A mate of mine is on Zoloft. I am worried he may take his own life. Can you fatally OD on Zoloft?

Answer 1

You can basically over dose on most any drug. Zoloft can be a very useful drug but in my opinion close Dr. supervision should be included. Zoloft is a drug that is used when you need increased amount of serotonin in the brain. It has come to light over the last year that Zoloft and other anti-depressant medication has unfortunately given some patients an increased desire to commit suicide. Perhaps you could try talking to your friend or his family with your concerns. The best suggestion I can give you is to be there for your friend which obviously you already are by expressing your concerns. I hope all goes well for your friend and yourself.

Answer 2

You can overdose on virtually anything. Someone mentioned water - yes, even water. I don't understand why you are so worried. Is the Zoloft ineffective? Has he spoken of "ending it all"? Is he showing any signs at all of potential suicide? You've given no information other than he takes Zoloft and you haven't even said how long he's been taking it. The most dangerous time is when a depressive seems to perk up. This can mean they now have the energy to commit suicide. But it can also mean the antidepressant has reached a therapeutic level and is working.

Sit your mate down and talk openly about your fears. You may find out you're wrong about him. In any event, open the subject and he may be relieved to talk. If you are both underage and living with your parents, tell your mum & dad how you feel. Maybe your two families can get together for a talk.

Someone said if he's talking about suicide than he won't commit suicide. This is not true.

Answer 3

That would be ironic. You can OD on Zoloft, but it won't be fatal. Antidepressents contain small amounts of chemicals that are harmless if you're taking the proper dose but make you vomit if they're present in a higher concentration. If he tries to OD on Zoloft, he'll vomit it back up before his system absorbs enough to cause perminant damage.

But there are plenty of other ways to kill yourself, including ODing on certain readily available over the counter meds (if you're worried about an overdose). If he's suicidal, don't assume he won't do it just because the particular method you happened to think of wouldn't work. Certain antidepressents (including Zoloft) can actually sometimes backfire and cause increased suicidal behavior, especially in teens, but in adults as well. If he's suicidal, his doctor needs to know ASAP so he can change his meds. I don't know how old you and your friend are. If you're younger, tell his parents. If you're an adult (as in, you're over 18 and no longer live with your parents), tell whatever family he might live with, or encourage him directly to talk to his doctor about it. If you believe he's in immediate danger, call your local emergency phone number (i.e. 911, 999, 000, ect. depending what country you're in)

Answer 4

Yes, you can OD on Zoloft. If your mate has not taken the medicine for very long, then it probably has not started taking effect yet. Tell him to give it some time.

Answer 5

you can overdose on just about anything-even over the counter medications. did you know the most common overdose treated in hospital emergency rooms is tylenol?

if he is new to taking the medication-remember it takes 2-4 weeks for the zoloft to become active in his system and start working.

if you are really worried that he is going to hurt himself-take him to the emergency room-don't wait. if you are unable to take him-alert his family members or call 911 for him to get him some help.

sometimes antidepressants can have the reverse effect in some people-instead of relieving the depression-it makes them more depressed than they were to start with and can make them very suicidal-especially teenagers because there hormone balance changes so much as they go through puberty. other times, the medication just doesn't work at all-he might need to be switched.

if he has hinted about commiting suicide (even if he later tells you he was just kidding) this is his cry for help and needs medical attention asap

Answer 6

yes you can. But he would have to have a few boxes which you cant get anyway. Have you spoken to his parents about your concerns? Or to your other mutal friends. Maybe you could take it in turns "keeping" an eye on him.

How long has he/she been on Zoloft for? If he has only started to take it, remember that it can take 4 - 6 to adjust when you first go on it and most of the time you go down before you "level" out.

If he/she is a long term taker I wouldn't worry to much about suicide as unless the zoloft isn't working at all, death possibly isn't too much on his/her mind.

Answer 7

Any medication taken in excess can have serious consequences. An overdose of Zoloft can be fatal. If you suspect an overdose, seek medical attention immediately.


Common symptoms of Zoloft overdose include:
Agitation, dizziness, nausea, rapid heartbeat, sleepiness, tremor, vomiting

Other possible symptoms include:
coma, stupor, fainting, convulsions, delirium, hallucinations, mania, high or low blood pressure, and slow, rapid, or irregular heartbeat

Answer 8

Zoloft is a rather depressing anti depressant in my experience. Just 10mg a day made me sleep for upwards of 16 hours a day. So if you're worried about him due to his sleeping habits, it just comes with the territory that is Zoloft.

Answer 9

Yes you can OD on about any medication. Why don't you call the Suicide Hot line which should be in the front of your phone book and ask them for advice. I had to do that with a friend once too. Your friend needs counseling obviously. I brought my friend to our home and then took her to a counselor the next day.

Answer 10

well you shouldnt drink,,,if you take to many it has the reverse effects,,there are side effects with taking them like shakin sometimes etc, if someones taking these an they are still deppresssed then its not good they should see there doctor, iam on Zo loft an it takes 1month before it fully starts working for me i have post tramatic stress with panic attacks an this medication is working for me, with no side effects,.