Zoloft for depression?

Question

Dr. put me on Zoloft a few months ago, I took it for 4-5 weeks and stoped.
Today he put me back on it, unfortunatly the depression is much worse and he didn't give me a straight answer on how long it will take to build up in my system enough to feel better.
Does anyone know for sure?

Lesley- I am so sorry you lost your mom! That breaks my heart for you! I wish I knew the words to make it better.

Answer 1

It takes time for therapeutic levels of zoloft to build up. I don't take it myself, but know someone who does. It took a little over a month in which time it actually increases symptoms and makes you feel worse. Once you get over this hump, however, it's therapeutic effects will kick in. In the meantime, you need to call your doctor to help you get through the hell weeks to getting to therapeutic blood levels and ask for a short acting anti-anxiety drug (clonazepam) that you will be able to take when it feels really bad. I think it's almost mean to make them go through those 4-5 weeks without it. Some medications do work differently than others so after you've given zoloft a fair shot and it still isn't working for you, you can try other kinds. The important thing is that when something is working that you don't give it up when you feel better...that means the meds are working. A lot of people make this mistake, give up the meds when it's working because they feel better. Another thing is to understand that the meds are helping you at two levels. One is that it's actually repairing the neurons and also preventing compounding damage to the brain. My child's epilepsy meds work in a similar way. If she were not taking medication, the brain would continue to have seizures and would only get increasingly worse. I will give you a link that discusses one of mechanisms of prozac, but applies to many anti-anxiety meds. This person I know ended up liking zoloft over prozac, but again, it varies from person to person. If you've been on it for a few months already, I would consider trying a new drug and giving it a chance for a few months.

Answer 2

I've been on Zoloft for roughly 9 years now and cannot get off it. Don't take it if which you can get by way of with out it. Are attempting St. John's Wort, equal, or something before resorting to Zoloft. It helped me, yes, but I additionally won 40 lbs and can not lose it. Now, i'm depressed!!!! I wish I had tried an alternative first. Just my 2 cents valued at.

Answer 3

Zoloft didn't work for me - a better bet if you have anxiety and depression is Lexapro - others that work with virtually no side effects like Lexapro are Welbutrin, Celexa and even Prozac can be good for some - for some there are too many side effects. Feel better - be patient - it does take time for everyone to adjust and change dosage, etc but if it has been a month or so then you should either increase dosage or switch - it shouldn't take that long. A few weeks - but you can't stop cause then you go back to having to wait the few weeks - month again. I know it is hard but just stay on one and you may even need to get a dr who listens more and adjusts better or picks a med better suited for you and your symptoms.

Answer 4

If the Zoloft isn't working after 4-5 weeks, it probably isn't the right med for you. There's many drugs out on the market for depression, and though Zoloft is a good one, it's not for everyone. If the doctor won't consider another med, GET A SECOND OPINION!! My mother recently died because a doctor didn't believe she had a serious medical problem. Don't take NO for an answer!! Good luck!

Answer 5

Over the last five years I had begun to have increasingly withdraw into a downward spiral of depression..

But now with the method I can fully focus my energy and thoughts into a decisive line on how to make my life better constantly. And it works like magic! I'm beginning to attract people to me once again and things have just been looking up since then.

Helping you eliminate depression?

Answer 6

Zoloft is a pretty good drug although t has some severe side effects. Today there are better drugs for depression with less side effects. Ask your MD.

Answer 7

Because he's a doctor and is only going on what he is seeing in other patients, he should have tried something else if it did not work the first time and send you to a good counselor.

Answer 8

You should always wean off of SSRIs, going cold turkey will make you go nuts.

Trust me...it happened when I went off of "zac" five years ago.

Take the pills. Go for walks. Do things. I'd say a coupla days.

Answer 9

I think it takes a week to build up.

Answer 10

Xanax