Zoloft and side effects

[RedHotMamaTN]

Ok my love has been taking Zoloft for several months and his dr has upped his meds from 50 mg to100mg per day. His BP is high again and they believe stress is the cause of it so this is why they upped the meds. Now he has not had a problem getting off until they upped his meds. We have been together 3 different times since they upped it and he has not been able to get off. I know it is starting to get to him mentally and I want him to be able to enjoy sex again. I told him maybe he needs to call his doctor and see if he can cut it half or maybe get something else. He tells me as long as im satified he is ok. Which this is what I love about him, but I told him it is not healthy for him to get hard and not be able to get any release.

Im worried that this will effect him even after he stops taking the Zoloft. Will things be back to normal if he does?

 

[LadyVer]

Ok my love has been taking Zoloft for several months and his dr has upped his meds from 50 mg to100mg per day. His BP is high again and they believe stress is the cause of it so this is why they upped the meds. Now he has not had a problem getting off until they upped his meds. We have been together 3 different times since they upped it and he has not been able to get off. I know it is starting to get to him mentally and I want him to be able to enjoy sex again. I told him maybe he needs to call his doctor and see if he can cut it half or maybe get something else. He tells me as long as im satified he is ok. Which this is what I love about him, but I told him it is not healthy for him to get hard and not be able to get any release.

Im worried that this will effect him even after he stops taking the Zoloft. Will things be back to normal if he does?

Yes, and once his body adjusts to the increase he will probably be able to do his usual.. It takes patience and persistence.

 

[hogjack]

Some people I've known using Zoloft definitely experienced what he has experienced. Most often they get through it and back to 'normal'.

And definitely go slow if ever getting off (no pun intended) of Zoloft. Powerful stuff.

 

[rbone04]

Doctors OFTEN prescribe Zoloft off-label to treat premature ejaculation, so this side effect is very common and very well documented. If he ever comes off the meds... Odds are yes, his sexual performance will return to normal.

If he continues to take it, he may or may not adapt to the sexual side effects of the drug once his body is fully adjusted to it (there is a "loading phase" which often takes 2-3 months... add another 2-3 after the dose increase). Odds are his provider will not recommend taking him off the drug any time soon, as they often feel the mental benefits outweigh the sexual downfalls. Likewise with the possibility of him lowering the dose. This dose increase is pretty standard protocol for most SSRI's and important for the drug's efficacy.

I had this same problem with Zoloft and never overcame the sexual side effects, even when masturbating. He should let his body get used to the drug first and then discuss with his physician. I was switched to Wellbutrin when I raised my concern and problem solved PLUS I felt better all around on it.

 

[RedHotMamaTN]

I hope he talks to his doctor soon about this. I know the reason behind his stress and his BP being so high. I asked him if he has ever been on anything else besides Zoloft, he said no. He said he is able to focus alot better. But hes only been taking the 100mg for about 3 weeks. So im hoping the doctor will pull him back off of it so much. I hate seeing him frustrated. I know the longer hes on it the harder (no pun intended) it is going to be for him to get off and the more stressed out he is going to become.

 

[Tryharder62]

Bp

While he may have high blood pressure due to stress Zoloft in itself is not prescribed for High blood pressure. If the increase he had was only due to high blood pressure he would probably need a specific medication for high blood pressure instead of an increase in Zoloft. While things are used for off label reasons Zoloft is primarily used for Depression, OCD, PTSD, and various anxieties. What Zoloft does is increase a neurotransmitter in the brain called seretonin. If he feels more focused on the increased meds he could either talk to his doctor about alternatives or stay on the medication and see if his other problem resolves itself. Good luck. You sound like a very caring person.

 

[RedHotMamaTN]

While he may have high blood pressure due to stress Zoloft in itself is not prescribed for High blood pressure. If the increase he had was only due to high blood pressure he would probably need a specific medication for high blood pressure instead of an increase in Zoloft. While things are used for off label reasons Zoloft is primarily used for Depression, OCD, PTSD, and various anxieties. What Zoloft does is increase a neurotransmitter in the brain called seretonin. If he feels more focused on the increased meds he could either talk to his doctor about alternatives or stay on the medication and see if his other problem resolves itself. Good luck. You sound like a very caring person.

He is on 3 different types of BP meds as well as the zoloft. Stress is causing his BP to rise and the zoloft is to help him cope with the stress. Ive talked to him to call the doctor hopefully this week to see about either lowering the zoloft back down to 50mg or get on something else. I personally think if he keeps on not being able to get off, its only going to cause MORE stress and he doesnt need anymore stress.

Thank you, I try to be. Especially with him. He has been a Angel to me. I just want to treat him the same respect he does me and make him as happy as he has made me.

 

[EdwardMidweston]

Ok my love has been taking Zoloft for several months and his dr has upped his meds from 50 mg to100mg per day. His BP is high again and they believe stress is the cause of it so this is why they upped the meds. Now he has not had a problem getting off until they upped his meds. We have been together 3 different times since they upped it and he has not been able to get off. I know it is starting to get to him mentally and I want him to be able to enjoy sex again. I told him maybe he needs to call his doctor and see if he can cut it half or maybe get something else. He tells me as long as im satified he is ok. Which this is what I love about him, but I told him it is not healthy for him to get hard and not be able to get any release.

Im worried that this will effect him even after he stops taking the Zoloft. Will things be back to normal if he does?

It's a very hard subject for most men to admit, but he definitely needs to talk to his doctor to see if another drug can be substituted or the dosage cut a bit. There are many medications that reduce blood pressure and perhaps will have left drastic side effects.

Another reason to be very careful with Zoloft: it is prone to cause or worsen so-called "sundowning"--confusion and extreme restlessness at night. Granted, this condition primarily strikes elderly people who have Alzheimer's disease, but it also attacked my father, who had just turned 51, shortly after he began taking Zoloft. A board-certified pharmacologist at Mayo Hospital told me this sometimes happens even among non-Alzheimer's patients. The "sundowning" and the impotence disappeared almost immediately after his doctor switched Dad to another med.

This may not apply at all, but it's something that needs to be watched.

 

[Jax_Teller]

Reap the benifits

I have been on zoloft for 15 yrs others before that. It was a side effect I consider a blessing. While I never ''adjusted'' Orgasm was obtaiinable but with extra effort. My wife thought it was great for her and often worried as you do, but for me it was the thrill of being able to outlast w or more sexual sessions in arow that made it worth it.

 

[Cindy_Trevor]

Dear Red Hot:

I am a 52-year-old female and have been on Zoloft for quite a few years. I would rather have a bit of delay getting to the orgasm than to feel like I did before I got on the meds. Yes, it's frustrating, because sometimes I can't quite get over the edge (oh, but I do have fun getting there!). I didn't have energy for anything; just existing was about all I could do, due to the depression I had. Now, I'm still on it, and my doctor and I talk about my dosage and adjust as necessary, according to the season. On Zoloft, I have the drive and the energy to do more than exist. I can live! I enjoy life now.

My psychiatrist and I have talked quite a bit about Zoloft and its side-effects, and he did prescribe Welbutrin along with the Zoloft for a while, but I'm back to just the Zoloft. I have a caring and attentive lover, who doesn't mind that it can take me a bit longer to orgasm.

I guess what I'm trying to say is this: Your Love should talk to his doctor about the side-effects. He will (I hope) get the best results if he is open and honest about what's going on. His doc wants to know.

 

[lethalerection]

Did the doc step him up gradually? A sudden increase will usually do that. He should've been given steadily increasing doses.

 

[RedHotMamaTN]

Did the doc step him up gradually? A sudden increase will usually do that. He should've been given steadily increasing doses.

No just told him I'm upping your meds from 50mg to 100mg.

 

[RedHotMamaTN]

I have been on zoloft for 15 yrs others before that. It was a side effect I consider a blessing. While I never ''adjusted'' Orgasm was obtaiinable but with extra effort. My wife thought it was great for her and often worried as you do, but for me it was the thrill of being able to outlast w or more sexual sessions in arow that made it worth it.

Well if he was able to last longer we probably wouldnt so worried but the problem he is having is he couldnt keep it up for very long. Causing alot of frustration for him. Time is something we dont always have alot of( we do not live together, live with others).

 

[LadyVer]

No just told him I'm upping your meds from 50mg to 100mg.

FWIW, 50 to 100 increase is pretty normal after a couple of months and there hasn't been any significant benefit.

 

[RedHotMamaTN]

He did back himself off from 100mg to 50 mgs and after 3 weeks of not being able to get off and having trouble keeping it up, today we had LIFT OFF! We actually had sex twice and it was amazing both times, Made up for the past 3 weeks for sure. It did make him feel better knowing it was the meds because he was fearing it was him. His drive actually seems to have gone back to what it was before. If he keeps having trouble im going to talk to him about talking to his doctor about changing him all together. hes too young(46) to not be enjoying sex again.
Thanks everyone for your input. I appreciate them all.

 

[RedHotMamaTN]

FWIW, 50 to 100 increase is pretty normal after a couple of months and there hasn't been any significant benefit.

The doctor told him he increased it because he was worried the stress he was under was causing his BP to stay so high. So increasing it was hoping it would help with his stress and bring his PB down.

 

[LadyVer]

He did back himself off from 100mg to 50 mgs and after 3 weeks of not being able to get off and having trouble keeping it up, today we had LIFT OFF! We actually had sex twice and it was amazing both times, Made up for the past 3 weeks for sure. It did make him feel better knowing it was the meds because he was fearing it was him. His drive actually seems to have gone back to what it was before. If he keeps having trouble im going to talk to him about talking to his doctor about changing him all together. hes too young(46) to not be enjoying sex again.
Thanks everyone for your input. I appreciate them all.

Congrats!

 

[RedHotMamaTN]

Congrats!

Thank you!!!!

 

[Christopher2012]

So when this guy was on Zoloft 100mg QD, was his BP at goal? How's his BP now?

I'm also curious... During the last few visits, has he seen actual physicians or was he seeing a PA/NP? Because it's kind of farfetched to believe that an increase in Zoloft is going to do the trick after dropping 3 BP meds on this guy.

What BP meds is he on exactly? He may need to see a hypertension specialist. I mean, I don't know anything about him but the docs seemed to have tried everything if they're stooping to this level for results.

 

[RedHotMamaTN]

So when this guy was on Zoloft 100mg QD, was his BP at goal? How's his BP now? It is still high. Were begining to think it is not just stress causing it.

I'm also curious... During the last few visits, has he seen actual physicians
Yes he is seeing a real doctor.


What BP meds is he on exactly? I do not know the names. I do know he is on 3 different types of BP meds.


He may need to see a hypertension specialist. I mean, I don't know anything about him but the docs seemed to have tried everything if they're stooping to this level for results.

I do worry he is seeing a "quack" doctor, We have only been together 5 months so I do worry.