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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by pm on April 30, 2001, at 9:58:06
I have been taking zoloft for about 10 months. It doesn't seem like it really works until I stop taking it for about 3 days. My question, Has anybody out there had success with zoloft and something else. My problems are depression, anxiety, add. The worst of it is that I have no sex drive what so ever. It's almost like I have to choose between a healthy sex life or some state of happiness. Please post your suggestions.
Posted by SalArmy4me on April 30, 2001, at 10:46:16
In reply to Zoloft + ?, posted by pm on April 30, 2001, at 9:58:06
Perhaps you could add buproprion to your Zoloft. Or switch to another antidepressant altogether that may improve sex drive, such as mirtazapine.
> I have been taking zoloft for about 10 months. It doesn't seem like it really works until I stop taking it for about 3 days. My question, Has anybody out there had success with zoloft and something else. My problems are depression, anxiety, add. The worst of it is that I have no sex drive what so ever. It's almost like I have to choose between a healthy sex life or some state of happiness. Please post your suggestions.
Posted by John k on April 30, 2001, at 16:44:20
In reply to Re: Zoloft + ? » pm, posted by SalArmy4me on April 30, 2001, at 10:46:16
I'm on Zoloft too, having had the same sexual problems that you mentioned (plus lethargy, some weight gain, and more). However, I do need the medicine so I have worked hard to overcome its side-effects.
I bought a copy of "The Antidepressant Survival Program" by Robert Hedaya, and I have experimented with his tips on nutrition and other areas.
Since then (I bought the book in september last year) I have made some major changes in my life. I was already an avid exerciser (which he tells you to become), but I added his nutrition regimen (eat balanced amounts of low-glycemic-index-carbohydrates and protein), meditation, and then I found out that I was a bit seasonal (I live in Northern Europe) in my mood so I added light therapy for half an hour every morning.
These changes resulted in some pretty impressive changes. My energy sky-rocketed and I was feeling better than ever before!
Then I started to feel worse again, and I just didn't understand why--until I realized that I had started feeling worse a couple of weeks after I finished my last bottle of fish-oil (which is something else that the book tells you to use). That made med restart the fish oil at about 3 grams per day, and after two days I was feeling dramatically better!
This got pretty long, but I hope someone will benefit from it. The message: other things than medication can help a lot with depression & probably other mental illness too!John
Posted by Mr.Scott on May 4, 2001, at 9:35:21
In reply to Zoloft + ?, posted by pm on April 30, 2001, at 9:58:06
Your Zoloft problems aren't that it has stopped working so much as it has suppressed Dopamine function. Over time increasing Serotonin decreases Dopamine.. When you stop for a few days you feel Great because your Dopamine is coming back up to speed. However after a few more days your symptoms are back.
I would reccommend the following.
1)Adding A dopamine drug
Ritalin
Wellbutrin
amantadine
mirapex2) Switch to another drug that affects dopamine as well as serotonin.
3) Switch to a drug that isn't such a potent serotonin reuptake inhibitor and has effects on multiple transmitters.
mr.scott
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