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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 20 of 20. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ed_uk on December 24, 2004, at 10:17:23
Hi,
I've tried plenty of different SSRIs but I've never tried Zoloft. All the SSRIs that I've taken make me very lazy. I need my SSRI for OCD.
Has anyone been more motivated on Zoloft than when on other SSRIs? Please share your experiences!
Ed.
Posted by blanding on December 24, 2004, at 11:37:28
In reply to Zoloft and laziness!, posted by ed_uk on December 24, 2004, at 10:17:23
Hi Ed,
Sertraline (Zoloft) is besides fluoxetine the only SSRI I've tried and this with great success. My daily dosage is 100 mg/d. Together with trimipramine, sertraline is my basic combo med.
Nervertheless I'm on the lookout for augmentation, specifically to address the lack of motivation/drive, or as you put it aptly, laziness. This results in my apartment looking as if a bomb hit it, and I'm also too lazy to even brush my teeth or take a shower every day. Since being a kid and even during my worst depressive episodes througout my life, I religiously took care of my dental hygiene.
I attribute my current laziness to sertraline, which is interestingly also used for treatment of OCD. Seems that too much OCD action by sertraline makes me lacking motivation/drive, especially when considering that I haven't suffered from OCD.
In this respect I might even need some drug that actually induces OCD behaviour, thereby compensating sertraline's action.
Posted by tensor on December 24, 2004, at 13:17:42
In reply to Zoloft and laziness!, posted by ed_uk on December 24, 2004, at 10:17:23
Hi my friend,
> Has anyone been more motivated on Zoloft than when on other SSRIs? Please share your experiences!
Last time i relapsed, fall 2003, i finally found a combo in february 2004 that blew my depression away. That was, as you should know by now :-) the add-on of Zoloft. I can tell you from february to november the 15th i felt better than i've ever felt before. And no side effects to mention, no sexual ones ;) I had motivation, power to make big decisions, i was strong and i loved to live.
Everyone is different, that's good of course, but not when it comes to AD's, imagine if everyone responded equally to the same drug. It would be much easier to, not to share, but to use others experiences./Mattias
btw, have you ever heard the band 'Broder Daniel'?
Posted by ed_uk on December 24, 2004, at 13:35:11
In reply to Re: Zoloft and laziness! » ed_uk, posted by tensor on December 24, 2004, at 13:17:42
Hi Matt!
No, I haven't heard of that band :-)
Did your depresion ever respond to any of the other SSRIs? (I don't think it did, did it?)
Ed/
Posted by appadoo on December 27, 2004, at 19:00:34
In reply to Re: Zoloft and laziness! » tensor, posted by ed_uk on December 24, 2004, at 13:35:11
Zoloft was okay compared to prozac and that was supposed to be more activating.
When no try wellbrutin if its available in yr country and a small amoun of dexemphatamine.
I have adhd and believe it or not it makes me sleepy but since you have no adhd a small amount will go along way along wellbrutin XR.
You should stick to zoloft because I found it best for depression and ocd
Posted by JaneB on December 30, 2004, at 17:23:22
In reply to Zoloft and laziness!, posted by ed_uk on December 24, 2004, at 10:17:23
> Hi,
>
> I've tried plenty of different SSRIs but I've never tried Zoloft. All the SSRIs that I've taken make me very lazy. I need my SSRI for OCD.
>
> Has anyone been more motivated on Zoloft than when on other SSRIs? Please share your experiences!
>
> Ed.I specifically came to this board today to search for Zoloft and laziness. I am taking Zoloft and feel fine but find myself very much lacking in motivation. I stand in a room and just can't seem to make myself do anything. Only when I am with other people do I "get busy." I am looking for a "New Year" change and wonder if it is a change in meds that I need. Currently on 25 or 50 mg of Zoloft, .50 mg clonazepam. Also wondering since my depression is gone if I should go through withdrawals and get off meds. Would I get motivated or depressed? How long would it take to know the answer? I have lots of questions like that. I believe that Zoloft helps OCD. It has not made me nearly as lazy as Celexa and Lexapro did.
I was even doing a scriptural search for laziness. The Bible has a lot to say about it also. I only wish it said something about SSRI's. :)
Jane
Posted by ed_uk on December 30, 2004, at 19:58:31
In reply to Re: Zoloft and laziness! » ed_uk, posted by JaneB on December 30, 2004, at 17:23:22
Hi Jane :-)
>Also wondering since my depression is gone if I should go through withdrawals and get off meds. Would I get motivated or depressed? How long would it take to know the answer?
I think that it would probably take several weeks or months to find out.
Have you tried Paxil? Paxil made me VERY lazy! Worse than Celexa!
Ed.
Posted by JaneB on December 30, 2004, at 21:21:11
In reply to Re: Zoloft and laziness! » JaneB, posted by ed_uk on December 30, 2004, at 19:58:31
> Hi Jane :-)
>
> >Also wondering since my depression is gone if I should go through withdrawals and get off meds. Would I get motivated or depressed? How long would it take to know the answer?
>
> I think that it would probably take several weeks or months to find out.
>
> Have you tried Paxil? Paxil made me VERY lazy! Worse than Celexa!
>
> Ed.
Tried Paxil only by mistake--8 years ago when I first went on AD's. I had been on samples of Zoloft and then the dr. gave me samples of Paxil at next visit. I was too naive to know the difference. My heart went crazy after a few days and he took me off. Don't know if it was the Paxil or the inadvertent change from Zoloft. Never wanted to try it again but my daughter did and it helped but side effects were unbearable.I seem to do best with a combo of Sudafed, Caffeine, Zoloft and Klonopin. Isn't there a med with those properties all rolled into one that is not dangerous to take?
Jane
Posted by blanding on December 30, 2004, at 22:30:46
In reply to Re: Zoloft and laziness! » ed_uk, posted by JaneB on December 30, 2004, at 21:21:11
I doubt you'll find a panacea, just as the alchemists failed to do so.
Only med cocktails can accomplish desired effects, where each drug complements the others.
The same holds true for Chinese or Tibetan herbal medicine, where a potpourri of dozens of different herbs are used to treat a specific condition.
Posted by ed_uk on December 31, 2004, at 7:45:47
In reply to Re: Zoloft and laziness! » ed_uk, posted by JaneB on December 30, 2004, at 21:21:11
Hi!
>I seem to do best with a combo of Sudafed, Caffeine, Zoloft and Klonopin. Isn't there a med with those properties all rolled into one that is not dangerous to take?
Sudafed+caffeine might be 'mimicked' by a low dose of an amphetamine such as Adderall. All meds have risks though!
Ed.
Posted by JaneB on December 31, 2004, at 13:10:24
In reply to Re: Zoloft and laziness! To JaneB, posted by ed_uk on December 31, 2004, at 7:45:47
> Hi!
>
> >I seem to do best with a combo of Sudafed, Caffeine, Zoloft and Klonopin. Isn't there a med with those properties all rolled into one that is not dangerous to take?
>
> Sudafed+caffeine might be 'mimicked' by a low dose of an amphetamine such as Adderall. All meds have risks though!
>
> Ed.If I want to try doing without meds what is the first step I should take? (I am very stable so don't worry that I do not discuss this with a dr. My pdoc retired 4 years ago and I have been doing fine with just a family doctor who has prescribed meds for me.) Now I have moved, don't have any doctor yet and want to take this year to see what the possibilities are of no meds.
Specifically, should I try to taper both Zoloft and Klonopin at the same time or do one and then the other?
Thanks for any input you might have.
Jane
Posted by ed_uk on December 31, 2004, at 13:57:10
In reply to Re: Zoloft taper vs. Klonopin taper, posted by JaneB on December 31, 2004, at 13:10:24
> Specifically, should I try to taper both Zoloft and Klonopin at the same time or do one and then the other?
Hello!
It would certainly be best to withdraw from one and then the other. You definately don't want to be experiencing withdrawal symptoms from two drugs at once.
An extremely gradual withdrawal is usually best because it helps to minimise withdrawal symptoms. You could start by reducing your Klonopin dose by 125 micrograms/day every 2 weeks. If you have difficulty withdrawing from the Klonopin you could substitute an equivalent daily dose of diazepam (Valium) in order to block the withdrawal symptoms. Next, you would reduce the Valium dose gradually eg. by 500 micrograms/day every 2 weeks. Valium syrup can be used if an even more gradual reduction is required. Although a few people can successfully withdraw from benzodiazepines in a few weeks, some people will take a year or more. As a general rule, it is better to reduce the dose too slowly rather than too quicky. If you gradually reduce the dose in tiny steps you may not have any withdrawal symptoms at all.
The final steps of withdrawal tend to be the hardest. Diazepam (Valium) substitution can be helpful for the final stages.
The equivalent dose of Valium is not entirely clear because it varies between individuals. A common rule is.....
1mg Klonopin = 20mg Valium
So, if you'd successfully reduced your Klonopin dose down to 500 micrograms a day but were unable to reduce it any further, you could substitute 10mg/day Valium and then reduce the Valium dose gradually.
To withdraw from the Zoloft you may need to get good at cutting tablets into little pieces. Not everyone finds SSRI withdrawal difficult though- hopefully you be be lucky. If Zoloft withdrawal is difficult you could subsitute an equivalent dose of Prozac in the form of Prozac liquid. Using an 'oral syringe' the Prozac dose could then be reduced gradually in small steps.
A (very) approximate rule for substitution is.....
20 mg Prozac = 50 mg Zoloft
So, for example, you would substitute 25mg of Zoloft with 10mg Prozac.
Good luck with your withdrawal...
Ed.
Posted by cache-monkey on January 1, 2005, at 18:02:22
In reply to Re: Zoloft and laziness! » ed_uk, posted by tensor on December 24, 2004, at 13:17:42
"Last time i relapsed, fall 2003, i finally found a combo in february 2004 that blew my depression away. That was, as you should know by now :-) the add-on of Zoloft. I can tell you from february to november the 15th i felt better than i've ever felt before. And no side effects to mention, no sexual ones ;) I had motivation, power to make big decisions, i was strong and i loved to live."
Out of curiosity, what were the meds that you combined the Z with? Also did the combo stop working for you, or did you have to change it up for other reasons?
Thanks,
cache-monkey
Posted by cache-monkey on January 1, 2005, at 18:09:22
In reply to Re: Zoloft taper vs. Klonopin taper » JaneB, posted by ed_uk on December 31, 2004, at 13:57:10
"To withdraw from the Zoloft you may need to get good at cutting tablets into little pieces. Not everyone finds SSRI withdrawal difficult though- hopefully you be be lucky."
This is actually quite true: many people don't have substantial difficulties withdrawing. I think that on p-babble we just tend to hear disproportionately from the ones who do. (This, of course, is not to minimize the difficulty that some people have in going off the SSRIs.) FYI, I withdrew from Lexapro a couple of years ago in pretty good order, going down from 10 mg to 5 mg to 2.5 mg over a month or so. No real side effects, outside of possibly night sweats, and a gradual return of my depression.
Good luck,
cache-monkey
Posted by ed_uk on January 1, 2005, at 18:23:53
In reply to Re: Zoloft and laziness! » tensor, posted by cache-monkey on January 1, 2005, at 18:02:22
Hi cache-monkey!
I hope Mattias (tensor) won't mind me answering your question on his behalf................ He was doing well on the combination of Zoloft and Remeron until it pooped-out recently.
Regards,
Ed.PS. I've never found SSRI withdrawal too difficult either.
Posted by cache-monkey on January 2, 2005, at 0:54:02
In reply to Re: Zoloft + ??? » cache-monkey, posted by ed_uk on January 1, 2005, at 18:23:53
Hey Ed,
Thanks for the info. I wonder what percentage of the SSRI taking population experiences severe withdrawal side effects from SSRIs. (I do feel like the posts on babble are somewhat self-selected based on negative experiences.)
Best,
cache-monkey> Hi cache-monkey!
>
> I hope Mattias (tensor) won't mind me answering your question on his behalf................ He was doing well on the combination of Zoloft and Remeron until it pooped-out recently.
>
> Regards,
> Ed.
>
> PS. I've never found SSRI withdrawal too difficult either.
Posted by tensor on January 2, 2005, at 6:17:15
In reply to Re: Zoloft and laziness! » tensor, posted by cache-monkey on January 1, 2005, at 18:02:22
Hi,
> Out of curiosity, what were the meds that you combined the Z with? Also did the combo stop working for you, or did you have to change it up for other reasons?
It was remeron, it stopped working suddenly and dose changes haven't improved my mood. I also take clonazepam.
/Mattias
Posted by cache-monkey on January 2, 2005, at 10:58:41
In reply to Re: Zoloft and laziness! » cache-monkey, posted by tensor on January 2, 2005, at 6:17:15
> Hi,
>
> > Out of curiosity, what were the meds that you combined the Z with? Also did the combo stop working for you, or did you have to change it up for other reasons?
>
> It was remeron, it stopped working suddenly and dose changes haven't improved my mood. I also take clonazepam.
>
> /Mattias
>
>Thanks for the info. I'm sorry to hear that this combo stopped working for you.
Best,
cache-monkey
Posted by Phillipa on January 3, 2005, at 16:51:58
In reply to Re: Zoloft and laziness!, posted by cache-monkey on January 2, 2005, at 10:58:41
I can't believe that lmg of Klonopin is the equivalant of 20mg of Valium! I used to do great on 5mgs of Valium three times a day. Now, it's not popular with pdocs and all they want to give you is Klonopin. I'm on l.5mg a day. Maybe that's why I feel numb and unfeeling and AD's don't work. I would like to feel some normal anxiety! If it's that strong I don't understand why the pdocs like it so much. Phillipa
Posted by tensor on January 4, 2005, at 4:03:31
In reply to Re: Zoloft and laziness!, posted by Phillipa on January 3, 2005, at 16:51:58
> I can't believe that lmg of Klonopin is the equivalant of 20mg of Valium! I used to do great on 5mgs of Valium three times a day. Now, it's not popular with pdocs and all they want to give you is Klonopin. I'm on l.5mg a day. Maybe that's why I feel numb and unfeeling and AD's don't work. I would like to feel some normal anxiety! If it's that strong I don't understand why the pdocs like it so much. Phillipa
Hi Phillipa!
It's not quite the whole story. Diazepam produces a lot more euphoria than clonazepam and you are more likely to build up tolerance to diazepam. In my opionion clonazepam has a greater therapeutic value in long term use, while diazepam is more effective as an acute tranquilizer.
Best regards,
Mattias
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