Zoloft help..... PLEASE!!

[Migcar01]

Hello All

Its been awhile sinve Ive been here- I drop in every now and then, but haven't posted in quite a bit.. I'm having a bit of a dilema, I dont have much of a support system outside of here, So I figured I'd see if anyone could possibly help me out with this please?

I've been on an increased dosage of Zolfot of 100 mg for about 1 1/2 yrs and have done great. Mid Jan of this year I became very sick and of course my anxiety sparked right back up again..I'm extremly med sensetive so Doc decided to slowly increase my dosage Mid Feb. I increased by 12.5mg for two weeks with of course all the lovely side effects.. I then added an additional 12.5 mg about 2 weeks ago..My total dosage is now 125 mg.. All of my side effects were gone and I actually was back to my old self again!!!

Until.. Bout 2 days ago.. Anxiety started creeping in again..I had a follow-up appt with Doc yest.and she suggested I slowly increase by 12.5 mg to get to a target dosage of 150 mg. She left the decision up to me. She said I could either give the 125 mg. a lil longer or go by her suggestion and slowly tirate to 150 mg..

I'm by all means not looking for a medical opinion here, Just some feed back and possible help trying to make this decision. I dont know if I should give the 125 mg more time... Or go with the increase? I'm afraid if I dont go with the increase.. The anxiety will get out of control as it has done in the past... But.. if i go with the increase... Will I have those nasty side effects--although the last 12.5mg increase didn't really give me any side effects...

I'm sorry..This is soooo long winded.. I'm just very confused right now.. I've been crying and shaking since I woke up this morning.. I just dont know what to do.. Could someone please give me some thoughts on this?? Someone please help..

[insights]

I dont know if I should give the 125 mg more time... Or go with the increase? I'm afraid if I dont go with the increase.. The anxiety will get out of control as it has done in the past... But.. if i go with the increase... Will I have those nasty side effects--although the last 12.5mg increase didn't really give me any side effects...

I don't think 2 weeks is long enough to know whether 125mg is going to be enough. It can take 4-6 weeks to achieve the maximum response from a dose increase. OTOH, there may be some merit in going to 150mg. If the last 12.5mg increase went smoothly there is no reason to think the next one won't too.

If you are taking Zoloft once a day you could try taking half in the morning and half in the evening. Zoloft has a shortish half-life of about 20 hours so there can be significant changes in plasma levels during the day. Splitting the dose will smooth these and you'll have a little more of the drug in your system for most of the day.

Ian

[Migcar01]

Thank-you so very much for taking the the time to give me your input on this. I actually asked my doc if I should wait the usual 4-6 weeks for full effect of the 125mg. ( It has only been 2 full weeks ), and she said it there is no real way to tell if that would be the case but the 150mg would probably give me max benefits. I'm very hesitant to increase because of the side effects I have in the past, so as I said, she left the decision up to me. I also worry that maybe I don't need to increase yet and will end up taking too much with the 150mg. if it's not needed yet...
 I struggled with this all day yesterday and finally decided to go with the increase. I usually do split my dosage in half to even out the meds throughout the day and I find it works well for me.

As I said I didnt really have any side effects after the second 12.5mg increase two weeks ago so I'm really hoping that I follow that pattern this time. Do you find that to be the case in your situation? If one increase goes well? As of yesterday, I just had a bit of drowisness.. So fingers crossed!!!

Once again.. Thank-you 


Positive thinking.. " It can only get better from here!"[/size]

[insights]

I also worry that maybe I don't need to increase yet and will end up taking too much with the 150mg. if it's not needed yet.

If the 150mg gives good anxiety control you could drop the dose back to 125mg after a while to see if that is enough. Being at the higher dose for a while isn't going to do any harm. One of the curiosities about antidepressants is that they have little effect on people that aren't anxious or depressed, just as aspirin won't lower the body temperature of a healthy person, but will ease a fever. However, they will experience the typical antidepressant side-effects, sometimes for longer than is usually the case.

Ian

[Migcar01]

I was fine when I woke up this morning.. Just too the increased dosage bout an hr ago....
I guess I spoke too soon about not having too bad side effects. I'm having the worst anxiety right now.. And I'm at work.. I feel like I'm gonna loose it...OMG....

[insights]

I'm having the worst anxiety right now.. And I'm at work.. I feel like I'm gonna loose it...OMG....

Just keep reminding yourself that it is the drug and that this is normal.

Ian

[Migcar01]

I know thats what I kept telling myself.. Walked away from my desk.. Took a few deep breaths.. and it passed!! It's just so uncomfortable, but I guess I don't have to tell you that. For me, I usually get a really hot flush and then it begins.. But I've also read that if you don't fight the feeling,  know what it is, go with it, it will pass faster.. I'm trying really hard, but it's so disappointing when you finally feel relief.. and then BAM!! It hits you again..

I guess it's a process when increasing meds and the more you are aware of the process and you understand that its the meds working it helps a bit..And positive thinking and affirmations have also helped me a bit as well.

My motto this time around has been " It can only get better from here"

[Migcar01]

Well, decided to update my progress on my Zoloft increase. I actually ended up increasing by 12.5mg increments until I leveled off o 137.5mg. The last increase was about March 19th and although I did feel a little confused and a bit slowed down for a few ours after, I fared well. I've been on the 137.5mg for about 4 weeks or so and was doing great! Felt like my old self again and functioned quite well.
And of course... There's always a "But Then"  which started this past Monday, I've been extremely depressed and having horrible crying jags all day    Some anxiety and hot flashes hot flashes here and there.. Mainly crying for no apparent reason..Now my mind is starting to wander...

Called Doc, she says wait a few days and see if it passes, if not go up another 12.5mg which will bring me to 150mg..Well here I'am... Four days later and still crying up a storm. So I decided to initiate the increase today to see if it helps.. Fingers crossed XXXX

I guess my question is.. Has anyone ever been stable on a dosage of 137.5mg of Zoloft?  I know its an odd dosage, but I figured I was feeling so good there was no need to go up to 150mg..

Also has anyone experienced the uncontrollable crying for no reason while in the midst of leveling off? Its like the meds seem to have more or less taken care of the anxiety to a certain extent, but now I'm dealing with this wave of depression out of nowhere.

Any feedback or similar experiences would be greatly appreciated. ( Honestly- I guess I just need a bit of reassurance to help me get through another increase  )

[insights]

Has anyone ever been stable on a dosage of 137.5mg of Zoloft?  I know its an odd dosage, but I figured I was feeling so good there was no need to go up to 150mg.

I'm sure there are lots. There is nothing magical about 150mg, it all depends on how much you need. If you aren't taking enough then not much happens, apart from the side-effects, however, if you take more than you need then you don't get a bigger response, only the one you would get with taking just the right amount.

Also has anyone experienced the uncontrollable crying for no reason while in the midst of leveling off? Its like the meds seem to have more or less taken care of the anxiety to a certain extent, but now I'm dealing with this wave of depression out of nowhere.

Antidepressants are weird beasts where nothing is certain. A big part of this uncertainty probably stems from them don't have a direct effect, at least not a positive one. They work by encouraging the growth of new brain cells and the forging of interconnections between neurons, all of which is down to personal biology, not the drug, so everyone's experience is unique to them. But most of the time they do get the job done eventually.

Ian

[Migcar01]

It's just so frustrating when you've gone through the side effects of the increased dosage.. Your finally back to normal and doing so well and  think you've finally leveled off.. And from one day to the next, it feels like you've hit the floor, face first. I try to keep a positive attitude, but I'll tell you... But sometimes, its just not that easy... 

[Migcar01]

Hello All.. I decided to drop in and give an update on my Zoloft increase progress. Well, its been about a week since I did my last increase of 12.5 mg which totals me out at 150mg. It feels as tho I have been on a roller coaster ride! I go from feeling fine, to dizziness and anxiety on and off. I know this is a side effect of the latest increase, however, the previous increases I've done over the past few months haven't peaked my anxiety as much as this one has. Its actually more of my mind racing with thoughts which as I said, I really didnt get to this extent with my other increases.

Question: For those who titrate slowly with your meds-- Have you found that as you go higher up in dosage, your side effects differ or increase? I actually thought that because I'm going into a higher dose ( slowly of course) that the side effects would maybe be a lil easier 

If anyone could give me your experiences or even opinion on this I would really appreciate it!

[Migcar01]

Sorry- I wanted to add this:: Odd thing is- original reason for previous increases was anxiety--this last increase was not due to  anxiety, I was actually crying uncontrolably for days.. Nothing to do with anxiety-- Now its back from the increase.. Go figure