We just got diagnosed in May, although we were in therapy at the wrong place for 4 years. When his doc added the Zoloft, I gave it to him for two days, he began vomiting, etc. I took him to the ER because I thought it was the meds. They found nothing wrong, sent me home. I knew something wasn't right and through perssistance discovered he had walking pnemonia. He thinks the Zoloft caused this. He is doing well, and since I've never seen him on an antidepressent, I don't know how it would affect him. I want him to see the therapy and meds positively and he does, except with this. I fear if I force him, the rest of the therapy will be seen negatively and become less effective. I called his doc and got no reply, but we see him today. His therapist is also aware of this and thinks that the Zoloft would be benificial. How do I go about getting him to take it w/o ruining his good outlook on his treatment?
2007-09-20 03:46:38 · 12 answers · asked by mamasmurf_50 3 in Health ➔ Mental Health
My son is nine. I don't understand what he goes through, although I do try. I don't lie to my son, I tell him the good and the bad, how could he trust me if I didn't. I feel one day he will be in charge of his meds and I want him to make good choices so he'll continue his treatment in adulthood. What I need the most help with is how this medicine will affect him. What is the good and the bad? I feel it would benefit him and don't know how to let him know what changes he'd experience (if the med is successful in his case). He's the one who has to go through what he does, not me. I feel he should have a say and he knows that I take his concerns into consideration. If I felt there was immediate risk to him by not taking it, he'd already be on it. Like I said, he's doing good, I think he'd poss do better with it though.
2007-09-20 06:19:17 · update #1
My son used to take zoloft and it worked very well. Its mild and generally doesn't have side effects none that he ever experienced. My husband also takes zoloft, but it works best if you give it at bedtime to keep from getting diarrhea to start until they get used to it. Also if your son is going to be on an anti-depressant for quite awhile this is the best one to take some of the others can cause liver trouble etc.. you don't have that with zoloft. my son was put on another anti-depressant at the start and where it was strong it didn't take long that he became aggressive and had to be took off it. when a child or adult takes anti-depressants and no longer needs them they will start being aggressive and doing things they show no remorse for. just sit down and talk and explain to him that you know he is worried about taking it and that it wasn't the zoloft that made him sick it was the pnemonia. and that he will be able to focus and concentrate better and feel better all together if he will give the zoloft another try. and that he knows that you love him and there is nothing in this world that you would do to hurt him in any way.and that if you thought this would hurt him in any way at all you wouldn't even ask him to give it another chance. ihave times my youngest son doesn't want to take this or that medicine but he knows that mom wouldn't do anything to hurt him so he does try it, my oldest did the same til he realizeed that he did have to have medicine and he knows mom if she didn't have faith or trust in the doctor or that i got a feeling i shouldn't trust something then it doesn't happen. i research everything. and i always ask right in front of the boys because it is their health what kinds of adverse reactions it could have, if it has been known to have an effect on their kidneys or liver and what are the pro's and con's of each medicine, and everything else there is to know about it that i want to know. good luck and best wishes. i know you do the same and so does your son .
2007-09-20 05:01:51 · answer #1 · answered by Gladys C 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Show him this: You were sick when you started Zoloft. The med was not the cause. I suffer from sever depression and anxiety. When I was prescribed Zoloft, I was very scared to take it. Once I did, I swore it was making things worse. I had a headache and felt nauseous. I realized that I needed help, and that's why I started it in the first place. I put my stubbornness aside, and kept taking it. I took it at night instead of the morning, because it made me really tired. I am now 29 days into it, and I truly believe it's a life saver. I feel so much better. I am able to live a normal life without all the fears I had around people. I can jump into the car anytime I want and go anywhere. I feel like a new person.
You really need to give it a chance to work for you. Two days was not enough to know if it would help you. Honestly, the first week on it, isn't the best. Everyday gets better. I promise. Please take it, you will feel so much better! It was just a fluke in the beginning, because you were sick. Change your life for the better, and please take it. Why live this way when you don't have to. Zoloft is the best a-d med out there in my eyes, it has the least side effects and works wonders. Give it a chance!! :) Come back on here in two weeks and I bet you'll think very differently about Zoloft! Take care!
2007-09-20 04:02:11 · answer #2 · answered by ~Kim~ 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't force him to take it! There are plenty of other SSRIs that he can try. The last thing you want is to reinforce an association that meds make you sick. Some do, some don't. The important thing is getting off those that do quickly. Even though this is just a coincidence, treat it the same way. He's got the rest of his life on medication, and empowering him now to switch may have more long-term meaning than you realize.
The thing that you should be aware is that antidepressants often are bad experiences for people with bipolar. They tend to do nothing, put us in a mixed state, or flip us to hypo/mania. That's almost always the case without stabilizers. Unfortunately, for some, it remains the case on stabilizers. So, try another SSRI but if he gets irritable, work with the doc about taking him off. If the doc insists that he stay on, find another doc. There are stabilizers that can help with depression so it's not like SSRIs are the only option.
2007-09-20 04:02:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I was on the same combination of meds for a year or two...Zoloft does cause really bad nausea at the beginning, but if you can stick with it the first week..it should subside.
Also, I began going to a new psych after I'd been on this combo cuz I was having more manic episodes..he said that zoloft can cause this in bi-polar patients...but everyone is different! I would encourage your son to try the Zoloft a couple more days...if he still feels sick...make an appt. with your psych to get the anti-depressant changed. It always takes some trial and error to get the correct mix of things for each individual...it's not easy and takes some time, but don't give up!!
2007-09-20 04:02:27 · answer #4 · answered by sarah b 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Zoloft caused exactly the same symptoms in me and when I presented at the hospital, they said nothing was wrong and to keep taking the meds. The side effects got more severe and as a result I ended back in hospital after a suicide attempt because my moods got darker, it simply exacerbated my depression. However my uncle is on this medication completely side effect free...
In my case shrink then changed my meds which made all the difference. The moral to this story is that different antidepressants will work for different people in different ways and a good doctor will help you to find a suitable med regime.
For me it was trail and error and as is often the case, the first few drugs I took were duds and either didn't work or made me incredibly ill. I am now on a regime of 2 mood stabilizers and one antidepressant to treat bipolar II.
2007-09-20 04:43:50 · answer #5 · answered by Cat S 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I have bipolar that was undiagnosed for years. when i took Zoloft it threw me into a manic state and was awful. The Trileptal is the first medication I have taken in 15 years that really seems to help. I have been on it for 3 years now and have been stabilized.
I have been on many other depression medications. the one that is helping me now is good old Prozac. it is the only one that has helped. I was on it in the past and quit, and when i went back on it did not work, but when in conjunction with the trileptal it is working wonderful.
I would ask to try a different antidepressant medication. Zoloft is not one i would recommend. In children it can have serious side effects. but so can all other antidepressant medications. Maybe the trileptal will be all he needs. good sleep and sun.
Good Luck.
2007-09-20 04:41:46 · answer #6 · answered by yellowcloudwoman 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From my own personal experience and a lifetime of hell with docs shoving pills at me, I suggest you take it really slow. If it isnt the zoloft making him sick, it may be a combination of the pills. I remember tons of pills that made me vomit every five minutes. I do have one suggestion, try an herbal supplement, st johns wort. I am bipolar, and have been taking that for a few weeks, and for the first time in my life I actually feel stable. Considering he has to be the one taking the stuff, listen to everything he has to say about how the stuff makes him feel. Good luck!
2007-09-20 03:58:51 · answer #7 · answered by dragonflykagerou84 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Zoloft usually has fewer side effects than a lot of anti-depressants. Ask him to try it once more, and if he feels ill, you'll talk to the doc. about switching meds. Also think about when he took it. Did he have a full/ empty stomach? Do the opposite of last time. Also a lot of people take Zoloft before bed to curb any possible effects, think about trying that.
2007-09-20 03:53:51 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Zoloft stinks & if he is 9 he should NOT be taking any medication. I've never even heard of a bipolar 9 y/o. NOT many meds are appropraite for preteens. Don't put the poor thing on Ritalin.
2007-09-20 04:01:49 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
oh gosh. my cousin takes trileptal. he is doing good on it. why don't you just drop the zoloft & see if there is another antidepressent that will be just as beneficial. ask for alternatives. try & see what your son feels comfy with. my cousin is 20. he doens't take an antidepressent though. i know what its like. i hope the best for you.
2007-09-20 09:49:03 · answer #10 · answered by lost.without.you 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋