i'm currently on Zoloft for OCD (only 50mg as when i tried a higher dose it messed with me) and Concerta for ADHD. i'm trying to figure out if i should switch meds bc of annoying side effects or if this is something i can fix another way. the problem i'm having with the Zoloft is like, this weird fatigue/brain fog. i take it in the evening bc it was even worse when i took it mornings, but i still get this period in the early afternoon where i feel exhausted and like i can't do anything but sometimes can't fall all the way asleep, only that weird rest-ish state. i also have trouble falling asleep and keeping a consistent sleep schedule and sometimes trouble waking up. Zoloft has definitely helped my ocd symptoms, but i don't know if it's working right for me. i've been on it since january so it definitely should have evened out by now. skipping Concerta actually seems to make it worse so i don't think it's the interaction. i've always had sleep issues and had some on my last med (Lexapro) too, but the daytime sleepiness isn't something i remember before and i've been feeling kind of numb/unmotivated and like my Concerta doesn't work as well as it should. basically i'm just interested in hearing other people's experiences with zoloft and if this specific fatigue thing went away for you. i would especially love to hear if anyone else is on both an ssri and a stimulant bc i know they can have weird interactions with ocd and my psych, to put it kindly, is clueless. also, would love some advice on good ways to tell if a med is working well, or signs you've noticed that mean it's a good idea to look for something else.

lyric

Date posted: 5y

Hi, I’m on Zoloft too and just started about a month ago...how did the higher dose mess with you? (If you feel comfortable sharing). I’m on 50mg too and my doc plans on upping the dose in another month once I get used to it. So far on Zoloft I’ve experienced similar feelings to what you’ve shared. I used to be on Wellbutrin for depression and the doctor said they may couple it with the Zoloft once I get used to the Zoloft because Wellbutrin worked well for me for the depression but heightened my anxiety a lot and they say together they can be a good mix but I’m scared to try it because Wellbutrin wasn’t always the best for me, just the best overall compared to other antidepressants.

corrin

Date posted: 5y

tbh i think it mightve been that i went up too fast (50 straight to 75, i'm fairly sensitive) and the increased effect from the concerta? but when i switched i started having much worse insomnia to the point i was regularly up all night. at the time my neighbors were being kinda loud and obnoxious and i could not function when they were making noise and got really irrationally mad about it. it seemed like i was more anxious and my ocd symptoms were actually worse, and i had one or maybe two really bad attacks. i only tried it for a couple of weeks before just going back down to 50. i don't think mine is a common experience though, from what i've heard the usual dose for ocd is much higher. i briefly tried wellbutrin too and i've thought about trying it again, i stopped the first time after only a few days bc it was just too many new meds on top of each other. i've heard mixed things about wellbutrin tbh but i know it can be helpful, it might work well for you as a supplemental med. it gives you a bit of extra energy iirc which is why it messes with anxiety but it works differently than normal SSRIs so it's used to "fill in the gaps" a lot. i read online somewhere that some people take half their zoloft dose in the morning and half at night, i may try that and see if it helps with the weird sleep issues? when i took it in the morning for the first month or two it was absolutely unbearable, all i wanted to do was sleep. i take it around 10 pm now and it seems to be slowly helping me get a more even sleep schedule, it just doesn't always let me sleep or have energy during the day.

Be a part of the largest OCD Community

Share your thoughts so the Community can respond