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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 19 of 19. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by bigpopper on January 12, 2007, at 17:10:16
I am still fighting the anxiety since starting 10mg of Lexapro almost 4 months ago. I go days with anxiety and no appetite. Wake up a 4am in a panic every morning. SO, I went to doctor today.
He wants me to start 50mg. of Zoloft tomm. and just stop taking Lexapro. What should I expect? Will there be a "bad" startup like Lexapro?
He said that he thought the Lexapro was doing nothing. Not helping or hurting. Time to change. Now this comes from a General Dr. The Pschy Dr. just tells me to keep taking Lex and Xanax for another 6 months. I can not make it 6 more months! I am taking $15 advice over $400/hr. advice??
Posted by blueberry1 on January 12, 2007, at 19:21:58
In reply to Switching form Lexapro to Zoloft, posted by bigpopper on January 12, 2007, at 17:10:16
Will zoloft work better than lexapro? No way to predict. Could make things work, could be a miracle. Start-up side effects of zoloft are unpredictable. Some get sleepy, some stimulated. Transition will be lexapro withdrawals and zoloft start-ups at the same time. Zoloft should cut down or prevent lexapro withdrawals. Who knows, maybe lexapro has been an aggravating factor, and that removing it may bring improvement rapidly. Maybe could happen.
Personally I think 50mg zoloft is too much to start. If it were me I would cut the tab in half and do 25mg for a couple weeks.
I hate to say it but practically every day there is a story of an apathetic lame pdoc. I know there are good ones out there somewhere. The best drug knowledge and best service I ever got was from a nurse practioner (specialty in psychiatry and naturopathy). Go figure. She put 4 pdocs to shame. Second best was a GP. Hey, how many 10 month chunks of life does this pdoc think you have to play with anyway? Does he think life is an eternity? Does he think people have some super human power to endure excruciating symptoms indefinitely? What if it were HIM?
Is the issue primarily anxiety/panic? If so, why not just do xanax monotherapy? If it is depression also, then xanax alone could be fine, but might need something else with it.
I hate suggesting antipsychotics. But if you wanted to sleep soundly and wipe out that anxiety/panic (kicks in at 2 hours instead of 6 weeks), 2.5mg to 5mg zyprexa can do that.
Posted by bigpopper on January 12, 2007, at 20:34:37
In reply to Re: Switching form Lexapro to Zoloft, posted by blueberry1 on January 12, 2007, at 19:21:58
I am not sure what my issue truly is. It started 4 months ago as not feeling good to feeling horrible to breakdown (depression). When I first went to Dr. he said major depression caused by anxiety. Now I have anxiety all day (worse in the morning). Xanax helps, but I am afraid to take too much. So I suffer mostly. I do not feel "depressed". Just anxious and horrible. Starts in stomach, then chest, then I feel tingly/numb all over. I do know I did not need/want any benzo until Lexapro start-up. Now I can not leave home without it.
I am scared of the Xanax only deal. I am afraid I will get addicted and never be able to quit. My GP said that the right AD should get rid of anxiety hopefully and I will not need Xanax. I hope this works.
Do you suggest I stop Lex and startup with only 25mg of Zoloft alone or maybe 5mg of Lex and 25 of Zoloft? Thanks for help.
Posted by Phillipa on January 12, 2007, at 21:41:01
In reply to Re: Switching form Lexapro to Zoloft, posted by bigpopper on January 12, 2007, at 20:34:37
I've taken them both and couldn't tolerate lexapro with xanax and zoloft I could. A lot of my family members are on zoloft with no side effects or start up effects. My Daughter is on 25mg down from 50mg. And my sister and neice both take 50mg with xanax and my Son took 200mg of zoloft with ativan. Me I took the 50mg felt nothing. I too think my depression is from anxiety so I take valium, .5 of xanax lunesta 3mg for sleep and 25-50mg of luvox as I've never had side effects to it. Good luck Love Phillipa
Posted by peddidle on January 13, 2007, at 0:08:00
In reply to Switching form Lexapro to Zoloft, posted by bigpopper on January 12, 2007, at 17:10:16
I currently take 100mg zoloft. I experienced bad headaches when I first started the zoloft, but they were easily controlled with regular tylenol. I would suggest taking tylenol at the same time as the zoloft to avoid the headaches.
As a side note, I would be VERY careful about stopping the lexapro cold turkey. I experienced moderate withdrawal symptoms when I tapered my zoloft from 200mg. When I got down to 50mg, I had to go back up to 100mg because the side-effects became unbearable. It might be different for you, because it sounds like you haven't been on the lexapro for very long, but still, be careful.
Posted by bigpopper on January 13, 2007, at 18:00:23
In reply to Re: Switching form Lexapro to Zoloft, posted by peddidle on January 13, 2007, at 0:08:00
Any more suggestions on how to switch?
Cold turkey Lex and 50mg Zoloft?
5mg Lex and 25 Zoloft?
25mg. Zoloft alone and go up to 50mg later?
Posted by Phillipa on January 13, 2007, at 18:37:06
In reply to Re: Switching form Lexapro to Zoloft, posted by bigpopper on January 13, 2007, at 18:00:23
May be a good question for the withdrawal board. Why not post it there? Love Phillipa
Posted by bigpopper on January 13, 2007, at 23:42:49
In reply to Re: Switching form Lexapro to Zoloft » bigpopper, posted by Phillipa on January 13, 2007, at 18:37:06
blueberry1 and Phillipa
What method did you use when switching from one ssri to another?
Posted by blueberry1 on January 14, 2007, at 1:23:02
In reply to Re: Switching form Lexapro to Zoloft, posted by bigpopper on January 13, 2007, at 23:42:49
You can do a straight across switch from lexapro to zoloft. I did it a little slower, over about 4 days, with a cross taper. I think I lowered lexapro by 2.5mg per day for a couple days, added in 12.5mg zoloft, then stopped lexapro and went to 25mg zoloft. But since their half lives are about 24 hours you can just do a straight across trade.
Posted by Phillipa on January 14, 2007, at 18:10:07
In reply to Re: Switching form Lexapro to Zoloft » bigpopper, posted by blueberry1 on January 14, 2007, at 1:23:02
I just switched. Love Phillipa
Posted by elanor roosevelt on January 14, 2007, at 20:45:52
In reply to Re: Switching form Lexapro to Zoloft, posted by Phillipa on January 14, 2007, at 18:10:07
just switch
start the zoloft and stop the lexapro
hope the zoloft is better for you
the lexapro does that 4am thing
zoloft does not
after 4 months your pdoc should realize that the lexapro is not for you
if your GP will write scripts then stay with him/her
good luck
Posted by bigpopper on January 15, 2007, at 12:04:55
In reply to Re: Switching form Lexapro to Zoloft, posted by elanor roosevelt on January 14, 2007, at 20:45:52
I did just quit the Lex and start the Zoloft. Although, I started the Zoloft at 25mg instead of 50mg. It has been only 3 days. This was the first morning in several months that I did not wake in a panic. I did wake at the normal 4-5am, but I rolled over and went back to sleep!
I am not sure if the medicine is working that quick or if it is a mind thing. I felt better than normal last night and today is still good. I also have a slight appetite, that is welcomed.
If I continue to feel better with the 25mg of Zoloft, do I still need to move to 50mg and when?Thanks for help!
Posted by bigpopper on January 16, 2007, at 17:59:20
In reply to Re: Switching form Lexapro to Zoloft, posted by bigpopper on January 15, 2007, at 12:04:55
Day 4 comes to an end without Lexapro. The 25mg of Zoloft seems fine. Anxiety is about 30% compared to last week. Do I stick with this or go to 50mg as Doctor suggested? Could I feel better?
Posted by elanor roosevelt on January 17, 2007, at 11:57:55
In reply to Re: Switching form Lexapro to Zoloft, posted by bigpopper on January 16, 2007, at 17:59:20
how do you feel now?
Posted by bulldog2 on January 17, 2007, at 12:55:00
In reply to Re: Switching form Lexapro to Zoloft, posted by elanor roosevelt on January 17, 2007, at 11:57:55
Zoloft is a good antidepressant. Years ago when it first came out I tried it and almost became euphoric on it. (50 mg). Unfortunately maybe 50 was to high a dose for me to start because my tmj acted up and I had to discontinue the med. Part of the problem may have been my doc didn't know what he was doing and told me to stop ativan cold turkey when I started the zoloft as that would take care of the anxiety to.(according to him). Well the anxiety and tmj really kicked in and I dropped the zoloft when I should have just started the ativan again.
Posted by bigpopper on January 17, 2007, at 14:50:41
In reply to Re: Switching form Lexapro to Zoloft, posted by bulldog2 on January 17, 2007, at 12:55:00
I feel much better than I did while on Lexapro. But, I felt better a couple of weeks ago when I quit Lexapro for a couple of weeks, then I started feeling very anxious again. I have not had the morning anxiety in the last few days with 25mg of Zoloft. That never went away while on Lexapro.
I am eating normal again and feel much much better. The MD did change one other thing though. The PMD had me taking xanax for Anxiety, the GP told me to use Klonopin. So I have been taking Klonopin .5 x 2 times day. The anxiety is gone now, but he told me to keep taking it at low dosage then start to taper and see if anxiety stays away. I had terrible anxiety most every day while on Lexapro, even with xanax. The GP said that if the Zoloft works I will never notice any anxiety once I ween of Klonopin. I still take it because I am scared of the anxiety coming back. I do not feel any different before or after taking the .5 of K. It must just be keeping me on an even keel.
The GP said my PMD should have stopped Lexapro before now considering my SE's. I am sure Lexapro works great for some, but not for me.
I guess I will continue on with the 25mg unless I start feeling "odd". My GP said take 50mg. But I am afraid I will have side effects similar to Lexapro nightmare.
Posted by bulldog2 on January 17, 2007, at 15:14:18
In reply to Re: Switching form Lexapro to Zoloft, posted by bigpopper on January 17, 2007, at 14:50:41
I don't know why docs are under the impression that zoloft will address anxiety. Both my wife and I found it very activating and some who were never on a benzo needed one once they were on it.
Matter of fact some docs give a script for a benzo with a script for zoloft incase it is needed. I wonder if it is a marketing tool that zoloft people use to increase sales. Serotonin can induce anxiety in many people.
Posted by bigpopper on January 17, 2007, at 16:47:23
In reply to Re: Switching form Lexapro to Zoloft, posted by bulldog2 on January 17, 2007, at 15:14:18
The Zoloft has GREATLY diminished the anxiety level that I had while on Lexapro. I know thay both work on serotonin, but the Lexapro was much more activating than zoloft on me. Lexapro made me feel like I took to much Nyquil. Bad jitters.
Posted by Phillipa on January 17, 2007, at 19:09:03
In reply to Re: Switching form Lexapro to Zoloft, posted by bulldog2 on January 17, 2007, at 15:14:18
Sure does in me except luvox which does nothing. But second time on 50mg of zoloft nothing no anxiety either. Don't get it? Love Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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