[laura2]

Been off drugs for 6 months, but not been coping so been back on Sertraline for a month, think its called Zoloft in US, i was on this for a couple of years before i stopped, as it got to the point that i didn't think it was helping much, GP said this is the only drug for PTSD?, i'm on 200mg which he says i carn't increase, does this drug lose its effect?, or does anyone know of anything else they could recommend?

[thinker22]

I have PTSD too, but never been prescribed Zoloft. I would guess that any anti-anxiety pill would help, but I'm no doctor. I'm on Seroquel (quietapine SP?) for sleep and to calm me down, especially with the frightening images I see when I try to fall asleep.

So no, I don't think that's the only kind of medication. I think you can add on different classes of meds if it's not having the desired effect.

[MissCharlotte]

I have PTSD and take sertraline (zoloft). I am on 58 mg right now. I happen to be very drug sensitive so I go up real slowly using the liquid. Right now I use 50 mg tab and increasing with the liquid. I do find that after I have been on a stable dose for a while that it seems to not work anymore. Maybe your pdoc can change you to another SSRI to see if that helps? Have you tried any others? Another idea is to boost the zoloft with something else, but not sure what that would be.

Oh yeah, and I also take klonopin (a benzo) at bedtime and as needed. I take a very low dose but it does help.

[Melbadaze]

I am on Remeron, helps with anxiety too, is a SNRI I think.

[laura2]

thanks guys, i didnt think maybe i could have a combination, have actually got an appoinment with GP next week, will ask him to follow up with a psychiatrist if i can take it with something else, GP's arn't that hot on stuff like this..

[skeksi]

What part of the sertraline isn't working for you anymore? That is, what symptoms are you looking to reduce--the hypervigilance, or depression, or sleep issues, etc.?

I take 200mg of Zoloft to help with my reactivity and 300mg of Trazodone to put me to sleep and keep me there, lol. All my symptoms are reduced when I am sleeping well.

[laura2]

Hi skeksi, it helps in the respect that it slows me down, it takes the edge off panic, & i feel my thinking/reactions are slower, but when i took it before, for the 2 years its effects seem to where off over time, i struggle with my thoughts, i just want to be able to turn my thinking off, or at least try & get a hold on it, i'm here, but not really here, still feel i'm stuck in a different time, & time is distorted, the edge has been taken off it, & replaced with tiredness, i feel so irritable, my avoidance & the anger is still the same, i want to be able to function, but just blot everything out....

[sunrise]

The drug I have heard of for PTSD is propanolol. It's main use is to treat high blood pressure, so if you have really low blood pressure, you would not want to take this. First it was given to people who had just been involved in potentially traumatizing events, like car accidents, and it helped reduce the development of PTSD by those in the accident. But now it is in trials to help people who already have PTSD. I believe the treatment involves having several sessions with a therapist trained to help you recall the traumatic event, and if this is done, coupled with the drug, then the PTSD can be lessened. Or so the thinking goes... But it does involve reactivation of the memory.

Here is a link to learn more:
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00645450

[laura2]

thanks sunrise, i'll check this out