How does Zoloft work? My daughter was on 150 mg daily?

Question

She is 5'2" tall and weighed 96-99 lbs. She kept telling this psychiatrist she was depressed and felt suicidal thoughts. They hospitalized her for about 4 days and just kept upping the dose. She was shaking so bad she could not hold a spoon to eat a bowl of cereal.
I got really upset when the school called me because she was throwing up all of the time. She ended up with Strep throat and when we went to the ER because her throat was swollen so bad she couldnt swallow her own spit, the ER doctor told me to start weaning her off the Zoloft. He thought it was ridiculous. She was also on Risperdal 0.5 mg twice a day and clonidine at bedtime.
Finally, summer vacation came and I weaned her off everything. She now is fine and its been over a year.
This all happened after she broke up with a boyfriend and got really upset. She was self mutilating and was just beside herself. I think meds are over prescribed. What do you think?

This psychiatrist just kept adding drugs and adding drugs until I was beside myself. My daughter has the tendency to get highly manipulative and I was not allowed into the counseling sessions.
I just thought the amount of meds were exceeding ridiculous. I am so thankful we went to the ER and spoke with the doctor there. I think God was watching over us.

Answer 1

It sounds as though the psychiatrist was attempting to medicate symptoms versus identifying the disorder and the issues that contributed to it and that's extrememly unfortunate. Most reputable psychiatrists understand that self-injury is not treated with medications and will refer to a psychotherapist who is often in a better position to treat this. I've worked with a number of psychiatrists-some good, some bad-the good ones generally recognize the value of therapy and respect input from a therapist, others throw meds at every emerging symptom as it's the only thing they know to do. Zoloft would not have been appropriate for a depressed teen who required hospitalization and the dosage for adolescents is often higher because they tend to metabolize it quicker than do adults. But I wonder about the risperdal. Medication without therapy in a situation like you describe was partly to blame as well.
Your daughter's shaking was a result of the risperdal, not the zoloft. Vomiting is not typically a side effect of Zoloft (though nausea can be) and given what you describe about your daughter, I would be concerned about a possible eating disorder. It's good to hear that she is doing better, however the behaviors you describe and her difficulty coping with emotions suggest that there are some issues that may not have been resolved and she may be at risk for other self-destructive behavior when and if the next stressor materializes.
You sound like a caring Mom who loves your daughter very much and I would suggest discussing therapy with her and your willingness and desire to be involved. While your daughter may resist involving you in sessions, you can always talk to her therapist and share your observations and feedback, even if the therapist may not be able to share a lot because of confidentiality. Your input is valuable and something they can use to encourage your daughter to agree to some joint sessions. As a parent of an adolescent you also have the right to be informed regarding your daughter's treatment although most therapists will not insist on involvement without your daughter's cooperation in order to develop and maintain a relationship with her, but if issues are evident they will encourage family participation. A good therapist could help your daughter learn better ways to cope with overwhelming feelings and thereby prevent another crisis which is bound to happen, especially if she is a teen. And therapy could help you and daughter communicate more openly and comfortably to reduce the need she feels to resort to such extreme behaviors. Your statement that she can be dramatic suggests you recognize there are other issues and I'd trust your gut on that.
Best of luck to both of you!

Answer 2

I take one hundred fifty mg of Zoloft on a standard basis and to respond to your question, you could drink. that's going to shrink the end results of the drugs for Zoloft, perhaps increasing you OCD dispositions. on the different hand, i'm uncertain while you're allowed to drink on an identical time as taking Efexor. To be secure, bypass out with your pals and function a solid time yet shop the eating to a minimum! solid success with each thing guy.

Answer 3

Sounds like your daughter was over-prescribed.

On the other hand, a few years ago I was assigned to counsel a teen girl who had drank herself into a coma. Luckily her friends called 911 and the hospital was able to revive her. As she was coming out of the coma and she realized she was alive, she screamed over and over, No, I was supposed to be dead so I could be with my mom! (her mom had died a few years before)

This teen was very suicidal and depressed. I took this teen to her doctor who mocked me for being concerned. This MD told this suicidal teen to have a good life and to return in 3 months. Hell, she would have been dead in that time. Luckily we got her into another doctor who took the suicide attempt seriously and with the meds and counseling, she regained the will to live.

Your daughter's experience was terrible, and so was this clients!

Answer 4

this was definitely a bad case of over prescribing. Yes i think it is a problem, and an easy way out for many Dr.s and people so they don't have to deal with the real problems. I am on anti depressants only after I tried therapy, they give me the edge I need to deal with day to day things.. like getting out of the house. It can be a chore some days. :)

Answer 5

giving someone meds just cause of a break up of a bf is ridiculous. suicidal thoughts require attn but it doesnt have to be drugs.
talk to ur daughter.love her and instill self worth in her. so that next time someone breaks up with her, she wont feel worthless enough to hate her life and destroy it. how do YOU teach her self worth?
the columbine kids were on zoloft. i dont know which drug vt tech shooter was on.

Answer 6

that was definitely a very high dose =glad you got her wiened off of them and hope you and family don't go back to that Dr

Answer 7

watch this. it will help http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b30iwhEw9ho&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fprofile%2Emyspace%2Ecom%2Findex%2Ecfm%3Ffuseaction%3Duser%2Eviewprofile%26friendid%3D55073312