[dragonesk]

I'm a 45-yr-old female. Teacher by profession, overweight, with mild fibromyalgia.

About two years ago, my doctor prescribed 75 mg Zoloft for mild ADD symptoms and depression. When I began experiencing increased insomnia a few months later, he reduced the Zoloft to 50 mg per day (in the morning) and added 50 mg of Elavil in the evening.

It was at about that time that I began gaining more weight than usual. I've always been overweight, but I gained about 30-35 lbs in a year. I have also been experiencing an increase in addictive behavior (in my case, computer/internet addiction) to the point that it is interfering with my home and job responsibilities.

I checked the drug info pages for both Zoloft and Elavil, and I found that apparently there is some sort of problem with combining them. The Zoloft page says "ask your physician about taking this with ... Elavil" and the Elavil page says vice versa about Zoloft.

The other prescription meds I am currently taking are Mobic 15 mg and Protonix 40 mg.

My questions are: 1) Should I be taking the Zoloft and Elavil together? and 2) Could either one or the combination of both be causing the weight gain and increase in addictive behavior?

Thanks,
Debbie

[pharmd06]

they are ok to take together

a side effect of both of them is weight gain. especially the elavil. you could talk to the doctor about using something else or stopping the elavil. i am not sure about the changes in behavior its possible that they can induce manic episodes based on the way they work and that could lead to that type of behavior.

[dragonesk]

Thanks. I'll definitely check into changing one or both. I know that they can't be discontinued cold turkey, but I'll ask my doctor about weaning off from at least one of them. Rather than using the Elavil to help me sleep, maybe I'd be better off using a sleep med occasionally.

[CoreanasMom]

I was looking for other people who had the same issue as I had as well. The problem is that I was on Xanax for extreme anxiety, and my boyfriend at the time stole my Rx and I couldn't get a hold of my doctor to replace them so a friend of mine gave me what I thought was Kolonopin. They were little yellow pills with a V on one side and 2102 on the other side (I don't have the pill anymore so i don't know the exact number but I think that's what it was). Anyway I am on Zoloft 100mg as well, and I thought I had been taking Kolonopin until I got to see my doctor to refill my Xanax. Well within that time period I started passing out. I had passed out twice in a two week span and every day I was getting VERY lightheaded. I decided to make sure that they were kolonopins when I found out that they were Elavil's. The combination of two anti-depressents made me dizzy and gave me bouts of syncope. All I can suggest (although not many people on here probably take medication from people who aren't doctors) just be careful with what you take. It can seriously do some damage if you aren't aware. Good Luck!! Each case IS difference.

[CoreanasMom]

Originally Posted by dragonesk

Thanks. I'll definitely check into changing one or both. I know that they can't be discontinued cold turkey, but I'll ask my doctor about weaning off from at least one of them. Rather than using the Elavil to help me sleep, maybe I'd be better off using a sleep med occasionally.

Be careful with what medicine you choose to sleep. I used Ambien which was just disastrous including memory loss, but it affects people in different ways. Also Lunesta does work, but it leaves a nasty taste in your mouth, and in my experience it helps me go to sleep but i wake up in the middle of the night and have to take another one. I wouldn't suggest what I take for sleep which is Xanax because it CAN be addictive; however something calming and relaxing in low doses such as Ativan or something with a sedating affect such as Trazodone. Discuss these with your doctor, and see which one works best. I'm not a doctor I just unfortunately have a lot of experience with different medications.