Is Zoloft right for everybody?

Question

My brother's doctor prescribed him Zoloft, but we're refusing to give it to him because of the possible side effects. I've done a little research on the net and it says that if you abuse drugs & are suicidal, you shouldn't take it because one of the possible side effects is an increase in suicidal thoughts or whatever. Please help! We don't know what's best for him right now because he isn't in his right mind. Everybody has a different theory on why he's the way he is now. Possible withdrawal from drugs, side effects from taking ecstacy, doing cocaine, brain injury from the recent accident he was in, possession. He's been distant and acts out a lot (like a child-- he's 19). Sometimes he seems normal, but a lot of his actions make him out to not be. The psychiatrist says that he's not Schizaphrenic nor does he have a mental problem. He gets confused a lot and he does have a lot of brain injury symptoms that he's recovering from. It's only been a month since his accident. Help!

He was in the hospital for two weeks and while he was there, he was taking Zoloft and he was really acting up. It was really bad. I think it was partially because he didn't wanna be there (who would right?!). Now that he's off of it (it's been five days), he's a lot calmer.

By the way, he has all the symptoms of a person who shouldn't take Zoloft or at least the people who need to consult the doctor about it.

Answer 1

Hi

I understand your concerns about Zoloft. Certainly, the things you have listed are ones which you should watch for if your brother were to start taking Zoloft. In fact, those are things that anybody should watch for when starting Zoloft.

I think what's important here is to know that they must list all side effects and give all warnings so that people know what to watch for. BUT not everyone will experience all those side effects - they are 'possible' side effects.

I do not have any great advice to give regarding whether your brother should or should not take Zoloft. It sounds to me like a rather complicated situation that is best resolved in consultation with him, your family, and the doctor. All parties need to sit down and discuss the pros and cons of this treatment.

Another person you might want to have on your side and many times people forget to include them - they are a great resource - the pharmacist.

Good luck. I know I haven't given all the information, but it should get you started.

Answer 2

nnnnnope, everyone reacts differently to different types of meds. It ususally takes a few attempts before we find the one right for us, so if it's not working after a few weeks talk to the doctor and try try again.
Also doctors are not always correct, sometimes it takes going through many doctors before finding one witht he correct diagnosis just like medications. Find a experienced psychiatrist who has good reviews, also Zoloft has been found to work as one of the better antidepressants than most, the side effects are usually very week for zoloft in most people or non-existant. You will have side effects in every drug you try till you adjust to them he needs to take it otherwise his problem may never go away.
The extreme side effects are fairly uncommon get him to try them without him trying he may never get the help he needs.

Answer 3

i become on Zoloft for a lengthy time period. stress and melancholy are brought about by technique of a particular chemical contained in the mind noted as seratonin. Seratonin is what facilitates the synapses to operate. diverse levels of seratonin can make you chuffed or unhappy, because it would want to change the way your mind applications. Zoloft is a seratonin inhibitor, meaning it blocks various the seratonin from doing its pastime, which relieves your melancholy and stress. there turned right into a time at the same time as i become very depressed. i become placed on Zoloft to work out if that would want to help. It did. i become now no longer depressed. notwithstanding, there have been some undesirable area effects. I felt like I had a lack of my creativity, and no longer often were given enthusiastic about issues (in a strong way), and that i lost somewhat my sex force. i ended taking it for those causes. i turned right into somewhat an artist, and dropping your creativity is a tremendous deal. Now i exploit different strategies to alleviate my melancholy, which contain meditation, exercising, and in good structure eating. in the adventure that your melancholy and stress is really undesirable, which it feels like that is, you should provide it a attempt, as well as chatting with a specialist (psychologist, psychiatrist). That facilitates as well.

Answer 4

You don't know if Zoloft is right unless you give it a try. Yes, I know about the pamphlets that come with medications. They manufacture by law has to state the side effects that people have experienced on their information. It is my understanding that the suicidal tendencies is if you give it to children. Your brother is 19 he is not a child. So the medication should help. Remember you have to give it 4 to 6 weeks to notice if it is working. I have a friend who was taking it. When she got pregnant she had to stop. We all notice a difference in her. We will be glad when she has her baby so she can go back on her medication.

Answer 5

No medication is right for everybody. However, no medicine has bad side-effects in everybody, either. This is why your brother needs to keep his medical appointments to see how the doctor feels the medication is working--on HIM.

He has probably had a lot of tests done due to his recent accident (if he hasn't--he should have). What it sounds like is that no one is sure where his problem stems from--they (the health professionals) need to be doing more to find out.

I wish him, and all of you well.

Answer 6

The reason he's taking drugs he's trying to alleviate his misery. Give the zoloft and if it works chances are he'll calm down adn get off the drugs that he's abusing quit making him suffer by not giving him his pills

Answer 7

There is no one-size-fits-all drug. For every drug, there is someone who cannot take it or it does not help.

Answer 8

Everyone should just find their own drug.

Answer 9

He might be gay.