URGENT!!!!! QUESTION AND RESPONSE TO DR. RESPONSE

[13tiger]

URGENT!!!!FROM 13TIGER 60 YR. OLD ANXIETY/DEPRESSION AND I was told yesterday at group I have PTSD with anxiety. qUESTION POSTED 10/26 YOU JUST WROTE BACK STATING YOU THOUGHT THE PROZAC DOSE OF 10MG WAS O.K. BUT I HAD PROBLEMS ON 10MG. AND NOW HAVE THE LIQUID TO TRY. DO YOU MEAN THE SIDE EFFECTS WILL, FOR SURE, SUBSIDE DAILY AND FAIRLY QUICKLY IF I STICK IT OUT?  tHAT THEY ARE ONLY TEMPORARY?

WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHT ON STARTING ON THE LIQUID AT 2 MG. TO LESSEN THE SIDE EFFECTS I GOT ON 10MG.? AND BUILD UP SLOWLY. WILL I GET THE SAME SIDE EFFECTS ON 2MG. AS I DID ON 10MG? OR WILL THEY BE SOFTER?

Do YOU THINK THIS IS A GOOD IDEA PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THE SIDE EFFECTS ON 10MG. WERE UNCOMFORTABLE AND I WOULDN'T WANT TO HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THEM FOR VERY LONG. They were still less horrendous than the other 7 drugs I have tried. THAT IS WHY I AM FRIGHTENED TO TAKE THE 10MG. NOW.  IF I KNEW FOR SURE THE EFFECTS WOULD SUBSIDE FAIRLY QUICKLY, SO I COULD FUNCTION EVERY DAY, THEN IT WOULD BE WORTH PUTTING UP WITH THEM.  

WHAT PUZZLES ME IS I DON'T REMEMBER ANY DEBILITATING OR UNCOMFORATBLE SIDE EFFECTS WHEN I FIRST TOOK IT 9 YEARS AGO. I KNOW MENO. HAS COME AND GONE NOW WOULD THAT CHANGE THINGS?
IS ALL IN MY MIND? OR????? SHOULDN'T IT WORK AGAIN LIKE IT ONCE DID?  I have such hope.

They wanted me to take Zoloft but I am afraid I will have the terrible side effects I had with pax. celex, lexapro,trazadone,klonipin,Ambien,SAM-e.  Is Zoloft in the same catagory as these drugs?

i KNOW THERE ARE ALOT OF QUESTIONS COULD YOU Please answer all questions if possible it is very important to me.

I APPRECIATE YOU HELP AND FEEDBACK

Thank you again

PAT

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Yes, Zoloft is in the same family. There is no harm at all in starting with 2mg and working yourself up in order to avoid the side effects...the ones you mentioned will go away, but this way you may avoid them altogether.  You are now "shell shocked" re medications and are maybe too sensitive, so going slowly is a good idea.

[13tiger]

thank you doctor, you are exactly right. so far 1st day on 2 mg. the side effects are still happening but so far on a smaller scale.