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abigailadams posted 6/19/2013 22:18 PM

I went to the doctor today and got prescriptions for Zoloft and Ativan. I have been feeling pretty low and thought that I would need some help to get through the sale of the marital home and the move into a new place.

However when I got home this evening I read a bit about the side effects of both and I am not sure it is worth it to take them. I take migraine medication which is counter indicated to mix with Zoloft and Ativan sounds really addictive.

Any one have any experience with taking either one?

Crushed1 posted 6/19/2013 22:24 PM

I took Ativan for three years and it was a lifesaver for me. It was the only thing that kept me halfway calm during the hellish years and let me get some sleep. Zoloft and other anti-D's make me feel weird, teeth-gritting weird, and I only took them briefly. Good luck, be careful with your other medication and be sure it's safe for you to take either or both of these. ((((abigailadams))))

Marley76 posted 6/19/2013 23:50 PM

I have had agitated symptoms with Zoloft and othe SSRI's. but Ativan...has been my saving grace since my divorce in 2008. I went from .5 to 2 mg over that time, but I take it at night around 8pm. It shuts my vicious brain down so i can relax and watch tv and not be compulsive with my thoughts. I wake up fine and with no grogginess. Since I just found out about my WSO I take .5 in the am to settle my nerves. I believe it is helpful to those who have anxiety..my best advice is find the best dose that works for you :)
Be well!!!!

FaithFool posted 6/20/2013 08:00 AM

I got a small dose prescription of Ativan and took it randomly (as in "if the crying jag exceeds 30 minutes...) as needed the last few years.

Took it before going to drop off the keys to the new owner after selling the House of Pain.

I also take it if I'm going for major dental work as I have residual childhood anxiety about evil dentists.

It's a godsend. I still keep it around just in case, but I would not want to take it regularly, it is addictive.

(((abigail)))

[This message edited by FaithFool at 8:01 AM, June 20th (Thursday)]

Caldwell posted 6/20/2013 08:09 AM

I have been taking Zoloft for 6 or 7 years. I remember having some side effects at first, but the depression was bad enough to continue the Zoloft and wait out the side effects, which did go away in about 4 weeks.

It has been a saving grace for me.

Brokenpetal posted 6/20/2013 08:21 AM

Hi Abigail, Ativan is actually one of the shorter acting benzodiazepines, it has a shorter half life, meaning it clears out of your system faster. If you are only taking it once a day you shouldn't have issues with dependency. If you find yourself feeling the need to take it every few hours (when it's wearing off) then maybe the time to revisit. However, there are longer acting benzos like Xanax and klonipin, that stay in your system longer, and tend to be more addicting.
I also can't take AD meds, I've tried 5-6 and all give me that teeth-gritting, restless-leg type side effect. One even made my hands feel like they were on fire. I don't take anxiolytics because I have addiction issues. I have a doc that specializes in addiction and he gave me a small dose beta blocker (for blood pressure) and I take this for anxiety. It doesn't help as much as a benzo would, but it takes the edge off. Also makes me sleepy .

I hope this helps alleviate your fears. Having a crisis and needing some chemical help for a short time does not make a person weak, or turn them into an addict. When the currents in your brain decide to rewire themselves, you can't "will" them into firing normally again. Most people have great success with AD meds, and not everyone needs to be on them forever, but even if you do, who cares? You may have to try more than one to find one that's works best for you and doesn't cause problems with the migraine meds, but be patient, sometimes it takes a couple months for the side effects to subside and to feel the therapeutic effects.

Good luck.... Depression sucks. Just more collateral damage we didnt ask for....

*Disclaimer: not dispensing medical advice.... I'm a recovering addict, a nurse, and worked with addicts/mental health for a few years. My opinion--everyone's mental health experiences fluctuations of strength and weakness over our lives, asking for help is a sign of strength.( If my WH had asked for help, I might not be living in this hell. )

Jennifer99 posted 6/20/2013 08:50 AM

klonopin is awful.

Talk about zombie. I did it for a week then quit. Sure I slept but I was worth nothing all the next day.

I was off for a week when I started feeling the anxiety yesterday and I was having trouble getting my school work done.

I broke out the klonopin and broke one in half - voila - no crappy tired today and I focused and got a lot done last night then slept semi-ok.

I'm still waiting for the prozac to do anything. Doesn't feel like it does. Except make me barf.

tushnurse posted 6/20/2013 09:04 AM

Ativan helPed me tremendously. I refused ADs andeds foru ADHD. My psych agreed that I didn't new an AD. I wasn't depressed I was grieving.

It helped to slow and stop my obsessive thoughts. It also helped me sleep, which was key. When I was sleep deprived I was much more emotional.

[This message edited by tushnurse at 9:08 AM, June 20th (Thursday)]

tryingmybest2011 posted 6/20/2013 09:26 AM

I am on Zoloft, 150mg/day, with no side effects.

Are there other ADs that might work better with your migraine medication? I tried Cipralex (Lexapro in the US), and while it wasn't for me, apparently it's well-tolerated.

Newlease posted 6/20/2013 10:20 AM

I have been on numerous ADs over the years trying to find one that fit right for me. Finally found it and have been on it for about 12 years now. All of them had side affects but most cleared after 3 or so weeks.

You need to work with your dr./pharmacist to make sure you won't take something that reacts badly with your current medication.

Ativan helped me get through some rough patches. I only used it when I had a big issue. Last time I took it was when I delivered the eulogy at my mother's funeral in 2007.

NL

abigailadams posted 6/21/2013 22:41 PM

Thanks everyone. I took the ativan last night for the first time and slept right through the night. First time in ages. And I really felt so much more cheerful and able to cope today. I actually got some work done. Was it sleeping or the medication itself, I don't know and it doesn't matter really.

I am going to hold off on the zoloft for now.

selkiescot posted 6/22/2013 06:11 AM

Ativan was a life saver for me. It still is. I went weeks without sleeping. I was a walking zombie. My doctor gave it to me to help me sleep and it worked.