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Taking Zoloft. Got Nausea And Diarrhea. Taking Prozac. What To Do?

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Posted on Sat, 3 Aug 2013
Question: I am taking 50 mg of Zoloft. My dr. said try 100 I did and I got very sick - nausea, diarrhea - it lasted a couple of days, went back to 50mg. did o.k. - went to 75mg. - the same thing happened. Is this normal? my dr. is on vaation. I was on prozac 40mg. for years and it was fantastic, but it stopped working - he said, it had the prozac poop. Would I be able to go back to Prozac or is there something better out there that I don't have to wait so long for it to kick in.
Thank you
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Answered by Dr. Timothy Raichle (1 hour later)
Hello, I would be happy to help you with your question.

Zoloft is an acceptable alternative to Prozac, but if the zoloft is causing side effects at effective doses, then I would consider switching back to the Prozac. The side effects that you listed are "normal" in terms of the potential side effects.

With regard to the Prozac, you are by no means at the maximum dose which is 80 mg per day. You could consider stopping the zoloft and going back to the Prozac at 40mg per day, and the usual incremental increase is 20 mg at a time (spread over a couple of weeks).

I would also have your doctor consider WHY the prozac stopped working. You need an evaluation that would include blood counts, tests of thyroid and tests for diabetes.

I hope that this helps and good luck!
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Dr. Timothy Raichle

OBGYN

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 1687 Questions

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Taking Zoloft. Got Nausea And Diarrhea. Taking Prozac. What To Do?

Hello, I would be happy to help you with your question.

Zoloft is an acceptable alternative to Prozac, but if the zoloft is causing side effects at effective doses, then I would consider switching back to the Prozac. The side effects that you listed are "normal" in terms of the potential side effects.

With regard to the Prozac, you are by no means at the maximum dose which is 80 mg per day. You could consider stopping the zoloft and going back to the Prozac at 40mg per day, and the usual incremental increase is 20 mg at a time (spread over a couple of weeks).

I would also have your doctor consider WHY the prozac stopped working. You need an evaluation that would include blood counts, tests of thyroid and tests for diabetes.

I hope that this helps and good luck!