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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 2 of 2. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by MissouriGal on March 26, 2004, at 0:47:45
Hi everyone. Haven't posted here in a while.
Started with anxiety, PA's in 1989. Ran the gamut with meds over the years.
Last year, pdoc put me on Zoloft 100mg day (worked up to it gradually) and Xanax, .5mg twice a day. Eventually, pdoc worked me up to 200mg Zoloft a day, and taking the Xanax 3x a day.
Went to my latest appointment 2 days ago. Have had a lot going on, anxiety is really bad, meds not really helping. Pdoc upped Zoloft to 250mg a day, and Xanax to 4 times a day, still at .5mg on that though. I also take 20mg of Inderal 4x a day for high blood pressure, not for the anxiety.
Back in 2002, I had a chemical stress echocardiogram done. (I have mitral valve prolapse with regurge.) When they pushed the atropine into me it was like my head was going to explode. I remember thinking "Am I having a stroke?" before I passed out from the pain. I suffer from migraines occassionally, and my cardio said that the headache came from that, just aggrivated by the atropine. Cardio said the echo was fine though and he thought I was having more panic-related symptoms than heart related. Prescribed Paxil.
Took the Paxil as directed and witin a week was having bad headaches daily. I mean, headaches that made me stay in bed. These weren't the normal migraines though. The headaches were more "intense". I stopped the Paxil, and wasn't on any psych meds until last year when pdoc prescribed the Zoloft and Xanax for me.
Now, I've taken Zoloft before, and I know if I miss a day, the next day I have a signature headache as I call it. Those headaches had a certain physiology to them, and are different from normal headaches or the occassional migraine. Always start in one area, move to a certain area, etc.
Anyways, on the 100mg of Zoloft I did ok as far as the "intense" headaches went. Up to 200mg (which Ive been on since November) and I've had one long continuous headache since then. Seriously... a 4 month headache. I take Advil and it eases off, but it's never completely went away. I told my pdoc about this, and he doesn't seem too concerned. I AM, however. I even told my PCP about it, and he prescribed Tylenol 3 for them. Even 2 of those every 4 hours doesn't knock it out.
Now... pdoc has increased Zoloft to 250mg which in MY way of thinking, means the headaches are going to get even worse. They have each time the dosage was upped. My other concern is... I've read where the maximum dosage of Zoloft is 200mg daily. Is this correct? He wants me to stay at this dose until my next appointment which is May 6th and said that if it doesn't help with the anxiety, he'll try something else.
I know I should do the 250mg as he said, but I'm scared to. The headaches are almost unbearable now as it is. All I want to do is stay in bed with the lights off and sleep. I'm afraid that if I up it the headaches will get even worse. I have a house to run and children tot ake care of, I can't just crawl under the covers and stay there with this headache.
Right now, I'm still currently taking 200mg because I just got a refill on the 6th of this month and my insurance won't allow the new script to be filled until the 6th of April (30 days). I've voiced my concerns to the pdoc and he doesn't seem concerned about the headaches and the Zoloft dosing. Should I?
Oh... I do also want to add that on the occassions that I've MISSED a dose of the Zoloft... instead of having that signature headache the next day as usual, I actually have NO headache. Almost makes me want to miss a dose on purpose just to have a pain-free day. It's not like it's helping with the anxiety or panic attacks now anyways. :)
Anyone have any insight into this? I'm sorry it's so long, but I wanted to give some background information as well.
Posted by Vera on March 27, 2004, at 12:16:38
In reply to Zoloft, Xanax, Inderal (Kinda long, sorry), posted by MissouriGal on March 26, 2004, at 0:47:45
Hi -
I think you have suffered this pain long enough. Did you tell your Pdoc and MD that the headaches are "unbearable"? A "4 month headache" and MD just prescibes T3??? Honey, it's time to find out what the problem is, asap. Pain is ALWAYS an indicator that something isn't right. You're right to be concerned about increasing the dosage further - it is possible you could get the mother of all headaches. Do I know this for a fact? No. But I would give both your Docs a call and discuss your concerns. Zoloft, to me, anyway, doesn't sound like it's the med for you - it wasn't for me, either, but for a different reason entirely. Good luck.
Vera
This is the end of the thread.
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