Zoloft, Tofranil & Adivan
My therapist has me on 100mg zoloft, 50 mg. tofranil and 2mg adivan for panic attacks, anxiety and depression that all started after having a baby 3 mos. ago so much of the problem is the post partum depression but I also have a short history of anxiety and was treated with just zoloft in the past which worked alone. I hate being on so much medication and I still feel anxious and depressed, cry alot and don't feel like myself. Any advice? I'm on the 2nd week of this program, I hope it helps!
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Guest
far be it for me to respond to the post partum portion. I'm not... equipped. As for the Zoloft and Ativan, though... a couple of years ago I was on Zoloft 50mg/day for six months. As I was told, it took maybe 4-6 wks to kick in. I.e., it's not like I was euphoric... only that I felt like myself again... more even-keeled, more peace of mind.
It's just recently that I've begun to experience anxiety and the tell-tale signs of depression coming on. So I immediately went back on the Zoloft (same dosage), am now on wk 5, and beginning to feel like myself again... again.
This time around I had been prescribed Xanax for anxiety. It slowed my heart rate and made me extremely sleepy, almost non-functional, but didn't clear my head of unwanted thoughts. Sorta like addressing the physical symptoms instead of the physical cause. I asked for something else, and got Ativan. Given its potential for addiction I refuse to use it unless absolutely necessary (hopefully never).
If you're not in talk therapy I highly recommend it. Something about talking to an impartial, unbiased, non-judgmental party is more cathartic than sharing with your spouse. And try acupuncture. Whatever works. And personally I enjoy coffee and chocolate no matter what anyone says, but I'm told much much to my dismay that those things are a no-no. How dare the ubiquitous they!
Bottom line... a couple of years ago when I first went through depression... it was the combination of Zoloft, talk therapy, and acupuncture that got me through it. I dunno what would have happened if I had left one out, so I'm currently using the same combination, and so far so good. But of course what works for me doesn't work for everyone. Jus' sayin'.
I also find that locking myself in the closet til the kids stop screaming is very soothing. Kidding. I don't actually recommend that. I lock myself in the closet til I stop screaming. No, not really. But levity... levity is key!
It's just recently that I've begun to experience anxiety and the tell-tale signs of depression coming on. So I immediately went back on the Zoloft (same dosage), am now on wk 5, and beginning to feel like myself again... again.
This time around I had been prescribed Xanax for anxiety. It slowed my heart rate and made me extremely sleepy, almost non-functional, but didn't clear my head of unwanted thoughts. Sorta like addressing the physical symptoms instead of the physical cause. I asked for something else, and got Ativan. Given its potential for addiction I refuse to use it unless absolutely necessary (hopefully never).
If you're not in talk therapy I highly recommend it. Something about talking to an impartial, unbiased, non-judgmental party is more cathartic than sharing with your spouse. And try acupuncture. Whatever works. And personally I enjoy coffee and chocolate no matter what anyone says, but I'm told much much to my dismay that those things are a no-no. How dare the ubiquitous they!
Bottom line... a couple of years ago when I first went through depression... it was the combination of Zoloft, talk therapy, and acupuncture that got me through it. I dunno what would have happened if I had left one out, so I'm currently using the same combination, and so far so good. But of course what works for me doesn't work for everyone. Jus' sayin'.
I also find that locking myself in the closet til the kids stop screaming is very soothing. Kidding. I don't actually recommend that. I lock myself in the closet til I stop screaming. No, not really. But levity... levity is key!
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Guest
i just started zoloft and i am on it for 1 week. There is still no change. My doctor says it will take weeks. I feel like i am back tracking. I called out of work today after struggling through these last couple of days. I know i should have pushed myself. This morning i felt nauseous. Is it the Zoloft> Should i just give it more time?
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Guest
I used to be on Adivan until it started giving me stomach problems and my doctor figured it was to strong or my body was rejecting it. So i was on Zoloft for awhile until that also started making me feel sick. I had to get off of Zoloft because I constantly felt out of it. I'm in my first week with the program and on no medication. I stopped all medications myself without my doctor's help because I would get asked questions and realized.. the entire time I've been on these I was under false hopes because I wasn't getting any better and I don't remember a thing that happened to me in my life for the 3 years I was on either of them. It's as if I had some form of amnesia side effect, or was out of it and drugged up I was just in a constant neutral state, which as we know is still no way to live. That's why I am so excited to have this program, though... I'm not sure if I'm doing it right, but that's for another message board.
So to fully answer your question, I don't know about the post partum, but as far as the depression, starting new in the program and what it's like being on those meds I would talk to your doc and see if anything can be reduced or maybe try some sort of schedule it doesn't feel overwhelming to have all those med, the new baby (i know babies have a schedule all their own & Congrats by the way!) and also trying to soothe and calm yourself.
So to fully answer your question, I don't know about the post partum, but as far as the depression, starting new in the program and what it's like being on those meds I would talk to your doc and see if anything can be reduced or maybe try some sort of schedule it doesn't feel overwhelming to have all those med, the new baby (i know babies have a schedule all their own & Congrats by the way!) and also trying to soothe and calm yourself.
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Guest
Momtofour:
I have been taking 50 mg of Zoloft in the morning and 1mg of Klonopin at night. The Dr. I see strongly recommends not to start any SSRI until he has brought the anxiety down with some benzos then he introduces the SSRI's because when starting Zoloft or other SSRI's you sometimes feel worse and don't allow the meds. to kick in and work. When started zoloft it did make cause nausea and brought my apetite down a bit, but after 1 month things started to improve. I guess my advise to you is to have patience and if after two months you see no improvements then switch. Everyone is different though. I am on a one year treament plan, I hope I can overcome my fears by improving my lifestyle and do away with all meds., but will see. Good luck.
I have been taking 50 mg of Zoloft in the morning and 1mg of Klonopin at night. The Dr. I see strongly recommends not to start any SSRI until he has brought the anxiety down with some benzos then he introduces the SSRI's because when starting Zoloft or other SSRI's you sometimes feel worse and don't allow the meds. to kick in and work. When started zoloft it did make cause nausea and brought my apetite down a bit, but after 1 month things started to improve. I guess my advise to you is to have patience and if after two months you see no improvements then switch. Everyone is different though. I am on a one year treament plan, I hope I can overcome my fears by improving my lifestyle and do away with all meds., but will see. Good luck.