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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 2 to 26 of 26. Go back in thread:
Posted by Sad Panda on March 3, 2004, at 12:35:58
In reply to Lexapro vs. Zoloft (sexual side effects), posted by catcrazycarmen on March 3, 2004, at 11:52:42
> Has anyone out there(especially women) been on Zoloft and experienced the sexual side effects (inability to climax or even have desire for sex)and then switched to Lexapro (or another SSRI) and had better luck? I need to stay with an SSRI because they work best for me. And yes, I tried Wellbutrin and it made me EXTREMELY IRRATABLE!! Zoloft works great for me for depression and anxiety but I've been putting up with the SSEs for years now and frankly I want to enjoy sex again!
>
>I believe it is a common side effect of SSRI's & other drugs that raise Srotonin levels. Effexor causes me to have no orgasm, adding Remeron to Effexor fixes the problem. It hasn't fixed my loss of libido, but at least I can perform & enjoy it when asked. :) It's worth a go, especially if you have any sort of SSRI induced sleep problem.
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by King Vultan on March 3, 2004, at 13:00:20
In reply to Lexapro vs. Zoloft (sexual side effects), posted by catcrazycarmen on March 3, 2004, at 11:52:42
> Has anyone out there(especially women) been on Zoloft and experienced the sexual side effects (inability to climax or even have desire for sex)and then switched to Lexapro (or another SSRI) and had better luck? I need to stay with an SSRI because they work best for me. And yes, I tried Wellbutrin and it made me EXTREMELY IRRATABLE!! Zoloft works great for me for depression and anxiety but I've been putting up with the SSEs for years now and frankly I want to enjoy sex again!
I also suffered from irritability problems on Wellbutrin, this when taking it at 300 mg/day. However, Wellbutrin will generally have more effect on SSRI-induced libido problems than orgasm problems. A drug that blockades serotonin 2A receptors is indicated for the orgasm problems. Two that are worth considering are Remeron and trazodone. They may also have some effect on libido problems, too, but for libido, there is no substitute for increasing dopamine, such as Wellbutrin or a stimulant does (dopamine agonists may also be worth considering, but there is a much smaller body of evidence on their effectiveness).Todd
Posted by SPhobia on March 3, 2004, at 19:31:28
In reply to Lexapro vs. Zoloft (sexual side effects), posted by catcrazycarmen on March 3, 2004, at 11:52:42
Let me preface this response by saying that I am male. I don't know whether that really makes any difference, but were looking specifically for advice from women, so that's my disclosure :)
I am really shocked how differently Zoloft as treated me since I started it a few weeks ago, compared with how the other SSRI's did. Now, I haven't been on it long enough to discern any major theraputic effects, but my side effect from SSRI's seem to come on strong and fast so I feel qualified to discuss them at this point.
Here's my breakdown of tried SSRI's and the side effects I felt from them (and keep in mind, this was just how these meds affected ME personally):
Paxil CR: No decrease in Libido, but total inability to orgasm once I went upto and past 25mg/day. Started to notice a little water weight gain (i.e., bloating). Also experience a bit of apathy, and ended up stopping b/c it was destroying my ability to concentrate on my work (i.e., giving me extreme ADD).
Lexapro: From 10mgs/day and on, my libido plumitted and I again lost my ability to orgasm. In addition I started to get bad headaches. Perhaps the libido and orgasm would have come back with time, but the headaches were killing me so I got off pretty quickly.
Zoloft: I'm up to 100mgs/day at this poing and have been titrating up on it for about 3 weeks. I may have a "slight" decrease in libido, but its so slight I am beginning to think it's my imagination (or due to increased stress in my work life). I am having NO PROBLEMS WITH ORGASMING!! This is the big one for me...I can't understand why Z has been SO different in this area for me than Paxil and Lexapro were. But who cares, I couldn't be happier about it. Also, I do NOT seem to be having the concentration problem I had on paxil.
So for me, Z has been great in the side effect department so far. Now I will just wait and see if it helps treat my anxiety. I am hopeful though, b/c I have heard Z is a particularly effective SSRI for treating anxiety.
Best of Luck, and don't settle for sexual side effects unless you have no other option! Sex--in whatever form--is so fundamental to stress relief. During the periods I couldn't orgasm, I fell wound so tightly I would loose my temper over such trivial matters! It was tough
:)
Posted by theo on March 3, 2004, at 23:12:08
In reply to Re: Lexapro vs. Zoloft (sexual side effects), posted by SPhobia on March 3, 2004, at 19:31:28
Do you take your Zoloft morning or bedtime?
Posted by SLS on March 4, 2004, at 7:16:37
In reply to Re: Lexapro vs. Zoloft (sexual side effects), posted by SPhobia on March 3, 2004, at 19:31:28
> Zoloft: I'm up to 100mgs/day at this poing and have been titrating up on it for about 3 weeks. I may have a "slight" decrease in libido, but its so slight I am beginning to think it's my imagination (or due to increased stress in my work life). I am having NO PROBLEMS WITH ORGASMING!! This is the big one for me...I can't understand why Z has been SO different in this area for me than Paxil and Lexapro were. But who cares, I couldn't be happier about it. Also, I do NOT seem to be having the concentration problem I had on paxil.
>
> So for me, Z has been great in the side effect department so far. Now I will just wait and see if it helps treat my anxiety. I am hopeful though, b/c I have heard Z is a particularly effective SSRI for treating anxiety.
My experience with Zoloft is that it has reduced my libido to almost nothing. None of the others affected me that way. I'm taking 200mg. I guess that goes to show you how different are our individual reactions to drugs are. Other than its effect on libido, I haven't had any other side effects other than the headaches that often occur early in treatment. Those disappeared after 2 weeks.
- Scott
Posted by Anjul on March 4, 2004, at 7:19:30
In reply to Re: Lexapro vs. Zoloft (sexual side effects) » catcrazycarmen, posted by Sad Panda on March 3, 2004, at 12:35:58
Hey, Sad Panda, etc
i have been on Lexapro since October, and when I take enough to help me (10 mg) I can not sleep. Even with Clonapin. I have Hep C and can;t take Trazadone (togh on the liver) I am wondering now if some Remeron might help? What do you know about this? Anjul
Posted by catcrazycarmen on March 4, 2004, at 8:01:03
In reply to Re: Lexapro vs. Zoloft (sexual side effects) » SPhobia, posted by theo on March 3, 2004, at 23:12:08
> Do you take your Zoloft morning or bedtime?
Morning, why?
Posted by catcrazycarmen on March 4, 2004, at 8:35:13
In reply to Re: Lexapro vs. Zoloft (sexual side effects) » SPhobia, posted by theo on March 3, 2004, at 23:12:08
Hey S Phobia and others, your right about Zoloft working well on anxiety. At least for me it's true. That's one of the reasons I am so reluctant to switch. Zoloft is a great drug for me in so many ways. No mood swings,no PMS,no anxiety. I just function so much better on it. I have been off and on antidepressants for the last 15 yrs. and as you can imagine, I've tried too many to count. I've been on Z for about 3 yrs. now (and twice in yrs past)and it just always does the trick for me. All the other drugs I've tried either didn't work or had side effects that were just unbearable. Also, a little note to anyone new to the antidepressant experience; I hear a lot of people talking about trying a particular drug for only a short time and then switching because of an undesired side effect. The truth is (and I'm speaking from lots of experience) that most of the drugs are going to have some unpleasant side effects at least in the beginning. BUT you really need to stick it out for at least a month or two to give your body a chance to adjust. Most of the time the most annoying side effects like insomnia, tremors, headaches, diarrhea, dry mouth and others will go away. And once they do you may really like the drug. The first time I got on Zoloft yrs ago it gave me all of the above symptoms plus loss of appetite for about a month. The diarrhea and insomnia were particularly bothersome. But now I'm really glad I didn't give up too easily because I would have passed up a really good thing. That's not to say that some SE's don't go away. I've had that experience too. Like with the Wellbutrin, I was so irritable and that never went away. Then with Effexor, it worked great on anxiety and I liked the way it made me feel but it just made me SOOO sleepy! I was on it for about 3 months hoping that the sleepiness would subside but it never did. It also gave me really bad headaches but those went away after about 3 weeks. Someone else was talking about how the same drug affects each person differently and that is SO TRUE! Each person's body reacts differently. Unfortunately, with AD's you just have to keep trying until you find the one that works best for YOU. But don't give up.
Posted by scott-d-o on March 4, 2004, at 10:24:12
In reply to Re: Lexapro vs. Zoloft (sexual side effects), posted by SPhobia on March 3, 2004, at 19:31:28
> Zoloft: I'm up to 100mgs/day at this poing and have been titrating up on it for about 3 weeks. I may have a "slight" decrease in libido, but its so slight I am beginning to think it's my imagination (or due to increased stress in my work life). I am having NO PROBLEMS WITH ORGASMING!! This is the big one for me...I can't understand why Z has been SO different in this area for me than Paxil and Lexapro were. But who cares, I couldn't be happier about it. Also, I do NOT seem to be having the concentration problem I had on paxil.
>this is not suprising, since zoloft has a higher selectivity ratio for the da transporter vs. 5-ht transporter (ic50[5-ht] / ic50[da]) than any of the other ssri meds. generally, more da = less sexual se's, same goes for attention problems.
scott
Posted by Sad Panda on March 4, 2004, at 11:25:32
In reply to Re: Lexapro vs. Zoloft (sexual side effects), posted by Anjul on March 4, 2004, at 7:19:30
> Hey, Sad Panda, etc
>
> i have been on Lexapro since October, and when I take enough to help me (10 mg) I can not sleep. Even with Clonapin. I have Hep C and can;t take Trazadone (togh on the liver) I am wondering now if some Remeron might help? What do you know about this? Anjul
>
>Remeron is great for sleep. If you get a presciption for it start at 7.5mg. Don't start it until you have a couple of days free as it might make you sleep for 18 hours the first few times you take it.
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by SPhobia on March 4, 2004, at 12:38:18
In reply to Re: Lexapro vs. Zoloft (sexual side effects), posted by catcrazycarmen on March 4, 2004, at 8:35:13
Catcrazycarmen (and others),
Have you considered adding something like Busbar to try and give your libido a boost? I've also heard people mention remeron for that problem.You've been on the SSRI's for long enough that maybe you've tried all of this, but I thought I'd mention it.
> Hey S Phobia and others, your right about Zoloft working well on anxiety. At least for me it's true. That's one of the reasons I am so reluctant to switch. Zoloft is a great drug for me in so many ways. No mood swings,no PMS,no anxiety. I just function so much better on it. I have been off and on antidepressants for the last 15 yrs. and as you can imagine, I've tried too many to count. I've been on Z for about 3 yrs. now (and twice in yrs past)and it just always does the trick for me. All the other drugs I've tried either didn't work or had side effects that were just unbearable. Also, a little note to anyone new to the antidepressant experience; I hear a lot of people talking about trying a particular drug for only a short time and then switching because of an undesired side effect. The truth is (and I'm speaking from lots of experience) that most of the drugs are going to have some unpleasant side effects at least in the beginning. BUT you really need to stick it out for at least a month or two to give your body a chance to adjust. Most of the time the most annoying side effects like insomnia, tremors, headaches, diarrhea, dry mouth and others will go away. And once they do you may really like the drug. The first time I got on Zoloft yrs ago it gave me all of the above symptoms plus loss of appetite for about a month. The diarrhea and insomnia were particularly bothersome. But now I'm really glad I didn't give up too easily because I would have passed up a really good thing. That's not to say that some SE's don't go away. I've had that experience too. Like with the Wellbutrin, I was so irritable and that never went away. Then with Effexor, it worked great on anxiety and I liked the way it made me feel but it just made me SOOO sleepy! I was on it for about 3 months hoping that the sleepiness would subside but it never did. It also gave me really bad headaches but those went away after about 3 weeks. Someone else was talking about how the same drug affects each person differently and that is SO TRUE! Each person's body reacts differently. Unfortunately, with AD's you just have to keep trying until you find the one that works best for YOU. But don't give up.
Posted by SPhobia on March 4, 2004, at 12:40:46
In reply to Re: Lexapro vs. Zoloft (sexual side effects) » SPhobia, posted by theo on March 3, 2004, at 23:12:08
Theo,
I take it in the morning. I find it to be an activating SSRI (as do many). I also take it with food because I have heard several people say that Z is metabolized much better when taken with food.
> Do you take your Zoloft morning or bedtime?
Posted by SPhobia on March 4, 2004, at 12:47:50
In reply to Re: Lexapro vs. Zoloft (sexual side effects), posted by SLS on March 4, 2004, at 7:16:37
When you speak of your libido being drastically reduced, what are the manners in which this effects you pragmatically.
Clearly a decreased libido means a decreased sex drive, but (1) were/are you still able to have sex (i.e., no anorgasmia or impotence); and (2) if so, was it less enjoyable than before?
I ask because I am never sure when people talk about decreased libido whether they mean they just think about & crave/desire sex much less, or they actually cannot function sexually as a result of the decreased libido.
Thanks
> > Zoloft: I'm up to 100mgs/day at this poing and have been titrating up on it for about 3 weeks. I may have a "slight" decrease in libido, but its so slight I am beginning to think it's my imagination (or due to increased stress in my work life). I am having NO PROBLEMS WITH ORGASMING!! This is the big one for me...I can't understand why Z has been SO different in this area for me than Paxil and Lexapro were. But who cares, I couldn't be happier about it. Also, I do NOT seem to be having the concentration problem I had on paxil.
> >
> > So for me, Z has been great in the side effect department so far. Now I will just wait and see if it helps treat my anxiety. I am hopeful though, b/c I have heard Z is a particularly effective SSRI for treating anxiety.
>
>
> My experience with Zoloft is that it has reduced my libido to almost nothing. None of the others affected me that way. I'm taking 200mg. I guess that goes to show you how different are our individual reactions to drugs are. Other than its effect on libido, I haven't had any other side effects other than the headaches that often occur early in treatment. Those disappeared after 2 weeks.
>
>
> - Scott
>
Posted by Anjul on March 4, 2004, at 13:10:32
In reply to Re: Lexapro vs. Zoloft (sexual side effects) » Anjul, posted by Sad Panda on March 4, 2004, at 11:25:32
Did you try this SSRI/Remeron combo? What were your results? The only thing I know about Remeron is its tendency to cause significant weight gain. thanks! Anjul
Posted by SLS on March 4, 2004, at 14:39:16
In reply to Question for SLS » SLS, posted by SPhobia on March 4, 2004, at 12:47:50
> When you speak of your libido being drastically reduced, what are the manners in which this effects you pragmatically.
I experience no desire for sex. However, I am able to reach orgasm without difficulty. Anorgasmia has never been too much of a problem for me with the SSRIs, though.
- Scott
Posted by SPhobia on March 4, 2004, at 18:53:59
In reply to Re: Question for SLS » SPhobia, posted by SLS on March 4, 2004, at 14:39:16
Just one follow up question,
Once you started "getting into it" did you enjoy your sexual experiences and become turned on.
Like I was saying, I might have had a little decrease in libido since starting Z (meaning I desire/crave sex less), but once my girlfriend and I start getting hot & heavy, It's just as enjoyable as it ever is.
In otherwords, I may need to initiate to get my sex drive going, as opposed to comming home craving sex.I get the feeling your experience is unlike this though. Is that true?
> > When you speak of your libido being drastically reduced, what are the manners in which this effects you pragmatically.
>
> I experience no desire for sex. However, I am able to reach orgasm without difficulty. Anorgasmia has never been too much of a problem for me with the SSRIs, though.
>
>
> - Scott
Posted by SLS on March 5, 2004, at 13:06:58
In reply to Re: Question for SLS » SLS, posted by SPhobia on March 4, 2004, at 18:53:59
> Just one follow up question,
>
> Once you started "getting into it" did you enjoy your sexual experiences and become turned on.
>
> Like I was saying, I might have had a little decrease in libido since starting Z (meaning I desire/crave sex less), but once my girlfriend and I start getting hot & heavy, It's just as enjoyable as it ever is.
> In otherwords, I may need to initiate to get my sex drive going, as opposed to comming home craving sex.You should consider yourself lucky. It seems that Zoloft has dimished your libido only partially. For me, there is little if any left. Depression alone has really impacted negatively on my libido. In any event, my lack of sex drive at this point prevents me from getting very turned on during sex. Fortunately, my girlfriend has been understanding.
- Scott
Posted by bjones on March 5, 2004, at 17:10:41
In reply to Re: Question for SLS » SPhobia, posted by SLS on March 5, 2004, at 13:06:58
I have a question. Nothing to do with libido. (But I will say the zoloft hasn't changed it.) Would anyone be able to tell me differences between zoloft and lexapro? I have been on zoloft 50mg for ~6months. I feel like I have hit a brick wall and it's not working (-although I'd be much worse than I am if it really weren't). Some anxiety is back. Not a whole lot, but enough. So I was thinking of increasing the dose to 100mg. Would that help? Or should I try the lexapro? I'm kinda deciding all this on my own. btw -I have taken Paxil in the past, and it stopped working after 6 months also. thanks.
> > Just one follow up question,
> >
> > Once you started "getting into it" did you enjoy your sexual experiences and become turned on.
> >
> > Like I was saying, I might have had a little decrease in libido since starting Z (meaning I desire/crave sex less), but once my girlfriend and I start getting hot & heavy, It's just as enjoyable as it ever is.
> > In otherwords, I may need to initiate to get my sex drive going, as opposed to comming home craving sex.
>
> You should consider yourself lucky. It seems that Zoloft has dimished your libido only partially. For me, there is little if any left. Depression alone has really impacted negatively on my libido. In any event, my lack of sex drive at this point prevents me from getting very turned on during sex. Fortunately, my girlfriend has been understanding.
>
>
> - Scott
Posted by catcrazycarmen on March 5, 2004, at 17:38:08
In reply to Re: Question for SLS, posted by bjones on March 5, 2004, at 17:10:41
Hey SLS, I know you asked this question for someone else but thought I'd put my two cents in. 50 mg. of Zoloft is only a starting dose. I don't even think that is considered a theraputic dose. I don't get the full benefits of Zoloft until 150 mg. You should definitely try going up on the dose before switching.
Posted by Flipsactown on March 7, 2004, at 5:10:35
In reply to Re: Question for SLS » SPhobia, posted by SLS on March 5, 2004, at 13:06:58
Scott,
I am getting ready to throw in the towel and start over with different AD or ADs. I have been on ADs for over 12 years for unipolar depression. Currently, I am on 100mg prozac, 90mg remeron, 400mg lamictal and 1200mg lithium. Lithium was added nearly 3 months ago as I was still getting depressed in the late afternoons. Now, I am depressed all the time. In fact this is the most depressed I have been since I was first diagnosed with clinical depression over 12 years ago. I know you are on lithium and was wondering if I have given it enough time (3 months). The last blood level indicated .4 and so my pdoc raised the lithium to 1200mg to get to the therapeutic dose. It has been over a week since it was raised to 1200mg and I am more depressed than before. I am thinking of asking my pdoc for rx lexapro which I have not tried. What are your thoughts, my friend?
Flipsactown
Posted by SLS on March 7, 2004, at 7:28:39
In reply to Re: Question for SLS, posted by Flipsactown on March 7, 2004, at 5:10:35
Hi Flipsactown.
> I am getting ready to throw in the towel and start over with different AD or ADs. I have been on ADs for over 12 years for unipolar depression. Currently, I am on 100mg prozac, 90mg remeron, 400mg lamictal and 1200mg lithium.
Those are some very substantial dosages!
> Lithium was added nearly 3 months ago as I was still getting depressed in the late afternoons. Now, I am depressed all the time. In fact this is the most depressed I have been since I was first diagnosed with clinical depression over 12 years ago. I know you are on lithium and was wondering if I have given it enough time (3 months). The last blood level indicated .4 and so my pdoc raised the lithium to 1200mg to get to the therapeutic dose. It has been over a week since it was raised to 1200mg and I am more depressed than before. I am thinking of asking my pdoc for rx lexapro which I have not tried. What are your thoughts, my friend?
Lithium can make depression worse for some people. It does for me. I even tried using a 300mg low-dose strategy, hoping that it wouldn't affect me the same way 600mg does. No such luck. I felt worse within two days.
When lithium is used as an augmentation strategy to treat unipolar depression, often dosages between 300-600mg are effective. A response is often noticed within the first week. 3 months at 1200mg is sufficient to judge its utility.
Why are you continuing to take Prozac + Remeron? Do they help at all? What about Lamictal? Is there any chance that you are bipolar? There are a lot of drugs and drug combinations out there to try. I have added Namenda (memantine) to my drug regime. The NIMH (NIH) is sponsoring a clinical trial of Namenda in the hopes that it will help people with treatment-resistant depression. My doctor agreed to give it a try after I showed him the study.
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00040261
The investigators are still recuiting volunteers, so I'm sure it will be some time before the results are in.
Cymbalta (duloxetine) seems to be an exciting new antidepressant according to what has been published about it. With any luck, it will become available this summer.
Keep hope alive.
- Scott
Posted by Flipsactown on March 7, 2004, at 15:24:18
In reply to Re: Question for SLS, posted by SLS on March 7, 2004, at 7:28:39
Hello Scott,
Thanks for the info on Namenda. I will read up on it. As far as why I'm still taking Prozac and Remeron, is a good question. It is because when I tried tapering off either one, my depression worsen. This was also the case with Lamictal. So my pdoc just kept on adding on to my combo and all of sudden I am taking 4 different meds and worse off then when I started. Have you had any experience with Lexapro or Parnate? I am just exploring my alternatives. Thanks for your response.
FST
> Hi Flipsactown.
',
> > I am getting ready to throw in the towel and start over with different AD or ADs. I have been on ADs for over 12 years for unipolar depression. Currently, I am on 100mg prozac, 90mg remeron, 400mg lamictal and 1200mg lithium.
>
> Those are some very substantial dosages!
>
> > Lithium was added nearly 3 months ago as I was still getting depressed in the late afternoons. Now, I am depressed all the time. In fact this is the most depressed I have been since I was first diagnosed with clinical depression over 12 years ago. I know you are on lithium and was wondering if I have given it enough time (3 months). The last blood level indicated .4 and so my pdoc raised the lithium to 1200mg to get to the therapeutic dose. It has been over a week since it was raised to 1200mg and I am more depressed than before. I am thinking of asking my pdoc for rx lexapro which I have not tried. What are your thoughts, my friend?
>
> Lithium can make depression worse for some people. It does for me. I even tried using a 300mg low-dose strategy, hoping that it wouldn't affect me the same way 600mg does. No such luck. I felt worse within two days.
>
> When lithium is used as an augmentation strategy to treat unipolar depression, often dosages between 300-600mg are effective. A response is often noticed within the first week. 3 months at 1200mg is sufficient to judge its utility.
>
> Why are you continuing to take Prozac + Remeron? Do they help at all? What about Lamictal? Is there any chance that you are bipolar? There are a lot of drugs and drug combinations out there to try. I have added Namenda (memantine) to my drug regime. The NIMH (NIH) is sponsoring a clinical trial of Namenda in the hopes that it will help people with treatment-resistant depression. My doctor agreed to give it a try after I showed him the study.
>
> http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00040261
>
> The investigators are still recuiting volunteers, so I'm sure it will be some time before the results are in.
>
> Cymbalta (duloxetine) seems to be an exciting new antidepressant according to what has been published about it. With any luck, it will become available this summer.
>
>
>
> Keep hope alive.
>
>
> - Scott
>
>
Posted by SLS on March 8, 2004, at 8:42:59
In reply to Re: Question for SLS » SLS, posted by Flipsactown on March 7, 2004, at 15:24:18
> Thanks for the info on Namenda. I will read up on it. As far as why I'm still taking Prozac and Remeron, is a good question. It is because when I tried tapering off either one, my depression worsen. This was also the case with Lamictal. So my pdoc just kept on adding on to my combo and all of sudden I am taking 4 different meds and worse off then when I started. Have you had any experience with Lexapro or Parnate? I am just exploring my alternatives. Thanks for your response.
A partial response is better than no response at all. It is probably good that you continue to use those treatments that you receive some benefit from, unless it prevents you from trying something new. Ultimately, they might not all be necessary once you find something that hits the right target. If memantine works for me, I'll probably try to drop the Zoloft and Lamictal.The only thing that ever worked well for me was a combination of Parnate + desipramine. I would probably be OK today had the doctor not discontinued it in favor of the then newly-approved Prozac. I no longer respond to those drugs. I don't think it makes sense to postpone MAOIs once you have already tried a tricyclic, SSRI, Effexor, Wellbutrin, and Remeron. However, the failure to respond adequately to one SSRI doesn't preclude responding well to another. I know of someone who does better on Lexapro than he did on Celexa. NOBODY is smart enough to predict with confidence that a particular drug will or won't work for someone. We just don't understand well enough what's going on between the ears. It is somewhat childish to pretend otherwise. Keep looking. You'll get there.
- Scott
Posted by Jaylee on April 16, 2004, at 13:23:54
In reply to Re: Question for SLS, posted by bjones on March 5, 2004, at 17:10:41
I just started taking Zoloft about a month in a half ago for my mood swings and social anxiety. I was first put on 25mg and now I am up to 50mg. I was just wondering what is the therapeutic dosage of Zoloft? Is 50mg a normal dosage and what is the highest dosage you can take? How long does it take to feel it's true effects. I think I feel a little better and I experience less anxiety, but can I increase my dosage and how long should I wait to increase it??? Thank you for your time & support!!
Posted by SLS on April 16, 2004, at 15:21:55
In reply to Re: Question for SLS, posted by Jaylee on April 16, 2004, at 13:23:54
> I just started taking Zoloft about a month in a half ago for my mood swings and social anxiety.
Can you describe what you mean by mood swings?
> I was first put on 25mg and now I am up to 50mg. I was just wondering what is the therapeutic dosage of Zoloft?
200mg seems to be as high as most doctors would want to go. It is reasonable to increase your dosage if your doctor is so inclined.
> How long does it take to feel it's true effects.
It is hard to say. Some people begin to notice an improvement after only two weeks. For others, it can take up to 6 weeks.
> I think I feel a little better and I experience less anxiety, but can I increase my dosage and how long should I wait to increase it??? Thank you for your time & support!!
I think the conservative approach would be to allow a trial of 3 weeks before evaluating the effectiveness of a change in medication.
It sounds like you are off to a good start!
Good luck.
- Scott
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