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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ScottieMKE on February 6, 2012, at 19:00:22
Hello...
I've been taking Zoloft(sertraline)for roughly 8 years, with progressively higher doses...currently at 200mg/day.
Over the past 6-8 months I've lost my enthusiasm and zest for life that my medication previously helped me maintain.
I know I'm at the limit FDA limit for Zoloft, but I had a very bad reaction 4 years ago, in a similar situation when my doctor switched me to Effexor (I'm a recovering crystal meth addict) and I relapsed after the switch.
Does a booster antidepressant to Zoloft make sense? I'm terrified of changing antidepressants, but I also know if my mood continues to deteriorate it's just as risky.
Thanks!
Posted by creepy on February 6, 2012, at 22:49:02
In reply to Time for a Zoloft booster?, posted by ScottieMKE on February 6, 2012, at 19:00:22
You can ask your doc about adding wellbutrin. It slightly raises the amount of zoloft thats in your system (I think..), but its not a major issue.
Only problem for me was the anxiety.
Antidepressants can cause apathy / anhedonia.. sometimes its hard to figure out if its the depression or the drug.
Posted by tensor on February 7, 2012, at 4:47:02
In reply to Time for a Zoloft booster?, posted by ScottieMKE on February 6, 2012, at 19:00:22
> Hello...
>
> I've been taking Zoloft(sertraline)for roughly 8 years, with progressively higher doses...currently at 200mg/day.
>
> Over the past 6-8 months I've lost my enthusiasm and zest for life that my medication previously helped me maintain.
>
> I know I'm at the limit FDA limit for Zoloft, but I had a very bad reaction 4 years ago, in a similar situation when my doctor switched me to Effexor (I'm a recovering crystal meth addict) and I relapsed after the switch.
>
> Does a booster antidepressant to Zoloft make sense? I'm terrified of changing antidepressants, but I also know if my mood continues to deteriorate it's just as risky.
>
> Thanks!Yes it makes sense. There are several options that can augment Zoloft, Wellbutrin as creepy mentioned, but also Remeron, Lamictal, modafinil, T3, Lithium or buspirone. The Zoloft-Wellbutrin is a recognized and often effective combo, it goes under the name Well-loft, I would try that first.
/t
Posted by SLS on February 7, 2012, at 5:42:19
In reply to Re: Time for a Zoloft booster? » ScottieMKE, posted by tensor on February 7, 2012, at 4:47:02
> > Hello...
> >
> > I've been taking Zoloft(sertraline)for roughly 8 years, with progressively higher doses...currently at 200mg/day.
> >
> > Over the past 6-8 months I've lost my enthusiasm and zest for life that my medication previously helped me maintain.
> >
> > I know I'm at the limit FDA limit for Zoloft, but I had a very bad reaction 4 years ago, in a similar situation when my doctor switched me to Effexor (I'm a recovering crystal meth addict) and I relapsed after the switch.
> >
> > Does a booster antidepressant to Zoloft make sense? I'm terrified of changing antidepressants, but I also know if my mood continues to deteriorate it's just as risky.
> >
> > Thanks!
>
> Yes it makes sense. There are several options that can augment Zoloft, Wellbutrin as creepy mentioned, but also Remeron, Lamictal, modafinil, T3, Lithium or buspirone. The Zoloft-Wellbutrin is a recognized and often effective combo, it goes under the name Well-loft, I would try that first.
>
> /t
Nortriptyline is also worthy of consideration.
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on February 7, 2012, at 11:42:32
In reply to Re: Time for a Zoloft booster?, posted by SLS on February 7, 2012, at 5:42:19
Wellbutrin if you have no anxiety found it really made mine worse. Phillipa
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on February 7, 2012, at 15:48:48
In reply to Time for a Zoloft booster?, posted by ScottieMKE on February 6, 2012, at 19:00:22
Add either
- welbutrin 300mg in the morning
or
- nortriptyline 75-100mg at bedtime
either of thses will be a booster to the zoloft by acting on noradrenalin (wher zxoloft acts on seretonin)
Well worth a 4 weeks trial of one, and if that doesnt work, then the other.
Posted by bleauberry on February 7, 2012, at 16:38:15
In reply to Time for a Zoloft booster?, posted by ScottieMKE on February 6, 2012, at 19:00:22
I agree with you on how risky it is. The prime consideration here, regardless whether it is zoloft or whatever, is the passage of time. It has been almost a decade. The body probably sees the zoloft molecule as a necessary occupant...would freak out trying to figure what to do without it. Bizarreness.
The best thing to do, in my opinion, is to add a norepinephrine component to it. I happen to be a fan of that strategy, but it comes from Dr Gillman at psychotropical.com. Drugs to consider adding to it include nortriptyline, desipramine, savella, maybe a stimulant like ritalin or adderall.
Another option would be to keep increasing the dose. No guarantee of what would happen, but the FDA limit is fairly meaningless. Example....ever heard of someone on 400mg prozac? The upper limit is supposedly 80mg? Well, such a person does actually exist and I know that person.
I think the highest dose I've ever heard of anyone taking with zoloft is 400mg. At those higher doses above 200mg its minor boost on dopamine becomes more significant. But I think the lack of counterpart balance with NE is what is behind the constant dose creep.
Posted by BiggyFrank on February 10, 2012, at 12:09:40
In reply to Time for a Zoloft booster?, posted by ScottieMKE on February 6, 2012, at 19:00:22
> Hello...
>
> I've been taking Zoloft(sertraline)for roughly 8 years, with progressively higher doses...currently at 200mg/day.
>
> Over the past 6-8 months I've lost my enthusiasm and zest for life that my medication previously helped me maintain.
>
> I know I'm at the limit FDA limit for Zoloft, but I had a very bad reaction 4 years ago, in a similar situation when my doctor switched me to Effexor (I'm a recovering crystal meth addict) and I relapsed after the switch.
>
> Does a booster antidepressant to Zoloft make sense? I'm terrified of changing antidepressants, but I also know if my mood continues to deteriorate it's just as risky.
>
> Thanks!
Hi man as a crazy depressed man can tell you that modafinil for extreme tirednees is excellent and for mood Dexedrine or Ritalin wich is more weak but make up and down dexedrine is good in my opinion to start low dosage then up to estimated good dose without getting a tolerance whil slowllllllllyyyyyyyy raising the dosage 1 month 15 second 45 then 60 even faster i know that that go at the encounter of the way Psychiatrist do :
Treat sympton with the most efeective drug at minimum dosage. i was speed adict but/with ADD.Modafinil will for or will not work but for me it was amazing like a 100lbs metal jacket of my body i was crazy not tired but my brother says it do nothing same as my wife.
This is the end of the thread.
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