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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
another zoloft question
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
another zoloft question
by RUNNER55, Mar 23, 2002 12:00AM
Doctor Gould,
You have been helpful before with questions. I have one more about Zoloft. You have mentioned many times that these drugs are such powerful drugs. Would you elaborate on this? I have been thru so many years of therapy, and all very helpful, but the only thing that has allowed me to break the panic barrier is with the aid of Zoloft. And at only 25 mgs. The change in my mood and confidence is amazing. It has pulled me out of such a funk and made me feel more alive and active than in years. Not euphoric or anything like that, just a sense of contentment, and a leveling off of anxiety. The only thing that bothers me is, I have extremely vivid nightmares. Almost always something violent: fires, explosions. Scary. That is my question to you, you say these are such powerful drugs, are these nightmares in some way indicative of the medication causing some kind of brain damage? I know it sound ridiculous, but when it comes to drugs, well, you just never know. But I never realized until this medicine finally kicked in, just how good I can feel. My doctor has tried for years to get me to try this, and I wouldn't give in. Now I'm glad I finally did. I was so agoraphobic, I didn't want to leave the house. And I'm only 38. Not a good way to live.
Thank you,
R/55
You have been helpful before with questions. I have one more about Zoloft. You have mentioned many times that these drugs are such powerful drugs. Would you elaborate on this? I have been thru so many years of therapy, and all very helpful, but the only thing that has allowed me to break the panic barrier is with the aid of Zoloft. And at only 25 mgs. The change in my mood and confidence is amazing. It has pulled me out of such a funk and made me feel more alive and active than in years. Not euphoric or anything like that, just a sense of contentment, and a leveling off of anxiety. The only thing that bothers me is, I have extremely vivid nightmares. Almost always something violent: fires, explosions. Scary. That is my question to you, you say these are such powerful drugs, are these nightmares in some way indicative of the medication causing some kind of brain damage? I know it sound ridiculous, but when it comes to drugs, well, you just never know. But I never realized until this medicine finally kicked in, just how good I can feel. My doctor has tried for years to get me to try this, and I wouldn't give in. Now I'm glad I finally did. I was so agoraphobic, I didn't want to leave the house. And I'm only 38. Not a good way to live.
Thank you,
R/55
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Mar 25, 2002 12:00AM
, Mar 25, 2002 12:00AM
Zoloft is powerful because it effects the brain chemistry in many different ways, and sometimes causes side effects because of that. There is no evidence, or even a suggestion, that Zoloft causes brain damage. There is a definite effect on the serotonin system, so when going off zoloft, it has to be done carefully, but at the dose you are taking, that is not an important consideration.
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