my new psychiatrist agreed to let my try zoloft (I'm not on anything else) to see if treating my anxiety first might weed out the possibility of bipolar (or at least the possibility that it is the primary issue).

I took 12.5 mg last night and again late this morning. I plan to take 12.5 more tonight and then start with 25 tomorrow for a week, then 50 etc. For those who had a negative reaction to an SSRI (not taken with any mood stabilizer etc., e.g., before you were diagnosed bp): how many days did it take for 'telling' symptoms to show up? what were they? what was the SSRI and dose?

Your dose is very small. I started at a dose of 200mg and had an awful, awful experience of HORRIBLE anxiety and agitation. Battled through that for 2 months of hell. P-doc dropped dose to 100mg. Been at that dose for about 2 months. I'm still feeling a bit too anxious/agitated, so I'm trying to get my dose down to 75mg. That's my experience with Zoloft thus far.

[SingDanceRunLife]

Be careful of mania! When I was on Zoloft and nothing else (before I was diagnosed with BP), I became manic. Within a week on 25mg which is what I started on, symptoms were showing, although I didn't know that's what it was. When I got up to 50mg, it was a matter of days before full mania started. It was so bad my roommate called me the Energizer Bunny!

I had so much energy that I couldn't sleep, couldn't stop talking or moving. I felt like I was on uppers!!

Yes, hypomania (but "negative" hypomania) was what happened to me, too.

[wildflowerchild25]

I would watch for mania as well. I took Prozac last summer by itself (without pdoc's blessing) and I was hypo within three days and then quickly flew into mania. Within two weeks I was borderline psychotic and I ended up really hurting myself. So just watch out for signs of mania just in case.

[Standup2me]

For me, it was the world spinning in constant circle

[pawn78]

My sister was put on Zoloft before she was diagnosed bipolar.... She went into hypomania... Which led to her bipolar DX, now she's on lithium and stable.

[Curiosity77]

Zoloft put me into pretty severe hypomania. That was before my bipolar diagnosis. Careful taking it as monotherapy if you are bipolar, that seems pretty risky.

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For those who experienced hypomania/mania on zoloft: how long did it take for symptoms to appear and how much were you taking? I'm wondering if there is some kind of threshold or if it could all be fine and then one day - bam!

I've only taken 12.5 mg today - I don't think it's enough to really do anything to anyone, but I wanted to start super slow as I'm sensitive to medications. I honestly felt a little hypo this morning (before taking it) but became extremely drowsy about 6 hours after taking it (?)...probably unrelated (I have pms, which always confuses everything)

I have abilify and ativan (and parents coming to town) as my safety net.

[Curiosity77]

Originally Posted by thepterodactyl

For those who experienced hypomania/mania on zoloft: how long did it take for symptoms to appear and how much were you taking? I'm wondering if there is some kind of threshold or if it could all be fine and then one day - bam!


I've only taken 12.5 mg today - I don't think it's enough to really do anything to anyone, but I wanted to start super slow as I'm sensitive to medications. I honestly felt a little hypo this morning (before taking it) but became extremely drowsy about 6 hours after taking it (?)...probably unrelated (I have pms, which always confuses everything)


I have abilify and ativan (and parents coming to town) as my safety net.

I don't remember the details exactly, because it was a long time ago, but i think my dose was around 75. I was on it for awhile and cycling/unstable the whole time. Finally after a few months i ended up not sleeping for several days in a row, and doing some very risky things, that were out of character for me. I stopped it after that.

I didn't get my correct diagnosis until 8 years later. I take wellbutrin now, but i'm also on a mood stabilizer and an AP. I wouldn't try to take an AD on it's own again, but everyone is different, so it might be ok for you.

Are you supposed to take the abilify with it? Because if that's how it's prescribed it seems safer. Maybe talk to your pdoc?

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[Talanic]

Before I was diagnosed my doctor put me on just an SSRI (forgot what one it was). I forgot how long it took (maybe a week? half a week?) Anyway, I got REALLY intense mood swings. I would be VERY happy and VERY high (mania) and then 2mins later I'd be VERY depressed and start crying my eyes out, then 2mins after that I felt very happy again. It kept going so I had to stop. I forgot the dose I was on as well. So I guess give it at least a week? Maybe a little more? It all depends on the person, and the dose.

All of this was like 6 years ago. So sorry I can't give you more info.

My experience with Zoloft was in emergency hospital for near suicide. I was daignosed with ocd & depression. After being released, I felt like I was constantly ready to pass out, my eyeballs wanted to pop out of their sockets, and could taste it 24/7. I quit myself. I didn't know anything about mania at the time.

However, I do think Zoloft is probably a good medicine for the right person at the right time with the correct diagnosis.

Originally Posted by Curiosity77

I don't remember the details exactly, because it was a long time ago, but i think my dose was around 75. I was on it for awhile and cycling/unstable the whole time. Finally after a few months i ended up not sleeping for several days in a row, and doing some very risky things, that were out of character for me. I stopped it after that.

I didn't get my correct diagnosis until 8 years later. I take wellbutrin now, but i'm also on a mood stabilizer and an AP. I wouldn't try to take an AD on it's own again, but everyone is different, so it might be ok for you.

Are you supposed to take the abilify with it? Because if that's how it's prescribed it seems safer. Maybe talk to your pdoc?

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No, we agreed I would try zoloft alone first. But if, for example, I become manic then my psych said to take the ability or ativan to bring me back down (and then we'd go from there...probably stop the zoloft). I know that there are risks taking just an AD if I am bipolar, but I think going really slowly and being aware of the signs will allow me to catch it early (also my close friend and family know what's going on and what to look for). If I'm actually not bp then maybe this will finally give me some relief. If I am and I have a bad reaction, at least I will then be able to truly come to terms with the diagnosis. Not knowing, and therefore not committing to a treatment, has probably caused me much more damage then I am risking now...fingers crossed at least.