Posted by Fuscia on July 6, 2002, at 13:41:06
In reply to Thank You Fuscia! Very helpful info!!! (nm), posted by hildi on July 5, 2002, at 19:04:44
(Paradoxically, you are not tkaing [should read, "now taking"] much smaller doses than when you first started
taking Prozac, but your blood level is far higher.)I read an earlier post of yours concerning Zoloft at 50mg. I had to share my experience with Zoloft. About 2 years ago I went to my gynecologist with complaints of premenstrual syndrome. I was terrible just before my period, but deep down I also knew I had other emotional problems that occurred at any time of the month, and had bothered me since late childhood. But, I had never been to a psychiatrist and I was afraid to go, besides afraid of the cost. Anyway, I complained to my gyn of PMS. She put me on Zoloft, to take 50 to 100 mg daily. I was given some free samples by my doctor. These were samples for Panic Disorder. I started taking this before I got my prescription filled. I followed the instructions and started out on 25mg a day for one week. It worked so great that I stayed on 25mg for over a year. I eventually went up to 50 mg and began having problems with my temper outbursts. I lost my temper big time with a young dog we had and I went into a deep depression afterward and had insomnia. My doctor suggested increasing Zoloft to 75mg and he also prescribed 50 mg trazadone (Desryl) antidepressant (it's actions are more like a tricyclic) for the insomnia, as trazadone has sedative qualities. So, I increased to 75mg and started the trazadone. Boy, the 50 mg of trazadone made my nose so stuffy for the first hour after taking it that I couldn't sleep, but after that wore off, I was in deep sleep, all night long. After a few days of trazodone nose stuffiness, I decided to divide the dose in half to 25mg. It worked great for insomnia, but I still experienced the stuff nose effect, though less severe. Eventually I reduced it to 12.5 mg and this was perfect. I took this dose off and on for insomnia, but I haven't needed it in quite some months now. It seems that I sleep very well on Prozac twice weekly. I slept good on daily Prozac as well. Anyway, I wanted to mention that when the dose of Zoloft was upped to 75 mg. my hands began to shake and I felt anxious all the time. I didn't like that feeling, so my doc switched me to Wellbutrin SR 150 mg. which made me relaxed but irritable, and I could only take this irritability for one month, so then was switched to 20mg of Celexa. I was on the for about 4 months, but I felt depressed too often, not to mention lethargic during the day. So, I switched to Prozac. I just wanted to mention about the Zoloft experience for I read your post about how when your dose was increased to 50 mg it was too much. This can be very true if you suffer from Panic Disorder, as individuals with this are very sensitive to medicines. It only takes a little bit to do the trick. But, most doctors will urge their patient to stick it out, to weather the storm after increasing the dosage, for they know that usually the side effects will subside as the body adjusts to the medicine. I just couldn't handle the hand shakiness and anxiousness and didn't want to see if sticking through would eventually see these side effects subside, and an increase in benefits from the drug. I would rather take a lower dose or switch to another drug.
Well, that's about it. Take care Hildi. Fuscia
poster:Fuscia
thread:111095
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020628/msgs/111579.html