Talked to doc, now facing the weekend

[Kat63]

I felt better yesterday, because I talked to my doctor and he agreed to change my meds.

What happens to me is this: I’ll use an SSRI for a few years, and it works fine…for maybe three years. Then, it’s like it stops working. The doc puts me on another SSRI and then I get better. This happens every three or four years. I couldn’t tell you how many different meds I’ve been on.

They all work pretty well at first—for a couple of years. Then they don’t work, but the doc gives me something else in that category of meds, and I get back to feeling better.

The only med that didn’t work for me was Wellbutrin. That stuff was worse than no medicine at all.

Anyway, the next two weeks I’ll be transitioning from Prozac to Zoloft, with Ativan “as needed.”

Fingers crossed that the transition works well—and SOON.

[Worrier1960]

I also switched from Prozac to Zoloft with Ativan "as needed". Lately I need it more while I wait for blood test results (I have acute health anxiety). How have you found the switch?

[Kat63 in reply to Worrier1960]

Too soon to tell. I just started today.

[Swilly97]

Fingers crossed 🤞 for you. Med switches are always so finicky. I get your struggle though, I also deal with this. I was actually looking into going on Wellbutrin but idk now. I take a lot of meds and idk what's working and what isn't ya know? I truly hope you feel better.

[Mskitty21]

Good luck 😊 med transition can be tough…hoping this is an easy one for you ❤️

[moxoni237]

can understand maybe the change of medication is what you needed to help resolve symptoms sometimes our body needs a new approach to help adapt to change

[GucciPaddy]

I was using Ativan for perhaps a year - but very small dose (1.5mg to a 2mg per day (the pharmacy will half the tablet if you need).

I found them particularly good for both depression and anxiety (which I used be prone to) and particularly good in helping me to sleep - I just needed to 0.5mg for this. I believe they can be quite addictive so be careful of the dosage!

Fortunately I no longer need Ativan and have been off them first at least a month now.

I hope that’s been helpful and wish you well with your challenges.

Kind regards,

Paddy

[bethelbee in reply to GucciPaddy]

I've been on and off Ativan for several years and never had a problem. Yes, to some they can be addicting but not necessarily for everyone. Have gone weeks without any and weeks needing them daily, like presently. I am in touch with my doctor and presently am also on Buspar along with the Ativan. Unfortunately many days I have been having almost debilitating anxiety even with both meds.

[yhsbirny]

It is a well-known fact that most anti-depressants just stop working after some period of time; nobody seems to know why. You are lucky to get several years out of them. Have you ever tried an SNRI like Cymbalta?

[Kat63 in reply to yhsbirny]

I don’t remember.

[yhsbirny in reply to Kat63]

Maybe check your past history if you can and see if you ever have taken it. If the SSRIs keep working for you that's great (they didn't for me), but it's something to keep in mind if you ever want/need to try a different class of drug. Cymbalta (duloxetine) worked great for me for several years (other SNRIs are Pristiq and Effexor, which is rarely used anymore because of the numerous and bad side effects it gives many people). Good luck.

[AnimalLov]

Dear Kat63, I hope new meds work. I have never switched them before, but am taking Ativan (0.5 mg) as needed in addition to daily Zoloft. I usually take Ativan when I am really anxious, or sometimes preemptively if I am suspecting I may get very anxious. So I sometimes take it once or twice a week, and sometimes weeks and months go by…I found it to work very fast (20-30 min), and it’s usually out of my system within 4-6 hours. I found that it really helps to relax me and I didn’t have problem stopping it. I hope this helps, the best of luck!

[bethelbee]

Shortly after it came out in the late 80's I was put on Prozac. It worked wonders for about 10 years then stopped working. Was switched to Celexa and got about the same results. After that it was hit or miss for years with several other meds, whether by themselves or in combos. A few years ago I became treatment resistant to meds, the last few either did nothing or gave me intolerable side effects. I believe it was Wellbutrin that gave me bad body shakes that took time to go away even after stopping and I wasn't on it very long. Luckily my therapist recommended TMS and it really helped!! This was my experience. Obviously everyone responds differently.

[Kat63 in reply to bethelbee]

What’s TMS?

[gajh in reply to Kat63]

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. A noninvasive procedure. It is done in office 5 days a week for 6 weeks.

[bethelbee in reply to Kat63]

It uses magnetic pulses targeting an area of the brain to reduce/eliminate depressive symptoms. As gajh said it is usually 5x/wk for 6-7 weeks. Each treatment is about 20 minutes long. The pulses feel like tapping against your skull, annoying but tolerable. As with any treatment results vary. I had 3 rounds, the positive results of the first two each lasted about 6 months each and my third round has lasted well over a year and a half. I've had minor setbacks lately due to several health issues, and if it weren't for TMS I would be worse off.