|
|
|
|
Question: Should I Stop Taking Zoloft Before I Start Using St. John's Wort?
|
I am currently taking 100mg of Zoloft per day. I would like to try something natural and less expensive. Do I need to stop taking the Zoloft first?
|
|
Answer #1
|
Don't take Zoloft and St. John's Wort at the same time. I had been taking St. John's Wort for close to 3 years when I noticed that it no longer worked as well as it had in the beginning. I had also become tired of taking higher and higher doses and getting more and more depressed. I talked to my doctor, and she recommended I start taking Zoloft after stopping the Wort for at least a couple of weeks to make sure it was all out of my system.
I think the St. Johns Wort is good for people who are suffering from very mild depression. It had few side effects on me, with a facial rash and frequent blushing of the cheeks being the most annoying. Zoloft and St. John's Wort are almost the same things except Zoloft is stronger. If you are only mildly depressed and don't mind taking up to 6 tablets a day, you might consider the Wort. I get 200 of the 300mg Natrol tablets for $18 at my drug store. I have to say that after reading the numerous complaints about Zoloft, I am seriously reconsidering taking it. However, several people I work with take it, and the only problems they complain about are the occasional bouts of diarrhea and sexual dysfunction.
I hate having to take either of the drugs, but after suffering for 37 years with depression, feeling alone in a room full of friends and family, and daily thoughts of death and suicide, I've decided that it just may be worth the risks. I hope you get better. You are not alone out there.
Amanda
|
|
Answer #2
|
I have been on Zoloft now for about 2 months. I have noticed a great improvement in my mood and feel great, but I have noticed that I am starting to gain weight and thought it may be drug related. Talking to a friend who uses St. John's Wort, I decided to look into it and I found that both should be used with caution. St. John's Wort contains MAO inhibitors that can interfere with lots of other medications. So, I just want to caution anyone considering these alternative methods to do a lot of research. I will be before I make any decisions. In the meantime, good luck to all of you and I hope that whatever method you choose to treat your depression will work for you.
| Submit
a Review or Question |
| New reviews or questions may be submitted instantly on our realtime
discussion forum, NutritionalSupplements.com LIVE. Click
here to register and post your review or question.
|
|
|
