SSRI experience, and tranqs

One of the diagnoses I have is GAD. I have taken Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft. They all completely cure my depression (I finally could listen to music without crying or feeling 'left out' if that makes sense) but they have never really done anything for my anxiety. They all also make my heart beat really fast, and make me feel like I have drank a bunch of caffeine (especially Prozac) which I don't like.

However, I am thinking of going back on Zoloft to control my intense hunger and food binges, and to get rid of my mild depression. So, anyone here take an SSRI along with a tranquilizer like Xanax or Klonopin? Do SSRI's make tranquilizers less effective?

And, does anyone become especially risk-taking after a while on SSRI's? I tend to do stupid stuff I never would have, reckless stuff... and I don't realize it until I'm off of it.

I take Zoloft, and Xanax PRN as per my doctor. No problems thus far, and I take it for GAD and OCD.

Hi swingbeatnik. I take Zoloft too and I've been on it for about 5 years. Before that I was on several other SSRIs. My main problem is GAD, Panic Disorder and some specific phobias. And I have some depression too.

Like you, I have also found Zoloft to be more helpful with my depression than with my anxiety (though it does help my anxiety too). But I don't find that it makes my heart beat faster, or that it makes me feel wired. I did have problems though when I tried to increase my dose above 100 mg per day. My pdoc wanted me to take a higher dose to see if it would be more effective with my anxiety, but the opposite happened and I felt very agitated and had lots of weird feelings in my muscles (wanting to move them all the time). But if I stay at 100 mg per day I don't have that problem. So perhaps if you stayed at a lower dose you would do better too? Anyhow, something to talk to your pdoc about perhaps.

I also haven't found that SSRIs cause me to do reckless things. I would definitely speak to your doctor about this before you go back on Zoloft. I don't take any tranquilizers, but plenty of people do in combination with an SSRI, and I haven't personally heard that SSRIs make tranquilizers any less effective.

Wishing you all the very best!! Let us know what you decide and how you get on.

Thanks to both of you!

It's odd that the medications can cause us to be reckless. I tend to make poor decisions, so perhaps the side effect is 'poor judgement'. Hmm. I will talk to my doctor about this when I can, thanks again!

Hi swingbeatnik. I take Effexor XR and Seroquel XR for recurring major depression and PTSD, which is also an anxiety disorder. It does help quite a bit with the anxiety as well as the depression.

Weirdly, Xanax doesn't seem to work for me at all. I do take an Ambien sometimes at night.

@pgrundy I like your kitty avatar )) puma? haha

Same is with my mom, she can only feel anything at 3mg+ everyones bodies works differently unfortunately

i take 200mg zoloft 3mg klonopin a day & its been a great combo for me have been on both of them together for four years ssri dont help my anxiety either so doc put me on klonopin for my mom & dad they both take zoloft & it helps their anxiety but i told my doc he was gonna have to give me somethin worth anything as far as anxiety & panic goes also on thyroid meds antivert for dizziness & vertigo & 800mg ibuprofin for occasional bad headaches he knows im recovering addict so he wont go any further than klonopin as far as the controlled substances go & he keeps a tight reign on me with klons like random drug tests he hasnt given me one for awhile so dunno when he will cuz i see him every month & my t office is in same building so with regular t visits he feels much better i can tell than when i start skippin t i love my t its just that med part b wont pay for t unless theres a doctor in their office cuz t is separate from doc i do get a discount however which helps visits r 75$ instead of 125 or whatever but he likes to see me every two weeks but i told them i cant swing that totally out of pocket i mean come on cant complain cuz theres been a couple of immediate times i spoke with him on phone & no charge good Christian man & doc is too thats why i like goin to them

I'm taking Cymbalta 120 mg and 30 mg Remeron for MDD recurrent. I think I also have anxiety issues. I have had numerous heart studies done because of my racing heartbeat and high blood pressure. I think it's the Cymbalta--I have had to add a BP med to slow my heartbeat and lower my BP. I think I have a dose increase in my future on that as well--when at the hospital emergency room on a quick check on my new artificial knee, my BP was 191/97. WAAAYYYY too high. Problem with the knee turned out to be a scratch from my kitten that looked like the surgical scar had opened up and overwork from PT.

I'm on Effexor XR and Celexa and Klonopin (5 mgs/day) for MDD and PTSD. Also take Risperidone, and Naltrexone. I've never found the SSRI's make me do reckless things - they just seem to work for me.

The Klonopin absolutely works for anxiety.

I've been on Ativan too, but developed a problem with it and started to abuse it. Haven't had that problem with Klonopin it seems to last in my system longer, so I don't get big highs or lows with it, so i'm able to take it exactly as prescribed without abusing it.

--splitimage

SSRIs in combination with benzos like Xanax or Klonopin are used quite frequently and they do not make the SSRIs less effective. I am unsure about becoming "risk-taking" while on a certain SSRI - but some SSRIs can cause acute hypomania which may be what you are talking about. It's always best to discuss this with your doctor.

Hope this helps some.

Jerry