Posted by Cam W. on February 28, 2002, at 20:18:58
In reply to Re: Any suggestions of getting off of Zoloft, posted by Chica on February 28, 2002, at 9:44:30
Cmatt - Several studies have shown that if an antidepressant is not taken for at least six months "after response" there is a great risk (>80%) of relapse. It usually takes 1 or 2 months to reach full response with SSRIs.
It takes time for the body's stress system (HPA axis), as well as other related systems that were altered and resulted in the depressive symptoms, to recover and "normalize" from a depression. You have to make sure that the realigned neurochemical pathways are strong enough to stay that way. The body has a good memory, and if you don't retrain the circuitry for a long enough period, the neuronal pathways will again return to the depressed configuration.
Have patience; you did not become depressed overnight. I always recommend that people keeping taking an antidepressant for at least a year. This greatly decreases the risk of a relapse of the depression from occuring.
I hope that this is of some help. - Cam
poster:Cam W.
thread:5582
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020222/msgs/95883.html