I did something a little stupid please some input...

[enitsirhc]

Hi everyone I did something a little stupid, i been on zoloft for a few months with the doctor adjusting my dosage.  Main reason is because I don't know if it was doing the complete trick.  I have to take klonopin also.  When I first had panic attacks when I was about 19 i went on zoloft and it worked wonders without any other medication.  I eventually went off of it after a year and half.  I was all better for a few years medication free.  Then one day for no reason there it went why?  Because one day my mind decided to play games with me and I thought about it and allowed it.  I regret that day, I don't understand why people get them?  Anyway so now I am on zoloft and I decided to be my own doctor and cut it down from 100mg to 50 then 25.  Then I wasn't feeling well I so I started yesterday to my original dosage the doctor had put me on which is 100mg's.  I have an appointment Monday with her.  I just feel I shouldn't have to take klonopin if taking zoloft.  Why did it work amazingly the first time?  Maybe I have to give it time?  I'm a mess!  Also just asking does anyone get a symptom of dizziness or lightheaded from anxiety?  This is ridiculous now!  Why me.  I have to stop playing around with my medication I know.

[RubyWitch]

cj and I seem to be playing leap frog here, but I would like to not only agree with him regarding therapy, but let you know, that like meds, we sometimes have to "try out" different therapists to find one we are really comfortable with. That is such an important part of the process. You said you tried it once and I echo cj in wondering if you meant you went to ONE session or you tried it for a longer period of time. What were your feelings about it? Did you like your therapist? Did you find it easy to talk to him/her? Perhaps your expectations were too high.........did you hope that one or two sessions would be enough and felt disappointed when you seemed to not be making any progress? I know how difficult it is to talk to a total stranger about really personal stuff, but that is why you need to spend time building a relaionship with your therapist, you have to learn to trust them and that can take time. Just as we must sometimes give our medications time to reach therapeutic levels, we must also give our therapy sessions that same chance.
And don't feel bad if you find you're not comfortable with a certain therapist and want to try a different one. Therapists are highly trained to understand that they may not be the right person for you and their feelings will not be hurt if you tell them you would like to try someone else. Nine times out of ten, they will be more than happy to try and match you with someone else.
I will also echo cj here and say that while medications can be very helpful and useful tools to get us through the worst patches, therapy is what will eventually cure us.
Peace
Greenlyda a/k/a cj's sidekick  

[enitsirhc]

Thanks.  Yes, I tried it once lol I guess it's safe to say I didn't really give it a try.  How long were you able to finally wean off the benzo when taking the ssri?

[cj29]

It is quite common for a doctor to wean you off of a benzo as you stay on an SSRI like Zoloft.  I did the exact same thing you were doing with your meds through the advice of my doctor.  When you said that you tried therapy once, did you mean just one session?  If so, that is really not trying it out to see if it is effective.  I was REALLY uncomfortable with it for awhile and felt I was not making any progress but stuck with it and it was the smartest thing I could have done.  Remember, no medication will 'cure' you of this long term...you need to learn about it to be able to get long term relief from it in my opinion.

[enitsirhc]

Hey everyone thanks for answering.  Well she kind of wants me only on the zoloft and to be cutting off of klonopin.  That's the tough part about it.  Well I am now taking the dosage she recommended to me of the zoloft.  I will let her know what I did and see what happens.  Hopefully the zoloft will work again!  I really hope...I am 26 if you were wondering my age and I know i'm stupid for messing around with it on my own.  I am just so desperate to get better.  I guess we all are.  I tried therapy once, but I don't know how I really felt about it.  Maybe i'll try it out with someone else.  

[confused849]

I've felt lightheaded in panic situations lots of times. You really have to follow your doctor's orders if you want this to work for you. Cutting the dose or increasing it without your doc's approval will cause problems with the floe of the medication. I'm on blood pressure medication as well as an anti anxietal. every once in a while I forget to take the stuff and I run into trouble. Please be careful with the stuff and listen to your doctor. It isn't much fun going through this kind of thing and that's why your doctor has you on these meds in the first place.

[cj29]

I know I probably sound like an echo to greenlydia, but I also try to preach NEVER NEVER NEVER start, stop, or adjust dosage without the advice of your doctor.  That is why they are not over the counter.  The medical community understands the benefits, risks, and interactions between these medications...not us.

As far as reacurring anxiety, it happened to me.  I was off of an SSRI for years and my anxiety started to come back; it happens and we must confront it once again.  Although, this time you know what to expect.  You may feel better after taking these meds, but there is a reason why doctor's will advise you stay on it for a certain amount of time EVEN if you feel better.

Throughout this experience have you ever been through talk therapy with a therapist?  I am a very strong proponent of medication as long as it is combined with counseling because it is the process of learning about this anxiety/panic cycle that will enable you to attain long term relief, in my opinion.

So, hang in there and don't mess with the meds on your own!  Keep us posted!

[RubyWitch]

Zoloft treats depression and is often prescribed for panic disorder as well. Klonopin treats anxiety but doesn't help with depression. Apparently your doctor decided you would do better taking both.
She is also the only one who can explain her reasoning for prescribing both these meds and since you obviously have questions concerning this, then speak up and ask! If you wish to try only one of these meds to begin with, that is your right. Your doctor cannot force you to take anything.
As to you messing about with your dosage, shame on you! I don't know how old you are, but please learn now that you must never alter the dosage of ANY med without the knowledge and consent of your doctor. And that includes starting or stopping one.
It is a very good thing that you will be seeing her soon as you have indeed sort of messed things up. In the future, if you feel something is not working well for you, then consult with your doctor about a change in dosage or a different med.
I'm sure your doctor will forgive you, this time, for playing medical merry-go-round with your drugs, but understand that you can have disasterous results doing this on your own.
As to your last question, dizziness and lightheadedness are classic symptoms of anxiety and the appropriate medication, taken AS DIRECTED, will soon put these symptoms to rights.
Since I am neither a doctor nor a pharmacist, I cannot tell you to take any medication until you see your doctor. You may just have to "tough it out" until Monday.
I wish you well and advise that you put your plastic stethascope in the garbage!
Let us know how you're doing.
Peace
Greenlydia      

[criveros]

I been lightheaded/ dizzy almost everyday for about a month and I hear its very common with anxiety.

[enitsirhc]

and now my heart seems to be pounding since I played around with the dosage :(