Should I lower my zoloft on my own?

Question

Ok, I have been on Zoloft for a few years now 50mg. In the past month or two I have been feeling really bad. Having really bad panic attacks. When I went to the Dr. She upped my dose to 100mg. Within about 2 weeks I started having hand shakiness and feeling kinda out of it.
Went back to her today and she told me to start taking my zoloft everyother day instead of daily.
I am seriously thinking about just doing the 50mg daily again.
I also asked her to give me a prescription of Avtavan. for my panic attacks. I have recently taken these that a friend gave me that really helped when i was having an attack.
My Dr. told me No.. That medication was highly addictive and in a short time I could come to need it to get through the day.
So now what am I suppose to do when I have these horrible attacks?
I should add that changing Dr's will be hard. I have no insurence and this is a pay as you can clinic.

Answer 1

Zoloft can be a very helpful medication.
50mg. is a small dose. It sounds as if you aren't doing as well on the 50mg. as you had in the past.

What your Dr. is trying to do is to find a balance that will work for you, yet have minimal side effects.
Have you thought of trying it at 75mg, and seeing how you do with a smaller increase? You may tollerate it at 75mg for a couple of weeks, and then increase it the rest of the way to the 100mg. and find that you have less problems.

Whether or not Zoloft specifically and directly address your anxiety attacks, it will assist you overall, which in turn, will help you to be able to manage the anxiety better.

Have you contacted your county Mental Health Clinic?
They have both counselors and psychiatrists on staff.
Anxiety attacks are most successfully addressed through counseling - learning new ways to address difficulties in your life.

Answer 2

I take Ativan 2 mg for panic attacks for 4 years and I'm not addicted. That's what they make them for. I only take one at the first sign of high anxiety coming on - not every day. It's very possible to manage your intake without getting addicted.

Zoloft will not help with panic attacks. I take 200 mg of Zoloft daily for major depression, and it's been in remission for 4 years now. I used to take 100 mg but had to be hospitalized for depression, so my doctor doubled my dose. That worked for me with no side effects.

Perhaps you need a change of medication for depression like Wellbutrin or something else since you felt really bad on 50 mg of Zoloft. Going back to the 50 mg won't help and the 100 mg seemed like it was too much.

I would also request a prescription of Ativan and tell her you only intend to take them for panic attacks - not every day.

If she leaves you on your own without panic attack medication, I would change doctors. There's no reason to have to go through that when they make a medication especially for your symptoms.

Hope that helps. Good luck!

Answer 3

You should never stop taking your prescribed medication or adjust dosage without talking to your doc first. There can be serious effects from it. If she will not listen to you then find another doc asap.

Since you have no insurance (I'm not sure where you are) and if you're in the States most states have mental health programs for those who don't have insurance. You should check into these.

Answer 4

Stacie, you need to spell all this out to your doctor. Remember most of these kinds of drugs take 4 weeks to kick in. To me the shakieness and feeling out of it could be low blood sugar so maybe that should be checked out also. She upped the Zoloft to 100mg. because you have been feeling bad. I think you should see your doctor again and discuss all this with him/ her. Good luck to you.