300mg in the morning along with 1mg of Xanax XR. Was thinking about adding a low dose of Zoloft and dropping the Xanax XR because I'm worried about long time benzo use. I take the Xanax XR for social and general anxiety and wondering if Zoloft would be a good replacement?
Posted by jack smith on January 29, 2004, at 23:03:49
In reply to Zoloft to replace Xanax XR for social,gen anxiety, posted by theo on January 29, 2004, at 20:35:58
> I take the Xanax XR for social and general anxiety and wondering if Zoloft would be a good replacement?
Why drop xanax if it's working. More to the point, what would be the benefit of replacing long term benzo use with long term ssri use?
Posted by theo on January 29, 2004, at 23:30:19
In reply to Re: Zoloft to replace Xanax XR for social,gen anxiety, posted by jack smith on January 29, 2004, at 23:03:49
I don't know that's why I'm asking for advice to see if Zoloft would be better long term than Xanax XR for social and general anxiety?
Posted by Adam33 on January 30, 2004, at 0:18:37
In reply to Re: Zoloft to replace Xanax XR for social,gen anxiety » jack smith, posted by theo on January 29, 2004, at 23:30:19
Theo, I hope you get some good answers to this question. I too take benzo's for my SAD (more specifically performance anxiety), but would like to be on a good SSRI for it as well because the benzo's really sedate me (so far, which might go away), and the Klonopin is making me a bit depressed. Reading some of your posts, I have been thinking of asking my doc to try me on Xanax XR to see if I get more energy (and no depression).
In my view IF an SSRI worked well, it may keep me from having all the anxiety ups and downs I predict having with long term benzo use. I currently am taking Lexapro (30mg's) but just recently started. I will let you know how that goes. If that doesn't work, I think I will ask about Zoloft since I have hear many good things about that with respect to SAD (but I am concerned about Zoloft because Paxil CR gave me sexual side effects). I guess if Lexapro or Zoloft worked REALLY well, but gave me sexual side effects, maybe I would just try to counter-balance those effects with some other med. (But that sounds like a lot of meds to be taking to me)But don't get me wrong, I really like the Benzo feel, it's just that I am in a very competitive graduate school where I need to be a mentally sharp as possible, and I know the benzo's hurt (at the very minimum) my concentration, but probably my memory as well. But I have to balance that with the effect the anxiety has on my performance ability.
Like you I am still learning, and am in the experimental phase here. Best of luck.
I will look forward to any posts you get here!
Posted by theo on January 30, 2004, at 8:17:54
In reply to Re: Zoloft to replace Xanax XR for social,gen anxiety, posted by Adam33 on January 30, 2004, at 0:18:37
And that's my deal, the Xanax XR is working great! I just can't overcome this guilt of taking it daily, even though it's prescribed by my doc I still have feel more guilty taking it than an SSRI for some reason. If you do try it My doc made a suggestion that works good. Even though Xanax XR is suppose to be once daily, it has a half life of around 12 hours. So to avoid feeling to drowsy by taking one dose in the morning, I take divided doses. Instead of taking one 2 mg pill once in the morning, he prescribed me 1mg pills and I take one about 7:00am and one at 7:00pm. It is a little costly because I'm buying 60 1mg pills per month versus 30 2mg pills. The one thing you cannot do is spilt the tablets or it would be like taking regular Xanax. If you read the Xanax XR prescribing info it doesn't mention dividing doses but I called Pfizer and spoke with a pharmacist and she said it's Ok to do this. I'll be honest, I wake up feeling fresh and when I take it in the morning with my Wellbutrin XL 300mg, I don't feel drowsy at all nor do I have slowed thinking. I work in sales and sometimes make 25 calls a day and I actually feel much better with less grogginess and zoneiness than when I was taking 20mg Paxil instead for the anxiety, which I dropped due to not being able to have sex at all. Long story short the Wellbutrin XL 300mg plus the Xanax XR 1mg twice daily is working great, but am worried about daily use of benzo's, maybe because I read to much on this site about short term memory loss etc. The reason my doc switched me to Xanax XR is because of SSRI sexual side effects so if I did try Zoloft instead, that could be another issue, although Zoloft is supposed to be the least harsh with sexual side effects. I'm sticking with this combo and would highly suggest it. I'm probably just being way over caustious and need to go with it since it's working and drop the guilt!
Posted by Adam33 on January 30, 2004, at 10:45:02
In reply to Re: Zoloft to replace Xanax XR for social,gen anxiety » Adam33, posted by theo on January 30, 2004, at 8:17:54
Theo, what does the Wellbutrin XL 300 do for you? My doc hasn't suggested that one to me yet.
Posted by theo on January 30, 2004, at 13:57:42
In reply to Re: Zoloft to replace Xanax XR for social,gen anxiety » theo, posted by Adam33 on January 30, 2004, at 10:45:02
It's an antidepressant in it's own class. It gives me energy focus and helps with depression with no sexual side effects, but does nothing for anxiety initially, which is why alot of people also take an SSRI that is supposed to help anxiety or a benzo like Xanax XR.
Posted by missinglynx on February 1, 2004, at 6:25:39
In reply to Re: Zoloft to replace Xanax XR for social,gen anxiety » Adam33, posted by theo on January 30, 2004, at 13:57:42
Congratulations Theo! Sounds like you are cured on your current regime
As you taking both Wellbutrin and Xanax XR?
Posted by theo on February 1, 2004, at 10:54:01
In reply to Re: Zoloft to replace Xanax XR for social,gen anxiety » theo, posted by missinglynx on February 1, 2004, at 6:25:39
Yes, 300mg of Wellbutrin XL and 1mg Xanax XR morning and bedtime. I have sample packs of Zoloft and might experiment substituting my bedtime dose of Xanax XR with 25-50mg of Zoloft.
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