nervousness on zoloft

[maryann26]

I have been on zoloft for 3 wks and was prescribed 50mg.  I started having side effects right away but they were tolerable.  However, I am having real nervousness in the morning so much so that i have a very hard time getting going. I was prescribed lorazepam but have not taking it in the morning only at night. I tried cutting back the dose and builting to 50 mg but as soon as i get to the 50mg the severe nervousness starts.  I also do not feet alot better.  still feeling depressed not my self like I hoped I would.  My doc. wants to switch me to a different med.  called seroquel which is for bipolar.  I do not think I am bipolar at all.  Depressesed yes.  Can I get some thoughts on this.  should I be feeling better by now.  Is the nervousness a reason to switch to another med as my doc. wants.  I am very upset and to not want to start this new med.  It seems almost dangerous!  Please help.  Is this severe nervousness uncommon.  by one hour or so it does go away but it is not fun

[Vicki68]

I know exactly what you are going through.  I was put on Zoloft for anxiety and panic attacks.  I was supposed to get up to 100 mg.  After only 9 days, I am still on 25 mg.  I tried to up it to 50 for a day, but got severe anxiety, hot flashes and nausea.  I called the doctors office and was advised to cut back to the 25 until I see him on Wednesday.  I still feel the nervousness but it is at least tolerable.  I was given xanax to take 3 times a day as needed for the nervousness.  I have been generally taking it in the morning and at night.  I do think the Zoloft is beginning to help me, I am not as emotional and seem to be generally in a better mood and have more energy, but I am not taking if for depression like you are.  A couple of times I have wanted to throw in the towel, but I am trying to stick with it.  It can take anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks to notice if the med is working.  Maybe you should try taking a lorazepam in the morning as well to help the nervousness.  In my case I think I may only need to be on 25 mg. of Zoloft.  Why take a higher dose than you need to?  I would definitely talk to your doctor.  But no, this is not uncommon and I know exactly how you feel!  If you need to vent I'm here!

Vicki

[maryann26]

thank you so so much for you comment.  I feel very scared by all this and very confused.  going on medication was something I never thought I would be doing.  My mother was on everything and she seemed to messed up all the time I just never wanted to be here.  but I can not cover up anymore that I am not always "normal"  it makes me very sad to go down this road. but I know just a short time ago I was feeling like me and now I am not.  I was to stay with the zoloft or another ssr.  I think I need a referral to a physc to work on this not by primary dr.  She said I should be feeling better by week 3.I don't know if that is true or not.  I just know I don't want to feel so bad and the mornings can be really rough.  thanks again for listening  it helps alot

[cj29]

What you are feeling can definately be a part of your medication.  I was actually put on Zoloft three years ago (100mg) and I am actually back on it right now.  When I first started taking it (both times), I was much more agitated, anxious, and it seemed to exacerbate the problem more than it helped, although the second time around I was prepared for it and I knew as I started and/or increased dosage I would feel this way and just 'gutted' through it.  For me, it took about 4-5 weeks to start feeling 'better.'  I am also prescribed the same benzo that  you are on on an as needed basis although I have not taken it in over a month, but did as I went on Zoloft.  

Having said that, remember, there is no 'magic pill' to 'cure' you of this.  I am a big proponent of medication COMBINED with talk therapy.  Only by learning about this cycle can you break free from it.  Furthermore, if you have concerns, ensure you keep talking to your doctor about them; it is not uncommon to try different meds because we are all different.

Are you seeing a therapist about this?  They are often much more qualified to diagnose depression, anxiety, bi-polar issues etc.  Finding a good psychologist or psychiatrist that you are comfortable with is sometimes hard, but once you find that person you will know.  Also, please keep on using this forum because there are so many of us that have been exactly where you are....keep us posted!

[bmore]

Hello -

I am having the same problem with zoloft. I originally changed from paxil (which always worked for me) to zoloft because I heard that it was safer during pregnancy. Man, what a roller coaster it has been! Severe anxiety, insomnia, nausea, weight loss, obsessive thoughts. After 3 weeks on 50 and 2.5 weeks on 100 and 1 day on 150, I finally told my doc that I wanted to switch back to paxil. Still not feeling great but praying that the meds will all stabilize. It has been hell. Between ER visits, and 2 psychiatrist's visits (who also gave me serequil), my therapist has been the only one who has slightly calmed me and has been keeping in touch. We will have a lot of stuff to work on after this ordeal.

But I totally know what you are going through so you are not alone. Please keep us posted as to how you are doing!

[Vicki68]

Since you mentioned the issue of talk therapy, I thought I would mention this.  I agree 100% that you need to use a combination of the right medication and talk therapy and my primary care doc agrees.  The problem is that I can't seem to find a therapist!  Out of two he suggested, one is not in my network and the other has not called me back even after I left her two messages!  I have a 9 page printout of therapists in my insurance network...how do you fiind a good one?  I really want to get started on that but don't know how to find one.  Any suggestions?

By the way, I also feel better knowing I am not alone in this.

Thanks,

Vicki

[stunned_one]

Zoloft did nothing for me. I had to go through several medications to find the right one. Have your doctor refer you to a psychiatrist. I found relief in Respirdal, Lamictal, Celexa. Good luck.

[kcdem]

i would not put up with the side effects. zoloft is a nasty med. there are much better ssri options in my opinion. Zoloft is so coddled and protected which i do not understand. an ssri should have very minimal side effects and you should gradually feel better. you should not have to take a benzo to tolerate the side effects of the Zoloft, that is absurd.

the insomnia is the worst side effect as well as the night sweats. try another med with the help of your doctor.


kcdem

[eronski]

I take Zoloft for anxiety and it was hard for me at first too - I have been in it for over 4 months and I don't have any problems any more.  It took about 3-4 weeks to not feel "weird" after I took it.  It took me about 6 weeks before I could sleep at night - but now I have no problem.  Try not to have any Caffeine - it magnifies the effect - even  pop.  I can have coffee now but not at first.  I was also given Xanax for help but rarely took it.

I always find it surprising how many people have nasty side effects yet their doctors still have them doubling their dose??!  I was told by a couple Dr.s, don't double your dose if the dose your on is causing problems.  I started at 25mg and was supposed to go to 50 but I never did and the 25 seems to work fine.

I agree that no medication is perfect and there is always give and take.  I hope you find relief - it does take awhile, that is completely normal.  Take Care, Erin

[Bob_D]

Hi Maryann,
A few years ago I was on Lexapro and had morning anxiety that made me very uncomfortable.
My doctor prescribed Remeron (generic mirtazapine) that cleared the problem up almost overnight.
People react very differently to the same medication so it may not work for you, but then again, it might. You might want to ask your doctor what he thinks of the idea.

[luckynumber3]

i began Sertraline two days ago and it has thrown me over the edge, physically. after the first night of taking 50mg Sertraline, i woke up the next morning with my upper-extremeties shaking very badly. i had read this was a possible side effect, but also read that it was a common side effect but then a serious side effect!??? it was very scary!

throughout the day the tremor lessened, but the morning was horrible! i called my doctor and made him aware of the tremor, and he told me to reduce my dose to 25mg last night, which i did. i felt fine until 10pm rolled around, and then 2am, and then before i knew it, it was 6:30am! i couldn't get to sleep for the life of me. i was shaking way too much. everytime i closed my eyes, i could feel my brain shaking (maybe it was just my head and neck moving around, but it really felt like my brain)! my eyes as well.

called my doctor again today and he said if i cannot tolerate it then it isn't the medication for me. he prescribed me Xanax to try out for a month, but he doesn't want me to rely on Xanax just to get me through the first weeks use of Sertraline, because of the risk of addiction and overuse. i discontinued my Sertraline tonight. there is no way i can live a "a few weeks" (a dreadful eternity) with a  severe tremor until the medication "kicks in". why should i be asked to suffer after already so much suffering?

i wonder if anyone else has experienced a tremor side effect and knows how and why it surfaces when taking certain medications? hope i'll find another medication that works for me, or else i'll try to combat this through therapy, exercise, eating right, herbal remedies WHATNOT...

[xanweaner]

I had the exact same reaction...the upper body tremor - shaking...it was horrible. And, was also prescribed Xanax to quiet everything so I could wait for the Zoloft to do its job. My Dr. kept increasing the dose - the experience left me debilitated...couldn't sleep, couldn't work, horrible anxiety....

I don't know why some patients have this "tremor" reaction...my Dr. claims that I was extremely sensitive...I'm not so sure about that statement, as I read more and more on these forums that others have had similar reactions, as well as ones that are far worse.

I hope that you find a good solution so you can begin to feel better...

[luckynumber3]

thanks xanweaner! it was so awful! i discontinued it last night. no more tremor, excellent sleep! i'm scared to even try another ssri... i'm contemplating how i want to treat my illness now! looking at all other options! would like to avoid medication, but i don't know, we'll see! thanks again!

[xanweaner]

I know just exactly how you feel...I actually couldn't tolerate any ssri's. Since I was not a part of any forum or support group, I felt like I was a "freak" since my Dr. said that my