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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Zoloft and Clonazepan
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.
Zoloft and Clonazepan
by mistylights, May 19, 2008 01:44PM
I have been on Zoloft 50 mg and Clonazepan 0.5mg for years and never had a problem. About 3 months ago I decided to decrease my dose of Zoloft to 25mg as I was feeling wonderful and my husband likes to have a couple of drinks and was on my case about having a drink or two with him. So I decided to decrease my meds. I completely stopped taking the Zoloft - cold turkey. And decreased my clonazepan by 1/2. I then noticed I was starting with depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and hurtful thoughts. I increased the clonazepan back to the 0.5 but didn't the Zoloft. Two weeks ago I started the Zoloft again 50 mg. Now I have a burning and tingling sensation in my face, mostly around my lips and chin. I mentioned this to the doctor last week and she told me it was Zoloft withdrawal and sometimes it takes up to 4 weeks to get back on an evenkeel. However, right now I am living alone for the next 3 weeks, and I am very depressed, afraid to be alone, break out in sweats, afraid I might hurt myself. The depression, aloneness, sweats and thoughts were the reasons that started me on the meds 10 years ago. I just don't know what to do.
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., May 23, 2008 03:49PM
, May 23, 2008 03:49PM
To: misty lights
It is hard to say whether you should increase or decrease the dose of Zoloft, and you and your doctor should make that decision soon. Increasing it will help you with your symptoms of depression and may make the facial pain go away..it is worth a try. But if you are feeling so depressed and lonely, then you should be seeing a therapist, and it should be on an emergency basis if you are thinking of hurting yourself. Remember, this is not hopeless and you are not helpless...the best way of helping yourself is getting someone to help you figure out the source of your depression.
Member Comments (2)
by lynn57, May 23, 2008 03:35PM
To: misty lights
Perhaps you could start the Zoloft at a lower dose and work back up. I always get the same side effects going on an ssri as I do going off. That first couple weeks is hairy but I bet you will get better.
