Anyone take Zoloft?

[Anonymous]

I hate to be the one person who tells of a bad experience with a med that most people praise. I think I must be extremely sensitive to SSRI’s too. I took Zoloft for 3 days (25 mg) and I took myself off of it because of the side effects. I became anxious and had bouts of paranoia, violent unwanted thoughts and depression. Thankfully all of the side effects went away after it cleared my system. The lasting memory of those side effects unfortunately are still there. I must be one of those few people who just cant take that drug. For most though, and for a few of my friends, they have done wonderfully on it. I’m sure you will do fine as well.

[Anonymous]

Lisa, I’m one of those who can’t take these meds, too. My doctor said it’s a small minority of people who have these severe reactions. I wish I could take them because I struggle with anxiety and so far have found nothing that works.

[Anonymous]

Zoloft and other ssri’s weren’t developed to help with anxiety, but with depression. A LOT of dr’s won’t rx people an actual anti-anxiety because they are VERY habit forming (xanax, etc) so they go with the antidepressants which do, in most cases work well on anxiety also, but if the anxious person ends up having a normal seretonin level, then putting them on somethign that increases the seretonin can cause them to have a really bad reaction. (sorry-LOL probably too much information.)

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the replies. Actually, after reading more about the drug online and the information the pharmacist included for me, I decided to try other remedies first. I am a person who is extra-sensitive to medicine in general, even cold medicine knocks me out and makes me feel funny, and the birth control pill gave me insomnia. So I am nervous about trying Zoloft, especially since I’m home alone with my daughter all day. I don’t have a major case of PPD anymore (although about a year ago I would have taken the Zoloft, no questions asked!) so I’m going to try counseling and lifestyle/health changes, along with some natural supplements to see how those work for me first. But I can definitely see how Zoloft would help women when the benefits of taking it outweigh the risks.

Thanks again.

[Anonymous]

Mary,

Along those lines, someone once posted that Vitamin B6 can help with anxiety and or depression. I haven’t tried it yet…but I certainly should. Good luck. If you find any amazing remedies, please post them!

[Anonymous]

i agree with jill beware of anxiety meds. they are habit forming. and can really screw you up. i know this b/c i have been on klonopin for years now and wish i never started taking it now i can’t go w/o it. this may sound silly but excercising is very good for depression. just even getting out for a walk can help. and eating a proper diet is important. i believe serotonin levels can go out of whack if don’t eat properly.

[Anonymous]

also i heard st johns wart is a good natural remedy?
and yes exersize and diet are important too!

[Anonymous]

I don’t know about natural rememdies. I am on Zoloft. I started on Lexapro, but it I guess didn’t do the trick. All I know is if I hadn’t been on a anti-depressant, I don’t think I would have made it through this reflux stuff, but that’s just because apparently I’m a tad manic.

[Anonymous]

I just want to put in a word of warning about depression. If you start an antidepressant, have an immediate, positive reaction to it, and then it seems to stop working, that is a sign that something other than simple depression is happening. It is recommended at that point that a person be evaluated for bipolar disorder. I am not a doctor, but I am a person whose depression was crippling during and after pregnancy. I was on Zoloft and it quit working. I have since sought treatment for bipolar disorder and I am doing a whole lot better. I know how painful it is, and I hope that everyone who has dealt with it and is now dealing with it gets what help they need to feel their very best.

[Anonymous]

Sarah, that’s not entirely true, sometimes a medicine stops working because the dose is not right or it is not the right medication. It is not usually recommended for someone to be evaluated for bipolar disorder unless they show a number of the signs of it. Like you I am also bipolar and have been on medications for 3 years. I was also on zoloft, but I was on it for a LONG time, almost 9 years. It worked great for me, but as with a lot of medications like that they sometiems begin to “poop out” on you if you are on them longterm. Generally people are evaluated for bipolar disorder if they have had both a manic and depressive episode in a year, or if they have had one or the other lasting more than 2 weeks. People are evaluated for bipolar disorder after being on antidepressants if the antidepressants make them manic: ie WAY hyper and high, which is generally what they do to bipolar people. If I could have found something natural or do find something natural I would not hesitate to go on that as opposed to conventional medications.

[Anonymous]

well i can attest to the meds pooping out on you. i have been on prozac on and off for a while and i first started on the lowest dose, now i am up to 80mg day. i know when the meds start to poop out and i call my doc and telll them i need a increase. now that i heard youre other posts i am starting to think that maybe i need something for bipolar b/c i can’t really go up anymore than 80 mg. oh well thats a whole nother forum

[Author]

Posts