Wondering Whether To Try Zoloft (sertraline)

[macca]

I've been stuggling with my symptoms pretty bad for quite a while now, and I'm so sick of fighting the SI and everything else. It's been getting worse, and I'm barely coping. So, I finally gave in and saw my doctor, and he gave me a script for Zoloft (sertraline).

I think I need the extra help an antidepressant can give, but I'm also afraid. I finally managed to wean off Effexor (venlafaxine) 18 months ago, after 8 years, though I think my symptoms have been gradually worsening since then. I've been on Paxil (paroxetine) before that, but I gained a lot of weight on it. A few years before that, I was on Prozac not long after it first came out. So, I've been on and off antidepressants for years, (though only those few), but didn't realise I had PTSD until Sept last year.

I'm wondering if anyone has had success of any kind with Zoloft, and whether they had problems with withdrawal, or side effects? I had absolute hell coming off Effexor, and wouldn't wish the experience on my worst enemy. If I'm having bad SI, is it dangerous to start, considering they say in some cases it can cause SI? Or, if you're on antidepressants for PTSD, is that it, do you just stay on them? I've been depressed since childhood, and I'm 43.

 

[Notsowild]

I've been on a lot of antidepressants over the years. Lets see... I was allergic to Prozac. Zoloft did not do much to relieve my anxiety. I did alright on Effexor and now I'm on Cipralex. It works okay but my psychiatrist wants try something else. So I figure it is a lifelong thing for me. Yikes

 

[pamcoco]

I was on zoloft but now am on lexapro. Partially because it helps my ocd. I still have SI but I am much better on lexapro than not. SI is a form of ocd for me, a thought I cannot shake. It is the O of ocd I guess ;-) Anyway, I highly recommend giving some new meds a shot. I would not be alive without them!

 

[WillowMarie]

I used to take Zoloft. It helped with anxiety for me. But when I was on the medicine, for me, I felt more numb than when I was off them. I was unable to cry or feel happy. When I decided to get off of it, I did notice anxiety coming back.

When I got off of Zoloft, we did lower it over a number of months, but I still felt the zapping feeling for a couple of months after my last dose. I was worried I was going to feel those zaps forever, but they eventually stopped.

Plus, I gained weight as well.

 

[CVC]

Have you tried natural supplements? My partner, who also has PTSD, has had some success with a combination of anxiety-reducing and serotonin-promoting supplements that have been able to replace her antidepressants. She's gone on and off of them over time as needed, and has found that they don't produce the same kinds of nasty withdrawal symptoms. She claims they work better in combination.

For depression: saffron extract, rhodiola, SAMe, 5HTP, fish oil
For anxiety: california poppy, ginkgo, hawthorn, passionflower, valerian, skullcap, bacopa

Personally, I use cannabis a lot to manage my various psychological symptoms. Sativa strains help with depression. I know a lot of people find relief that way. And, again--no risk for nasty withdrawal (though of course cannabis comes with its own set of concerns).

Much luck to you. Whatever you end up going with, I hope it works. Fighting SI is so exhausting, my heart goes out to you.

 

[cherryblossom]

I took sertraline for about 6 months, with absolutely no noticeable benefits. Once I made the decision not to take it took me 4-5 months to come off it, because the withdrawal effects were so unpleasant.

I also tried numerous different anti-depressants before that over the years. None made any difference to my mood, but all had side effects and/or bad withdrawal effects.

Looking back, I can see that I 'tried' them when my PTSD symptoms were at their worst and I was desperate to give anything a try.

However, now I can see that my depression was caused by the PTSD symptoms. The insomnia, the hypervigilance, the constant anxiety, the intrusive thoughts etc, etc, was what made my mood so low. It was those symptoms that made me depressed. I didn't ever have a chemical imbalance in my brain.

An SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor), such as Sertraline, will increase the amount of serotonin in the brain. Unless your brain is lacking in serotonin, taking an SSRI, won't make any difference to your mood.

Antidepressants will only ever make a difference if you have a chemical imbalance in your brain. If depression is caused by something else such as trauma/PTSD symptoms then altering your brain chemistry with medications won't help.

For me, the only thing that actually really helped, long term was therapy.

However, for a time, I did take beta-blockers (propanolol) for anxiety, along with the occasional benzodiazepine (diazapam/valium), when necessary. Although I was quite wary and restrictive of the benzo's because of their addictive properties. I also took some sleeping tablets, for quite a significant time (Zolpidem). However, they are not recommended for long term use, because there is reportedly some loss of efficacy, and re-bound insomnia when you stop taking them. However, getting some sleep after months of no sleep, made a significant difference to my mood, so my GP was happy to continue to prescribe them. I had no issues with reduced efficacy. Taking both the sleeping tablets, and the propanolol put me in a better place to then undergo the difficulties of therapy. Once I had made good progress in therapy, I was able to reduce and then stop the propanolol, the diazapam and the sleeping tablets without any issues.

If I was in your situation, I think I would look into anti-anxiety medications, rather than anti-depressants.

 

[Bubblegirl]

I am taking Zoloft, and have found it extremely effective. I actually lost about 30 lbs when I started taking it, because it suppressed my appetite. It really helps with anxiety for me. I've been taking it for about 18 months.

 

[cdg]

Lost my mind on it. It made my anxiety accelerate. Like a car. Without breaks.

 

[Al_Lurker]

I just want to throw out - I had a friend that tried to take herself off of Zoloft... DON'T DO IT!!! Follow the doctors orders to the letter if you want to stop it.

 

[Grace511]

Its horrible to get off of