Transforming: Need help with a plan of action

[Transforming]

I have never been on meds but I know someone who has been and is currently suffering from the negative side effects. I joined this group so I can help her. I am just starting to familiarize myself with the negative short and long terms effects of meds and appreciate any support so that in turn I can support her. A few years ago she took Zoloft for anxiety for about two years and claims it helped her, she was on 37.50 mg. About a year ago she stopped abruptly without tapering off and without any support. Six weeks ago she started taking Zoloft again. She started with 25 mg, and started going up to 50 mg as per her psychiatrist instructions. About three weeks ago she started having really bad reactions as she started going up and down for about two weeks. This was really bad. She fragmented even more, is very emotional, sensitive, and in a lot of pain and agony. She's been on 50 mg for the last eight days. I would like to help her taper off but thought she needed to stabilize. She is super scared but is hearing me. But I don't really know for how long she should stay on 50mg until we start tapering her off. This is a question I have for the group. It is a challenge because I am supporting her and of course she is scared and not sure who to believe and follow, but the very least I can do is educate myself and educate her.  But I would like to suggest a plan for her. What do you recommend? Should she stay on 50 mg for some time? For how long? What does it mean that she needs to stabilize before she starts tapering off? When should she start tapering off? Thank you! 

[Petunia]

Welcome Transforming,

It sounds like your friend is on a too high dose and having a bad reaction. Jumping around in dose is also not a good idea because it destabilizes the nervous system. Did she feel better on 25mg?

 

Could you give a little more detail about the symptoms she is having? ... and when they started?

 

When we have a few more details, we will be in a better position to offer support and suggestions.

 

Petunia.

[Transforming]

Thank you Petunia for your prompt reply, I really appreciate it. I do think she is on a high dose. It felt to me that she was better at 25mg, but my fear is that going back down right away will continue to destabilize her? I noticed that when she started going from 25mg to then 37.5 to then 50mg the symptoms started getting worse. To begin with she is having a depressive episode due to a work situation that started 6 weeks ago. That led her to start taking the meds. So she was already pretty depressed but I noticed that the meds made her much more emotional, she is crying a lot, she is much more depressed, has a really hard time making decisions, doesn't feel like herself, can't value herself (this is in big part because of the trauma from the job situation) says she wants to come off the meds, or try a different med (she still is not sure she should be off meds altogether), is having headaches at night, thirst, and is super scared that the symptoms are not going to go away. She is in agony. Those are some of the obvious symptoms. Should she go down to a lower dose right away and then start tapering off? She's been at 50mg for eight days. 

 

Thank you so much! Hope this is enough info?

[bromor]

Were her symptoms worse at the 37.5 mg or the 50mg?  I'm not a moderator or staff...but I've walked (and am still on!) the horrible road of CT and too fast tapers off of Zoloft.  My heart goes out to your friend.

[dalsaan]

It sounds like your friend was on too high a dose. We often find that people's nervous systems are really sensitive after a CT. I would drop down to 25 and then wait it out for awhile to see of her system calms down. I would also start to implement non drug ways of dealing with emotions, find ways to soothe her system - here is a link on that - http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1112-non-drug-techniques-to-cope-with-emotional-symptoms/

 

What are the options to address the work issue? Piling ongoing trauma on top of a destabilised nervous system is really harmful.

 

Dalsaan

[JanCarol]

It would help so much if she could come in here herself.  We sometimes help parents with their children - but parents can help with regimen and regime.  You are just a "concerned friend."  You can only do what we do - suggest.  It's up to her to make her own choices.

 

While I appreciate your desire to help your friend, you cannot heal her for her - she has to take responsibility for her own choices and tapers.

 

We have lots of questions that you may not be able to answer - like:  how did she feel at 25 mg?  How long was she on that dose?  When she went up to 50 mg (per p-doc instructions) what were her symptoms?  How long was it between each dose change?  When was her last dose change?  How long was she on each dose?

 

As you see from our signatures, sometimes this is detailed information that you may not have access too.  

 

You may be able to relay some of this information, but it would, realistically, be better for her to answer herself.  This is a site for minimizing, reducing, and eliminating psych drugs - we cannot advise for "ongoing protocols."

 

You're a good soul for trying to help your friend - and she will thank you for it someday (but it may get worse before it gets better).  We'd love to help, but it would be a clearer path to help her, than help you help her.  If she is open and receptive, she should be able to come here.

[Transforming]

Thank you so much for your replies. I will encourage my friend to join. Very much appreciate all the help and insight.