Zoloft

[Burnthecity]

So lou is not officialy on 25mg of Zoloft
Has anyone had any bad experiences with it, ive heard a couple storys about it wondering your view on it.

[Stewart]

I take 75mg and I haven't had any side effects. It's helped me so much, and it's not as strong as adult anti depressents, although I take zoloft for anxiety.

I'd look on the website for possible side effects.

[Strength]

I took it for about a year. It kills your ability to feel emotion (apart from sadness) kills your ability to get an erection and will make you gain weight and I still suffer the effects to this day. Coming from my personal experience...I wouldn't advise on taking it.

[suture11]

I took 100 mg every morning. Then I would take 25 at 2pm. It worked wonders at a low dose when I was first put on it. When I was on 25 mg I felt great. As it increased, I decreased. I would recommend staying below 100 mg if you want to function.

[Lily of the Valley]

Zoloft is one of the antidepressants that most commonly causes increased depression, suicidal/homicidal thoughts in adolescents, so it's generally not the first to be given to anyone under 18.

There are, of course, the other side effects that are possible with most antidepressants - dry mouth, weight gain, loss of sex drive, etc.

~Maggot

[suture11]

Yes, Laura is right, it should not be given to anyone under 18. It even says that on the label. It is a last resort for those who just can't controll themselves. But still, everyone is different.

[Kaleidoscope Eyes]

Most anti-depressants aren't really approved for anyone under 18. Or not recommended, at least. Some seem to have more risk than others for increasing suicidal thoughts but all of them have that potential, particularly in younger patients. Our brains just work differently when we're younger, I guess.

You just have to keep an eye on it. It's supposed to make you feel better, so if it makes you worse beyond the first few weeks after changing the dosage (or to the point where you do feel suicidal or don't feel like you can deal with it), you need to speak up. Otherwise, they're all pretty safe. Everyone reacts differently, some people have side-effects and some don't. Unfortunately it's how it goes, it's trial and error and you may have to try two or three before finding one that works best.

[Stewart]

Then why would a psychiatrist prescribe it to me? I'm only 15

[Lily of the Valley]

Then why would a psychiatrist prescribe it to me? I'm only 15Because some of them are idiots? I was prescribed it by my doctor at 13 without any warning about the possible side effects. When I became extremely suicidal, I had no idea it was the Zoloft causing it, so I increased the dose. It was merely luck that I missed a few doses by accident and realised that was it. Otherwise I would've killed myself, no doubt.

~Maggot

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[Kaleidoscope Eyes]

Then why would a psychiatrist prescribe it to me? I'm only 15

If it's not making you suicidal, and it's working fine, there's no problem.

As I said, most anti-depressants have that potential with anyone, teens a little more so than adults, but as long as you stay on top of it and pay attention to what you're feeling, you're fine.

Because some of them are idiots? I was prescribed it by my doctor at 13 without any warning about the possible side effects. When I became extremely suicidal, I had no idea it was the Zoloft causing it, so I increased the dose. It was merely luck that I missed a few doses by accident and realised that was it. Otherwise I would've killed myself, no doubt.

~Maggot

Well, that's why you don't increase the dose without consulting your doctor. If you told your doctor and for some reason they told you to increase it despite your growing suicidal feelings, then that's different and I wouldn't trust the doctor much after that.
But with any pill, especially ones which alter your mood, messing with the dosage on your own can have side-effects that you don't anticipate and it's never a good idea.

So true... I just got upped to 100mg:(

If you feel like it's robbing you of your emotions, and it's not making you happy, tell your doctor. "Hi, since I've been taking Zoloft I feel like a zombie, I want to try something else." Same with any other side-effects that you don't feel like you can just put up with. That's why there are so many different options, because some don't work as well for one person as they do for another. On a different pill you might have much better results, so why stick with one that you're so unhappy about taking?

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[Lily of the Valley]

Well, that's why you don't increase the dose without consulting your doctor. If you told your doctor and for some reason they told you to increase it despite your growing suicidal feelings, then that's different and I wouldn't trust the doctor much after that.
But with any pill, especially ones which alter your mood, messing with the dosage on your own can have side-effects that you don't anticipate and it's never a good idea.I know that, but that's irrelevant to what I was saying. Fact is that the side effects occurred before I increased my dosage, and no one warned me that it might happen, so the possibility of it being the cause never crossed my mind.

~Maggot

[suture11]

Because some of them are idiots? I was prescribed it by my doctor at 13 without any warning about the possible side effects. When I became extremely suicidal, I had no idea it was the Zoloft causing it, so I increased the dose. It was merely luck that I missed a few doses by accident and realised that was it. Otherwise I would've killed myself, no doubt.

~Maggot

I agree completely. Sometimes it seems like they are shoving pills down throats just to get money... what a radical thought, it's like they don't even care *sarcasm by the way*. Trying different meds is what deciphers what to give and not to give.

---

Never increase your own dose without consent from your psychiatrist. It is dangerous. I can understand it if your psych told you to, but never on a whim.

Everyone reacts differently, and that is a very important thing to remember. Just because someone else was extremel manic does not mean you will be. You could be absolutely okay. Just make sure you are being smart with your choices. And ask you psych about this, he/she can help you. They aren't technically aloud to false information, so ask. If they do and it hurts you, well frankly they are in trouble.

Good luck!

---> Disregard spelling errors, I too am on a new med, and it makes me... not so good with thinking.

[Strength]

I had it given to me at 14...i regret ever agreeing to it.

[Kaleidoscope Eyes]

Well, I'd say that being a zombie is better than being depressed and suicidal. It's not a perfect world.

If you want to be a zombie, that's your choice. I'm not trying to criticize, just letting you know that there are other options. If you're going to be taking meds, you may as well take something that doesn't put you in an emotionless fog all the time. Yes, it's not a perfect world, but don't let that be reason to settle when the means to try and improve are within your reach.

Being a zombie isn't a whole lot better than being depressed, in my opinion. You just replace the sadness and hopelessness with apathy. At first I can see how that might be preferable, but if you can have a normal range of emotions, and actually feel a little happiness, isn't that better? A lot of people think that antidepressants just sap your emotions, that its just how they work, but it's not. It's not the goal at all. I don't know why you would rather be a zombie (and clearly unhappy about it) than take a shot at feeling better.

You always have the option to try something else, and you can always go back to the Zoloft if that something else really doesn't work out. *shrugs*

[overcome.]

I know Zoloft is a strong anti depressant, like people have said it's not one of the first ones that will be issued to you. Everybody responds to medications and dosages differently. Obviously by taking the medication there's a chance you'll experience at least one side effect at some point, but it would vary.