My zoloft has stopped working. What now?

[Anonymous]

I've been on and off zoloft several times. First time was for severe insomnia causes by anxiety. It was my wonder drug. Changed my life at 50mgs then down to 25 then went off it no problem.
Since then I've had a couple kids and been on and off it a couple times. Each time it seems to work less. This time I've been on 50 for about a year and I'm very on edge, quick to temper and not sleeping well. My doc increased it to 75 and I felt like I had alzeheimers. I couldn't remember anything so I went back down to 50. I have had to take something to sleep for the past week because my mind is racing - zoloft used to help with that. Now Doc says maybe I should try Celexa. Please let me know if this has happened to you and what you did about it. Any thoughts on Celexa (remember sleep is an issue for me so I have to use one that is somewhat sedating). Also, do I have to ween completely off of Zoloft before starting the other one?

[Anonymous]

Yes. SSRI's poop out all the time. I actually need to rotate seasonally, but I've burned out of a few of them completely. Celexa is great for anxiety (sleep issues, too) for lots of people. I am a weirdo and it worked just the opposite in me, but I am by far an anomaly in that regard.

[Anonymous]

When that happens, they usually shift you to something else. There are a lot of SSRIs and other meds to try: Celexa, Lexapro, Paxil, Luvox are just a few. Talk to your prescriber and see what he/she recommends.

I've know a couple of people who got really good results on Celexa.

[Anonymous]

You could also try effexor. It has the rep for tough discontinuation but I've gone off it twice with doc's guidance with no problem. I found it to be effective.

[Anonymous]

Celebs for anxiety is good - try 20 mg to start. This time of year anxiety is at it's peak - hang in there.

[Anonymous]

Meant celexa!

[Anonymous]

See a qualified herbalist before you end up 65 years old and unable to remember who you are and why you are on this earth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:See a qualified herbalist before you end up 65 years old and unable to remember who you are and why you are on this earth.

+1, please try other alternatives. You will regret all those drugs later on in life. Try fixing the problem versus just covering it up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See a qualified herbalist before you end up 65 years old and unable to remember who you are and why you are on this earth.

+1, please try other alternatives. You will regret all those drugs later on in life. Try fixing the problem versus just covering it up.

This is a medical problem. You don't solve it unless you treat it. Your post doesn't even make sense since herbalist will recommend supplements that are drugs, just untested and unregulated. Anti-depressants gave me my
Life back. The last thing I need is your ignorant judgment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:See a qualified herbalist before you end up 65 years old and unable to remember who you are and why you are on this earth.

+1, please try other alternatives. You will regret all those drugs later on in life. Try fixing the problem versus just covering it up.

NP.

I take Zoloft. I'm going to be on it the rest of my life. I have PTSD. It's not going to go away. I tried exercise, talk therapy meditation, herbal remedies, alcohol, marijuana, and others before turning to prescription medication

I keep an eye out for side effects, but deciding to take an SSRI was not an easy one for me. It is the best decision for me.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes SSRI's just stop working. While psychiatrists can sometimes predict the sedating/not sedating effects, everyone reacts differently. Unfortunately, sometimes you have to try different ones to see how they work for you.

I'm currently on a SSRI that is supposed to be good for anxiety. The drug does wonders for my depression, but makes my anxiety worse, so we've had to do some workarounds.

[Anonymous]

Why don't you contact your psychiatrist? If you've been seeing a GP (i.e., they're the prescriber), find a good psychiatrist instead.

[Anonymous]

See a pyschiatrist. Given the symptoms you describe and that you are starting to mixing medications, I think it's time to see someone who specializes in this. (My BFF was on SSRIs and at some point her mind starting racing, she was unable to focus, sleep, etc. Her psychiatrist weaned her off of them entirely.)

[Anonymous]

Celexa and Pristiq have both worked well for DD and DW. GL. Zoloft did not help DW and made her very tired. Noticeable difference on Pristiq.

[Anonymous]

zoloft did this for me as well. then i bounced around to 3 or so other anti-depressants, none of which could ever achieve the effect zoloft had when it was working. fact is, this is common with these drugs. ssris and ssnris are just not very good drugs. after becoming way too in love with klonopin, decided to stop treating my depression/anxiety pharmacuetically. some things that have worked for me: caffeine (way more than i ever thought i would drink); no sugar; no grains (including wheat); light to moderate exercise, esp yoga; exposure to as much sunlight as i can get; vitamin d supplement; fish oil supplement.

i realize the caffeine is not good for the anxiety/insomnia piece, but for me, the depression was the worst part.

i hear there are some really effective anti-depressants in clinical trials that are essentially derivatives of "special k" aka ketamine. maybe look and see if there are any trials over at the nih/nimh.

there are also psychotherapuetic approaches to anxiety and depression that are known to be effective. and they won't poop out on you.