Hi everyone. I may need to switch to Zoloft, which served me very well a few years ago. And I sure could use advice from others who were/are in my shoes.

I'm starting my 8th week on Lexapro (3 weeks at 10mg, and the past 4 weeks at 15mg). I was prescribed it for severe depression/anxiety that hit me suddenly in Sept.

I believe that I have a genetic tendency toward depression, as this is the third episode in my life (I'm in my 40s). And I also have situational stress that is clearly contributing to my condition.

Overall, I'm NOT pleased with the Lex, which my PDoc felt might kick in quickly, and with fewer side effects. No such luck. He had based this assessment (in part) on the fact that I had done well a few years ago with Zoloft, which he said was a very similar drug to Lex.

I'm going to give the Lex at least another week. It has lifted my depression and anxiety by perhaps 30%. But the anxiety is fairly constant and very much in my way. And it seems I ought to have more overall improvement by now.

As an aside that may be relevant: I have a distinct memory of Zoloft causing severely-delayed orgasm, a common-enough side effect for people. But I don't have such an experience with Lex. So that makes me wonder if the Lex is just a weaker OVERALL medicine for me. Is that too much of a sweeping conclusion from that limited set of facts?

I would love to hear from people who have made the switch from Lex to Zoloft, and I already read some of the archives on the topic. Specifically, I'm wondering:

1. Is there a good chance the Zoloft will work again for me like it did a few years ago? Anyone know what such statistic odds are?

2. Did you jump right from the Lex to a big dose of Zoloft?

3. Did you experience any nasty start-up side effects after making the switch, and, if so, how long did they last?

Thanks so much, everyone. I'd be grateful to hear from people.


This post has been edited by MichaelBlue: Dec 12 2007, 02:04 PM

Hi MichealBlue,

I haven't ever been on lexapro, but lex is similar to celexa, which I took for a couple of years. For me, zoloft works better, with fewer SE's, but your results may be different, of course. I didn't go straight from celexa to zoloft either, so I can't speak to that. I did go off celexa for a while and then went back on it, and it didn't seem to help me as well the second time around, although by then my insurance forced me to switch to the generic. So again, my situation was a little different and I really think that a dose adjustment would have helped on the celexa. So be advised that if you go on generic zoloft, you may need a different dose than what you took in the past. I have read of one person who wasn't getting as much benefit from the generic until her doc upped her dose, and then she was fine.

I have heard of people switching to a different SSRI by tapering the new med on as the old med is tapered off, but not having been through it myself, the best thing I can tell you is to discuss it with your doc in a week if the lex still isn't doing the job for you.

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful, but just thought I'd throw my two cents worth in!

Take care,
Dewayne

Hi MichaelBlue,

Sorry to hear the Lexapro still isn't working well for you. It sounds like you're certainly giving it your best shot.....

I've never taken Lexapro, but, like Dewayne, I have taken Celexa, which I believe is very similar to Lexapro. I now take Zoloft and I've been taking it for about 3 years (having previously tried pretty much all the SSRI's and a few other types of anti-depressants as well (Effexor and one of the older tricyclics).

I just replied to another thread in which the poster asked whether people thought the benefits of taking AD's outweigh the disadvantages (side effects etc). Reviewing my own history of taking anti-depressants, I realize that none of them have significantly helped my depression for any sustained length of time. I have dysthymia (chronic low-moderate grade depression) and I've had this for around 20 years. The anti-depressants have helped the depression somewhat, but not significantly. I suspect the rest is up to me (in other words, I suspect I need to make considerably more effort practicing CBT skills etc).....

At any rate, one positive thing I can report is that Zoloft has helped me significantly with my chronic anxiety and panic attacks. Zoloft has been by far the most effective drug for me in that regard.

You said that Zoloft had helped you in the past and I certainly hope it helps you again, should you decide to make the switch. I have to say that when I went back on an AD I had tried years earlier I had a very different experience with it. Prozac was the first SSRI that I was ever prescribed and, for the first few months, it really did help me. Later it seemed to stop working so I switched to a different med. Anyhow, some years later, after trying a number of other ADs, my psychiatrist suggested I may want to try Prozac again, since it had helped me the first time. Unfortunatey, second time around, it made my anxiety skyrocket and I had to come off it within a month......I guess my brain chemistry had changed in the meantime.....

I have been quite lucky in that I haven't suffered many side effects from ADs, on start-up or otherwise. Prozac made me very nauseous at first, but this wore off after a couple of weeks. Paxil was the only SSRI that caused me problems. I felt like a zombie and this did not diminish over time. I also had zero sex drive and zero ability to function sexually while I was on Paxil.

I had no side effects when I started the Zoloft and haven't had any ever since.

Sorry to write so much. Just wanted to share my experience with you.

I really wish you luck, MichaelBlue!

Take care.

Joanna

This post has been edited by Joanna: Dec 12 2007, 11:17 PM

Hello Dewayne and Joanna-

I really appreciate hearing from you both, as this will help navigate me towards a decision.

It's important (if unsettling) for me to hear that both of you found that going back to a drug (celexa and prozac in your cases) was not as effective the second time around. I guess since scientists aren't absolutely certain why these drugs help the first time around, I won't even bother to ask or ponder why they can poop or drag their feet during round#2.

Joanna, I don't remember having any anxiety symptoms years ago when I was on Zoloft for depression. But it's great to know how effective it has been for you in that area -- especially since I may need similar relief now!

So hoping that I can start feeling much better about the lexapro during this, my 8th week. That would be the best result of all, of course.

Again, thanks!

This post has been edited by MichaelBlue: Dec 13 2007, 01:11 PM

Hi MichealBlue,

I have heard people say a particular med didn't help them as much the second time around, but I do want you to remember that everyone's different, and you may have a different result. Also, I wonder now from talking with others if a dose adjustment would have helped me. The Celexa still worked, it just seemed as if it didn't work as well.

Take care,
Dewayne

I am on 250 mg of Zoloft. I went back to it in October and I hadn't taken it in over 10 years. I remember that I had a lot of side effects the first time I took it. This time, I had not side effects. It's making me feel quite apathetic, which I guess is better than all the crying I have been doing. But my mood hasn't really lifted. I will wait about three more weeks and then decide if I should try something else again (I've been on everything before).

You might as well give it go. If it doesn't work maybe you will have luck with something that didn't work in the past.

Peanut

does it work?