Some Anxiety - I Think

Hi all - Although I feel that I have a good handle on my anxiety disease, I've been having some issues the past few days that I'm sure are anxiety, but would like to pick some of your brains and see if any one can help me.

I switched back to zoloft from effexor about 3 weeks ago. I had been on effexor for 8 weeks and it was awful for me. My question here is how long is the effexor in my system? It appears that I am experiencing the awful side effects a little bit from that med.

In addition, the past several nights I have not been able to sleep; I toss and turn and just have a general anxiety feeling all night. I have never had a problem sleeping.  My question here is could the effexor still be in my system to do this? Or could it be the beginning side effects of the zoloft as I had this side effect when I started zoloft 9 years ago, but it went away. I have taken a klonopin each night before bed, but that does not seem to help much.

Also, as right now, I'm experiencing just a general anxiety feeling - kinda shakey (shaky), etc. This could be from the lack of sleep as well. If I nap today with my 2 year old, I will take a klonopin to help me sleep.

So I guess my question to any of the medicine guru's on this site would be can the effexor still be in my system (stopped it 3 weeks ago) or could these be side-effects of starting the zoloft again (3 weeks ago). After I went back on the zoloft, I felt better mentally within several days, but I'm wondering if my body is still getting used to the change in meds again.

Thanks for any help!

[suzi-q]

Hi Hatgal!  

I think the answer to all your questions is "Yes".  Both coming off and going on another med.  I hate that feeling that you have and the lack of sleep is definitely not helping the problem...

You tried the effexor because of the sexual side effects, am I correct?  I agree with you however,  It is better to feel good then to be a sexual dynamo...too bad we can't be both!!!  :-)

I have a question...do you have any agoraphobia with your anxiety?  I know that when I am home with my baby (almost 2)..I dread leaving the house and look forward to getting home all the time...I am only comfortable when I am with my husband...I get a little nauseous before I leave the house...I find that it does subside wehn I get to where I need to go, but it is still so horrible...i want to feel normal again!!!  I want to enjoy going out!!!!!  I have to do this for my daughter!!!  Thank goodness that I am a working Mom, or else my daughter would never get out of the house....I am fine at work....I don't understand why I am this way!!

[hatgal]

Yes, it was b/c of the sexual side effects that I went on Effexor, but after that God-awful experience, I'd rather be celibate the rest of my life (LOL)! On the zoloft, I think about intimacy; it's just a matter of physically wanting it. On the effexor, I didn't even know what I was - a nute, I think! So, in any event, my husband and I are working on other methods (fun!).

To answer your other question, in the beginning of my disease, I was uneasy going out and was a home-body.  But that was brief and I don't have any issues with going out now. I still tend to be a home-body, but that's always been me anyway. I think the zoloft helps with the agoraphobia (sp?) for people that have it.  Or, I know people on Paxil for that as well.

Thanks for your input on the meds; I just have felt anxious for the past few days - like antsy or something. Oh, well time for nap now!  

Be well..........

[suzi-q]

thank you for your input...enjoy your nap!!!  

[hatgal]

Hi - I feel better since my nap; it's always like that when I don't get enough sleep so sleep is very important to this disease!  

Take care.......