Zoloft (sertraline)

[PanicPhobia]

So I was on Zoloft for about 6-7 years at the max dose (200mg). I had been in the hospital due to severe anxiety and got on zoloft shortly after I got out. In any case, I was more or less OK for those 6 years.

Then about 3 or 4 months ago I ran out and was off of it for about 2 weeks. Then my anxiety came back in full force, so I ended up in the ER thinking I was dying. I got my script refilled and have been back on 150mg since early October. Now we are in mid December and my anxiety is as bad as ever. I suffer with it all day every day and about the the only relief I get is from sleep. Right now as I type this I am shaking and just basically out of my mind.

So I went to see the doc and he put me on Klonopin as a stop-gap until the zoloft kicks in. This was a month ago (I had already been back on Zoloft 2 months). While the Klonopin helps a little, it seems it's less and less effective as the days and weeks wear on. I could increase the dose, but am anxious about even doing that.

The only thing that helps me is doing something that taxes my mind (playing a game or something of that sort). However, there are times where I just want to relax and be "content" with my own thoughts. It's impossible as I just obsess over my anxiety, my health, etc. I can't even lie in bed at night quietly without eventually just having to get up (no matter how tired I am) to try and find something to get my mind off the obsessive thoughts. This throw my sleep patterns all out of whack and makes things worse. Half of the day I feel like I can't catch my breath and am about to suffocate. It's pure torture.

So anyway, I just wanted to ask what should I do? My doctor told me to just stay on the zoloft. I saw him a few days ago and he said to just stick with it because it worked for 6 years. But now I am skeptical. I have been on it for longer than the (4-8 weeks) that it is supposed to take. Well over 2 months. Should it take this long? Has my body adjusted to zoloft to a point that it's no longer effective?

Has anyone experienced anything like this? Ever had an SSRI just stop working, etc?

I am now at the point where I wonder if the Zoloft is *causing* the anxiety. When I first got on SSRI's it was for depression (never had many anxiety issues). The anxiety didn't hit me until years later. I am at the point where I am questioning everything.

[Enduronman]

769

You should try this. :)

[jessed03]

What are you doing for yourself besides the meds? If you feel some relief through distraction, there are some gaps mentally that need filling. The two main ones being directing the majority of your attention towards a goal (like work), and processing and understanding your thoughts (meditation and therapy)

These are not easy, don't sweat this. And if you're working at this already, then ignore that :)

About the meds; To answer your question, why continue something that's not working? Antidepressants can 'poop out' for sure. You've given it a fair trial, this isn't week one for you. Perhaps the formula isn't working for you anymore, perhaps the transmitters in the brain it's working on no longer respond the way they used to. It's not that uncommon to hear from people. Who knows. I think you're right to consider jumping ship.

Whether you want to give it a couple more weeks, or experiment a little more with your doctor, up to you, but I would be the same as you, very strongly preparing to go elsewhere.

You could be fair to the drug that worked for 6 years, and give it another couple of weeks. Depends what you and him decide. Sometimes drugs just do not work the same second time round though.

A change can be as good as a rest.

You have a great understanding of your condition! I hope you get this fixed soon buddy.

[acetone]

Some people who have been taking SSRI for long term report this here. When a person who has been taking a SSRI for long term stops it for a short while(weeks or months) when he/she restarts it the med does not work.