Zoloft and racing thoughts | ADHD Information

My son is also on 25mg of Zoloft and this is actually our first day on Concerta 18mg.  Yes, our son who is 8 also has an increase in his activity level from the Zoloft.  He is hyper, has  difficult sitting and constantly talks, however, his anxiety, separation, social and OCD has greatly improvement.  We have tried decreasing his Zoloft and the systmons come back, so we have just stuck with the 25mg zoloft.  I don't think trying another anti-anxeity would help, but you could try.  Beacuse of the hyperness, we are trying a stimulant, even though I am not certain that my son has ADD, this could just be an affect from the Zoloft.  My thoughts are, to try the Concerta at a higher dose, see what that does.  If no luck you may want to try Tenex/ Intuniv to help with the side effects from the Zoloft.  If still no luck, you do have the possibility of decrease the Zoloft dosage, for usthe anxiety was far worse than the side effects(even though he does have an increase of racing thougths, hyperness, excessive talking, etc.).  My son would not leave the house or me, would not until we stareted Zolfot did he ever even speak to someone, so like I said the benefits far out way the side effects.  Good luck and keep us posted.I'm sorry to hear the combo with Zoloft and Concerta did not work for you.  I know it has to feel sooooo good when you do find the "right" medication/dosage?  We may be increasing to 27mg this weekend, however, the 18mg at this point is not showing great results.  Much more presistent with wanting and asking about things and i think it is wearing off during school(which is not good).  Our next step will be to add Intuniv to the mix with either the 18 or 27mg.  I am nervous because we tried Tenex a year ago and I just remember my son being very tired and very lazy looking.  I am horrible about not waiting several weeks to see if some of the side effects disappear, I will try something for about a week(max) and if there are no good reports, especailly at school, we stop meds.  This go around I am trying things for a bit longer, unless there are terrible side affects. Maybe the right combo is adding the Intuniv along with a stim and Zoloft, who knows?  Hopefully things will work out, I would love to hear a positive story of this working, in hopes that one day I will be able to post what a "great"week we have had at school.  Good luck and keep us posted!

We did the 27 mg Concerta for two terrible days, then called it quits. We are back to Zoloft only and have yet another doc appt. tomorrow.

On 27 mg. the anger and irritability returned full force. Same w/ the obsessive shoe tying and frustration. I think I am going to ask about adding Intuniv or tenex back into the mix, or see if the doc wants to try Strattera. We tried Intuniv back in Nov. but never got past the starting dose because it made her so tired, but since the Zoloft activates her so much perhaps it will counteract the tiredness?

Please post and let us know how the 27 mg. goes for you. Hopefully, it will work. Everyone is different! Keep trying!

Just curious Marykath if you have noticed a change from upping the Concerta to 27mg?  My son started Concerta 18mg on Sat. and we to have not noticed really any difference, are thinking about increasing to 27mg soon as well.

My daughter, 5, is on 25 mg Zoloft and 18 mg Concerta (which, by the way, we are upping to 27 mg on Saturday because the 18 isn't making a noticable difference).

Her mood improved greatly on the Zoloft, and her skin-picking and anxiety has gotten much better. But Zoloft activates her tremendously - she is now more hyper than she was un-medicated. And that is saying something! This is her fourth week of Zoloft.

My question: Are racing thoughts common on Zoloft? Although she seems very happy and not anxious, she has said several times that she cannot stop thinking about the dog next door (which she is fascinated with). She'll say her head is spinning, she is dizzy, and she can't get the dog out of her head.

Thoughts? Is this something we/she can live with, since Zoloft seems to be making her happy and comfortable?

Well, the Concerta 27mg was a total bust, became even more hyper than before, I think he was too stimulated.  Next route is Intuniv with the Zoloft, we are trying tomorrow, we are expecting yet again another big snow storm, so the children have been out of school the past week.  I am having a hard time keeping my sanity but being out of school has helped us adjust meds.  We are starting a 1/2 of 1mg in the morning along with the 25mg of Zoloft.  If this combo does not work, we will then try Strattera.  Hate to keep trying so many meds back to back, however, his school days are horrible, so I feel that I must keep trying.  This can be very mentally exhausting.

Our doc said recommended Strattera, since we have already been on two classes of stimulants as well as guanfacine (in the form of Intuniv). The Intuniv made A  extremely tired and sedated, although we did not try it at night. Perhaps we should have done that before we gave up on it.

We are only in the first week of Strattera, so no huge improvements, although it has calmed the Zoloft-induced craziness a bit. If Strattera doesn't work, the next move is Zoloft plus Tenex. If Strattera works some but not enough, he could perhaps add a stimulant to the mix.

Our doc is definately the one to recommend the med, although he will listen to us because he knows we are researching and doing our homework. We go to a pediatric neurologist and we travel 1 1/2 hours one way to see him.

He explained it this way: try a stimulant first; if that doesn't work, try a stim from another drug class or a short-acting stim; if that doesn't work, go to guanfacine (tenex or intuniv); if that doesn't work, Strattera. It can be a process! Hang in there!

We are planning to increase the Concerta to 27mg this weekend, keeping fingers crossed.  Concerta 18mg has helped with some things but not at all with focus.  Marykath, would did your doctor recommend?  Adding Intuniv/Tenex or the Strattera?  If this does not work, one of those will be our next option.  Sometimes, I get irritated with our doctor, he seems very much "on top of things", but he just seems to let us, the parents choose what medicine route to take next?  Mom2ADHDboy, did you try Strattera with your son before the stim/Intuniv/Zoloft?  Just trying to get info. before we give up on the stim. journey and try the Strattera route.  I know everyones chemistry is different, but it is nice to hear from those parents who's children also have anxiety and are taking Zoloft but need help with the lack of attention as well. thanks Zoloft makes my child's ADHD a lot worse.  He also has bad anxiety, so it's a balancing act.  We've found that combining a stimulant, Zoloft, and guanfacine (at first Tenex, and now Intuniv) has helped manage the ADHD and anxiety.  Guanfacine has helped us keep the anxiety managed while using a lower dose of Zoloft.