From: dks@sr.com (Dave K. Sprow)
Subject: Re: Zoloft (antidepressant) -- cost compared to Prozac?
Reply-To: dks@srhqla.UUCP (Dave K. Sprow)
Organization: Silent Radio, Los Angeles
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 22:41:54 GMT

In article <1992Nov9.051340.12598@u.washington.edu> hhll@stein.u.washington.edu (Steven Hodas) writes:
>jparnas@larouch.uucp (Jacob Parnas) writes:
>
>>In article <1992Oct15.091955.10888@ennews.eas.asu.edu> nwatson@enuxha.eas.asu.edu (Nathan F. Watson) writes:
>>>There has been some discussion about a new antidepressant drug
>>>on the market called "Zoloft".  I could probably get this
>>>information from my pharmacist, but does anyone know how the
>>>drug's cost compares to Prozac?  Also, what are the relative
>>>advantages/disadvantages compared to Prozac?
>
>>I took Zoloft for a while (I have an 'agitated depression (296.23).  It 
>>hyped me up, gave me tremor, and made me sweat profusely in a couple weeks.
>>I never had Prozac.  It could have given me the same reaction with Prozac
>
>I've taken both Zoloft and Prozac. Of the two, I much preferred Zoloft
>because of the clarity and verve it stimulated. I could certainly see,
>however, that this would be precisely a reason to avoid it if you have any
>manic symptoms or are otherwise sensitive to amphetamine-like effects. You
>may well lose weight on Zoloft, which for me was not a bad thing.
>
>
>>Second, Zoloft is more selectively blocks serotonin-reuptake than Prozac does.
>>Thus, there are supposedly fewer side effects, and I guess you can block 
>>serotonin-reuptake better than Prozac, (I guess).  
>
>My understanding is that there are two distinct serotonin pathways and
>that Prozac and Zoloft on different ones. There's a real consequence to
>this if you suffer from migraine: Prozac is quite likely to exacerbate
>migraine, while Zoloft will, for many, tend to alleviate the frequency and
>severity of the headaches.
>
>
>>My advice is that you are going to try Zoloft, if you have an agitated as
>>opposed to a retarded depression, make sure you're psychiatrist is not shy
>>about prescribing high doses of Valium to counteract the amphetamine response
>>of Zoloft (true also of other activating anti-depressants like Prozac and 
>>Wellbutrin).
>
>Yeah, but personally I'd suggest Xanax over the Valium. It's
>shorter-acting and more precise. You don't get nearly as stupid/sleepy but
>you get just as much relief. It seems more tightly focused. Watch out for
>short-term memory problems, though.
>
Huh, what!?  Actually, from personal experience, I find this quite true and
sometimes more than a bit disturbing.

>>Note that I'm not a doctor and the above is just my opinion from reading about
>>a lot about anti-depressants and psychopharachology.
>
>Same here.
>
Same here

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>>| Jacob M. Parnas                    | DISCLAIMER: The above message is from |
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>
>Steven Hodas

David S.

Newsgroups: alt.psychoactives,sci.med