37 responses so far ↓

• delanyp // Nov 2, 2003 at 8:16 pm

  I have been on paxil for 5 years and just currently got put on Zoloft. These drugs are very addicting despite what the drug makers try brainwashing people to beleive!

• neilreed // Nov 14, 2003 at 6:26 pm

  Maybe, but aftre 4 years on effexor you want to kill yourself

• TRACI WATSON // Dec 1, 2003 at 5:45 am

  ZOLOFT: DESTROYED A 21 YR MARRIAGE AND MENTALLY DESTROYED THE ONLY MAN IVE EVER LOVED. ONE OF US HAD TO GO BEFORE IT TURNED INTO HOMICIDE

• Mr. G // Jan 21, 2004 at 11:00 am

  After years of battleing depression, I was put on Zoloft. It saved my life,but finally gave out on me after 8 years. I am now on Effexor, which doesn’t seem to work as well. No drug is perfect, but for thousands and thousands of us, Zoloft is a Godsend!

• TG // Feb 15, 2004 at 9:53 pm

  I recently started taking zoloft and it really did save my life.

• mica // Mar 10, 2004 at 8:38 pm

  the thing about antidepressants like zoloft, is that it not only takes away your lows, it takes away your highs. for a long time, i was in this medicated stupor which allowed me to become a slut. to me, it’s not worth it. it makes you incapable of remembering things.

• Jadedlyn // Mar 11, 2004 at 2:17 pm

  I have been on zoloft for 3 years. I started to dosage at 25mg.. Im already up to 200mg. I have tried to stop taking my meds… but I cant function without them. I dont want to have to take a pill the controls me soo much for the rest of my life… This drug is hard to get off.

• deb // Mar 24, 2004 at 7:06 am

  I am currently doing research for an upcoming book which deals with the side effects and withdrawals people have experienced from Effexor XR and other (like) anti-depressants. I am interested in receiving any information current or former users would like to share concerning their experiences with these drugs. Please email me and thanks!

• deb // Mar 24, 2004 at 7:31 am

  Okay…I have tried twice now and cannot get my email to show up so here it is for anyone who wishes to contact me:

  beach-lover@verizon.net

  and thanks!

• Dee // Mar 29, 2004 at 6:57 am

  I started taking wellbutrin, four months later switched to Effexor, now four months have passed and I found myself sleeping 14 hours a day and crying or fussing the rest… so my Doc had me to stop the effexor for three days and then take Paxil. Those last two days were the WORST….never just STOP taking anything, question that one if you are told to do so! Here’s hoping the Paxil last for more than 4 months…and YES, I would rather NOT be taking these drugs, as I now am depressed over being addicted to them!

• Lila // May 21, 2004 at 8:09 am

  I am about to go to the doctor..again. I’ve been on Paxil, Prozac and some other meds..nothing has worked. Maybe I’ll try Zoloft, maybe not.

• Heather // Sep 6, 2004 at 5:59 am

  I have been taking Effexor XR for 3 years started at 75mg daily now up to 225mg. I am having a hard time with my motivation to quit drinking, smoking, and weight loss. This is normally something I would have a hold on. I just want to know if this medication could have an effect on your motivation/drive?????

• Toni // Sep 12, 2004 at 5:35 pm

  I was originally put on Prozac, it quit working, now im on Effexor XR 150mg a day for a month now and im still depressed, and reading some of these responses on Effexor depresses me more

• joan // Sep 23, 2004 at 6:22 pm

  I have been taking Serzone for about 4 years now. It just doesn’t seem to be working as well as it has. My doctor is changing me from Serzone to Effexor. No change in dosage, just stop taking the serzone today, and start taking the effexor tomorrow. I’m a little nervous. Anyone done this and how did the changeover go? Joan

• Amanda B // Oct 5, 2004 at 6:28 pm

  The Dr. put me on zoloft cause I didn’t think it was helping but people said they seen a big change in me but I felt the same maybe it was just the people thought it helped of course I quit taking the med’s like 6 months after I started taking the med’s I haven’t changed ……..

• Rae // Nov 18, 2004 at 4:20 pm

  Have you been seeing a therapist that whole time? I used the drugs and saw a therapist and I’m doing sooo much better. I’m not on anything anymore.

• med // Dec 7, 2004 at 6:55 pm

  all i know is that if i had not had SSRI’s to help me during my divorce i would be dead now. they can affect people differently, but with good therapy from my psychiatrist and his good monitoring of my dosage, i am functioning like a normal person and pretty darned content. i don’t want to even try to get off my antidepressants, although if i forget to take them for a day or so i i start to get a little low, but i don’t implode. they also have helped my son tremendously with severe depression and mood disorders. they are not for everyone, but then again don’t condemn them for everyone either. the key is a good doctor to monitor your meds and dosage.

• mark // Dec 10, 2004 at 5:57 pm

  ive been taking zoloft for 6 weeks and i feel great idont feel deppressed anymore this is the one that has work for me im only on 50mg the only other one that work somewhat was impramine i was off impramine and doing good until i had aniexty attack at the gym one day lifting weights and this was the worst one i have every had in my life i thouht iwas dying im back to the gym now thanks to zoloft but how long should i stay on this idont really want to stay on this forever i dont like taking drugs i have been sober for 14 years from alcholism

• daisy // Dec 22, 2004 at 9:24 am

  I have been on Zoloft for one and 1/2 years with the dosage at 200 mg for ptsd. If I did not have Zoloft, I would have killed myself. I am in therapy and with the Zoloft I am able to cope with life most of the time. I have tried going off the Zoloft and felt awful. My Doctor stated that you have to gradually go off the Zoloft. At this time i am going to stay on the Zoloft. Some people feel that Zoloft causes suicide and I feel that we are prone to suicide, if we are on or off the Zoloft. Who are the people that are prescribed Zoloft? We are people who mainly are depressed. It took about 2 months for the Zoloft to work and hopefully I will be off it in the near future. For now Zoloft has helped me to enjoy life. It is not perfect but what is.

• michelle // Feb 9, 2005 at 10:04 pm

  I have been battling with my daughter

  since she was little she was always out of control to the maximum, irradic behavior and very angry and mean. She was never calm, quiet or satisfied no one wanted to be around her. She had an abusive father and he had bi polar manic depressive. I was always sure that she also had bi polar but none of the doctors i would take her to would step up and diagnose her they would either blame it on her abusive past and “acting out” or through her early

  teenage years they said it was just

  female teenage tendencies. I knew this

  was not the case she kept getting worse. I tried counseling and etc. For all rights anyone that had the life

  she has now should be happy but my daughter was always depressed and wanting to run away. I was afraid she

  would try to kill herself. Finally my

  doctor prescribed Zoloft for her at the

  age of 15, it was her decision I didnt want to force her to take meds. This

  was the BEST thing that I ever did for

  her. I have my daughter for the first

  time she is the most remarkable wonderful child I could ever imagine.

  She is so happy and CALM. She doesn’t have as many manic attacks as before I

  feel that I finally have the REAL

  Courtney. The only thing I have to make sure of is that she is always taking her medicine and doesnt forget

  because if she does forget you can definately tell she is twice as bad as she was before she took the medicine in

  the first place. We are finally able

  to enjoy each other she isnt hostile

  anymore. I am not living in a battlefield anymore.

• kelly // Feb 10, 2005 at 11:58 pm

  I am clinically depressed and have been taking 150mg. of Effexor and Seroquel…I also find I have no motivation. Sleeping for days on end which depresses me even more. But I figure i’d rather be sleeping alot then contemplating suicide…I’m a young man in my early twenties. I gained about 30 lbs. from the meds…and i’m hoping that I don’t have to take these for the rest of my life…$80.00 a month for life does’nt go over to well especially when i’m already paying an arm and leg for Diabetic supplys…I feel like floating up to the sun.

• Terry Walker, BBA // Feb 17, 2005 at 7:17 am

  Hi!

  I have neoplasms of the brain from taking paxil for 1 year; this is a Central Nervous System Brain Cancer.

  Pain, parathesis, and paralysis keeps spreading through my body. 2 sisters (whom were told it was carpol tunnel syndrome) and a nephew have all the same things happening but are in more advanced stages we all have dementia and aunt whom developed major motor skill problems from taking paxil leading to severe depression is currently in the hospital unable to walk because her doctor had put her on celexa (citolpram) another SSRI. 1 in 1000 people will develop this disorder from taking this family of drugs which act like neuroleptics in some peoples bodies which is known to leave a fare % of people who take them with parkinsonism, dystonia, tartive dystonia

  dementia. I have akathesia paxil has recently added this to its label; Dr. Hung and Dr. Lang of the Toronto Western hopital forced me into one of these attacks (I believe Dr. Lang was trying to see if I had factious or malingoring disorder; all he suceeded in doing is advancing the disorder; I had allowed a lombard punture (spinal tap) no realizing this is only to see if the spread paralysis and deteriorating mental condition were related to something herditary, it was not. I attempted to get the liver emzymne test P450 cyp 2d6; one doctor I asked told me there is no liver test for SSRIs and another knew the test should be performed told me I had to find a private lab, I asked where one of these labs would be he had no idea. It is obvious some people benefit from these drugs or they would not be on the market but recognize and prepare for those whom they are toxic to. I am in a contant battle but with doctors not reporting and managing serotonin syndrome when prople get it.

  Terry Walker, BBA, Certificate computer studies, disabled per Canada Pension Legislation November 10, 2002.

• Annamaria McDonald // Feb 25, 2005 at 12:59 am

  Hi everyone. I want you all to know that about a year ago I started having fainting spells and pounding heart beats and uncontrolable feeling of fear and panic. As well as I thought I was dying. Week after week I would suffer from these episodes and I lost 30 pounds in 2 weeks and I would just lose all motor skills and just collapse. I am a wife and a mother. So I had to get to the bottom of this. I would go to my Internal Medicine doctor, first he thought maybe it was from the blood pressure medication so he took me off of that, but the episodes were still happening. I would go out of my mind and it would always happen at night. Week after week I had these attacks and I wuld get worse and worse until finally I couldn’t even walk. Then I was admitted to the hospital. Out ruling middle ear infections, brain tumors, colon cancer (I had severe diarreah)and also ruling out any diseases and cancers or disorders. I was in such pain from the episodes and would have them in the hospital and my heart would race and I couldn’t sleep and the nurses didn’t know what to do. On top of it I was all by myself in the room, the room was huge and the nurses neglected me as if I didn’t exist. They thought I was crazy and they also wouldn’t help me to the bathroom and I had a fall recaution bracelet on my wrist as well as a sign outside my door. I had to be apart from my husband and daughter for a week. I begged for a sleeping medication and the nurses would just ignore me. The episodes were even worse in the hospital. I was additionally visited by a psychiatrist and an endocrinologist, they both determined I was having severe Panic Attacks! WHAT???? No way not me, panic attacks c’mon. But ya know what, I take 150mg of Zoloft and day and I take 2-3mg of Klonopin that is defined as an antiseizure medication but they use it to prescribe for Panic Attacks. Let me tell you People, this Klonopin worked like magic!!!!! All the symptoms went away. I still see the psychiatrist and he prescribes me Zoloft, Klonopin and Seroquel for a sleeping aid because I have this bad insomnia problem from all this. Although I think Seroquel isnot working no more I rather have Ambien but he is concerned about the addiction. Whatever. I still see my Endocrinologist because he thinks part of the Panic Attacks maybe from Hormonal Imbalances and from the Evil Depoprovera Shot! I didn’t get my period after I had my daughter, and when I got my Depo shots, I would bleed like a river. So Everything was out of whack. They think that due to my Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Hormonal Imbalances and the Depo Shot, I got Panic Attacks. I was in a very bad car accident that almost took my life 4 years ago and I have chronic pain. I almost was not going to ever walk again and almost had my left leg amputated. But with my determination to walk again I pushed through all the odds against me. So I am dealing with a lot. So if anyone is dealing with severe Panic Attacks or just Anxiety Attacks, I highly reccomend you talk to your doctor about Klonopin and Zoloft. I tried Xanax and some other medications before I ended up in the hospital. And also everytime I would have an episode my blood pressure would be in a big danger zone and my heart beats were way past the fast normal stage. But each time and waiting for hours all through the night, the Emergency Room would send me home saying nothing was wrong with me and treated me like I was wierd even though the monitors were saying my heart and blood pressure wasn’t right. So everytime I went home again I would have these attacks. I would slowly realize one was going to happen and things just weren’t right, then BOOM! The Panic Attack was full blown and I would be out of my mind. Time after time going in the ambulance and being unresponsive, finally took a toll on my body and I was slowly deteriorating. These Panic Attacks could of easily killed me, either I would of had a heart attack from the stress or I would of just slowly would of died because I could eat, drink, sleep or function. And I was in constant nausea and diarreah. These drugs saved my life and so did these doctors who listened to me. When you are in a hospital alone and no one can tell you what is wrong all you think is the worst and that you are going to die. Because of the symptoms I was dealing with were ideal for Brain tumors or cancer, it was really scary. I made them give me all the necessary tests. I am on disability due to my car accident so my husband’s insurance and my Medicare Part A covered all expenses! Thank God! So if anyone is faced with these problems, don’t take “Nothing is wrong with you”, as an answer, get all the tests, I had a Neurologist, Gastroenterologist, Endocrinologist, Pscychiatrist, Psychologist and my Internal Medicine Doc who told these docs to see me. They were all caring and knowledgeable individuals. Although I hate to say it, I am a healthy person with Panic Attacks, I don’t know why I have Panic Attacks and to this day no other reason has explained this condition that I face day after day. But if that’s what I have and the meds work from stopping them, then Praise Jesus! The only downside is that if I plan to get pregnant again I have to be off these medications. And hopefully I will be someday, because I don’t want Panic Attacks to stop me from having more children and that with therapy it will help me over come them instead of them overcoming me. So to the ladies don’t take the Depo Shot because the doctors know that shot played a factor in it. Also to all who have been turned away from the hospital or doctors. Fight, and ask about the medications I am taking. It helps me to live a somewhat normal life. I do unfortunately have nauseaous days and fatigue days but nothing as bad as what I had, not even a tenth of the intensity I had when I wasn’t on meds. I just hope someday I can be off these medications. I hate pills! If anyone has any questions or comments please don’t hesitate to

  e-mail me. Thanks for reading my story. And for those who say medications are addictive, I am a firm believer that they are only addictive if you let them be addictive.

• sean // Mar 10, 2005 at 3:46 am

  I took zoloft for the first time today after a major attack of suicidal tendencies - culmination of a period of on-and-off depression (about a year, and it’s not the first time) and I am convinced it is not the answer. It felt like a whole lot of different recreational drugs at different times during the day. I only took 25mg and from reading other contributors’ testimony, I can tell that it wouldn’t be long before I’m upping the dosage just to get the “benefits”. Sure, I felt good once the initial surge passed (lots of aggressive and depressive feelings first), but for what cost? I have decided to explore the more difficult but more rewarding (and less expensive and definitely safer) alternative - diet (especially glyconutrients - look it up on the web) and exercise. Doctors don’t have the answers, let’s face it. And as for pharmaceutical companies…the only answers they have are the ones they’re looking for, the ones that improve the bottom line. Come on, folks, take control! Don’t be pawns in the big business game. Good luck.

• Cherie // Apr 25, 2005 at 3:04 pm

  I have been taking Paxil for many years now. I am on 60mg a day right now. I get night sweats, headaches, UNBELIEVABLE WEIGHT GAIN. I was no more than 106 pounds my WHOLE life, now I am pushing 160!! I am 36 years old, so my body won’t reshape itself as easily as it did when I was younger. I feel terrible. Paxil helps with 90% of my panic attacks, and at first for me - that was awesome. But it has made my hair fall out, caused my skin to get dry and ashy. I dont know what to do. I have taken so many medications for Panic Disorder. I am also Manic Depressive. I have been on Elavil, TEN 25mg pills a DAY, I had to do blood levels bi-weekly to check to see if I was toxic. Same thing with Sinequan, super high doses. Ativan, Pamelor, Xanax, Valuim, Prozac, Zoloft, Serzone, Remeron, BuSpar, Atarax/Vistiril, Tofranil, you NAME IT - IVE TAKEN IT. Most have short term relief. I did well for a few years with a BuSpar-Remeron-Atarax combo. Then it just stopped working. Now I am on Paxil and Vistiril. and finally once again, the BAD effects are closely pushing aside the GOOD effects. I wish you all luck in your Panic/Depression SURVIVAL. It is hard to feel good about having LESS PANIC ATTACKS when your whole body is slowly being altered. Now I am fat and dry and sweaty and even more depressed. WHAT CAN WE DO?

• Sherry // Apr 27, 2005 at 11:08 am

  I went to a counselor after I left a 13year relationship with 4 children in tow and moved into a dump just to get out. She recommended Zoloft. I made the mistake of telling a neighbor who then tried to buy it from me or any other drug I could get. I cannot believe the misuse of these drugs. People go to the doctor and easily get the pills, the govt pays for them, then they sell them for alcohol, marijuana or diapers. I quit taking Zoloft for fear they would break into my house looking for it. Besides, if the doctors will give it to just anyone..I’m pretty sure I don’t want it.

• Christine Ryman/Miller // May 4, 2005 at 9:47 pm

  I have been taking Effexor XR for a period of 6 months, I started with 75mg for the first month, in which it felt it hadn’t done anything my doctor then put me on 150mg, which seemed to work.

  I was suffering a short term bout of depression due to personal issues with my parents and a marriage seperation.

  Now that I feel that I am though this stage I decided that I didn’t require effexor anymore. I decided to just stop taking them as I was advised by my doctor, that they are non addictive when first prescribing them, and didnt realise the consequence of this, My body continually feels like it receives electric shocks, head aches, heart palputations and weight lose, It is that unbearable,That i now put up with the symptoms as long as I can then I take a 75mg effexor tablet, I am now needing a tablet every 2.5 days, and I am hoping that this will eventually extend to not taking them at all.I refuse to go back to my doctor as he feels that I havent been on them long enough. (Should I have that Decission)

  As I am not a severe depressive nor have I ever been, I do not recommend to anyone going though a hard patch to take these sorts of meds, It is actually worse that feeling sad and down.

• robert // May 21, 2005 at 5:05 am

  yeah mmm seems this is an old board but ill give my thoughts anyway, ive been on zoloft for almost a year now and it does seem to level me out a lot more, but if you have a few drinks(9+) im only 20 so this is what people my age do in a night at the club it pretty much makes the zoloft useless, if im not drinking for weeks on end it makes getting up in the morning a lot easier but yeah i feel very addicted to this stuff

• Denice Rider // May 25, 2005 at 10:50 am

  I have been taking paxil for almost 9 years. Just this last year I have experienced short term memory loss alot can’t figure out simple things and very forgetfull that is scares me. I want to know if this is a side effect from Paxil. I am getting older and hope that it isn’t a sign of alziemer’s.

• Mel // Jun 11, 2005 at 8:40 pm

  Luckily I have never had to take Zoloft. However, Christopher Pittman was 12 years old when he had to take it. And guess what Zoloft and a mixture of an abrupt stop in Paxil did for him? It put him in an adult prison for the next 30 years for the murders of his grandparents. Wow! Zoloft must be grand. Pfizer needs to come clean.

• Bonnie // Jun 27, 2005 at 9:45 am

  Hi,

  My 15 year old daughter is a cutter and is going through depression and has had suicidal thoughts. She started out a few months ago on 50 mg of Zoloft and is now on 75. It has done wonders for her socially. She talks more and she can see the difference there. So can everyone else. She had side effects the 1st few weeks and then they seemed to have gone away. Problem is she is still cutting and still going through the depressive episodes. If anyone can realte or has any info for me all is welcome. Please email me. I dont know how often I will get back to these posts.

• anonymous // Jun 30, 2005 at 10:52 pm

  okay, so i’ve been on effexor for about 3 years, and i’m only 17. they put me on it for anxiety/stomach problems, and it worked for a while, but i just recently got put on Depo-provera. i’ve noticed the anxiety coming back, and a loss in libido. does anyone else have problems like these? oh, and those tremors are horrible!! i’m afraid to ween myself off of the effexor xr just because of that.

• John // Jul 20, 2005 at 8:39 am

  i was on zoloft for about three years…in conjunction with talk therapy, the combination worked wonderfully. i began talk therapy, then drug therapy, and within 3 months terminated therapy, as my depression was under control, but continued to use zoloft. i tapered off the medication and have not used in nearly a year. i have not had a depressive episode in nearly 4 years! drug therapy alone is NOT enough…talk therapy is crucial, but an anti-depressant can help take the edge off depression while you are dealing with it in therapy…

• Annamaria McDonald // Sep 7, 2005 at 1:51 am

  Just to let all of you know who may think of taking Zoloft or think Zoloft is addictive, you are out of your minds. There have been no studies of Zoloft being addictive or give you any surges or highs! First of all Zoloft for most may not even work from 2-3 weeks from the time you take your first pill. Either you are not listening to your doctor or you don’t have a good one. I believe for sure there are good doctors and horrible doctors. You have to find the right one for you. As far as the woman I believe is called Cherie, you may want to ask your doctor about Seroquel. You may be having more than manic depressive issues, you may be dealing with pschyzophrenia issues. As for the 20 year old taking Zoloft and drinking like you say a usual 20 year does. That is and can be a lethal combination. You may not be suffering from full blown depression but a case of addiction to alcohol. The risks of drinking alcohol and mixing it with anti-depressants is lethal. Your doctor and pharmascist should advise you of that and also you should read the pamphlets that the pharmascist gives you with your medication. People ask questions. There is nothing more stupid than to talk to your pharmacist or doctor about side effects, contributing factors like alcohol or what you can or can’t take with certain medications. If any you know, Tylenol is the best pain reliever you can take when being on Zoloft, if you take aspirin based medications or any ibuprofen, it could cause bleeding internally. How I know this? I asked my pharmacist! I wouldn’t even take Imodium AD without asking my pharmascist first. Your doctors and pharmascists can only do so much, you have to do some of the work and studying as well. People you are dealing with your lives and your health. It must be taken seriously. If you feel deeply in your gut that some medication is not working or you are having problems or side effects tell your doctor and pharmacist immediately. Not only could you be saving yourself but the others too who may be going through the same. If you don’t like your doctor, get a second opinion. I have established a great list of doctors to whom I trust, are knowledeable and actually do care. I know what you mean about feeling like a number to your doctor or dollar signs, that when you get off your butt and find the ones that don’t look at you like that! Only we know how we truly feel. And your health IS NOT A POLITICAL DEBATE! Thanks for hearing me. Good Health onto all of you!

  Annamaria

• Annamaria McDonald // Sep 7, 2005 at 1:56 am

  Correction to my statement:

  There is nothing more stupid than to NOT (is what I meant to say…ie: NOT)talk to your pharmacist or doctor about side effects, contributing factors like alcohol or what you can or can’t take with certain medications.

• Jennifer // Nov 3, 2005 at 7:46 pm

  after my battle with drug addiction to cocaine for 3 years, my life seemed to be in shambles.my college gpa went from a A- average to an F, my relationships with my family and friends where non existant. i was so depressed i didnt know how i sometimes went through life like that. ever since my doctor put me on zoloft i have kick the coke habbit finally, back in school, full time job and have a healthy relationship with my family. Zoloft is gods gift to me, i truely believe that. i am so greatful to have this drug in my life.

• lisa k gladfelter // Nov 27, 2005 at 7:02 pm

  i have a lot to say about effexor too. if interested, keep watching for my post in the very near future. and deb,….how is your research going? you forgot to list your email.

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