Earlier in the summer I finally got up the nerve to discuss with my psych some problems I've been having with, basically, PMS. Before I took my methylin I was always on edge and reactive and anxious and restless. But since I've been on it, I noticed that every month there is a 7-10 day time where I handle nothing well at all, I have incredible anxiety and mood swings, etc etc. So the ADHD meds were 3/4 helpful overall. So I talked to my psych about it and at first he suggested Lexapro, but my sister had a bad experience with that plus I have no insurance and it's pretty expensive. Then he suggested Zoloft. I decided to try it especially since he had 3 months worth of samples to send home with me.

Long story short, it made me evil. Not like, I'm going to harm anyone evil, but just really angry and mad at the world, all the time. I was too mad to notice anxiety. And I was back to my reactive old ways which was even worse since I know now how to recognize it (the irrational responses and thinking, etc). I can't even explain how mad I was and how much I felt like I backtracked. So I went off the Zoloft and eventually again noticed the ADHD meds were working.

Unfortunately, the anxiety is really awful still. I have a hard time expressing to people how strong I feel, like I can inside feel SO much and it can be SO disabling, but I can appear pretty calm and OK. Sometimes I tear up or whatever like if I'm sad about something, which is pretty easy for others to recognize but that's not usually how the anxiety effects me. Usually it's all kinds of thoughts going through my head about all the horrible things that could happen and an intense NEED to control my situation and MAKE SURE everything is OK. It has caused problems with various relationships, especially professional relationships since right now I have become quite a recluse socially. I probably have some social anxiety too but mostly, I get so tired of not being able to deal with people that I prefer to be alone. Not afraid so much as TIRED.

Anyone know where I'm coming from? Any suggestions? I tried Prozac in the past and while it helped with some social stuff and some of my obsessive thoughts (oh yeah, I have those too, but not on the level of OCD since they don't really interfere in my life), it didn't really do anything for anxiety. ALTHOUGH, at the time I wasn't on an ADHD med so that could explain it. Plus the generic of Prozac is really cheap.

At the same time, I'm also thinking about an anti-anxiety since I'm only effected part of the month, plus I worry that Prozac worked TOO WELL in eliminating my obsessive thoughts (to the point where I had no passion for anything). So well, I don't know. Just thought I'd see if anyone has any suggestions. I am poor right now, but even if there's some expensive treatment that could be effective, I could make a mental note of that for the day when I have insurance.

Thank you!!!

Aloha Ahalo!

I have about 7 years of experience with Zoloft and it never really worked for me. God never blessed me with the PMS chromosomes so I don't have any experience with that except when my wife and daughter cycle up. :D

I also have anxiety issues along with my ADD. At first I thought they were normal feelings or just ingrained from years of ducking the backlash that comes with doing "ADD stuff."

I've tried Paxil, Effexor and a couple of other meds but not Prozac. Nothing I've taken has helped me much except in the early days after being dx'd that I started taking Ritalin.

The good news is that recently (May 2005) I started on WellButrin and after it took it's full effect I starting wishing I had gotten on it when it first came out when my ADD brother starting raving about it.

I haven't lost my passion for doing things and I seem to have a consistent response to it.

The other good news is that there are many forms of Wellbutrin that are now generic whereas you were stuck until a few months ago buying brand name and donating blood and organ parts to pay for it...because insurance doesn't cover it even when you have it. They like to cover generics....cause they're cheap.

You may want to see if you doctor can start you out on a low dose of a generic WB for 30 days and see what happens. It may turn on some lights that will help you get through that foggy tunnel we all travel trying to find a better job and more money and insurance benny's that at least make you feel like you have a 50/50 chance of it being covered.

Holy Crud, I almost forgot to mention that I also take Xanax on the days when I know I'll be in a situation that provokes anxiety. This stuff is cheap. I know bc my insurance company is SO cheap they make ME pay for it.
Anyway, the WB works on my ADD and the Xanax helps me manage the anxiety. Sometimes I take the Xanax for a few days in a row. Sometimes I can go for a couple of weeks without it. It just depends on life and stress and probably how much caffeine and candy I eat. :D

P.S. You didn't fail Zoloft. It just didn't work for you. Some drugs do and some drugs don't. It's different for EVERYBODY.

The Zoloft doesn't do much for anxiety. What has helped is low doses of anti-psychotics like Risperidal and Soquel.
And yes, I know how you feel.

ahalo,
wondering what you are taking now and how well it's doing for you?
I've read...not that I KNOW anything, and don't want to alarm you, but I've read that if you are bipolar you CANNOT take SSRI's such as Zoloft.

Just to add to the confusion I read Zoloft is often used for PMS...so just wondering
Have you and your doc discussed your diagnosis recently and how are you now?

Hope you don't mind my chiming in, just the 'anger' and Zoloft rang a bell for me since I had a tenative diagnosis of bipolar but since I'm ok on Zoloft that supposedly means bipolar is not a correct dx for me.
I DID feel unaccountable rage before taking Zoloft by the way, that and fighting tears at work is what drove me to a doc...and Melly telling me 'it doesn't get better, it gets worse! SEE a DOCTOR.'
I have a lot to thank this board for! Hope you are well.

I don't have bipolar that I know of but what I have would be called PMDD which is basically complicated PMS. During that 7-10 days I do feel probably like someone with bipolar might feel like with the tremendous ups and downs and ridiculous anxiety and at times anger, etc. But it's just those days. When I was on Zoloft I seriously felt like I was about to lose it, all the time, and I wasn't sure if that was because it was cancelling out the ADHD meds but also not helping the PMS symptoms, or if I am one of those people who go all psychotic on Zoloft. I never really bought that a medication could make someone snap but now I think I believe it.

Anyway I am now going to try Abilify during those 7-10 days. My psychiatrist thought that or Clonazepam would be good, but was worried the Clonazepam would cancel the ADHD med out... So I guess I'll see.

I am on Zoloft 50mg. right now and I get agitation from it. Anyone know what to do? I also am taking Ritalin LA 10mg. I take both 1x/day at about 6am.

I posted on the reg med side , about this subject a week ago, no replies so I will try here since you all are discussing it.


I am on Adderall XR 40mg per day.
I started Zoloft 25mg about 5 weeks ago.
I did feel like a zombie about a week or so after, for about 2 weeks, don't know if it was the Zoloft or the increase in Adderall from 30 to 40?
I backed off the Adderall, to 20 and felt a little better, but the add symptoms were driving me crazy,,,,
So I did 30 for a week, the bakc up to the 40mg.

I then noticed the 40 doesn't seem to be workign as well?
I think my depression is better? But now I'm aggitated again?
It's been long enough for the Zoloft to build a blood level, so I have heard it seems to make the stimulants not work as well?
Yikes , what the heck are you supposed to do, Don't like the depression or the ADD?


Help me out, anyone?
Hope