Suicidal Thoughts?

I've started Zoloft a few weeks ago, slowly increasing dose, currently at 50mg. Tonight I was just sitting around and someone made a teasing joke and I reacted with far more hurt than was reasonable. Then I had some thoughts of suicide lasting about twenty minutes. It was strange because I haven't had those sort of thoughts in a while.

I'm not actually at risk of suicide, there's no real intention, but it's not pleasant to have these compulsive thoughts. I'm wondering if it's the medication, because it seemed extreme and sudden. I'm wondering if it's a side effect that will pass if I keep taking it, or will it get worse? If it'll pass, I can deal with this for a while, but I don't want to go making it worse.

Do increased suicidal thoughts fade, or should I just switch meds? I'd really rather not have to switch if I don't have to.

I'm not personally familiar with zoloft, but I'm currently on my third antidepressant since December and I'm wondering, how often are you increasing your dose? from what I understand, and have read in my package inserts and such, thoughts like that are more likely to happen during increases or decreases of dosages. it seems to me you should probably be spreading out increases considerably more than you are, but I'm not a doctor. I did however experience significantly worse depression and suicidality a few weeks into both Cipralex and Pristiq. for me it got so bad I couldn't stay on them, hence me now being on my third AD.

in my opinion, you should probably see your doctor, both about how often you should be upping your dose, and about the suicidal thoughts. if you're not feeling actively suicidal and you feel you can deal with the compulsive thoughts, you should give the zoloft at least a few more weeks to experience its full (hopefully positive) effects. but if you start to feel worse, or it comes to bother you too much, do of course talk to your doctor right away. sometimes certain drugs just don't mix well with certain people. it's trial and error. and it sucks, believe me, I know.

Hi Caecandy

Yeah, those thoughts are definitely not pleasant. You need to contact your doctor and let them know- whether there's intentions or not, especially if they're extreme. They may just monitor it more closely or change meds.

I had an antidepressant that made me suicidal and start self harming far more than usual, and the decision was made to go off it immediately. I'm unsure if they do fade, I wasn't on mine long enough, but I understand when you say you don't want to switch meds.