Zoloft Forever?

Diseases & Conditions Depression
1
I'm new to this site and have found it very intersesting and informative but it's also made me nervous.  When I finally admitted to myself that I suffered from depression my therapist put me on Prozak.  It worked for about a year and then I went on Zoloft.  I've been taking it for about 11 years.  Originally I was prescribed 400mg a day and Buspar.  Slowly over the years I have been able to cut the Zoloft back and quit taking the Buspar altogether, on my own, to 200mg a day.  What's concerning me is that most of the posts say they are taking 25mg a day and for short periods of time.  I've been told I'll probably be on it the rest of my life.  I love it, it has helped me tremendously but now I concerned.  Am I really psyco?
2

Hey darlin,

NO you are NOT psycho at all...  I don't know who posted that they take 25mg of Zoloft on short periods of time.  But anyone who has had depression and knows anything about medications in the least knows that an antidepressant has to be taken everyday.  Not on an as needed basis.  So you can bet that most of all of us who do take our medications correctly as our doctor prescribed them take them every day like they are meant to be administered.

I wouldnt stress over that in my opinion.  Take care..... tongue

~elisha
 

3
I have ben taking paxil for over 10 years and will continue......
4

I've been taking Zoloft now for about 10 years. I was first diagnosed with depression in 1994 when I was in graduate school. I was on it for about 6 years...then I went off for a year to lose some weight I gained on Zoloft.  about 3 years ago I was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (an anxiety disorder related to depression) and went back on Zoloft. Now, because of the weight gain, I've gone back and forth about lowering my dose and coming off completely. I will tell you this...I recently lowered my dose....like about 3 weeks ago...and I can feel the same horrible depression and anxiety creeping back in so what am I going to do? That's right...I'm going to increase my Zoloft with the realization that I will be on this drug for the rest of my life.

When push comes to shove, it's better to just take that pill every day and get on with living than to try and tough it out on your own...which anyone with depression will tell you is almost impossible. Zoloft saved my life many times and I know now that I will have to make extreme sacrifices to both lose some weight but not lose my mind.

You hang in there...there's no harm in being on Zoloft for the rest of your life...because we all want you to have a long and HAPPY life. :-)

5
I,ve been taking zoloft for 15 years,it still works fine for me. I,m on 75mg a day.I was on 100 but it made me too hyper,so 75 is best for me. You definitely have to take it everyday for it to work for you. I know I will be on it for the rest of my life, I'm ok with that because I can deal with things alot better being on it than not.There is nothing wrong with taking meds. that help to make life more tolerable.I wish you well,and no you are not psycho. Take Care!

 

6

Hope,  I am so glad that the Zoloft has done so well for you for so long.  I was on it 3 different times, the most being for 3 years this last time on 200mg.  It just kind of petered out on me.  Or it could of been that my depression at the time was so bad that it just wasn't at a sufficient dosage.  Anyway, that is great.

And you are right it is okay to take an antidepressant for long term like that.  I will also always take one I am sure......

~elisha