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23/f
I have recently asked a question about when I was first prescribed Zoloft, I basically said I was upset my boyfriend broke up with me after almost 5 years I was so upset. During my time with my ex and before and for what I can remember I have always been depressed I always thought about sucicide I always thought what everyone's lives would be like without me. I selfharmed myself nothing crazy I would just hit myself punch myself in the face I would pinch myself for the pain telling myself I was not worthy. I thought about cutting but never did it. No one knew about this I would do it at work hiding it I would do it when my ex would sleep I would do it constantly I thought it was normal because I always felt this way. I told my doctor about how I was feeling. When I felt so depressed I opened my medicine cabinet and I thought to myself what am I going to take to die? And I scared myself .. Anyway I went to my doctor and she put me on Zoloft 50. I have been on it for 2 weeks and I feel better I haven't thought about killing myself and I haven't self harmed myself. I am worried because I feel crazy I feel like it shouldn't be helping so fast but I feel like it is my friend told me it's a placebo I'm feeling and I am Just confused. My doctor is surprised how I am feeling too because she usually sees her pts a month after they are put on Zoloft and she was so worried about me she wanted to see me in 2 weeks. I have to go back in another to see how I am feeling and if my medication needs to be bumped up I don't know if I am in denial because I am afraid of being bumped up I don't know I feel fine I haven't wanted to loll myself I am just confused I guess (link)
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Dear Confused One:
No confusion needed. While I am not a doctor or pharmacist, I have worked as a pharmacy technician for over 15 years. I have experience caring for patients in the hospital realm of pharmacy.
First off, please know that medicine is a highly individual thing. One patient can take 50mg of Zoloft and do amazingly, and a different patient will take the exact same medicine at the same dose and may feel nothing at all, or even have an adverse reaction, such as rash, stomach problems, palpitations, etc. This holds true for any medicine prescribed. We all have different body processes.
In my experience with patients, I have had people on the same dose of the same medicine come in and report a wide variety of reactions to a drug. One person will say it worked like a miracle for them, just like the doctor said it would. Others will come in and report that what the doctor said would happen had nothing to do with their experience.
There are also several cases that (for example) a blood pressure medicine lowered blood pressure for one individual, but did absolutely nothing in the lowering of blood pressure in another. How do you explain this, if every medicine supposedly works the same? Like I said, it depends on each patient.
The doctor may have some general guidelines as to how Zoloft usually works in a patient's system, and what the typical results are. But, in your case, you felt a benefit right away, which is not typical, but is a very valid response.
In short, the only person who knows how a medicine works for you is.....You.
Your feelings are just as valid as the next patient, and if you feel your dose is right for you, then say it and be confident, not confused. :)
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