Should I take zoloft to help with my depression, I was on Lexapro previously?

[angstuart]

I was prescribed Lexapro to assist in increasing my testosterone level (my testosterone is 23-range for my age is 20-76) and increase my sex drive in 2002.  Once on lexapro, I noticed that I was not on edge like I had been previously, and I seemed to be much more easy going. Things I normally obsessed about, just became easier to let go.  I also lost about 8 lbs. I felt great! I recently stopped taking lexapro.  This is the 2nd time I tried to get off of Lexapro (1st time was very unsuccesful- horrible withdrawal symptoms, including suicidal thoughts, severe irritability).  It took me roughly 2 1/2 months to get off of the drug this time around.  The only reason I decided to get off of the drug is because my husband and I are planning to start a family within the next 9 months and lexapro is a Class C drug and Class D (D= high probability of causing birth defects) during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy.  Since stopping the lexapro I have gained 10 pounds, have had severe mood swings; extreme irritability, sad/depressed mood, inability to make a decision, severly short-patient, and severe anxiety.  I have tried to control these symptoms by telling myself this is a condition of the transition off of lexapro and its "all in my head... I can control it"... unfortunately that has not worked well.  I have been off of lexapro for 1 1/2 months.  I saw my doctor recently and relayed my experiences to her, she suggested that I take zoloft (50 mg).  I am concerned about the effects, if any, that can occur while I am pregnant; will this hinder my ability to become pregnant, will this cause any abnormalities to my child?  I am specially concerned about the side effects of discontinuing the drug.  Worried that I may experience effects similar to those I experienced while trying to wean off lexapro?  And, I am concerned about possibly gaining any more weight if I take zoloft.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Those are all legitimate concerns re zoloft. I would suggest that you try a better method than drugs...trying talking to a therapist about what you are feeling, and begin to sort out your own mind functions, and what you are telling yourself with these feelings rather than trying to suppress them with medications. It works, and you won't have to worry about damaging your child.

[castine]

Beware!
  I was on zoloft for several years, left it in a hotel room while on vacation. Was
unable to resume taking it for 7 days and have had debilitating symptoms ever since.  I have been to neurologist, immunologist,orthopedist,gastrointerologist,rhuematologist, had mri, cat scans spinal taps, all with no answers. I had made 2 safety reports with Pfizer and they
have no answers. This medication has robbed me of my finances, occupation and worst of all my health. Please do not consider taking these medications unless you absolutely have to!  If anyone has any idea of what I should do pleas contact me.

[Paule]

If your male and on a ssri and trying or have had a baby I would like to hear from you.  I'm considering a research study to prove the theory that males on ssri's who father children will produce mostly male children.

The science behind the theory is the shallow ejaculation and the y sperm being better swimmers.  I know too many people on these drugs fathering just male children.

[Lindsay Loo Hoo]

Whoa...hold on!  If the poster were male, I doubt they would be concerned about the third trimester of pregnancy!  If you plan on doing any type of scientific survey, you have to be a bit more objective.  Females have testosterone too--just not the same levels as those of men.  I was going to ask if the poster knows anything more about this hormone balance as it pertains to weight gain.

First let me assure you that although all prescription medications come with risks, your options are not as narrow as you may think.  I carried my baby while stabalized at 120 mg of Methadone and .25mg Xanax in the third trimester.  It sounds crazy, and you probably don't admire me, but I consulted all of the experts I could, and not one would advise nor allow getting off of the drug while pregnant.  With the Methadone, a fetus could not survive the severe withdrawal; it wasn't even advisable for me to feel any of the discomfort.  Xanax was prescribed to me in addition to the Methadone due the high levels of anxiety her father's forthcoming death (I know that doesn't make any sense, but trust me here).

As far as the weight gain thing, I started taking Celexa 9/02, switched to Zoloft about six months later, and switched to Lexapro roughly two years ago.  I actually gained weight the whole way through, regardless of the antidepressant.  I honestly do not believe, nor have I ever met, anyone who has gained/lost weight on one and not the other SSRI.

[Starzstuff]

Parents have joined a mental health watchdog group asking the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate misleading advertising that could be forcing up drug sales and placing children at risk. They want the FDA to issue a warning letter to manufacturers—and, thereby, send a warning to psychiatric and patient groups they fund—that “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder” (ADHD)—and other mental disorders—cannot be promoted or advertised as “neurobiological” or caused by a “chemical imbalance” when scientific evidence does not support this. This follows a complaint last week to the FDA from 20 doctors, supported by actresses Kirstie Alley and Kelly Preston, urging stronger pediatric warnings on psychiatric drugs.

The complaint is one of many expected in light of the June 28, 2005 FDA warning that stimulants drugs prescribed to children can cause suicidal ideation, psychotic or violent behavior, and adverse cardiac effects. The FDA has already ordered a “black box” warning for antidepressant use in children because of suicidal reactions. Parents of adolescents who died or committed suicide while taking psychiatric drugs have supported the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) in its submission to the FDA, urging them to provide information to consumers that psychiatric drugs do not “correct” any scientifically substantiated chemical imbalance or neurobiological psychiatric disorder.

Steven and Vicky Dunkle from Smethport, Pennsylvania, are still trying to come to grips with the death of their 10-year-old daughter, Shaina, on February 26, 2001. After being prescribed an amphetamine for “ADHD,” Shaina suffered a seizure in the doctor’s office. Mrs. Dunkle rushed to hold her, where, minutes later, she died. An autopsy determined that Shaina had died from drug toxicity. Today, the Dunkles are members of a nationwide parents’ group, ABLECHILD.org, who receive hundreds of complaints from parents that have been forced to put their child on a psychiatric drug—largely for “ADHD” that they thought was neurobiological or similar to a physical disease.

Advertising for “ADHD” stimulants has claimed the condition is a “neurobiological disorder” and the American Psychiatric Association on its website says that medications are prescribed because they “may correct imbalances in brain chemistry.” Yet in a recent media interview, APA president Steven Sharfstein said they have “no lab test” to determine this.

The National Institutes of Health advises there is no “valid test for ADHD; there are no data to indicate that ADHD is due to a brain malfunction.” The FDA agrees, “There is no biological test for ADHD.”

Dan and Celeste Steubing from Winchester, Virginia, testified before an FDA Hearing into antidepressants on September 13, 2004. In July 2003, their 18 year-old son, Matthew, had jumped to his death from the Cooper River Bridge in Charleston, South Carolina. He’d started taking an antidepressant, Lexapro, shortly before graduating from high school. “Matthew was a happy and healthy child with no prior history of depression…He loved sports, loud music, pretty girls, cool cars and Seinfeld…He had plans to join the Air Force ROTC program. He did not plan to die,” Mrs.Steubing testified.

In an interview with CCHR, available on its website, Mrs. Steubing says that when Matthew starting feeling disillusioned, a psychologist diagnosed him with a “chemical imbalance” causing depression and recommended an antidepressant. “How do they know it’s a chemical imbalance? They did no test, they did no blood test. They did nothing except listen to his symptoms and diagnosed him with a chemical imbalance. And treat him with a drug that killed him,” Mrs. Celeste says. “As parents, we have a right to make an informed decision regarding our child's care,” she told the FDA.

Dr. Karl Hoffower, a health care advisor to CCHR says: “Psychiatrists and ADHD organizations with pharmaceutical funding advertise ADHD as a ‘neurobiological disorder,’ which is false. I’ve treated children damaged by these drugs. Parents tell me that they agreed to the ‘medication’ because they were told it would correct a ‘chemical imbalance.’ There isn’t any medical or scientific means of proving ADHD or any other mental disorder is biologically based. It’s misleading at best and medical malpractice at worst.”

The International Narcotics Control Board has repeatedly warned the U.S. government that because of funding from ADHD drug manufacturers to psychiatric advocacy groups, this could be indirect advertising of methylphenidate (Ritalin). And this can drive up sales. Annual stimulant sales are $1.3 billion while antidepressant sales are at $14 billion.