Might need a med change - advice/experience needed

[Birch531]

I'm in a hormonally-related flare up of my anxiety/depression (my diagnosis is OCD and GAD, with some panic). It got really bad when I weaned my daughter from breastfeeding a couple months ago. Now I'm on a birth control pill, which made things worse. Anyway, I've been on Zoloft for about 1.5 months (started at 50mg, now at 100mg for about 3 weeks). It doesn't seem to be doing much good. Not sure if it's strong enough to combat the hormone stuff. I have Xanax to take "as needed" but lately I've been trying to use it all day - about 1 or 1.5 mg at a time (the most I've taken is 2 mg in a day total). That seems like a lot to me, but after reading on here, it doesn't seem so bad. On top of everything, we are pursuing getting pregnant again so I don't want to be on a high dose of anything (long story, but the birth control pill is to prepare my body for a fertility treatment I'll be undergoing). I can take Zoloft, Prozac or Celexa while pregnant (IF I get pregnant) - not Xanax obviously. I guess my question is - has anyone not had success with Zoloft but have with Celexa or Prozac? And I figure I'm using Xanax just to get me through this especially rough time...how much is too much Xanax to take? I won't be taking it long term. What amounts do you take if you are on Xanax and how do you space it out throughout the day? THANKS!

[insights]

Anyway, I've been on Zoloft for about 1.5 months (started at 50mg, now at 100mg for about 3 weeks). It doesn't seem to be doing much good.

Three weeks is probably not quite long enough to get the full effect of the dose. I'd give it at least another week or two. 

I guess my question is - has anyone not had success with Zoloft but have with Celexa or Prozac?

Everyone reacts to antidepressants differently. You may well do better on Celexa or Prozac, but the only way to know is by trying them. However, I'd wait a little longer to see if you get any response from Zoloft. If you do then going up to 150mg may do the trick. If there is no response at all then it might be time to consider alternatives.

I have Xanax to take "as needed" but lately I've been trying to use it all day - about 1 or 1.5 mg at a time (the most I've taken is 2 mg in a day total). That seems like a lot to me, but after reading on here, it doesn't seem so bad.

...And I figure I'm using Xanax just to get me through this especially rough time...how much is too much Xanax to take? I won't be taking it long term.

The dose is okay, but if you take it daily for more than 3-4 weeks you may run into dependency issues when stopping it, so given you will be quitting soon I suggest caution as tapering off may take a while.

Ian

[Birch531]

Thanks Ian - I'm not sure if I was clear...I had been on 50mg of Zoloft from Dec 21 until about mid-January, then increased to 100 mg until last week. So I did give it a fair 6-8 week trial overall. I went to my doc and we're actually in the process of switching to Celexa. I'm really hoping this helps and I don't have to be so dependent on the Xanax.

[Momoizkool]

Just wondering how you have done with the Celexa? I am thinking about changing my med Zoloft to Celexa or Lexapro. Just wondering if the Celexa has helped you better than the zoloft?

[Birch531]

Momoizkool - yes, I think the Celexa has been working better for me than the Zoloft. It's hard to say, because I've been doing a few different things to help myself, but I know that overall I feel better! Hope it works for you.