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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 bigpopper on January 26, 2007, at 14:20:40
My saga continues. I was on 10mg of Lex for 4 months with horrible anxiety. Tried going up and made problem worse. I have now switched to Zoloft. GP told me 50mg, but I have been on 25 for 2 weeks because I was scared I would have bad reaction. I feel better, but still not back to myself. There have been many days that I have not needed any xanax or Klonopin since starting zoloft. The panic when I awake in morning is also gone, but I still feel odd and on edge during the first 6-8hrs. of everyday, I also take Zoloft in the AM. Today I did take .5mg of Xanax and doing OK.
My question is do I try to go up to 50mg or just wait a few more weeks and see what happens. Everyday has not been bad like Lex was. I will have 2 good days and I think it is over, then I awake with strange feelings again on day 3????? At first I felt really good when starting zoloft, but I was taking .5mg of Klonopin 2-3 times a day as recommended by MD, but I felt so good I stopped. I do not want to rely on Klon. or become addicted. Thanks again for help!!!
Posted by blueberry1 on January 26, 2007, at 16:47:00
In reply to How do you know to increase or change SSRI?, posted by bigpopper on January 26, 2007, at 14:20:40
Same thing happened to me. Anxiety on lexapro. Got so much better within 3 days of switching to 25mg zoloft. Morning waking was especially improved. Calm. No dread. No anxiety. Depression on lexapro vanished immediately with zoloft. Unfortunately it was replaced by the heavy blahness that ssris do to me. I stopped 25mg zoloft after a month. That was stupid. I should have gone up to 50mg and given it a couple months. I kind of miss zoloft and would like to retry it.
You might hang out at 25mg for 30 days before deciding whether to increase the dose or not. Some people do just fine at real low doses.
Posted by bigpopper on January 26, 2007, at 19:00:39
In reply to Re: How do you know to increase or change SSRI?, posted by blueberry1 on January 26, 2007, at 16:47:00
What happened when you stopped the Zoloft?
Can there be any start-up se's of Zoloft even though I was on a similar SSRI for the previous 4 months?
The odd thing is that I feel bad for the next several hours after taking, then I feel great 12 hrs. later. Not sure if it is due to the medicine or just the time of day that causes how I feel. IE - mornings seem to be worse for most people experiencing anxiety.
Posted by blueberry1 on January 27, 2007, at 4:42:38
In reply to Re: How do you know to increase or change SSRI?, posted by bigpopper on January 26, 2007, at 19:00:39
Again, I felt the same pattern as you. Lex made me feel more depressed after I took it. But then later in the day I felt better. All I could figure was that I was feeling better as its blood level was starting to come down. The only experiment I found that partially helped was to split the 10mg tab in halves and dose it twice a day instead of once. It was more acceptable that way.
I had no start-up side effects when I switched straight across to zoloft. Every side effect I had on lexapro...anxiety, insomnia, worsened depression, anorgasmia...all improved rapidly within 3 days.
Strange how drugs that do basically the same thing can be so different.
Posted by Phillipa on January 27, 2007, at 12:33:19
In reply to Re: How do you know to increase or change SSRI?, posted by bigpopper on January 26, 2007, at 19:00:39
I heard mornings are worse for depression? Love Phillipa
Posted by bigpopper on January 27, 2007, at 15:34:21
In reply to Re: How do you know to increase or change SSRI? » bigpopper, posted by Phillipa on January 27, 2007, at 12:33:19
Today is one of those bad days. Seems to happen much worse on weekends when I do not have anything I "have" to do, like work.
I have this same funny feeling in my stomach and do not want to do anything. I am not sure if this is anxiety or depression symptoms.?? I do not know if I need to increase Zoloft to 50mg. or stop all together. I do not know if I need to take benzo or stop all together. I am not sure if the medicines are causing problems or if a am suffering from anxiety/depression.
This came out of nowhere 4-5 months ago and will not go away. I am no better now than when I started this, maybe worse because I do not know what to do and I can not get it out of my mind. I can see how somebody could abuse benzo, alcohol, pain pill, etc... when you feel like this. I am not at that point yet!
Every MD tells me to do something different??? I just want to feel Normal again.
Posted by rina on January 30, 2007, at 13:34:15
In reply to Re: How do you know to increase or change SSRI? » bigpopper, posted by Phillipa on January 27, 2007, at 12:33:19
I'm just curious because that is the plan today when I see my therapist. I don't want any meds that would cause weight gain because I'm going back to flying this week and need to fit into my dress. I'm on the last size uniform dress available...lol
Posted by bigpopper on February 7, 2007, at 13:10:19
In reply to Has anyone had success on Topamax or Abilify?, posted by rina on January 30, 2007, at 13:34:15
UPDATE. It has been almost 2 weeks since I increased to 50mg Zoloft. I feel better now than I have in a long time. I have not more need for benzo and am eating/acting normal.
I do not know if it was the Zoloft than has made me feel better or if the Lexapro just made me feel so bad. I also quit Ambien CR. That could have been the original culprit of the problems that I started having a few months ago. I never had any depression/anxiety until about that time. I read on Webmd that said that Ambien can cause severe depression and changed behavior/thinking in some people. May I am "some" people. I do not knw, but I feel great now!
Posted by bigpopper on February 14, 2007, at 21:56:36
In reply to Re: How do you know to increase or change SSRI?, posted by bigpopper on January 27, 2007, at 15:34:21
UPDATE. It has been almost 2 weeks since I increased to 50mg Zoloft. I feel better now than I have in a long time. I have not more need for benzo and am eating/acting normal.
I do not know if it was the Zoloft than has made me feel better or if the Lexapro just made me feel so bad. I also quit Ambien CR. That could have been the original culprit of the problems that I started having a few months ago. I never had any depression/anxiety until about that time. I read on Webmd that said that Ambien can cause severe depression and changed behavior/thinking in some people. May I am "some" people. I do not knw, but I feel great now!
This is the end of the thread.
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