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Saturday, October 31, 2009 best is yet to be asks

Q: Back on Zoloft and better again...how long is too long for Zoloft?

Back on Zoloft and better again...how long is too long for Zoloft?

 

Is this the best treatment for my situation? 

 

I'm 52, started taking Zoloft when I was going through divorce three years ago.  I started because all the good things in life (especially my job and relationships with coworkers) were being negatively impacted by my sadness and crying. 

 

I went off last year during a low stress period and thought I wouldn't need it ever again. 

 

Now I'm in a new job, new home, new everything and do find that I'm not as positive as I was on Z...so I resumed taking it, and feel better, can act better. 

 

Is this the best treatment for me?  Can I be on Z forever?

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Answers (5)
Merely Me, Health Guide
10/31/09 5:56pm

Hi there

 

This is a question that someone else had brought up...I think it is a good one...about the long term effects of taking antidepressants.  I will definitely research this and be writing a post on this topic so stay tuned.

 

What are your major concerns about being back on Zoloft?  If it is working for you...it is my personal opinion that this is a good thing.  When someone has a disease such as diabetes or asthma...we don't question them taking meds for as long as they need them which might be indefinitely. 

 

Can you tell us more about your worries?

 

Thanks for writing here and I hope you continue to share your experiences with us.

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10/31/09 8:25pm

Thanks for your questions. 

 

Mostly I'm surprised...surprised by symptoms of depression, which I don't really recognize as depression. 

 

I prefer to be a positive person, but do find that I can be negative.  I was divorced after 22 years and often wonder if I had been on Zoloft before the divorce if my marriage would have been saved. 

 

This was brought to my mind again when I went back on Zoloft after being off for almost a year. 

 

At the time I went on Zoloft, I had a very compassionate physician who gave me a prescription and told me that I would know if I needed to have it filled.  I didn't have it filled for three months, but then found that I was crying at work.  I wanted to spare my coworkers the agony of such uncontrollable feelings and I wanted to be able to give my best performance.  Zoloft helped me achieve those goals.  I made a pledge that I wouldn't let my personality hurt myself or my relationships again. 

 

So when all these new changes came into my life and all of them are positive, but I was feeling overwhelmed and negative, my new husband convinced me to go back on Zoloft.  In a week my 'glass is half full'  again, and I'm relieved to feel that I can manage the my challenges with a positive spirit rather than feeling overwhelmed. 

 

I wonder if I should have been on Zoloft for the past 10 years it has made such a difference. 

 

I'm surprised, because I didn't ever relate to the descriptions of depression until I was at rock bottom and couldn't control my crying.  But after being back on Zoloft for such a short time, I think I had depression for a long time and that it had very negative effects on my family and my career. 

 

It makes me hope that others like me might learn about these aspects of depression way before it damages their family and their relationships. 

 

Thanks for your response. 

 

Reply
10/21/11 8:41pm

I was on Zoloft manyyy years ago, as a young adult going through many issues, and it amazed me how this medication "saved me" At first I wanted to feel and deal, and not have a medication do it for me. Ah,, but I realized like an Asthmatic who needs their medication to breath, or a diabetic who needs insulin,, I needed something too, my brain was not offering the Serotonin I was not getting and ZOLOFT WAS THE BEST.. So,, here I am now almost 30 years later needing an antidepressant that will work with my pain meds for F.M., and I suggested Zoloft, as I had good luck with it before, however now I am on a lot of meds for my conditions, I feel confident that Zoloft will pull me through again.

  As far as "how long is too long"... only the person taking it will know. I dont think there should be a time stamp on it, anymore than a diabetic, or asthmatic. IF IT WORKS, IF IT MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER- you shouldnt need I time. If it is to help someone like myself years ago get through a situation that might work for some people in a short time situation.. But here I am again as I said,, going back on it, because it worked for me, I was not affraid to go back on it.. best of luck..Linda

Reply
10/31/09 1:34pm

Hello, there.  Glad the Zoloft is working.  I don't think there's a right answer to your question.  I've been on medication for more than 20 years and I do think quite a few people take antidepressants their whole lives.  The best person to ask, though, would be your doctor.

 

Hope that helped and thanks for visiting My Depression Connection.  Stop by again any time.

Reply
11/ 1/09 9:05am

I'm a senior. All my life, I've been OK, depression-wise.

 

But a 26-year old daughter who is just frittering her life away with no interest in career, education, a relationship or anything else but a her monthly allowance. She should be depressed but I am the one..

Reply
11/ 1/09 9:06am

I'm a senior. All my life, I've been OK, depression-wise.

 

But a 26-year old daughter who is just frittering her life away with no interest in career, education, a relationship or anything else but a her monthly allowance. She should be depressed but I am the one..

Reply
1/31/11 6:00pm

People get hook on feeling good too.

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We hope you find this general health information helpful. Please note however, that this Q&A is meant to support not replace the professional medical advice you receive from your doctor. No information in the Answers above is intended to diagnose or treat any condition. The views expressed in the Answers above belong to the individuals who posted them and do not necessarily reflect the views of Remedy Health Media. Remedy Health Media does not review or edit content posted by our community members, but reserves the right to remove any material it deems inappropriate.

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By best is yet to be— Last Modified: 11/08/11, First Published: 10/31/09