Question:
For those who have had a positive response on Zoloft (for obsessions only), can you describe the benefit/dosage/time until benefit. thanks.
Response:
It helped for obsessions But it caused me other problems (sleep/sexual function) so I am now trying Nardil Steve
Response:
Hello Everyone 
I would like to find out how Zoloft does with OCD. You see, I’m on 30 mgs. of Paxil, which my pdoc notices that it isn’t doing too much with my OCD and wants to switch me to Zoloft. What she wants to do is, starting tonight, take 50 mgs. of Zoloft while taking 30 mgs. of Paxil (my usual dosage) until this Sunday, then switch down to 20 mgs. of Paxil, while still taking the 50 mgs. of Zoloft. When I go in to counseling next week, the pdoc wants to up the dosage of Zoloft to 100 mgs. and go down on the Paxil to 10 mgs., starting a week from this Sunday. I would like to know if anyone has any experience with Zoloft with OCD. Any help is appreciated; thanks in advance. Christine
Response:
In article <3AD65C38.5…@epix.net
, Christine Geary <cge…@epix.net wrote: Hello Everyone I would like to know if anyone has any experience with Zoloft with OCD. Any help is appreciated; thanks in advance.
I started out on Zoloft. It worked fairly well, but, like all SSRIs, there were side effects. When I first started taking it, and ever time my dosage was raised, I’d spend about week where I couldn’t get past 7pm. I’d become so tired that I had to go to bed. I also lost weight while taking it. It was the later that resulted in a persciption change. Zoloft is an SSRI, like Paxil and Prozac. Like the others, how it works depends on who’s taking it. -Terrie
Response:
Thanks for the information; I appreciate it very much. Christine
Response:
1 1/2 years ago i went on zoloft before i had ocd etc.. i went on it because i had a concentration difficulty, but when i was on it i thought i was on the edge of absolute genius and finding the ‘truth’ etc.. went really high, and when coming off it i pretty much fell to pieces.. that was after about 2 weeks. couple months later i went on aurorix and they screwed me up even more.. thats when ocd got really bad.. but zoloft started it all now i’m probably schizophrenic.. but it could just be ocd/major depression, gotta get checked out more anyway, not to scare you off, because it is meant to be one of the safer ones, i think.. they couldn’t really understand why it had the effect it had. i thought i could, but don’t know anymore. the docs almost seem in denial that it had anything to do with what happened. kinda pisses me off – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Christine Geary wrote:
Hello Everyone I would like to find out how Zoloft does with OCD. You see, I’m on 30 mgs. of Paxil, which my pdoc notices that it isn’t doing too much with my OCD and wants to switch me to Zoloft. What she wants to do is, starting tonight, take 50 mgs. of Zoloft while taking 30 mgs. of Paxil (my usual dosage) until this Sunday, then switch down to 20 mgs. of Paxil, while still taking the 50 mgs. of Zoloft. When I go in to counseling next week, the pdoc wants to up the dosage of Zoloft to 100 mgs. and go down on the Paxil to 10 mgs., starting a week from this Sunday. I would like to know if anyone has any experience with Zoloft with OCD. Any help is appreciated; thanks in advance. Christine
Response:
You do not sound like you a schizophrenic. You sound like you are manic-depressive and SSRI’s have been known to set off episodes of mania in some people. You probably need to take a mood stabilizer with it, such as Lithium, Neurontin, Tegretol, Depakote, etc…… Ida "mahja-urana @yahoo.com
" <"snafuper<erase wrote in message
news:3AD7E72B.C208C04E@yahoo.com…
1 1/2 years ago i went on zoloft before i had ocd etc.. i went on it
because i had a
concentration difficulty, but when i was on it i thought i was on the edge
of absolute
genius and finding the ‘truth’ etc.. went really high, and when coming off
it i pretty much
fell to pieces.. that was after about 2 weeks. couple months later i went on aurorix and they screwed me up even more..
thats when ocd got
really bad.. but zoloft started it all now i’m probably schizophrenic.. but it could just be ocd/major
depression, gotta get – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
checked out more anyway, not to scare you off, because it is meant to be one of the safer
ones, i think..
they couldn’t really understand why it had the effect it had. i thought i
could, but don’t
know anymore. the docs almost seem in denial that it had anything to do
with what happened.
kinda pisses me off Christine Geary wrote: Hello Everyone I would like to find out how Zoloft does with OCD. You see, I’m on 30
mgs. of Paxil,
which my pdoc notices that it isn’t doing too much with my OCD and wants
to switch me to
Zoloft. What she wants to do is, starting tonight, take 50 mgs. of
Zoloft while taking
30 mgs. of Paxil (my usual dosage) until this Sunday, then switch down
to 20 mgs. of
Paxil, while still taking the 50 mgs. of Zoloft. When I go in to
counseling next week, – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
the pdoc wants to up the dosage of Zoloft to 100 mgs. and go down on the
Paxil to 10
mgs., starting a week from this Sunday. I would like to know if anyone has any experience with Zoloft with OCD.
Any help is
appreciated; thanks in advance. Christine
Response:
Hello Everyone I would like to find out how Zoloft does with OCD.
Zoloft may help you or may not, it depends on your system blah blah. Every med affects different people, blah blah. They are similar/with different trade names. They have not been thoroughly tested. Your doctor (do you have one?) may be afraid to tell you that. It is not my body and I I don’t care.
Response:
Thanks for the information; I appreciate it very much. BTW, I’m on Zyprexa for my moods. Christine
Response:
I’m on Prozac for my OCD, and Depakote for my moods. I’m not manic- depressive but my emotions were pretty wild. Depakote has helped alot. -Kathy in Maine "Christine Geary" <cge…@epix.net
wrote in message
news:3AD896A6.65AC@epix.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
Thanks for the information; I appreciate it very much. BTW, I’m on Zyprexa for my moods. Christine
Response:
Hi I just started taking Zoloft three days ago. Starting at 25mg/day, just wondering about people’s experience on Zoloft. I havn’t had any side effects from it yet, it may be still to early. slb02
Response:
I took Zoloft for 2 years. It worked well for me. It gave me a little diahrrhea (not intolerable but just once every day or two, loose stools). After about 2 years, it stopped being effective but it was good for those 2 years. Ida – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -slb02 <sl…@home.com
wrote in message news:382A3595.FDDF727D@home.com… Hi I just started taking Zoloft three days ago. Starting at 25mg/day, just wondering about people’s experience on Zoloft. I havn’t had any side effects from it yet, it may be still to early. slb02
Response:
Zoloft does not help with OCD. I took it for three months and found not much success. I switched to Paxil and within 2 to 3 weeks was symtom free-completely. It works great for pure obsessions. I do not have any compulsions, so I do not know how it works for that. The dosage for OCD is 40 to 60 mg. I was taking 100 mg of Zoloft with no success. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -slb02 wrote:
Hi I just started taking Zoloft three days ago. Starting at 25mg/day, just wondering about people’s experience on Zoloft. I havn’t had any side effects from it yet, it may be still to early. slb02
Response:
everybody is different but it started a balding pattern in me ,
Response:
Hi there, I found that while Zoloft helped me feel better, it kept me awake for days. However, many people have had great success with Zoloft, so it’s all variable by person. Besides the insomnia I had very little other side effects, however with Paxil I got those famous sexual side effects and irritability. Good luck! Take care, Jonathan "There is nothing like a challenge to bring out the best in man." –Sean Connery
Response:
I was on Zoloft for for 2 yrs and then it eventually pooped out. It did help with the OCD and depression, but it took 4 months to reach the full benefit. Side effects were: insomnia, lots of weight gain, night sweats & dry mouth. Mary
Response:
I’ve been sleeping okay with it so far, but I’m still only on 25 mg. How did it help you feel better? Are you more obsessive or compulsive? I’m more obsessive. slb – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -"Jonathan R." wrote:
Hi there, I found that while Zoloft helped me feel better, it kept me awake for days. However, many people have had great success with Zoloft, so it’s all variable by person. Besides the insomnia I had very little other side effects, however with Paxil I got those famous sexual side effects and irritability. Good luck! Take care, Jonathan "There is nothing like a challenge to bring out the best in man." –Sean Connery
Response:
hi how much were you taking at 4 months? Did it help with obsessions? Are you taking a different med now? is it helping? slb. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -INaFog5716 wrote:
I was on Zoloft for for 2 yrs and then it eventually pooped out. It did help with the OCD and depression, but it took 4 months to reach the full benefit. Side effects were: insomnia, lots of weight gain, night sweats & dry mouth. Mary
Response:
Thanks…. I hope it helps me, but I will try Paxil if it doesn’t, I am mostly obsessive too. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -donna black wrote:
Zoloft does not help with OCD. I took it for three months and found not much success. I switched to Paxil and within 2 to 3 weeks was symtom free-completely. It works great for pure obsessions. I do not have any compulsions, so I do not know how it works for that. The dosage for OCD is 40 to 60 mg. I was taking 100 mg of Zoloft with no success. slb02 wrote: Hi I just started taking Zoloft three days ago. Starting at 25mg/day, just wondering about people’s experience on Zoloft. I havn’t had any side effects from it yet, it may be still to early. slb02
Response:
On Thu, 11 Nov 1999 22:53:42 -0600, donna black <dbl…@zebra.net
wrote:
Zoloft does not help with OCD. I took it for three months and found not much success. I switched to Paxil and within 2 to 3 weeks was symtom free-completely. It works great for pure obsessions. I do not have any compulsions, so I do not know how it works for that. The dosage for OCD is 40 to 60 mg. I was taking 100 mg of Zoloft with no success.
…Zoloft DOES help with OCD. I have been on it for 14 months now, and my life has improved so much, I can’t believe it. Everyone is different. Just because it didn’t work for you, doesn’t mean it doesn’t work. CanadaMan
Response:
On Thu, 11 Nov 1999 03:15:18 GMT, slb02 <sl…@home.com
wrote: Hi I just started taking Zoloft three days ago. Starting at 25mg/day, just wondering about people’s experience on Zoloft. I havn’t had any side effects from it yet, it may be still to early. slb02
Zoloft has been a miracle drug for me. I’ve been taking it for 6 years. Most of the time I was on 150 mg. 2 years ago I went down to 100 mg. My side effects have been diarreah and less horniness. Energo Ed
Response:
In article <38374566.6841…@newsread.cioe.com
,
ene…@fwa.cioe.com (Energo Ed) wrote:
On Thu, 11 Nov 1999 03:15:18 GMT, slb02
<sl…@home.com
wrote: Hi I just started taking Zoloft three days
ago. Starting at 25mg/day,
just wondering about people’s experience on
Zoloft. I havn’t had any
side effects from it yet, it may be still to
early.
slb02 Zoloft has been a miracle drug for me. I’ve
been taking it for 6
years. Most of the time I was on 150 mg. 2
years ago I went down to
100 mg. My side effects have been diarreah and
less horniness.
Energo Ed
I’ve been on Zoloft 100mg for about 4 months. One of my side effects has been waking up at night in a cold sweat. It only happens once a night about 8 hours after I’ve taken the Zoloft. The only other side effect has been delayed ejaculation. Actually I’ve started to learn how to control that problem and am now able to have muliple orgasms without ejaculating until I want to. Makes the wife very happy 
Happy Hank Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.
Response:
In article <38374566.6841…@newsread.cioe.com
,
ene…@fwa.cioe.com (Energo Ed) wrote:
On Thu, 11 Nov 1999 03:15:18 GMT, slb02
<sl…@home.com
wrote: Hi I just started taking Zoloft three days
ago. Starting at 25mg/day,
just wondering about people’s experience on
Zoloft. I havn’t had any
side effects from it yet, it may be still to
early.
slb02 Zoloft has been a miracle drug for me. I’ve
been taking it for 6
years. Most of the time I was on 150 mg. 2
years ago I went down to
100 mg. My side effects have been diarreah and
less horniness.
Energo Ed
I’ve been on Zoloft 100mg for about 4 months. One of my side effects has been waking up at night in a cold sweat. It only happens once a night about 8 hours after I’ve taken the Zoloft. The only other side effect has been delayed ejaculation. Actually I’ve started to learn how to control that problem and am now able to have muliple orgasms without ejaculating until I want to. Makes the wife very happy Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.
Response:
Anyone got any suggestions for postive help in young children? Age 10-12? does it work? any negative side affects that would not have been there w/o the drug? Thanks—- Lynn BTW I’m new so don’t pick on me……
Response:
LYNN32141 wrote:
Anyone got any suggestions for postive help in young children?
None, I’m afraid. But welcome to the newsgroup!
BTW I’m new so don’t pick on me……
Sshhhhhhhhhh, quiet everybody……….. BOO!!! Kind regards, Steve
Response:
thanks Scott…… the educating OTHERS <and I put it in big print
is
probably more the difficult task than just living with her as I do…. Lynn
Response:
hehehe thanks Steve……… <grin
Lynn
Response:
What have people experienced as side effects with Zoloft for OCD and how long did it take to see a response? Thanks!!–Cindy
Response:
Cindy, Although I am not taking Zoloft for OCD I have been on it for almost 6 weeks now and the only side efects I have are drowiness (which usually wears off in the morning as I take it at 6AM) and nervousness, jittery, heightened anxiety, etc. Start at a low dosage 25mg and increase it gradually after 7-10 days (or more) depending on how you feel. I was on 25mg for 28 days, then 37.5mg for 6 days and then on to 50mg. Weaning in on lower dosages may make the side effects more tolerable. Check with your doctor about weaning on it more slowly. Also, ask him for some Xanax to help control the nervosuness, etc. As always, YMMV. Gene in New Jersey – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
What have people experienced as side effects with Zoloft for OCD and how long did it take to see a response? Thanks!!–Cindy
Response:
In article <37E9B9B4.5…@slonet.org
, cwebs…@slonet.org wrote: What have people experienced as side effects with Zoloft for OCD and how long did it take to see a response? Thanks!!–Cindy
My biggest side-effects were increased anxiety from tremors (especially for the first several hours after taking it), diarrhea, dry mouth, and several other minor things…All of these got much better or went away within several weeks…I got full-effect from the Zoloft after about 8 weeks…However, I was taking for anxiety…Supposedly, for OCD it may take 12 weeks to see a full-response… Chuck — Charles Phipps
Response:
know what i experienced with zoloft, the fucking pill activated hair loss and now it wont stop falling out!! fuck!!!!!!!!!!
Response:
oh yeah…now I remember you cause of the hair loss thing…that sucks cause of a stupid med…see…all meds bad…it helps one thing to destroy another
Gaze fondly upon today for tomorrow is boundto suck worse
Response:
All meds aren’t bad. It’s true that they usually have some sort of side effect but sometimes the side effects aren’t as bad as the disease. It all depends on the severity of your OCD. Ida Trixie P <naz…@webtv.net
wrote in message
news:29202-37EB0D57-191@newsd-173.iap.bryant.webtv.net… oh yeah…now I remember you cause of the hair loss thing…that sucks cause of a stupid med…see…all meds bad…it helps one thing to destroy another Gaze fondly upon today for tomorrow is bound to suck worse
Response:
Cindy Webster <cwebs…@slonet.org
wrote in message
news:37E9B9B4.54BB@slonet.org…
What have people experienced as side effects with Zoloft for OCD and how long did it take to see a response? Thanks!!–Cindy
Zoloft didn’t help my OCD, and it made my appetite increase.
Response:
Cindy Webster <cwebs…@slonet.org wrote in message news:37E9B9B4.54BB@slonet.org… What have people experienced as side effects with Zoloft for OCD and how long did it take to see a response? Thanks!!–Cindy
Zoloft sucks. I take it more for the panic-stress disorder than I do for the ocd. Kim says it works; says I’m a different person. I’m sure it helps me a little, but I’m thinking the only thing that’ll help me now is seclusion. I need to be separated from everything around me. I feel fine when I’m by myself, but just let one person approach me and I panic inside. I’m always afraid my wife will catch me doing something wrong even though I never do anything. Other than work, I hardly ever leave the yard. My best friend lives around the corner from us, so I occasionally go over there. Most of the time though, he is over here. I have a confession… I quit taking the Zoloft about a week ago. If Kim knows, she hasn’t said anything. I’m just tired of taking pills. It’s bad enough that I have to have 3 injections of insulin every day to stay alive. Why can’t I just wake up, shower, and go about my business like normal people do? — Duane Type1 Diabetic, OCD, PSD Insulin, Diet, Exercise, and a butt load of Zoloft. Jesus Saves! (by shopping wisely and using double coupons)
Response:
Duane wrote:
I have a confession… I quit taking the Zoloft about a week ago.
Hi Duane, Did you do this under medical supervision? If you are feeling more panicky than usual or have any other symptoms then it’s because you stopped taking the Zoloft. Have a look at the thread from Jonathan R. called "Paxil withdrawal and dizziness". Going cold turkey can be very hazardous to your health and it’s important to never just stop taking anti-depressants unless told to do so. Usually, the dose has to be gradually reduced over a long period of time to avoid what’s called "withdrawal syndrome". Regards, Steve
Response:
did you talk to the doc before you stopped the med .. in case of serious withdrawl … if not you should call the doc … and do not start them again unless you talk to the doc – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -duane wrote:
Cindy Webster <cwebs…@slonet.org wrote in message news:37E9B9B4.54BB@slonet.org… What have people experienced as side effects with Zoloft for OCD and how long did it take to see a response? Thanks!!–Cindy Zoloft sucks. I take it more for the panic-stress disorder than I do for the ocd. Kim says it works; says I’m a different person. I’m sure it helps me a little, but I’m thinking the only thing that’ll help me now is seclusion. I need to be separated from everything around me. I feel fine when I’m by myself, but just let one person approach me and I panic inside. I’m always afraid my wife will catch me doing something wrong even though I never do anything. Other than work, I hardly ever leave the yard. My best friend lives around the corner from us, so I occasionally go over there. Most of the time though, he is over here. I have a confession… I quit taking the Zoloft about a week ago. If Kim knows, she hasn’t said anything. I’m just tired of taking pills. It’s bad enough that I have to have 3 injections of insulin every day to stay alive. Why can’t I just wake up, shower, and go about my business like normal people do? — Duane Type1 Diabetic, OCD, PSD Insulin, Diet, Exercise, and a butt load of Zoloft. Jesus Saves! (by shopping wisely and using double coupons)
Response:
Zoloft SUCKS! Everybody in this NG knows I am a counter. I count EVERYTHING… even my Zoloft dosages. Then I obsess over whether or not I took the right amount… too much or too little. I am in withdrawal. My wife knows. She told me yesterday that she knew. She is totally pissed. And to answer the question, no, I didn’t do this under my Pdoc’s direction. I just did it. I want to be normal and normal people don’t have to take pills to survive. They don’t have to be insulin junkies either. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Stephen George wrote:
Duane wrote: I have a confession… I quit taking the Zoloft about a week ago. Hi Duane, Did you do this under medical supervision? If you are feeling more panicky than usual or have any other symptoms then it’s because you stopped taking the Zoloft. Have a look at the thread from Jonathan R. called "Paxil withdrawal and dizziness". Going cold turkey can be very hazardous to your health and it’s important to never just stop taking anti-depressants unless told to do so. Usually, the dose has to be gradually reduced over a long period of time to avoid what’s called "withdrawal syndrome". Regards, Steve
— Duane Type1 Diabetic, OCD, PSD Insulin (but not for long… gonna quit that too), Diet, Exercise, and no Zoloft whatsoever. Jesus Saves! (by shopping wisely and using double coupons)
Response:
Duane wrote:
Zoloft SUCKS! Everybody in this NG knows I am a counter. I count EVERYTHING… even my Zoloft dosages. Then I obsess over whether or not I took the right amount… too much or too little. I am in
withdrawal.
My wife knows. She told me yesterday that she knew. She is totally pissed.
I’m not surprised!
And to answer the question, no, I didn’t do this under my Pdoc’s direction. I just did it. I want to be normal and normal people don’t have to take pills to survive. They don’t have to be insulin junkies either.
My mother takes drugs (for Colitis) to stay alive. Has done for 35 years. Are you saying that she’s not normal? Millions of people take billions of pills, some of them to survive. Sounds pretty smart and normal to me!
Duane Type1 Diabetic, OCD, PSD Insulin (but not for long… gonna quit that too), Diet, Exercise, and no Zoloft whatsoever.
Come on Duane! GET REAL!!!!!! I live in England – how the fu*k can I afford to travel to your funeral??? Maybe I could just about afford to send some nice flowers… Like I said – GET REAL!!!!!! Do it before your wife calls your shrink and he kicks your ass – hard!!! Kind regards, Steve
Response:
Hi Duane sounds like your fed up with all your shit…Just for my curiosity what other meds have the doc tried with you … From what I have read and heard meds and o.c.d. and t.s. are trial and error.. the average would would 3-6 months trial ..because they increase and decrease dosages gradually ..for good reasons… then off for I think is 2 weeks dry then the next med …there is also, as all of you know combos which work well together…. I heard somewhere that the pharmaceutical industry is working on drugs which are "designer pills" oppose to the general targeting would be more fine tuned for specific brain function… the drawback, like any thing else in this world is that enough paying customers have to be ready on the sidelines to pay big bucks.. Duane I know this is asking a lot ..but try if at all possible to be patient as you go through all your days …I’ll quote my son ..".Dad I would rather be on my pills and get real fat than having all these f****** evil thoughts about you" he still hasn’t told me what theses thoughts are …2 years ago he said that he has gone from 34 to 44 waist …. I know how much this hurts him .. after losing all the weight from 40 to 34 the years prior. Anyway off topic sorry Duane Good luck sir ..will be thinking about you and your family. Ray M. ..a little ray of sunshine.. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -duane wrote:
Zoloft SUCKS! Everybody in this NG knows I am a counter. I count EVERYTHING… even my Zoloft dosages. Then I obsess over whether or not I took the right amount… too much or too little. I am in withdrawal. My wife knows. She told me yesterday that she knew. She is totally pissed. And to answer the question, no, I didn’t do this under my Pdoc’s direction. I just did it. I want to be normal and normal people don’t have to take pills to survive. They don’t have to be insulin junkies either. Stephen George wrote: Duane wrote: I have a confession… I quit taking the Zoloft about a week ago. Hi Duane, Did you do this under medical supervision? If you are feeling more panicky than usual or have any other symptoms then it’s because you stopped taking the Zoloft. Have a look at the thread from Jonathan R. called "Paxil withdrawal and dizziness". Going cold turkey can be very hazardous to your health and it’s important to never just stop taking anti-depressants unless told to do so. Usually, the dose has to be gradually reduced over a long period of time to avoid what’s called "withdrawal syndrome". Regards, Steve — Duane Type1 Diabetic, OCD, PSD Insulin (but not for long… gonna quit that too), Diet, Exercise, and no Zoloft whatsoever. Jesus Saves! (by shopping wisely and using double coupons)
Response:
Duane, you sound so freaking disgusted! I know just how you feel. About once or twice a year, I will get totally fed up with my meds (usually due to the side-effects) and I will either reduce them or change them. I hate having a diminished sex life, being tired all the time, constipated, whatever (depending on the drug). For the most part, I have accepted that I will probably have to be on some sort of anti-depressant for the REST OF MY LIFE!!!! It really pisses me off. Because OCD is a mental illness, I feel weak that I can’t control this on my own. My doctor makes me feel a little better by reminding me I wouldn’t be so critical of someone who had to take antihypertensives for high blood pressure and he is right. But I am tougher on myself than I am on other people. I want to be normal, too! And when the medicines are working well, I get a little taste of normal life and I think I can do it on my own but I can’t. Maybe some of the other people on this group can do it, but I have been fighting this stupid disease long enough to know that I am not one of them. I need medications to function. I hope you can find a drug that agrees with you a little better. Keep looking. Ida duane <d_har…@tyler.net
wrote in message
news:37F80F6E.38E918CD@tyler.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
Zoloft SUCKS! Everybody in this NG knows I am a counter. I count EVERYTHING… even my Zoloft dosages. Then I obsess over whether or not I took the right amount… too much or too little. I am in withdrawal. My wife knows. She told me yesterday that she knew. She is totally pissed. And to answer the question, no, I didn’t do this under my Pdoc’s direction. I just did it. I want to be normal and normal people don’t have to take pills to survive. They don’t have to be insulin junkies either. Stephen George wrote: Duane wrote: I have a confession… I quit taking the Zoloft about a week ago. Hi Duane, Did you do this under medical supervision? If you are feeling more panicky than usual or have any other symptoms then it’s because you stopped taking the Zoloft. Have a look at the thread from Jonathan R. called "Paxil withdrawal and dizziness". Going cold turkey can be very hazardous to your health and it’s important to never just stop taking anti-depressants unless told to do so. Usually, the dose has to be gradually reduced over a long period of time to avoid what’s called "withdrawal syndrome". Regards, Steve — Duane Type1 Diabetic, OCD, PSD Insulin (but not for long… gonna quit that too), Diet, Exercise, and no Zoloft whatsoever. Jesus Saves! (by shopping wisely and using double coupons)
Response:
Hi peeps, long time no speak! Has anyone else found that the effects of Zoloft have worn off on them? It used to be the best for me! But suddenly it just doesn’t have as much impact even at higher doses! Any suggestions? Am going to see a psychiatrist and get another med, any ideas? What was that offshoot of celexa everyone was talking about recently called? Thanks, Hope everyone is well! (At least a bit better than me!) Love Am. xxx
Response:
Yes, the same thing happened to me. It worked well for about 1 or 2 years and all of a sudden, it did not work anymore. I switched to Paxil & stayed on that one for years. NK "Pola_Pink" <pola_pin…@no.spam.hotmail.com
wrote in message
news:QMgJa.621$Ev4.36453@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
Hi peeps, long time no speak! Has anyone else found that the effects of Zoloft have worn off on them? It used to be the best for me! But suddenly it just doesn’t have as much impact even at higher doses! Any suggestions? Am going to see a psychiatrist and get another med, any ideas? What was that offshoot of celexa everyone was talking about recently called? Thanks, Hope everyone is well! (At least a bit better than me!) Love Am. xxx
Response:
I’ve been on it for almost 10 years. It is still the miracle drug for me. Monty On Sun, 22 Jun 2003 21:50:45 +1000, "Pola_Pink" – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -<pola_pin…@no.spam.hotmail.com
wrote: Hi peeps, long time no speak! Has anyone else found that the effects of Zoloft have worn off on them? It used to be the best for me! But suddenly it just doesn’t have as much impact even at higher doses! Any suggestions? Am going to see a psychiatrist and get another med, any ideas? What was that offshoot of celexa everyone was talking about recently called? Thanks, Hope everyone is well! (At least a bit better than me!) Love Am. xxx
Response:
Lexapro? Seems to be working for my brother’s obsessions. He’s not as stressed as he once was. "Pola_Pink" <pola_pin…@no.spam.hotmail.com
wrote in message
news:QMgJa.621$Ev4.36453@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
Hi peeps, long time no speak! Has anyone else found that the effects of Zoloft have worn off on them? It used to be the best for me! But suddenly it just doesn’t have as much impact even at higher doses! Any suggestions? Am going to see a psychiatrist and get another med, any ideas? What was that offshoot of celexa everyone was talking about recently called? Thanks, Hope everyone is well! (At least a bit better than me!) Love Am. xxx
Response:
kd <k…@kf.com
wrote: Lexapro? Seems to be working for my brother’s obsessions. He’s not as stressed as he once was.
Is this another SSRI, or in another class? I’m starting to think maybe the SSRIs aren’t for me because of some nasty side-effects, tho it’s too early to tell. I’d be curious if there was something else out there a bit different that might work for ocd & gad. Thanks for any info. bill __ alien…@earthlink.net
Response:
Yes. I do believe Lexapro is in the same family as Celexa NK "williamd" <alien…@earthlink.net
wrote in message
news:1fx10cs.yfgpnwosq0owN%alienmac@earthlink.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
kd <k…@kf.com wrote: Lexapro? Seems to be working for my brother’s obsessions. He’s not as stressed as he once was. Is this another SSRI, or in another class? I’m starting to think maybe the SSRIs aren’t for me because of some nasty side-effects, tho it’s too early to tell. I’d be curious if there was something else out there a bit different that might work for ocd & gad. Thanks for any info. bill __ alien…@earthlink.net
Response:
Oh, it is. What I read was the Celexa was not a pure form of the medicine so they made this (lexapro) to be a more potent form. This allows them to regulate the amount better so you can be eased into the medicine’s effects. "No Kidding!" <nokidd…@ria.net(NOSPAMPLEASE)
wrote in message
news:bdavrm$8af$1@slb9.atl.mindspring.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Yes. I do believe Lexapro is in the same family as Celexa > NK > "williamd" <alien…@earthlink.net
wrote in message
> news:1fx10cs.yfgpnwosq0owN%alienmac@earthlink.net… > > kd <k…@kf.com> wrote: > > > Lexapro? Seems to be working for my brother’s obsessions. He’s not as > > > stressed as he once was. > > Is this another SSRI, or in another class? I’m starting to think maybe > > the SSRIs aren’t for me because of some nasty side-effects, tho it’s too > > early to tell. I’d be curious if there was something else out there a > > bit different that might work for ocd & gad. Thanks for any info. > > bill > > __ > > alien…@earthlink.net
Response:
zoloft didn’t work well for me, and now i’m trying paxil. everyone is different i guess, so it’s trial and error before finding the one that’s right for you TB "Pola_Pink" <pola_pin…@no.spam.hotmail.com
wrote in message
news:QMgJa.621$Ev4.36453@nnrp1.ozemail.com.au… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
Hi peeps, long time no speak! Has anyone else found that the effects of Zoloft have worn off on them? It used to be the best for me! But suddenly it just doesn’t have as much impact even at higher doses! Any suggestions? Am going to see a psychiatrist and get another med, any ideas? What was that offshoot of celexa everyone was talking about recently called? Thanks, Hope everyone is well! (At least a bit better than me!) Love Am. xxx
Response:
. Now it seems that every one I try–even the Luvox–makes me have no desire to eat. My question is, has anyone experienced this before, and does it go away with time.
Yes, I have/do experience this. I’ve been on 100 mg of Zoloft for 2 years. I cut down to 50 for awhile then went back to 100 and when I did I felt a major loss in appetite. I still only eat 2 meals a day and sometimes am not interested in eating dinner at all. I do however have the dreaded "carb" cravings.
Response:
Hi Chris. Glad to see you back. Are you *sure* it’s the meds that are causing you to lose your appetite (instead of depression or some other cause)? If your appetite returns without being on the meds, than I guess so…… When I got depressed, one of my biggest symptoms was lack of appetite, although certains meds did not help in this area. The old tricylics (I took Pamalor) are great appetite stimulants. Prozac & Celexa did not help my appetite at all. Good drug if you’re depressed and overweight. NK "Chris" <ezra…@excite.com
wrote in message
news:3F043FBD.8070708@excite.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
Hi guys, haven’t been here for a while… I’ve tried a few different meds over the last few months: Celexa, Effexor, Luvox (which I had taken a few years ago with no problems), and now I’m on Zoloft, 50 mg. With each of the drugs I have tried since this past January, all of the have caused me to completely lose my appetite. I was put on Luvox in 98 and had no problem and was on it for two years. Then I stopped the meds. altogether and also had no problem. Now it seems that every one I try–even the Luvox–makes me have no desire to eat. My question is, has anyone experienced this before, and does it go away with time. I’ve only been on this for about a week. Any feedback would be great. Thanks. Chris
Response:
Hi guys, haven’t been here for a while… I’ve tried a few different meds over the last few months: Celexa, Effexor, Luvox (which I had taken a few years ago with no problems), and now I’m on Zoloft, 50 mg. With each of the drugs I have tried since this past January, all of the have caused me to completely lose my appetite. I was put on Luvox in 98 and had no problem and was on it for two years. Then I stopped the meds. altogether and also had no problem. Now it seems that every one I try–even the Luvox–makes me have no desire to eat. My question is, has anyone experienced this before, and does it go away with time. I’ve only been on this for about a week. Any feedback would be great. Thanks. Chris
Response:
Question:
I sure do know about those meetings with the stone faced and tight lipped teachers and the tables like aircraft carriers!!!
George and Cathi- I know about these too. I get anxious every time I walk into my son’s school (which is every day to pick him up) when the teachers accost me. It is always them against me. And I say to myself, if this is how I feel, imagine how my child must feel! Judy
Response:
Why is it that the educators are so slow when it comes to Tourette’s and ADD. Why can’t they understand it? One produces books, papers, professional educational advocates and testers, neurologists and psychopharmacologists to explain it to them , and they still don’t get it. Why is there no accountbility in our educational system? Does the American Civil Disabities act address discrimination against the handicapped in our public school ? Dr. George
Response:
I have a unique perspective of this being both a teacher and a mother of a child with TS. In college, a BA and a MA degree, I never learned one bit about TS or ADD. Everything I know I learned on my own as I had to deal with students with ADD and now my TS son. As educators, we walk a very find line. The law says we have to educate everyone. The problem is these children can be very disruptive in a classroom. Then the parents of the other children complain. It is very difficult to keep all of the parents happy. In a large school, children who do not succeed in one classroom can always change to another. In the school where I teach, there is only one class of 5th grade. There also are no private schools. Again, if you have problems contact the Office of Civil Rights. They are the branch that investivates and doles out punishment for schools that violate children’s civil rights. All of these services are FREE. Contact them through a hotline for the handicapped or your state education department.
Response:
"They" don’t get it….unless "they" have to…or, perchance, "they" are among the more compassionate, devoted, and tireless (of which there ARE many). Good rule of thumb..don’t assume that all "professionals" are humanists. Take charge of your own destiny..and make certain that "they" have what "they" need to treat you, and your children, correctly. If they don’t, see that they do. One way or another. KAT in CT In <4frn9a$…@newsbf02.news.aol.com
drgeor1…@aol.com (DrGeor107a)
writes:
Why is it that the educators are so slow when it comes to Tourette’s
and
ADD. Why can’t they understand it? One produces books, papers, professional educational advocates and testers, neurologists and
psychopharmacologists – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
to explain it to them , and they still don’t get it. Why is there no accountbility in our educational system? Does the American Civil Disabities act address discrimination against the handicapped in our public school ? Dr. George
Response:
darc…@aol.com (DarcieG) wrote:
The problem is these children can be very disruptive in a classroom. Then the parents of the other children complain. It is very difficult to keep all of the parents happy.
Yup. Consider the mother of two sons, one tourettic, the other "normal". Her normal boy is in a classroom with a severly disabled student who needs constant attention; her tourettic boy is disrupting his own class. She’s experiencing it from both perspectives. It is hard to find the philosophical middle ground. I was a difficult, disruptive student, back in the bad old pre-LD, pre-TS days of the 50’s and 60’s. My sisters and my father (all educators) glare at me when I say this, but I have long favored the so-called voucher plan where the government gives the parent of each child a voucher valid for education. It’s up to the parent to match the school to the child. With a diagnosis of TS and what we know now, I would have done well in a small private school, considerably better than I did in huge public schools. In the larger cities at least, there is the critical mass of special students necessary to support such schools; the public system, however, is inescapably (and often necessarily) mired in a slow moving, slowly reacting, and frequently unresponsive bureaucracy. Nobody, including the parents of "normal" children seems happy with the US public school system. (But consider our non-US readers, from South Africa, Canada, Ireland or Israel, dealing with radically different systems of public education; we actually have it pretty good in the US). — Mark Odegard mlom…@nyc.pipeline.com
Response:
It is not fair to generalize about educators . I have found that they are very willing to learn about Tourett’s and will try to make adaptations in their programs. Of course, not all educators are "open" but neither are they all "closed". Educators are facing many more challenges in the classroom right now. Public support is most important. I provide a package of materials for teachers and other people working with my daughter. I also make myself available to the teachers. I also speak to groups of teachers in inservice situation. Regards, Ramona Jennex Williams
Response:
In article <4fqhv3$…@newsbf02.news.aol.com, heyjud…@aol.com (HeyJude49) writes: (written by someone else) I sure do know about those meetings with the stone faced and tight lipped teachers and the tables like aircraft carriers!!! What a great analogy! I have a follow up meeting tomorrow with Jason’s teachers. I wonder if I should prepare an opening joke <G. Bonnie Grimaldi in Columbus, Ohio
WhatEVER you do, don’t wear that T-shirt with the big red sun on it….in light of an earlier post I saw here today, it could be somewhat counterproductive!! (sorry, ya’ll…..I’m losing it this A.M.) KAT in CT
Response:
kat, whata great idea. Mike can wear his "we tic together" shirt, I’ll wear the tourette athletic dept shirt and Neal can wear a TS shirt to our IEP review and transition meeting on Wednesday. I stopped by our dept.of rehab. services to ask about more info for transitioning kids and getting him in the VECTOR program. Turns out the gal who works with hios high school had been complaining that she notifies the high school several times a year that she is available for transition meeting and they have NEVER called her. Well, I left a note inviting her to his meeting. If she comes, as well as the PACER advocate, we will have some good moral support for Neal. he is nervous about the meeting as the last one, he was seated in back of all the adults at the table and it was a major bashing session on how he needs to do better, if they write an IEP and make all these accomidations for him, they expect him to do better (might help if they followed the IEP). They were also on him about regardless of his "handicapping conditions" (I hate that phrase as much as on task and focused) he cannot miss school. I am hoping for a good positive meeting this time with advocates there to keep the school on the straight and narrow and as a backup for us (we make excuses, are overprotective, don’t push him enough,etc. -and besides that, I know too much!) Pat
Response:
In <312879F3.4…@metvax.metro.msus.edu
Pat Rummenie
<rumme…@metvax.metro.msus.edu
writes:
we will have some good moral
support for Neal. he is nervous about the meeting as the last one, he
was
seated in back of all the adults at the table and it was a major
bashing
session on how he needs to do better, if they write an IEP and make
all
these accomidations for him, they expect him to do better (might help
if
they followed the IEP). They were also on him about regardless of his "handicapping conditions"
Ethologists have known for some time now that one of the things that causes "higher animals" such terrific grief and stress is the feeling of loss of control. Picture this: a kid, about half the size and age of the roomful of "grownups" sitting in the back of the room, facing a desk that looks like "an aircraft carrier" (great metaphor, by the way!), waiting to hear what those "grownups" are going to decide to do with his life for the next few years..or longer. If he speaks up, he’s being "out of control, impertinent, willful" etc. If he doesn’t, he’s at risk of finding all his decisions made for him..whether he likes them or not. Either way, he loses. Talk about "loss of control." Is it any wonder then, that our kids go off the wall when they get home, out of school, and out of the straightjacket imposed by society’s "rules of order?" I think not. To me, it seems all perfectly logical. To wit: how many of "our" kids do MUCH better in the summer time…when time and circumstances allow them to be in more control of their own, immediate destinies? Food for thought…at the very least. KAT in CT
Response:
I am hoping for a good positive meeting this time with advocates there to keep the school on the straight and narrow and as a backup for us (we make excuses, are overprotective, don’t push him enough,etc. -and besides that, I know too much!) Pat
Good luck at your meeting. Know that there is a group of people out here rooting for you. Judy
Response:
Gosh, Pat, does Neal have to be in the room when all of the decisions are made? That’s enough to make any adult nervous, let alone one of our TS kids. Does Neal have to put his hand over his heart and promise to …………..? I consider this cruel and usual punishment. No wonder he is nervous. I’m nervous for him. I would think this is very counter productive. I agree with KAT’s wonderful objectivity. She is always right on. Good luck. Let us know what happens. Karen in Ohio
Response:
One approach that should alleviate a lot of school adjustment problems, is the evolution of more and more long-distance learning technology. I am right now working on a possible book proposal to write a book to help teachers understand how to use HTML FORMS and CGI scripts, to develop their course outlines and lesson plans. Any of the home schooling or long-distance learning technologies might be the answer for lots of these children who just don’t fit the classroom attendance model. I know that this is not much of an answer for right now, but there is always another approach, on the horizon.
Response:
In article <312879F3.4…@metvax.metro.msus.edu
, Pat Rummenie
<rumme…@metvax.metro.msus.edu
writes: "handicapping conditions" (I hate that phrase as much as on task and focused) … (we make excuses, are overprotective, don’t push him enough,etc. -and besides that, I know too much!) Pat
I could have written those words myself, Pat. Sure you haven’t been coming to our meetings??? I wish you a positive meeting (although the school may be on the defensive with advocates present, but hopefully they will also be careful!). I’ve been to enough meetings to last several lifetimes, so you’ve got a sympathetic mom here! So hope it’s a good one, and don’t forget to treat yourself afterwards!!! (I went for a chocolate cream cheese brownie after my last meeting!) Cathi
Response:
Good luck at your meeting. Know that there is a group of people out here rooting for you. Judy Ditto! Dr. George
Response:
George- I sure do know about those meetings with the stone faced and tight lipped teachers and the tables like aircraft carriers!!! We have a "team meeting" like this every week! I dread them. You would think I could handle them, because in "my other life" I am a special ed teacher, but when it’s my own child, it’s a whole different world. But I can offer you sympathy, as another parent in a similar boat. At a recent meeting, an administrator told me "Well, he may have Tourette’s, but this is PURPOSEFUL behavior we are talking about." <Sigh
I have shared handouts, research articles, books, etc on TS. I’ve
had our physician attend meetings. And here we still are. (Ideas and advice are always welcome, if any of you have any suggestions!) Please keep on posting about your son. And hang in there. Feel free to e-mail if you’d like. Cathi in Vermont In article <4fm7tr$…@newsbf02.news.aol.com
, drgeor1…@aol.com
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -(DrGeor107a) writes:
I live in a rural town in Massachussetts and have read most of the books on ADD and Tourette’s. My son is on Ritalin ( a low dose because it brings out the ticks) and Nortryptiline. He suffers from Tourette’s ,
OCD
, ADD , Sensory Integration with touch defensiveness, Dislexia , and has an essential tremor which effects his writing ability. Yet he is
extremely
bright . The school system has responded by keeping him back a year, trying to label him as an emotional problem and basically stonewalling us the whole way. This is a battle my wife and I have been fighting with
them
for years and getting no where. Most of the hospital centers are great at diagnosing the problem but have no real delivery system for aiding one in dealing with the schools for services. The school makes no effort to inform us of any services for this condition. Our child is the first in the system to have Tourette’s and he is being discriminated against because of it. I have just hired a professional advocate and a laywer to deal with the school system because I can not take walking into these parent teachers conferences having to face 15 – 20 educators siting stone face and tight lipped around a table that looks more like the deck of an aircraft carrier, saying absolutely nothing other than your child is a slow
learner
and we need to place him in an inclusion class with other slow learners. When told that he is not learning because he is bored out of his mind and that he is two to three grade levels above the other children in math and science and merely has a languaged based processing problem, they fail to respond. We have been going around on this for years , meanwhile my son has become depressed and withdrawn because of the constant teasing and chastisement by the teachers and other students. I am hoping that the advocate can steer us in the right direction , but as with all other professionals we have to wait a month or two because of the back load of people she has to deal with. Got any suggestions? Dr. George
Response:
Dr. George, Many of us can relate to the heartbrake that you and your wife are experiencing. You need to take action. Your school is not living in the nineties or even the seventies! Someone, perhaps your son’s doc. must explain to them that they are doing the worst possible thing for him! If he’s not being treated by a competent pediatric neurologist, find one fast. He may very well respond to medication as both of my kids have. The process may be long and difficult but you have to find the right med. or combination. Insurance companies will reimburse most of your medical expenses. I don’t know what state you live in, but in most cicilized communities, your school system should be able to help. You’ve got to get to know the system. Also, stay tuned to here to get some good advise as many of us here have. You didn’t get into details as far as what paths you have taken, but there are ways to get help for your son. You and your wife have got to be optimistic. Good luck.
Response:
Here is a poem my wife wrote about our son. We are currently experiencing difficulties in the public school system , which has responded to the diagnosis of Tourette’s simply by hiring an aid to sit behind our son to tell him to stop his ticks everytime he does it. They refuse to believe they are not voluntary behaviors despite being told by a Neurologist. His current ticks are rocking and picking his nose . Naturally his ticks are becoming worse and the town refuses to respond to his special needs. Meanwhile all our monies are being drained on doctors , lawyers , eductional advocates, with no end in sight. How can this type of ignorance still exist in the nineties? Dr. George Chris The children call him a tard, life for my son has been hard. Their words burn in his ears. He turns inwards to hide the tears. Rock back and fourth in his pain, people treat him with disdain. They talk to him real slow. It makes him want to get up and go. My son pulls out all his hair, he has to snort, burp, and swear. If you look at him in the eye makes him feel like he’d die. In sadness he sinks all alone A boy’s heart, heavy as a stone. He’s different from us, can’t you see? He has Tourette’s syndrome and A.D.D. Body and mind in constant motion gentle spirit grows in the commotion. God give him strength I pray, he will be happy someday. by Millie
Response:
I live in a rural town in Massachussetts and have read most of the books on ADD and Tourette’s. My son is on Ritalin ( a low dose because it brings out the ticks) and Nortryptiline. He suffers from Tourette’s , OCD , ADD , Sensory Integration with touch defensiveness, Dislexia , and has an essential tremor which effects his writing ability. Yet he is extremely bright . The school system has responded by keeping him back a year, trying to label him as an emotional problem and basically stonewalling us the whole way. This is a battle my wife and I have been fighting with them for years and getting no where. Most of the hospital centers are great at diagnosing the problem but have no real delivery system for aiding one in dealing with the schools for services. The school makes no effort to inform us of any services for this condition. Our child is the first in the system to have Tourette’s and he is being discriminated against because of it. I have just hired a professional advocate and a laywer to deal with the school system because I can not take walking into these parent teachers conferences having to face 15 – 20 educators siting stone face and tight lipped around a table that looks more like the deck of an aircraft carrier, saying absolutely nothing other than your child is a slow learner and we need to place him in an inclusion class with other slow learners. When told that he is not learning because he is bored out of his mind and that he is two to three grade levels above the other children in math and science and merely has a languaged based processing problem, they fail to respond. We have been going around on this for years , meanwhile my son has become depressed and withdrawn because of the constant teasing and chastisement by the teachers and other students. I am hoping that the advocate can steer us in the right direction , but as with all other professionals we have to wait a month or two because of the back load of people she has to deal with. Got any suggestions? Dr. George
Response:
I am hoping that the advocate can steer us in the right direction , but as with all other professionals we have to wait a month or two because of the back load of people she has to deal with. Got any suggestions?
The frustration you experience as a result of dealing with the ignorance and hostility of the school system can be overwhelming- I know. As you anticipate, an impartial outsider who truly understands both TS and the school system may be able to help. While you are waiting for the advocate to get involved, there are a number of options for you. Some things to consider are: enlist the aid of a sympathetic legislator or other community member who has high esteem and/or power in the community (this worked for us in getting the Committee on Special Education to listen to us); homeschool temporarily until the school makes the necessary educational modifications; give up on public education and opt for either private school or homeschooling. Meanwhile, make sure you document every contact you have with the school system- keep written records on everything. It is also necessary to have a doctor who will assist you with the educational problems associated with TS- you need to have a medical report that specifies the behaviors that your son has that are due to a neurological disorder (not emotional) and what educational modifications are necessary because of his neurological disorder. Good luck- Judy
Response:
Have you checked out your local office of civil rights (OCR). As a parent of a special ed. student, you have a tremendous amount of backing. They will file a lawsuit for you against the school at no cost to you. But I warn you, teachers/adminstrators don’t like this and will act so coldly towards you that it could backfire. Darcie
Response:
I live in Eastern Massachusetts. I prefer not give the name of my town because I don’t want my son persecuted any more than he already is. But any suggestions on how to deal with the school systems properly would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to E mail me too. Dr. George PS I posted the poem in the hope that it would strengthen others. My prayers go out for all of you.
Response:
THis year’s
in late March, would be an excellent resource for you, your wife, and some of the educators (if they would go) in your school ;system.< Yes , I am signed up for this, have notified the school , and my newly hired advocate will come as well. She asked me to find a contact person from the Tourette’s support group who deals with school issues near the Worcester area. Can you E mail me who this would be? Dr. George
Response:
Ramona writes:
It is not fair to generalize about educators . I have found that they are very willing to learn about Tourett’s and will try to make adaptations in their programs. Of course, not all educators are "open" but neither are they all "closed". Educators are facing many more challenges in the classroom right now. Public support is most important
In the last four years, since my 11 yr old son’s TS symptoms were severe enough to interfere with his classroom behavior, he has had eight teachers (not counting music, art, health, and gym, which he only has once or twice a week). Four of them have been accepting, creative, took a positive approach to problem solving, and worked very well with my son. Two of the eight were bordering on abusive (name-calling, ridiculing, screaming) and refused to change their behavior. The other two are misinformed defensive and antagonistic, but are trying to be open-minded and are still approachable. I don’t think anyone is saying all teachers are bad. In our case, it has been 50%; that is a whopping high proportion. Fair, you say? In our district, the median teacher’s salary is $65,000. These teachers have tenure, unlimited sick leave with pay, health insurance completely paid for by the school district, generous retirement plan. Sorry, I do not support these teachers- they’re getting an awful lot for not doing their job. BTW, I think the other 50% deserve everything they are getting and more. Judy Simon
Response:
Question:
This is an interesting question. I have been seeking the answer to this for some time now. My past two cars have been HUGE GM party barges. A ‘79 Pontiac Bonneville and a ‘84 Buick Park Ave. I purchased the first in ‘88 and it had about 36K mi. on it for 3100 dollars US. and sold it five years later for about $500 US. At that time it had about 106K mi. The total cost of non-maintainance repairs was about 600$. That means the cost of depreciation and repairs was about 5 cents per mile. Insurance was also really inexpensive too since I paid cash and didn’t carry anything but liability. It was really a great car. It did however tend to drink gas, about 16 around town and 19 on the highway. My current car the ‘84 Buick Park Ave. I purchased for 4500$ about two years ago. It had about 53K mi. on it at the time. Now it has about 83k mi. on it. I have had two problems with it. The total cost has been about 475 dollars so far. The car still runs great and I plan on keeping it for another three years. After that time I anticipate being able to sell it for 700-1000 dollars. This is a really cheap way to drive. My next car may be an old Volvo or Mercedes. These cars run forever and have an incredible reseale value. Maintianance and repairs will cost more but the money will be recooped in better reseale values. I figure if you buy a convertable Mercedes or a Volvo wagon, about 10-12 years old, you will be able to sell it for about what you paid for it five years later. That is provided that you keep it in good condition. Hey, if you buy the right older car, you could even make money on the whole deal. New cars and Leases are for suckeres B-). Buy a good used car. Spend a little on keeping it looking good and running well and enjoy a coar that costs peanuts to run. Just my 2 cents. Is there anyone else out there that does this out of necessity or out of the desire to save a few grand? Sincerely, Richard F. Giersch
Response:
: On a 60 month loan, 10% interest rate, 67% of the first 2 yrs. payments go to : reducing principle. Even on the first payment, 61% goes toward principle. : This according to a loan amortization table I just generated in Excel. : Auto loans are not amortized in the same manner as mortgages; they use : the Rule of 78’s method of allocating principal. As such, up-front : payments are almost entirely interest, and ones near the end, : principal. It’s a good thing you lease your cars now, because if this is the kind of loan you get for your car, someone’s screwing you over. I have a car loan. It is amortized the same way as my home loan. All my car loans have been. There’s nothing magical about it. — Technology Group Applied Micro Circuits Corp.
Response:
[snip] : Doubtful. There are too many restrictions on a lease that can never : prove advantageous in all situations. And your addition of the gains [snip] Those leasing restrictions aren’t very attractive to those of us who like to modify their cars a lot. To me, leasing seems like driving a rental car all the time; it’s like you’re just borrowing the car. You can put a certain amount of mileage on it, you have to pay for gas and upkeep, but you can’t change it to suit yourself. I guess if you just consider your car "basic transportation," then a lease might be alright, but if you love cars, forget it. Danny
Response:
The primary factor in the lease/finance/cash decision should be the interest rate: if one can borrow money at a lower rate than one can obtain by investing it, one should borrow. Leasing is just another form of borrowing, and leases almost always beat auto loans in terms of interest rate; the average is around 7%, but can be as low as zero.
Not exactly John. A second, heavily determining factor is just how long are you willing to live with one car. If your aim is to frequently trade up to new cars, say every 3-4 years, leasing is almost always the best way to go. I can’t imagine any form of purchase, cash or otherwise, that would put you ahead once you factor in depreciation, etc. On the other hand, if your plan is to just find the cheapest way to run a car, period, then nothing, and I mean nothing, can prove cheaper then the old adage of buying cash and "running it `till the wheels fall off". This is hardly virgin territory we are treading here, as the subject has been the focus of countless studies (including the dissertation of a fellow doctoral graduate of mine some years back). The answer comes up the same every single time, and with an even larger lead in more recent times with the improving longevity of modern vehicles. It may not be the coolest thing to drive in a 10-year old car, but you’d have to have lease payments under $30/month to beat the money layout, including repairs, on a car which has been paid for in cash and driven 10 years (or 150,000 miles). Eventually everyone will catch on, and all cars will be leased. I’m on my fourth one, and much richer as a result: the money I left in GE stock rather than putting down on a car is now worth eight times what it was in 1986, so that $25K I could have used to buy the 1986 Mercedes is now worth over $200K. And all the lease payments I’ve made since then total only to about $35K.
Doubtful. There are too many restrictions on a lease that can never prove advantageous in all situations. And your addition of the gains in stock is irrelevant to the cost factor of operating your vehicle. Your stock would have made equal profit had you leased your car, bought it, or rode a bike. You could counter that you may not have had the cash to invest had you purchased, but then again you could have invested in a bum scheme and lost all that money. In that case the capital in a car that you *owned* would have better return then your investments and lease payments. Investment is investment, and I’ve also made a lot of money for myself investing, while buying all my cars in cash. So let’s keep seperate subjects just that. So what was that about cash being the best way to buy a car? Thanks, but no thanks.
Again, it depends on usage. Between my job and my business, I drive a LOT. I’ve traded my last two Saabs and one BMW with well over 200,000 miles on them. I’m also an amateur racer and run my Porsche 911 Turbo at local club events. No lease of any type would give a better value than a cash purchase for the former. And no lease contract would even permit the latter. As they say, "your mileage may vary". What was that about "someday everyone will lease"? Thanks, but no thanks. Cheers, – Daryl
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Two year lease, 10% down. Pay for just the filet. Let someone else pay for the bone, tail and head. You will never lose any money and have options at the end of the lease versus long term obligations. Bear in mind that on a five year loan only 14% during the first two years goes toward principle reduction. 86% is pure interest. Not a judgment – just a factual correction: On a 60 month loan, 10% interest rate, 67% of the first 2 yrs. payments go to reducing principle. Even on the first payment, 61% goes toward principle. This according to a loan amortization table I just generated in Excel.
Auto loans are not amortized in the same manner as mortgages; they use the Rule of 78’s method of allocating principal. As such, up-front payments are almost entirely interest, and ones near the end, principal. Auto leases may also be amortized in this same manner, but this is less of a problem because of their shorther length, and the availability of "gap" insurance; this reduces or eliminates the financial impact if one’s car is totalled or stolen. With financing, one could be seriously "upside-down." The primary factor in the lease/finance/cash decision should be the interest rate: if one can borrow money at a lower rate than one can obtain by investing it, one should borrow. Leasing is just another form of borrowing, and leases almost always beat auto loans in terms of interest rate; the average is around 7%, but can be as low as zero. Just ask for the lease’s Money Factor and multiply by 24 to get the equivalent APR. If this number is less than a loan interest rate, leasing is better than financing. If however, you keep all your savings in a passbook savings account at 2.75%, then you’re probably better off buying with cash, although, there are many subsidized leases available with interest rates lower than this. Eventually everyone will catch on, and all cars will be leased. I’m on my fourth one, and much richer as a result: the money I left in GE stock rather than putting down on a car is now worth eight times what it was in 1986, so that $25K I could have used to buy the 1986 Mercedes is now worth over $200K. And all the lease payments I’ve made since then total only to about $35K. So what was that about cash being the best way to buy a car? Thanks, but no thanks. Martin Marietta Government Electronic Systems Moorestown NJ 08057 WPI Class of ‘75, Temple Class of ‘94 My new car history: 1975 1978 1982 1986 1989 1992 1995 VW – Audi – Audi - Mercedes – Mercedes – Audi – Mercedes Scirocco Fox GTI 4000S 190E 2.3 190E 2.6 100CS S320 POSSLQ’s* new car history: 1978 1981 1985 1988 1990 1993 Triumph – Toyota – Toyota - VW - Audi – Audi Spitfire Tercel Corolla Jetta GL 80 90S *POSSLQ = Person of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters Note: All Audis and Mercedes above were sold to friends or family.
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:: Two year lease, 10% down. Pay for just the filet. Let someone else pay :: for the bone, tail and head. You will never lose any money and have :: options at the end of the lease versus long term obligations. Bear in :: mind that on a five year loan only 14% during the first two years goes :: toward principle reduction. 86% is pure interest. : Not a judgment – just a factual correction: : : On a 60 month loan, 10% interest rate, 67% of the first 2 yrs. payments go to : reducing principle. Even on the first payment, 61% goes toward principle. : This according to a loan amortization table I just generated in Excel. Your Excel spreadsheet is correct. And, for a 5yr, 8% simple-interest loan, 72.5% of the first 24 payments go toward principle. Furthermore, for equal APR’s, a lease will *ALWAYS* have the higher interest expense because the average unpaid balance is higher. And please don’t forget that on a lease you’re probably also paying sales tax on the interest. Leases *do* have advantages, but interest expense is *NOT* one of them. …a loan is just a lease with a $0.00 residual, Mark
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: Two year lease, 10% down. Pay for just the filet. Let someone else pay : for the bone, tail and head. You will never lose any money and have : options at the end of the lease versus long term obligations. Bear in : mind that on a five year loan only 14% during the first two years goes : toward principle reduction. 86% is pure interest. Funny, I’ve got a 5 year car loan with a $325 a month payment. According to my bank statement, about $100 a month goes to interest, the rest to principal. This is for the first month or two, where the amount to interest will be the greatest. Now, that means that roughly 65% of the payment goes to principle reduction. But you state only 14% goes towards principle reduction. huh.. mathematician. — Technology Group Applied Micro Circuits Corp.
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Two year lease, 10% down. Pay for just the filet. Let someone else pay for the bone, tail and head. You will never lose any money and have options at the end of the lease versus long term obligations. Bear in mind that on a five year loan only 14% during the first two years goes toward principle reduction. 86% is pure interest.
Not a judgment – just a factual correction: On a 60 month loan, 10% interest rate, 67% of the first 2 yrs. payments go to reducing principle. Even on the first payment, 61% goes toward principle. This according to a loan amortization table I just generated in Excel. – David
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Two year lease, 10% down. Pay for just the filet. Let someone else pay for the bone, tail and head. You will never lose any money and have options at the end of the lease versus long term obligations. Bear in mind that on a five year loan only 14% during the first two years goes toward principle reduction. 86% is pure interest. A normal vehicle will depreciate 40% during the first two years. So long term loans cause negative equity and then you are forced to spend for wearable items such as tires, tunes brakes, stuff that never ad any value to the vehicle. It’s pure expense. Just pay for the filet…the first two years depreciation then change cars instead of tires.
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Does anybody know by experience or by being clever with the calculator as to the cheapest way to own and run a car. Is it cheaper to Lease? If so, over what period? Is it cheaper to by new and sell? If so, when do you sell? Is it cheaper to buy second hand? If so, how old? As you can see, there are so many different variations. Perhaps an ex-salesman might have the answers. Please post any comments you have.
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Path: news.redstone.army.mil!news.msfc.nasa.gov!bcm!cs.utexas.edu!uwm.edu!lll-win ken.llnl.gov!enews.sgi.com!decwrl!waikato!auckland.ac.nz!dmar04.cs.aukuni.a c.nz Newsgroups: rec.autos.misc Organization: University of Auckland Lines: 12 NNTP-Posting-Host: cs26.cs.auckland.ac.nz Summary: Cheapest way to own/run a car? X-Newsreader: NN version 6.5.0 #3 (NOV) Does anybody know by experience or by being clever with the calculator as to the cheapest way to own and run a car. Is it cheaper to Lease? If so, over what period? Is it cheaper to by new and sell? If so, when do you sell? Is it cheaper to buy second hand? If so, how old? As you can see, there are so many different variations. Perhaps an ex-salesman might have the answers. Please post any comments you have.
Good article in this month’s Esquire (Bruce Willis in on the cover) magazine that addresses many of the points that you raise…. Glenn E. Painter – SESI Redstone Arsenal, AL (205) 876-2325 DSN 746-2325 CompuServ 74357,1152
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