I understood from my doctor that the deadly rash could occur at anytime, even after you've been taking the drug for a number of years. And it doesn't kill instantaneously. One of his patients had the killer rash for months before he mentioned it to the doc and he recovered.

Teppy, at what point is the itch/rash NOT the zoloft? And then you could go back on it?

Here's what I did:

I started it about a month ago. 1 week into it, a friend asked if I were doing my makeup differently, because I looked glowy. About a week after that (so 2 weeks into the course), I started to come over all itchy and sunburn-feely. So I stopped taking it. After about 3-4 days, the itchy was basically gone.

I decided that correlation is not always causation, and so after I had been off it for a full week, I started taking it again, at half the dose (that was this past Friday, 6 days ago). By late Saturday, or possibly Sunday, I was itchy and flushed and sunburn-feely. Sunday night was the last dose I took.

That was enough of a re-challenge to convince me that it was the drug.

I saw my doctor Monday, and complained that I took Zoloft for 4 years, at a high-ass dose, and never had a problem. He said that that was brand-name Zoloft, and this is the generic. So, there's something in the generic that's screwing with me.

His recommendation was either switch to brand-name Zoloft and pay more, or try a different generic SSRI and see how I do. So whenever all this itchy goes away totally, I'm starting generic Prozac, and we'll see what happens.

Since it took 3-4 days for the itchiness to go away when I stopped the drug a couple of weeks ago, I'm assuming that, since I re-stopped it Sunday night, it'll be another day or two before it goes away this time.

(And surely if it were Evil Skin Falling Off Syndrome (didn't Kathy's Mom have that?) it would've happened by now, since you already stopped?)

In my reading, I'm a little confused about the clinical progression; it sounds like it can take 7-14 days to manifest, but I'm assuming that means 7-14 days *if* the person is on the drug. I don't know quite what the deal is with someone who stopped the drug.

My p-doc says he thinks I'm due for a med to actually, you know, work.

I frequently give thanks to whatever protective spirits are assigned to me that the first med my doc tried me on worked.

(didn't Kathy's Mom have that?)

Yes! That's why it sounded familiar. Very scary. (But, still, very very rare.)

He said that that was brand-name Zoloft, and this is the generic. So, there's something in the generic that's screwing with me.

73% of generic drugs are cut with itching powder.*




*I made this up.

Gotcha, Teppy. Sounds...rash-tastic. Dang. But does sound like hopefully it should be all gone soon. Eesh.

Randomly: watermelon laffy taffy? YUM. I think I just really like fake watermelon flavor.

This will be... number seven, including the adjuncts. Abilify was the only one that did anything; it didn't last and I was falling asleep at work all the time. As much as I struggle, I would be so much worse off without DBT. All hail Brain Camp, as a friend calls it.

meara, I don't know if you saw my facebook status yesterday, but I just want you to be aware that the Oscar Grant murder trial might end with a verdict next week that will result in riots in Oakland. My police friends have told me that it might be announced the night of the 2nd, or the night of the 6th. Apparently murder has been thrown out, and the jury will decide on acquital or manslaughter. I am normally not an alarmist at all, but this is basically Oakland's version of the Rodney King case. I am worried about you staying in downtown Oakland when the verdict comes out.

My friend Robyn's husband is a Marin cop, and he has been notified that he (and cops from all over the state) will be called to Oakland, with all of their riot gear.

I am afraid for my city, to be blunt.

73% of generic drugs are cut with itching powder.*

At this point, I believe it.

This will be... number seven, including the adjuncts.

I have started and stopped about 4 antidepressants in the last 6 months alone. Back when I was on the combo of Wellbutrin and (apparently brand-name and therefore non-itchy) Zoloft, I should have stayed with it.

My friend Robyn's husband is a Marin cop, and he has been notified that he (and cops from all over the state) will be called to Oakland, with all of their riot gear.

I am afraid for my city, to be blunt.

So, is the assumption that it's looking like acquittal, then?