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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ewm12 on April 13, 2006, at 15:54:02
I've been without ADs for the last 6 months after being on them for about 7 years (Prozac, Celexa, Effexor and Wellbutrin, then Wellbutrin and lexapro.) I was on Eff and W for most of the last 4 years until the side effects became too much and I quit. Had horrible withdrawal and ended up having to take lexapro and w over last summer. Only, i started to lose vast amounts of hair. So, I stopped both.
I've now found myself not completely depressed, but down. I've tried to avoid going back on ADs, but am getting tired of living day to day just for the sake of avoiding the damn things. I'm in the midst of also being tested for all sorts of medical issues --and frankly that commercial that depression affects you physically is starting to make me wonder. Maybe I really am depressed again. I tend to only think of my two horrible black hole depression experiences...anyway...
So, I talked with my psych and he gave me zoloft. Given my sensitivity to meds, he suggested 25mg/day and then we'll see. But, I'm thinking about even trying 12.5/day. Would I be wasting my time or do people respond to such low doses? I'm a small woman-- 110lbs. I also was wondering about taking something natural along with it--maybe 50mg 5-htp.
Any thoughts would be appreciated! :-)
Posted by Maxime on April 13, 2006, at 17:03:25
In reply to Would 12.5/zoloft be worth a try or wasting time?, posted by ewm12 on April 13, 2006, at 15:54:02
I think that it's worth a try. The less you can get away with, the better. You can always bump it up to 25 mg if you don't respond. I know someone who could only take 2 mg of Prozac!!! 2 mg!! She used to have to open a 10 mg capsules and divide it into 5 and put it in juice!
Go for the 12.5 mg if that makes you more comfortable.
Good luck. Let us know if it works!
Maxime
Posted by blueberry on April 13, 2006, at 18:29:19
In reply to Would 12.5/zoloft be worth a try or wasting time?, posted by ewm12 on April 13, 2006, at 15:54:02
I've tried zoloft on two different trials. Not sure why I didn't stick with it. I think it was because it made my hands tremble too much.
Each time I started with 12.5mg. For me that was a good place to start. I actually felt benefit from it on the first day, without being overwhelmed by that serotonin feeling you usually get on a first dose. I switched straight over to it from 2.5mg lexapro with no washout and it immediately felt much better and cleaner than lexapro.
Even though the dopamine reuptake of zoloft is only supposed to happen at very high doses, I swear I could feel dopamine boosting effects even at 12.5mg. Sure I could feel the serotonin part, but there was a dopamine component to it that felt different and better than the other ssris. To me anyway.
After a few days I went to 25mg. Then a week later up to 50mg. But that was too big of a jump for me. I should have gone up to 37.5mg. I always start low and go slow, so you have my vote for 12.5mg.
This is the end of the thread.
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