About:blank Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 About a week and a half ago my GP prescribed 50mg of Zoloft. I know it will take a few more weeks to start feeling better, but I could really use some positive words right now -- has anyone had success with Zoloft while going through a breakup? Does it help with the obsessive thoughts, and the constant ruminating? Will it help me cope with the brain fog and lethargy? Background: lifelong depression (and moderate anxiety) which lifted quite a bit in late 2012-2013 because of a new friendship-turned-romance. In December 2013, things started going sour, and the depression came back with a vengeance. The official breakup has just happened recently, but things have been falling apart all year, to the point where, for just about all of 2014, I could barely get through the day. Traditionally, depression hits me hard during the fall and winter, and it subsides a bit during the summer, but this year there was no relief. I don't see myself making it through another winter like this. I'm also socially isolated to a large extent, and I have no one to confide in. I'm on a waiting list to see a therapist, but there weren't any openings until the end of September. Somehow I have to find a way to hold on until then. Any good experiences to report? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malachite Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 So this isn't my personal experience, but my aunt's. When going through a divorce, she went on Wellbutrin for awhile. It helped her immensely and, since she doesn't have severe MI, she was able to discontinue it when she was doing better. I think ADs can prove useful even when situationally depressed. I hope the Zoloft helps you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopeless Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 I was on lithium prozac zyprexa and cymbalta during a breakup. Did not help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
About:blank Posted August 18, 2014 Author Share Posted August 18, 2014 Thanks for your input, malachite and hopeless. (Wishing you the best, hopeless, and that your screenname soon becomes inapplicable... ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt07 Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 I think it should help at least somewhat. I know Abilify definitely helped me through the death of my mother. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
About:blank Posted August 19, 2014 Author Share Posted August 19, 2014 Thanks, jt07. Browsing around the internet, I can't seem to find much about sertraline and breakups in particular, but maybe I should be searching for info on SSRIs and whether they help with addiction? This really does seem like a form of withdrawal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
About:blank Posted August 27, 2014 Author Share Posted August 27, 2014 I'm right now at 3 weeks, and I feel pretty terrible. The prescribing NP did say it usually takes between 4 and 6 weeks to see improvement, but is it normal that I'm feeling worse than when I started? I'm determined to give the sertraline a full 6 weeks, but I don't know if I'll get through 3 weeks feeling like this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
About:blank Posted August 30, 2014 Author Share Posted August 30, 2014 In case anyone else is wondering, it looks like SSRIs can, in fact, potentially help people with MDD (and possibly those without it) who are going through a breakup. Several articles, including the one linked below, came up in a Google search for "SSRIs to relieve romantic obsession". To summarize, the research seems to indicate that the intrusive, obsessive thoughts that accompany the grief are a result, at least in part, of low serotonin. That being the case, SSRIs can potentially help the bereaved regain some equilibrium. (Most of the articles are focused on the potential problems that arise in otherwise happy relationships when SSRIs dampen one partner's romantic desire for the other.)http://www.examiner.com/article/can-antidepressants-blunt-romantic-love This Wednesday I'll have been on sertraline for 4 weeks. No improvement, although the intense grief of losing this friendship has morphed into an intense general despair, akin to what I was experiencing before we met. There's no guarantee the sertraline will have this effect for me, but it does give me some hope that I might make it through this somehow, and I need all the encouragement I can get. Desperately hoping for some improvement soon... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt07 Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Keep in mind that you are still on a low dose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
About:blank Posted August 30, 2014 Author Share Posted August 30, 2014 Keep in mind that you are still on a low dose. You're exactly right - thank you. Just moments ago an alert popped up on my phone, reminding me that I have a doctor appointment (general practitioner) this week. It might be too soon yet to talk about a dosage increase, but at least I can touch base with someone about what's going on, and maybe develop a plan for moving forward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savannah Posted September 7, 2014 Share Posted September 7, 2014 If 50mg doesn't do it ask for a higher dose. 50 worked for me for a long time but this time it took 150mg to knock out the depression. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
About:blank Posted September 7, 2014 Author Share Posted September 7, 2014 If 50mg doesn't do it ask for a higher dose. 50 worked for me for a long time but this time it took 150mg to knock out the depression. Thanks for your input, Savannah. The doctor did bump up the dosage to 75mg at my follow-up appointment a few days ago. As much as I hate to get back into "the system" after years of getting no treatment, I can't help but think I really should be seeing a psychiatrist, or someone specifically trained in mental health and familiar with antidepressants, to be prescribing for me. The doctor said 50 mg was a "middle dose" and was already talking about other SSRIs to try if the 75 mg isn't making a difference in 6 weeks. I found that somewhat disconcerting, since my understanding is that 50 is the lowest therapeutic dose for treating depression, and I should have some room to increase that before giving up on it altogether. She did ask for my input, and I'm happy that she's open to trying other things, but I'd much rather be increasing the Sertraline first before jumping to a different med right away. Hopefully the 75 will be enough to make things bearable, but, should I ask for a referral to a psychiatrist? I should probably discuss this with her at my next appointment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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