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Avatar universal

paranoid about zoloft

I am 16 years old. I have ocd and was prescribed zoloft. However, every time I try to take it I am completely paranoid about it's effects and how it is making me feel until the 24-hour mark of when I took it, somehow that makes me feel like I am back to my normal self. I have created in my head the idea that I am not able to get excited or be happy until the drug is out of my system, causing me to never get past the first day. I have tried to start this drug several times but each time is a failed attempt. I want to get better and take this drug but do not see how this can ever be possible.
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1308134 tn?1295187619
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Clonazepam (Klonopin) is a useful medication because it has a relatively long half life (doesn't require multiple doses per day) and it has a relatively slow onset (less abuse risk). Chouinard in Canada wrote a series of pieces suggesting that it was more effective than other benzodiazepines, but I don't think that that was ever established. It is very potent (mg per mg) and that can be a problem because relatively small changes in dose can have a big effect, so I often end up advising folks on clonazepam to get a pill cutter so that they can titrate doses more slowly.
It has been shown to improve the effectiveness (at least in the short term) of antidepressants because it counteracts the jitteriness side effects of many antidepressants and it helps improve sleep.
Because it is sedating and has a long half life you probably shouldn't need to take it more than once a day, preferably at night.
If you still don't find that it helps there are other things that you can do... For instance, I have found that using buspirone (5 mg twice a day titrated slowly up to 10 to 15 mg three times a day and then maintained at that dose for two weeks before starting the SSRI) can sometimes reduce the adverse effects of the SSRI without any negative drug interaction.... Buspirone, unlike any benzodiazepine, is not at all sedating.
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
I use to read posts on the mental health expert forum (before the new doctor took over there) and he said that in his opinion he thought that klonopin was one of the better meds for anxiety.  He may have mention xanax too but I'm not 100% sure on that one.  I respect him and his judgment so I expect it would be effective.

I use to have issues with taking meds (before I gave up on them completely) and one doctor prescribed clonazepam (same as klonopin I think) in order to make taking the antidepressant easier.  I was prescribed the antidepressant plus one clonazepam tablet, I think, not sure of the dose either plus two sleeping tablets.

Benzodiazepines should be used with caution, and generally short-term, as they have the potential to become addictive.

Have you thought about asking your regular doctor to refer you to a psychiatrist who would be more familiar with the condition and the medication?
I would also strongly encourage you to pursue psychotherapy to work through the ocd.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Dr. Forster, forgot to say to you!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Dr. Forster,

   I asked my regular doctor about klonopin because I had heard it was long acting and thought maybe it would help me start the zoloft and stay on zoloft. She said she hadn't heard much about it and that she would look into it and get back to us the next day. She got back to us and said that she thought that we should try the klonopin and prescribe dissolvable .25mg wafers to take twice a day. I took one wafer and felt as if I had taken nothing so I took a second wafer and I felt a bit tired but overall felt I was not very calm and I was rather depressed. I was wondering if you think that klonopin is the best long acting benzo for this situation? Are there others that might work better for me? Maybe I need a different dose? I would love to know what you think. I don't think that my doctor knows much about the different types of benzos.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I would not take the drug if I were you. You should be paranoid, that stuff is not good for your brain or body. You are still young and your brain is still developing.  I have just recently withdrew from Lexapro, it was a nightmare.  I am feeling better, now that it is all out of my system. I was prescribed it for anxiety and OCD. My feelings are you should embrace your OCD with something productive, I took a painting class and I have been obsessing over color and texture, my teacher liked my art so much she is going to put it in the art gallery. When I was on the lexapro all I felt was apathy and I had no motivation to do anything.  I think cognitive therapy might benefit you more than just taking a pill, only use medication unless you absolutely need it. I am not a doctor its just my opinion from experience.
Helpful - 0
1308134 tn?1295187619
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
This is a pretty common experience. I have a couple of thoughts, first there are some things that can be done to reduce the side effects, particularly using tiny, tiny doses to start with - I often told folks that they should start by opening the bottle and sniffing the air in side (kidding), the point being that tiny doses can both reduce the adverse effects and also make it easier to get started. This is the basis for "exposure therapy" for phobias of all kind - begin with something that evokes that fear just a little... and then get comfortable with that, and move on step by small step.
You might also want to get a therapist to help you with this, especially one who has worked with folks with phobias.
Good luck... I can also say that many of the folks who like you were very sensitive to the medicine ended up having very good responses to it.
Peter
Helpful - 0

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