Needs Advise

[tll49]

Hello everyone,  I'm new to this and could really use some advise.   I'm on my 6th day of Zoloft and was ok at first, but feeling really scared and panicky today and the muscles in my legs have been twitching.  Has anyone else had this experience?  Is it normal?

[Paxiled]

I personally take the magnesium at bedtime, because my biggest problem was muscle cramping when I tried to sleep.  But it is best taken with a meal.  I don't know what the precise number of hours apart should be, but I'd say at least a few hours -- otherwise you get the cross-interference problem.  

[sunny1018]

How far apart should you take the magnesium and the ad?  I've thought about taking magnesium myself.

[Paxiled]

The rule of thumb is that it generally takes 4-6 weeks for a drug to start working, but the side effects start right away.  Antidepressants can be stimulating for some people, either temporarily or permanently.  Too early to tell for you.  The muscle problems are common with antidepressants -- they get into your brain by following the magnesium pathway and have a tendency to interfere with magnesium absorption.  Also, serotonin is also found in the muscles and digestive system, and so can mess that stuff up when you artificially play with it with medication.  Time can also heal this, but often a magnesium supplement taken at a time well apart from when you take the drug is helpful -- I've needed it with every antidepressant I've been on.

[sunny1018]

Hi there.  I am on day 29 of Zoloft.  I did 25 mg for 1 week then upped to 50 mg the next week.  When I increased the dose my anxiety increased quite a bit.  I had to supplement with Ativan for a few days.  Things calmed down and my doc wanted me to increase to 75 mg after 2 weeks.  I did that for 3 days and my anxiety skyrocketed.  She had me back down to 50 mg.  that had me feeling better for a few days but today has been bad.  I had to take an Ativan.  I hope this drug will work for me.  Lexapro was a great drug for me but it pooped out after 10 years, so now I'm trying this.  From what I understand, this is pretty common with Zoloft.  Do you have a benzo for emergencies?