I have been in a treatment resistant depression and anxiety for four years. My depression and anxiety have gotten much worse in the first three weeks and didn’t think that was possible. Will this get better? My psychologist says this is not typical.
I have been on 25mg of Zoloft for almost three weeks now.
Question posted by Hysterical on 21 Dec 2020
Last updated on 28 December 2020
5 Answers
elandem
22 Dec 2020
I concur with WCVet, these replies are not helpful. Your plan is to follow your Drs. orders and stay on this till the end of the month and then see how things stand. Nothing anybody else says really matters, esp. when they don't know how complicated your history is.
I do suggest that you ask your Dr. about the possibility you have developed tolerance to Klonopin, since it is doing little/nothing to resolve your anxiety. Did you ever revisit trying Buspar?
Hysterical
22 Dec 2020
I am starting on Seroquel tonight and staying at the Zoloft dose and Klonopin. I have called in to work off again. I am pretty much done with life at this point. I have nothing left.
elandem
23 Dec 2020
Hopefully adding this med will decrease your OCD and help all symptoms. If an antipsychotic helped before, maybe it will help again -- as is said, you just have to try to give it the best shot.
Hysterical
26 Dec 2020
After five days on 25 mgs of Seroquel I feel tons more anxiety, aggression, hostility and have taken yet another leave of absence from work . Another success .
Hysterical
27 Dec 2020
Elandem, do you know anywhere to go facility wise, that gets you off all meds while monitoring you and not putting you on more and that takes insurance> Does such a place exist? I am so over these drugs.
elandem
27 Dec 2020
I wrote a long message yesterday about this -- but they didn't let it thru? Yes, look up Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration -- call them and they might help. I don't know what protocol they follow, but they would get you off Benzos and likely other meds too.
elandem
27 Dec 2020
It would not be an easy thing I'm sure, but these places have loads of experience. I don't know about insurance coverage, but probably. Did you stop Seroquel?
Hysterical
27 Dec 2020
I called her last night and she told me to take half last night and tonight and we would discuss it on Monday. I spend 22 hours a day in bed. Just going down half a pill I feel more anxious. Anxious on anxious off.
Hysterical
28 Dec 2020
Is this a place you could go to get off meds? I am not well and trying to get off twice has been a disaster. Do you think it’s wrong of me to try to get off again?
elandem
28 Dec 2020
To be very honest I just don't see any benefit from any of the meds you are taking--- you get worse no matter if you are on/off/changing, whatever. I know you can't see this as you are suffering and that makes you oblivious to reality, but from my reading of all our messages medication has no effect at all (I know you think it makes you worse, but I think it just does NOT make you better). One thing I do notice is that you are generally never on a "therapeutic dose" of anything--which may be one reason for the failure to work?
I don't think you are wrong for wanting to get off medication, but I also don't fully know your past, ect... so I can't judge what is best. I do think is getting off benzos would be a step in the right direction, regardless, and a treatment center would help with that I think.
elandem
28 Dec 2020
Yes, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration could help you find a place to get off benzos, and likely all other meds too - but with your anxiety it will be difficult to find a drug free approach to managing that. However, maybe the meds are causing part of the anxiety--just impossible to know.
WildcatVet
22 Dec 2020
Hys,
I would suggest that these questions are not beneficial to you as you are an exceptional case and few people (besides you and your health care professionals) are aware of your complex history of disorders and treatments.
The standard comments just do not apply to you and are only going to further set you back in your treatment goals and your attitude to these various medications.
Wishing you all the best in the coming year.
J89
22 Dec 2020
I would try a different medication and get off of the Zoloft. The same thing happened to me, the side effects were awful as well. Zoloft is a great medication for most, just not for me! It gave so much anxiety, i would literally shake. I was told that i need to let the side effects pass as they are normal, but i just couldn’t take it any longer! They put me on a different medication and my anxiety and depression got better within about 2 weeks I’d say.
TyreseTl
22 Dec 2020
Yeah. Zoloft is a great choice for depression. I won’t recommend for anxiety. “In my opinion”. I know their will be few out there who took Zoloft for anxiety and saw improvements. But everyone is different you know. All about trial and error.
Hysterical
22 Dec 2020
I have both anxiety and depression and after 45 medicines and four years of a treatment resistant depression, nothing has worked.
goved6
21 Dec 2020
You might want to talk to your doc about being put on something different if the Zoloft isn't working, I've been on Zoloft for the past 12 years, for bipolar 2 and PTSD, I remember when I first started taking Zoloft I had the same problems as you described, increase in anxiety, etc, but it passed after a few days, I've been taking it ever since, but there are alot of different psych meds, some work, some don't, everyone is different, it took a year to finally get the right combo of meds to get me on track, I'm not a doctor, just a Disabled Combat Medic and Veteran, but I tried to at least give you a option, you can try it or not, but if one med is making you worse, then your doc might find something different.
Hysterical
21 Dec 2020
Thank you . I have tried 48 so far in this four year treatment resistant depression. Nothing has worked
TyreseTl
21 Dec 2020
Hey, Hysterical!
Increase anxiety and depression is a common side effects for most SSRI and should resolve within a few weeks. You should be aware of that. 25mg is a low dose, maybe your metabolism is taking a bit longer than normal to get used to it. My doctor once said “ it usually gets worse before it gets better”. Hang in there for a while, You can speak with your doctor and consider taking a benzo until the medication kick in. Hope you feel better soon.
Stay strong,
Tyrese
TyreseTl
21 Dec 2020
* if symptoms still occur, maybe you need to try a different AD*.
Tyrese
Related topics
zoloft, depression, anxiety, treatment, psychologist
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- Zoloft uses and safety info
- Zoloft prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Zoloft (detailed)
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