I have been on 150 mg of Zoloft for many years. I’m at the highest dose and I need help. I am depressed and fatigued and don’t do anything but lay around. I’m afraid a doctor won’t understand my needs. My doctor retired.
Why am I depressed and fatigued?
Question posted by Alrack on 8 June 2022
Last updated on 7 July 2022 by jriddle7
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3 Answers
jriddle7
7 July 2022
Same thing happened to me with Wellbutrin. I took 400mg, highest dose) for a few years and it began to not work. I was feeling my depression come back, I was getting irritable easily and 0 motivation. My doc switched me to Celexa and boom! Depression gone! Like literally not 1 squeak of it left! I was amazed because so far everything I’ve tried, Zoloft, Amitriptyline, Latuda, Lamictal, etc never quite took it all away before. So she started me on Celexa 20mg then after a few months bumped me to 40mg. Very few side effects. The only drawback is it increased my anxiety and OCD rituals a bit but I will take that any day over not being able to get out of bed and feeling like I don’t care about anything or wanting to die. I wish there was a magic pill that that can make it all go away, but unfortunately it’s all trial and error with these meds and everyone’s reaction is different.
But once you find that perfect balance, you can hear birds singing!! :)
Also when you find a new doc, and please do that very very soon before it gets worse, make sure you get a Psychiatrist, not a GP for primary care. This is literally what they they do for a living, I should know I work with 3 of them, and please trust me when I say, they will understand.
WildcatVet
9 June 2022
Hi, Alrack!
After many years of use there is a tendency for antidepressants to "poop out" and become ineffective. Doctors do understand this and there are options you can discuss once you find a new doctor... that's your first step.
You could try increasing your dose to 200mg/day which is the maximum dosage for depression. There are medications that can be added to the Zoloft as "boosters" such as Abilify or Rexulti. You could also consider starting a different antidepressant.
You're not alone! This has happened to me twice after years on two different antidepressants. I opted to try yet another AD and it's worked out just fine for me.
It's hard, I know, to feel motivated but you have to find another doctor and get started on a new regimen. There's no good reason not to if you want to get to feeling better.
Arc1953
9 June 2022
Hi Alrack,
If you are at your highest dose, I would recommend you seek out another doctor or even a clinic to discuss maybe adding another med to this or perhaps changing meds. I’ve been on Lexapro for over 12 years now and it happened to me. My doctor added another med and I’m fine now. Although, I do get extremely fatigued some days. If you have a hobby it might be a good time to work on that and if the weather is nice you can maybe sit outdoors or on a deck or balcony and listen to calm music or read a mellow book. Writing is also an outlet for me. I just write how I’m feeling and what I hear or see if I’m outside. I hope I helped even a little bit. I wish you all the luck In the world, God Bless you
Related topics
zoloft, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, major depressive disorder, dosage, doctor
Further information
- Zoloft uses and safety info
- Zoloft prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Zoloft (detailed)
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