How long for Zoloft?

Hello,

I've posted before about how I've felt and after being on Zoloft for at least two months now, wanted to solicit your feedback,

Symptoms which drove me down the Zoloft road initially included:

Waking up with bad cramp/ache in left calve.
Heavy body sweating during day in stressful work situations.
Mild shortness of breath when talking.

Had full blood work for thyroid check (and whatever else), chest X-Ray (negative)....

First month, 50 mg of Zoloft: after about two weeks, sweating moved from back/chest to palms and feet (never had that before).  Breathing feeling about the same.

Second month, 100 mg, sweating not as bad in palms/feet, but still there.  Breathing about the same.

Question 1: how long generally, before a doctor would say Zoloft not working (not yet diagnosed with GAD, but seem to have all the typical symptoms).

Question 2: why would sweating START in palms/feet after taking Zoloft?

Question 3: mild feeling of shortness of breath very disconcerting, is this very typical to have with GAD?

Thanks!!

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

the shortness of breath is part of anxiety, and of being very conscious of your bodily functions, which makes the breathing a little more out of phase( all this assuming the shortness of breath is not a sign of heart disease).

If you have had some improvement on the higher dose, and you are still in your second month, you have to give it a bit more time because the higher dose may make the difference.  Your doctor could also supplement the zoloft with klonopin or ativan or other anti-anxiety drugs, and that might help sooner.

Regarding the sweating on the palms, I have no answer other than that this medication effects multiple physiologic symptoms, including the apocrine glands, and everyone reacts slightly different.