How do I know if my Zoloft is working?

[IndianaGuy]

Hi Everyone,

After 7 years of absolute happiness, my severe depression and anxiety came back on May 30.

I was on a maintenance dose of Zoloft but have ramped back up to max dosage and have been there for 7 weeks.

My appetite has improved slowly. I am no longer losing weight. My sleeping is improved with help from ambien.

But the depressed mood and anxiety aren’t really better. Nor are my negative thoughts and feelings.

In your experience, am I on track? Is this a normal pace for recovery? Or should I start considering a new drug? (Tapering down and back up scares me. )

I am married with two kids and so anxious to get better for my family.

First depression lasted about 9 months and was very severe. Second depression only lasted a couple weeks and wasn’t that bad.

Nick

[Pugglesworth]

Hi and welcome to the board.

I'm not a doctor.

SSRI's (Selective Serotonin Retake Inhibitors) can take a few weeks to ramp up (to where you begin to see improvement in symptoms) and then up to a couple of months to reach a therapeutic level. Changes in dosages are affected by this rule also.

I would speak to your doctor about this. If you're getting your prescriptions from your family doc, they aren't as experienced with psychoactive medications as a psychiatrist is. Sometimes a benzo (benzodiazepine) is prescribed to bridge the gap between when a med begins (or increases in dosage) and when it becomes therapeutic. They can help, but are addictive.

I don't know about Ambien with a benzo. Again, a doc would be better to chat with.

Psyche doc better still.

[faucet]

Hi, I didn't have much luck with Zoloft. I have been on Mirtazapine for about a year and 1/2 now and have found it very helpful, I am also on 1mg of Lorazapam which I take in the morning and Mirtazapine before bed. I had tried about 6 anti anxiety depression before I tried this one. I have had no side effects, helps with sleep. I had lost 15 pounds with my first bout of extreme anxiety and depression and gained it all back after a few months on Mirtazapine.

[designguy]

You might check your hormones/physical self. I had a setback earlier this year and thought it was my meds but it turned out to be low testosterone, thyroid and diet issues. I started taking testosterone shots, I'm hypothyroid and found out I was on the wrong medication and found that my body doesn't handle caffeine anymore. I also found I have gene mutations (CMOT and Mthfr) that slow down my body's ability to process adrenalin and lower cortisol so I stated supplements for it. It took about 4 -5 weeks but I started feeling better. I definitely found how important balancing out body is for out mental/emotional health.