I have been taking 25mg Zoloft for the past week. I feel better already. Should I double it to 50mg?

Question

A week ago, my doctor at my college prescribed me 25mg of Zoloft, and said that after 7 days, I am supposed to take two each day. (Making it 50mg.) The thing is, I already feel a little better. My gut instinct says to ignore the prescription, and just take one 25mg. However, I am not a doctor. There is also no way to get ahold of my doctor for about two more weeks...by then it will probably be too late.

On the other hand, my "feeling better" could just be the placebo effect, and I should, therefore, take 50mg tonight.

Does anyone have any idea what I should do?

Answer 1

Kara -

Yes, you want to move up to 50 mg tonight if those were the instructions that the doctor gave you. Here is why - The dosages prescribed are not random guesses that doctors pull out of the air, these numbers are set by test and experience.

Your doctor would have decided on the particular dosage for you based on test and experience and most importatntly the symptoms you described and their severity.

You may very well be feeling better already, many anti-depressants start to work within the first week or two but they also very quickly level off, which is one of the reasons that the doctor has you move up to the next level when he does.

I recommend that you take the medication as prescribed by your doctor for the few weeks until you can see him again, and then if you are still concerned go and talk to him about it.

I have been on a variety of medications for depression, OCD and Bi-Polar. Believe me, I got very knowledgeable about how meds work as we tried to balance my 'cocktail' over the last 11 years. Luckily for most people, depression is a temporary state. You will not go through all the fun I went through getting to know the pharmacy!

Your doctor spent 4 years on a BS degree, at least 3 years in Med School, and at least 1 year in Residency before he was set loose on the world. You need to do what he has prescribed.

Good Luck!

Jen

Answer 2

This is a very tough question.

On the one hand I was thinking, it might be best to follow your doctor's instructions exactly.

On the other hand, if you take 25mg each day and you are feeling fine, in a couple weeks, your doctor might say: "Great, well looks like that dose is what you need."

I have a very strong tendency to trust my gut in things like this. In many ways you know yourself better than your doctor ever will.

Good luck, I just don't know enough to make a recommendation either way.

Answer 3

Your doctor knows best.

The extra amount over the next week compensates for your body adjusting to the new levels. Go with the higher dose, but follow up with a phone call if you experience any side effects.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Perhaps you should talk with your doc and see what he says, But if not possible and he suggested to increase then increase it as he prescribed but as soon as you talk to him, and do it as soon as you can then mention the way you feel about the lower dose. So, in that case if he thinks it better to be on a lower dose he can slowly reduce it to the original 25mg :)

Answer 5

Tell your doctor you feel the medicane working on 25 mg and you would like to try it there for awhile. Tell him if he doesn't see results then he can put you up but you would like to see what happens on 25 mg for 1-2 months.

Answer 6

What do you mean, "by then it will be too late"? If you're feeling suicidal, contact your doctor -- or another doctor if he isn't available -- right away.

As for your dosage question, why don't you talk to a local pharmacist or doctor?

Answer 7

Only if the doctor tells you to. The extra dosage may cause dangerous side effects, and could even result in death- IOW, you could be committing suicide, the hard way.

Answer 8

Not without your doctor approval.

Answer 9

follow what the doctor told you or consult your doctor and tell him your predicament