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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Zoloft and anxiety
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
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Zoloft and anxiety
by Ita, Jan 23, 2003 12:00AM
I have been diagnosed with depression. My doctor has prescribed 50 mg of Zoloft a day, taken in the evening. I have been taking this for 2 weeks now. Since taking the Zoloft, I feel my anxiety level has increased a lot. I feel very scared and hopeless and depressed especially in the morning. Are these side affects of the Zoloft ? Am I taking too much ? I also have insomnia and restlessness in my legs.
I spoke to my doctor about this and she said that anxiety was not a side effect of Zoloft and therefore I should stop taking the medicine for 1 week and swtich to another as the Zoloft was not working for me. Is this correct or should I give the Zoloft more time ?
If I switch from the Zoloft, what should I switch to ?
I spoke to my doctor about this and she said that anxiety was not a side effect of Zoloft and therefore I should stop taking the medicine for 1 week and swtich to another as the Zoloft was not working for me. Is this correct or should I give the Zoloft more time ?
If I switch from the Zoloft, what should I switch to ?
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Jan 23, 2003 12:00AM
, Jan 23, 2003 12:00AM
There are many good antidepressants to choose from which include paxil, celexa, effexor and others.
Usually Zoloft takes 3-4 weeks to really kick in so it may be a little early to tell. Also, Zoloft can increase restlessness and insomnia so sometimes we recommend that it be taken first thing in the morning rather than at night. You might ask your doctor about making that switch first before trying another medication.
The hopeless scared feeling is probably part of the depression. ARe you having psychotherapy as well as medication. If not, you can get help online from my program, www.masteringstress.com. There you can deal directly with the unsolved problems that make up your depression.
Usually Zoloft takes 3-4 weeks to really kick in so it may be a little early to tell. Also, Zoloft can increase restlessness and insomnia so sometimes we recommend that it be taken first thing in the morning rather than at night. You might ask your doctor about making that switch first before trying another medication.
The hopeless scared feeling is probably part of the depression. ARe you having psychotherapy as well as medication. If not, you can get help online from my program, www.masteringstress.com. There you can deal directly with the unsolved problems that make up your depression.
(Feminene) and its composed of all Vitamins B's, I just take 2 tablets 30 min. before dinner and it has to do with leveling your hormones which that is a big factor on the chemical inbalance in the brain. I got it thru a distributor of Market America if you go to www.marketamerica.com and look up for the product called feminene you can get more info on it.. it is great! i now feel better and my palpitations at night I don't feel as often. and if I do get them they're not as bad. its something that I feel I can control. so my heart do go out to all of you for I know exactly how you feel. but keep it in prayers..and I feel I needed to let you know that there is something (NATURAL) out there and to just try it.. for it has done wonders for me. after searching about what causes anxiety its the low level of seratonin in the brain. also bananas and milk help to build seratonin. so knowing more about what causes this inbalance help to know how to correct it. and this product really really Helps.
Not sure if I'll ever find a perfect drug for this, perhaps it's something to overcome with time and positive thinking, rather than drugs.