starting anti-anxiety/anti-depression medications

[tangowhiskie]

Hey All,

I did a bit of searching in the forum before starting a new topic on these medicines, but I had a few more questions.

Yesterday my GP started me on zoloft.  Since I've also just started taking plaquenil (at dinner time), I decided to take zoloft with lunch by itself.  I went to work, and slowly the effects started to kick in.  I know... the GP told me it takes a few weeks to start working, but I could tell my brain wasn't firing the way it usually does.  Although I was more outgoing and funny at work, I had trouble multi-tasking which I think is my strength and it was a busy day (I work in airline operations).  My concentration was okay, but only when working on one thing at a time.

I think I need to take the zoloft at night before bed, that way I can sleep it off.  I'm worried that this pill is going to dumb me down, so to speak.  Has anyone else noticed changes in their ability to think?  Does it go away?  Do you recommend taking it before going to sleep?

I read a few reviews through a forum search on zoloft, and I don't think it's the most common type of anti-anxiety/depressant taken by people on this forum.  My GP prescribed it because it has been one of most popular/common/successful drugs.  In the past he's only given me medications that my body has responded well to with zero side effects so I really want to give this a try.

[Scottietottie]

Hi 

I've never taken that particular medication but sometimes one's body takes a while to adjust to something. There can be unwanted side effects to begin with which disappear as the body tolerates it.

The other thing is that 'brain-fog' is pretty common with Sjogren's sufferers. As it happened right after the Zoloft it does sound more connected with that however.

Take care - Scottie 

[eyeamdry]

I took Zoloft for several years prior to my SJS diagnosis.  I had no bad effects from it.  Lucy

[SLEEPY101]

I am never taken Zoloft but have taken Effexor and Cymbalta. My Dr did suggest that I take it at night. I did for awhile but I had the opposite effect and was unable to sleep. So I started taking it in the morning it did effect me at work. It might a few weeks to months to stop feeling the effects. I would call the nurse and see if you can start taking it at night. If you have to take it in the morning I would try to take it with a big breakfast.

Hope all goes well and you feel better soon

[deeindiana]

I'm anxious (no pun intended;) to hear how you're doing with the Zoloft. I just took my first pill 10 minutes ago and I'm sitting here a bit freaked out. Logic says that I'll probably feel nothing at only 25 mg., but I'm still scared. Pill-phobia and hyper-sensitive.

Now that you're been on it a couple weeks, how are you doing? Did you start with a low dose too? What will be your final dose (I'm working up to 50mg but my GP says we can go to 75mp if needed)? Are you taking it at night? Has it helped you?
Deb

[Pegasus47]

Hello Tango:

Having Sjs can be so devastating.  Depression is quite common.

Just thought I might suggest exercise and meditation instead of taking drugs as an alternative.  Not easy, but possible.

I don't take any medication that is not absolutely necessary.  I do exercise like crazy- I am an Argentine Tango dancer.

Want to try it for fun?

Pegasus

[susanr]

Hi - I have been on zoloft 8 months. I had increasing anxiety and depression and had to muster up some more strength to go back to work (I was on short term disability for a bad flare and GI problems) while dealing with the many many symptoms of Sjogrens.
It has worked very well on the anxiety and depression with no side effects as far as I can tell, but I am on lots of meds. If I remember correctly slight nausea at first, but I have alot of nausea anyway.
I take it with dinner because I was worried about drowsiness too.
Best wishes!

[sleeeepy]

Hello, I was on Zoloft for about 2-3 years when I was about 30. I took it for depression and mild obsessive compulsive disorder which is what is mostly prescribed for because it works really well for it.  It cured my OCD as I am no longer afraid of germs...LOL. I didn't have any side effects besides weight gain...quite a bit of weight actually. It did not help with my depression that I noticed so once my OCD went away I just stopped taking it on my own...didn't wean off...just stopped it.

If anything, I feel FOR ME it made me more depressed, but everybody has different brain chemistry so it might work for some.

I do know that it is a fairly safe drug as it is given to pregnant women....one reason I went on it at the time in case I wanted to have another baby at that time.

I started Paxil about two weeks ago for anxiety and it seems to be helping as i was actually having panic attacks. They have stopped now and I only take a xanax when needed...not very often.  Thinking now that Paxil is kicking in I won't need the xanax anymore.


Take care.....mary

[tangowhiskie]

deeindiana,

I'm on 50mg of the zoloft now.  I take it a few hours before bed, because it knocks me out.  For the first week I had some stomach aches, but they've gone away.  My complaints are that it makes my mouth even MORE dry and it takes me longer to wake up in the morning.  I feel like I've mellowed out, but I don't think it's helping with the anti-anxiety part as well as it could.  I have a follow up appt with my GP tomorrow (since it'll be 3 weeks into it).  I'm going to bring up my concerns to him.

I've also been in an intensive outpatient women's counseling group program at a local hospital.  They are encouraging me to find a psychiatrist because they aren't too sure if my GP fully understands how these kinds of medications work with people with AI diseases.  According to one of the girls in there, she was put on different medications once she found a psychiatrist from what her GP put her on.  I think I'll bring this up to my GP tomorrow too - see what he says.  I really trust him, but I've been taking my depression/anxiety needs more seriously recently and I'm more openminded to being medicated enough to help me deal with the changes in my life recently.

I've had anxiety on and off for 7 years now and was never medicated for it (though I have been to therapists).  It's time for me to take a break from my mind.

[tangowhiskie]

Ok, just got back from my GP's office and he is switching me from zoloft to lexapro at 10mg.  Another month of medication adjustment begins!

[deeindiana]

Your GP switched you to something different after three weeks? I'm confused. When my rheumy prescribed the Zoloft for me he said it would take at least three weeks before I even noticed a difference.  Medications are so darn confusing!  But I hope this new RX works well for you!

Two days after starting the Zoloft I developed a horrible cold and am feeling pretty miserable. Or at least I'm hoping it's a cold and not a flair up or reaction to the Zoloft.
Deb

[Madderakka]

I hope the lexapro works for you.

[navydad]

Your GP switched you to something different after three weeks? I'm confused. When my rheumy prescribed the Zoloft for me he said it would take at least three weeks before I even noticed a difference.  Medications are so darn confusing!  But I hope this new RX works well for you!

Two days after starting the Zoloft I developed a horrible cold and am feeling pretty miserable. Or at least I'm hoping it's a cold and not a flair up or reaction to the Zoloft.
Deb

All depends on what drug rep was in that day

[tangowhiskie]

Yeah, he wasn't too thrilled with my side effects.  The zoloft was making me pretty drowsy and my dry mouth, ugh, it's so much worse.  I also feel more depressed... so it's definitely not doing its job.  He says the lexapro should be uplifting and I'll need to take it in the morning.  I've heard so many people rave about this medication, so I'm looking forward to it.

I think some doctors out there are influenced by the drug reps, but if my doctor was, I don't think he would have started me on the zoloft first - especially since he did it because it has a cheap generic.  He didn't want to put me on a branded medicine, but we are trying it out since it works for both depression and anxiety.

So, here's to hoping it helps more than the zoloft did.

[deeindiana]

Keep us posted on how it works for you!