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How long for it to work? Side effects?

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Mom takes a small dose, 25mg at bedtime. It takes about a month to be fully effective. Without it she would be crying a lot and angry most of the time and obsessing over every dark moment in her life. We tried anxiety meds first, Ativan or Xanax, then added in Celexa, but switched her to Zoloft.
All patients have different reactions to meds. You may have success with Zoloft, you may not. I know the 25 will eventually need to increase, but not yet.
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My husband takes zoloft and has for several years. Before that he was on another antidepressant. He doesn't act sad when he is not on it. He acts angry and uncooperative. When he first went on it about 10 yrs ago I told the dr to give him something or I was going to have to divorce him. Of course I wasn't but I couldn't take his angry outburst anymore. He has klonipen if he needs it but I have never had to give it to him. He has changed recently, in the past 3 months and has become very mellow, wants me in the same room, and has become very unsure of himself. And he is sleeping a lot more.
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My mom was on zoloft, then switched to lexapro. Before she was panicked all the time, awfulized every event and was agitated a great deal of the time. She rolls with the days' events much more easily now. If she'd been willing to take an antidepressant when she still lived at home, she would have been able to live there longer.
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Yes, my dad began taking it when he was 92. He had always suffered from general anxiety, worrying constantly and obsessing, as well as depression. It was never treated. It wasn't until he moved to his first IL apartment that it escalated and he decided he wanted to move to the state where I live to be near me that I insisted he needed to take something to help him cope. Or he wasn't going to be able to move here. He takes 100 mg. and it has been a blessing. He is the father now that I wish I'd always had. Once, before he moved here, he decided to go off it and the old dad began coming back. I told him in no uncertain terms to stay on it or he would not move here. It has enabled us to have a loving relationship.im so glad he takes it. Better living through chemistry, as they say.
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At 76 i have taken it for many years ans find it allows me to deal calmly with whatever is going on. I take 100mg in the morning. had a discussion with my PCG when i turned 70 as many things are not recommended after that age but have stayed on it and they continue to allow up to 2 mg vallium three times daily for rough patches. I take that maybe once a week if I can't sleep. i do not recommend rushing to medication until the cause of unhappiness has been evaluated but if needed it definitely should be used. however starting with smaller doses in the elderly is a good idea so they don't have a bad reaction. As Pam said these medications do take a couple of weeks to become effective so don't expect instant results. We use other things in our lives to make life easier so why not suitable medications.
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I am 82, and am a caregiver for my Alzheimer's-ridden husband. I have been on Zoloft for some time with excellent results. I do not feel "happy" but it simply calms me and makes me feel less depressed. I have been on 50mgs, but due to the recent acceleration of my husband's symptoms, the doctor recently upped it to 75mgs. Although not a pill-popper by choice, I find that we caregivers need all the help we can get. If taking a Zoloft each day helps me cope, so be it.
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My mom takes .5 mg. Alprazolam morning and night. Can take 3 times a day if she is panicking over something. Was in Hosp last year and not getting meds and she thought there was a fireplace in her room, that a nurse took her driving around St. Louis looking for a "place", and that she had been taken outside and down a sidewalk to a "shed out back for a heart test and it was full of tools and lawn equipment". Says she got the test, which I believe but not that she was taken out to an outbuilding. She was in hospital in March this year and I made it clear that she HAD TO HAVE those meds and they complied. (perhaps it was in her records that last year she threatened to throw something through a window if they didn't get the paperwork to send her home as they had promised. That might have moved things along some.). I'm sure we all have our stories. I can smile about it now, thankfully. I say yes to anti-anxiety and anti-depressants if needed and you get the good results.
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My Partner takes TWO depression meds...When he broke out in a rash and they were not sure what drug caused the rash, I had to stop both. The difference in his behavior was evident. If prescribed correctly, based on a diagnosis that has been thought out, these drugs are a miracle. I could not live with him if he had to stop taking the pills. I think just getting old and having memory loss and being weak is enough to send anyone into depression
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I myself have been on Zoloft at times in my life...have had several of my friends try that specific anti-depressant and all incl my father have had great results and NO side effects. You probably will have to have that dose raised in time...but don't worry about it...I'm sure it will be a great help for her!
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My 86 year old MIL has been taking it for quite a while. It is hard to say what
is does. She is fairly healthy and takes few medications. Use with caution,
Zoloft can make people more emotional than Lexapro. I am not a doctor so this is
not medical advise, just my observation.
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