Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum.  ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
 | 

Lorazepam/Zoloft Questions and Needed Support

by himarksinsf, Apr 26, 2008 11:32AM
Hello.

About a month ago, I was dealing with a lot of situational stressors.  I was very anxious, losing weight and not being as engaged with my family especially my kids.

I have been on Zoloft for 3 weeks (25 mg.).  I have had success with Zoloft in the past when I was dealing with a nervous stomach.

I also was given Lorazepam (2 mg.) to help with sleep.

Another doctor recommended sleep aids (Lunestra - 3 mg.) and my therapist who is anti-medicine recommended the natural approach.

Well, with the exception of sleep, I am doing a lot better.  I am more engaged, eating and functioning.

However, sleeping naturally is still an issue.

It probably was foolish but I treid all three strategies during the last months.  Two nights ago I did the natural approach and slept for 1 hour.  Last night, I took 1 mg. of Lorazepam and slept fairly well.  I woke up a few times but was able to get back to sleep.

Here are my questions.

1.  I have so much energy during the day and night -- like a caffine high.  Could this be the Zoloft, anxiety or sleep deprevation?  I remember having these symptoms when I was on 50 mg. Zoloft but I don't recall having these symptoms on 25 mg.  Also,  I don't think there is a lower dose for Zoloft.

2.  For sleep, is it more prudent sticking to one strategy?  The Lorazepam works the best.  However, when I wake-up, I am very sad for the first few hours of the day.  That combined with my limitless energy is really drivng me nuts.

3.  I know a month doesn't seem like a long time but I wonder if I will ever feel normal again or if I will ever sleep normally again.  Any encouragement would be helpful.  Although functioning, I am still very fragile and I am hoping that will get better with time.

4.  Finally, I have an appointment with my primary doctor next week.  I hope that I will be able to communicate my concerns properly.  There are so many variables (lack of sleep, the Zoloft, general anxiety) that it's very hard to untangle.  I don't want to go down the road of trying different types of medicine.  As mentioned before, I am doing a lot better.  I just have the caffine feeling during the day/night and the inability to sleep normally.

Thanks for readhing this post and taking the time to respond.

Mark

Member Comments (1)

by JSGeare, Apr 27, 2008 10:02AM
To: Mark
Well, save yourself some trouble and just print out for your doctor what you've said right here. Seems perfectly lucid to me -a clear narrative, so use it. And then, please tell us the answer you get.

I'm also wondering whether a psychiatric evaluation would not be a good idea; in the end, a course of therapy may be very helpful, eliminating the need for any meds at all. And it would give you a specialist view of your sleep problem. That said, maybe a sleep study -could there be any apnea at work? Maybe.

Finally, I have, personally, a sort of benign but nervous view of "anti-medicine" therapists. Pardon the cynicism, but inasmuch as the therapist can't prescribe, it stands to reason that he/she may carry a bias against a tool that can't be used. The fact is that, albeit that there is plenty of over-medication and other problems with drugs, they are used, over-all, because they have been shown to be effective. It would make sense (to me) to have the therapy and the meds in the same person.  The last thing YOU need is some contest among therapists -with YOU as the pawn in the middle.

Make sense?
Post Comment
To
Comment
Post Comment
Recent Activity
snow
20 mins ago by drifter0213
Dasani_ is feeling uncomfortable
smjmekg almost started crying on the phone with DH cause he said w...
madtram commented on Tramadol & Ultram...
4 hrs ago
smjmekg commented on photo
5 hrs ago
Mood Tracker: Maybe just a little
5 hrs ago by PenelopeAnn
Mood Tracker: It would seem
6 hrs ago by Krisiness
binx67 still wondering.
RSS Expert Activity
Prevention Gains Momentum: Your Gui... 
Nov 29 by Lee Kirksey, MD
What You Don't Know About Breathing...
Nov 24 by Steven Y Park, MD
Thanksgiving
Nov 23 by Thomas Dock, Vet. Technician
Community Members