Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 113219

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Is stopping Zoloft after just two weeks stupid?

Posted by Preston on July 22, 2002, at 0:04:50

Hello anybody, I have been taking Zoloft 50mg for a little over two weeks now and it HAS gotten rid of my depression on one level. I don't get upset about things as easily or for as long. However, this is just because it seems to be deadening all of my feelings exept maybe humor. I decided to start taking Zoloft because of depression which I thought was causing me to be unmotivated. I figured if I was not depressed anymore, then I would immediately become more motivated and feel like doing things that I feel like I should enjoy doing or at least be able to concentrate on them. However, instead I just don't feel like doing anything and have just as hard of a time concentrating as I did before I took Zoloft. Now I know it has only been two weeks and maybe I am just being impatient, but it has gotten rid of my depression already and I am afraid that it has already produced it's full effect. I thought that my lack of motivation and difficulty with concentration was something that might be cured with Zoloft, but so far it has made both of those things even worse. If my lack of motivation and difficulty concentrating is completely a self-discipline problem that I can only overcome by constantly kicking myself in the ass, then maybe I should stop taking the Zoloft now to avoid becoming dependant on it. However, if anyone has had the same problem and overcame it with the help of Zoloft or something else, please let me know about it. Also, if anyone just thinks I'm being stupid and impatient, tell me.

 

Re: Is stopping Zoloft after just two weeks stupid?

Posted by tabitha on July 22, 2002, at 1:45:21

In reply to Is stopping Zoloft after just two weeks stupid?, posted by Preston on July 22, 2002, at 0:04:50

Hi Preston,
I can't really answer the question about zoloft, but I want to respond to this part of what you said...

>
If my lack of motivation and difficulty concentrating is completely a self-discipline problem that I can only overcome by constantly kicking myself in the ass,


No, it's not a self-discipline problem. Nobody wants to feel unmotivated and foggy. If you have to force yourself to function, something is wrong.

I used to believe similarly before I found the right meds for my depression. I thought everyone felt as awful as I did inside, and they were just better at forcing themselves to function, and were faking their more cheerful outlooks. Once I got symptom relief I realized that was not the case. It's just soooo much easier to function without chronic depression.

Please persist in getting treatment (whether it's zoloft or something else) just to see what life is like without the burden of depression. If you don't like it, you can always go back.

Tabitha

 

Re: Is stopping Zoloft after just two weeks stupid? ยป Preston

Posted by LyndaK on July 22, 2002, at 2:22:34

In reply to Is stopping Zoloft after just two weeks stupid?, posted by Preston on July 22, 2002, at 0:04:50

Most meds need a longer trial to really know which side effects resolve over time and which don't . . . but . . . I'm going to share with you that I was on Zoloft for years as my drug of choice. It helped with the depression and calmed my anxiety . . . but . . . it definitly impaired my concentration and memory and that's what finally made me decide that I couldn't stay on it. I tried a list of other drugs. All of the SSRI drugs mess with my memory to some degree. Wellbutrin let me think clearly but made me too agitated. I'm now on Remeron which is great for calming my anxiety, helping with the depression. I can think clearly, no memory problems, and I do have more motivation. It's not without it's own set of side-effects though -- weight gain, morning grogginess, low muscle tone, dizziness initially.
2 weeks is probably too soon, but poor concentration and impaired memory were persistent side effects from Zoloft when I was on it. Take heart that there are many other options out there. Talk to your Doc. about what you're experiencing.
Good luck!
Lynda

 

seems reasonable to stop or switch.

Posted by katekite on July 22, 2002, at 9:24:44

In reply to Is stopping Zoloft after just two weeks stupid?, posted by Preston on July 22, 2002, at 0:04:50

Hmmm.

My husband felt less depressed on Celexa by day 3 but quit on day 4 because of the sponge/numb feeling in his head. Just because a drug makes you less depressed doesn't mean its a good drug for you.

I think the concentration problems you are having would not go away if you stayed on it longer. This is a well known consequence of some ssris in some people.

What I would do is if you have not tried either Prozac or Celexa is to switch directly from Zoloft to one of those, probably Prozac. Prozac is supposed to be slightly more stimulaing than Zoloft. This way you would not have to wait as long for an effect from Prozac as you would if you washed out of Zoloft and then started Prozac from scratch.

Some people who have this problem with concentration and motivation on ssris turn out to have sub-clinical attentional problems like ADD that would respond better to Ritalin or Adderall. Try the quiz at www.mindfixers.com to see if that is a possibility.

Another more stimulating anti-depressant is Wellbutrin, should not produce the duh-feeling of zoloft. It is coincidentally used in the higher end doses for ADD but can worsen anxiety if that's an issue.

Kate

 

Re:

Posted by Rach on July 22, 2002, at 20:15:51

In reply to seems reasonable to stop or switch., posted by katekite on July 22, 2002, at 9:24:44

Hi Preston,

Talk to your doctor. Tell them everything that you are experiencing. Ask about possibilities for a change in meds or perhaps staying on the lower dose. But don't stop taking the zoloft until you have seen them and discussed it with them.

Zoloft certainly takes longer than two weeks to have the full effect. When you talk to your doctor, be aware that they may want you to commit to being on zoloft for a longer period to feel what the full effects will be.

Hang in there, P. You'll find a solution.
Rachael


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