Re: depression/Zoloft

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Cheryl. I have been on Zoloft before, with bad results. I guess I

could try something else. Yes, being in chronic pain sure does a number on your

mind, doesn't it? I will pursue this.

Jill

[Guest guest]

>

> Thanks, Cheryl. I have been on Zoloft before, with bad results. I guess I

could try

something else. Yes, being in chronic pain sure does a number on your mind,

doesn't it?

I will pursue this.

> Jill

>

Hi Again Jill -

I'm glad to hear back from you, and to hear that you're willing to give

treatment a try.

I know a lot of people who couldn't tolerate Zoloft - then again, it's a life

saver for others!

Anti-depressants are just one of those class of drugs that really act

differently for every

person. So I'm glad you aren't going to write them off because of that one bad

experience.

Tell your doctor what kind of problems you had, and probably she/he will try you

on a

different class of drug entirely. There are a lot of different types, that work

on different

chemical groups in the brain, so they should have different side effects, if

any.

My brother - who doesn't have chronic pain, but has been pretty severely bipolar

his

whole life - had to go through about six different anti-d meds before he found

one he

could tolerate. But thank goodness he persevered! Because I still have my

beloved

brother today - and he was suicidal about 15 years ago from his disease. Today

he is a

different person - happy and healthy and whole, in a great relationship with a

wonderful

woman that I adore, with a good job and great hobbies that keep him motivated

and

enthusiastic about life.

In contrast, I got lucky and found relief with the first antidepressant I tried,

without too

many side effects. I used Effexor. It did reduce my libido, which kinda

sucked, but I was

in so much pain anyway that it was a small sacrifice at the time! Others hate

that med

and have had bad experiences with it... so it all depends on your individual

experience.

But the key is to just keep trying. There are so many choices that there IS a

med out there

that will work for you!

And even if you choose not to go the medication route, look into therapy and

keep talking

on the list. This list and the friends I've made here have been irreplaceable

support for me

over the years.

Oh, and if you like to read, there are also some great books about coping with

chronic

pain that I can recommend too. I find that kind of stuff very helpful myself,

because I'm

kind of a bookworm. OK, I'm a BIG bookworm. So just let me know if you want

some

recommendations.

I'm going out of town first thing in the morning and will be gone until Tuesday,

so if you

write back and I don't respond, I'm not ignoring you - I just won't have easy

email access

for the next few days. I'll try to check in if possible, but it may be the

middle of next week

before I get back in touch. Meanwhile I'm sure the rest of the folks here will

be chatting

with you!

Take care.

Cheryl in AZ

Moderator

Stay in touch....

Cheryl in AZ

Moderator

[Guest guest]

I am on two anti-depressants becauce of the chronic pain. I wanted to get off

but my Dr. said anyone with chronic pain needs to take anti-depressants

Ed

>Jill wrote: Thanks, Cheryl.

I have been on Zoloft before, with bad results. I guess I could try something

else. Yes, being in chronic pain sure does a number on your mind, doesn't it?

I will pursue this.