[Happy88]

Is there any danger to taking Zoloft for the rest of my life?

I take 100mg daily, primarily for social anxiety. I have been taking it on and off for the last 10-years. I definitely feel and function better when on it. I just worry about long-term use. I am also not too keen about taking pills.

Should I continue my pattern of trying to get off the medications ever year or two, or is better just to stay on it?

[Beholden]

Hi Happy88,

I was on Zoloft 100mg also but for about 5-6 years without a break when it pooped out on me. It was at a time when I was feeling a lot of stress in my life. My Primary Care Doc said sometimes SSRI class of antidep. just stop working as well and it's time to try a different one. She suggested Lexapro, and that worked for a few years and that too pooped out. Because of my other symptoms, the aches and pains, she switched me to Cymbalta which worked for a few years and I was switched over to Effexor. Before switching brands, the dose was alwalys adjusted for a while also, so it wasn't just a complete switch.

I hated what the Effexor did to me-the unwanted side effects. I Got permission from my PCP to taper off, got the warning talk about the depression coming back and how it was quite likely for me to have another relapse since that is how he viewed the other medications "pooping" out.

He told me that the depression symptoms might just be very sutble at first. He referred me to a real psy. doc to manage my meds, as by the time I realized I was in relapse, I was a mess.

I was most grateful for that because by that time, I felt a little more than nuts! I was having heart palps, so anxious, and withdrawing and crying. Anyway, I think I'm planning to stay on my new medicine as long as it is working. I have an appt with psy. near the end of January to see if there is something for more energy as I still sleep way too much! Pexeva is what I take now and as far as a SSRI - it works for me.

Good luck with your journey. PM me if you want to talk more.

[Beholden]

OPPS, I guess I didn't really answer your real question. Long term use. Like I said, it pooped out on me so I don't know that answer. Zoloft was the best of all meds for me though I can tell you that much.