About anxiety

[killi]

I have had anxiety since I was a kid. I am 24 now and did pretty well dealing with the symptoms and the panic attacks. Lately I have been under more stress and my anxiety is uncontrollable. I had a bad episode and had a black out and went to the emergency room where they prescribed me Valium. I went to my follow up appointment and they started me on Zoloft. The first day I took it I was severely nauseated  and dizzy I could barely function or eat. I knew it was a side effect so I told my doctor about it and he said just give it a few days. The following days I only took half the pill because it was 50mg and I figured I could work my way up from 25. I was still pretty dizzy and nauseated but I could feel it letting up. I have lost 10 pounds in a week. Well on my 4th day of taking the Zoloft I felt a little better and ate more then I had in days but that night I woke with horrible stomach pain and nausea followed by the most intense hot flashes I have ever experienced.  I felt as if my skin was on fire and getting in the cold shower made it hurt worse. After it stopped it happened again about 10 mins later and I went back to the emergency room. Where they prescribed me xanax.  They told me to stop taking the Zoloft and make an appointment so I can get on a different drug. This was a friday night and I can't get back to the doctor until Tuesday. I haven't taken anymore Zoloft I only took one Valium in 10 day period and only two of the xanax since because I have 2 small children and can't handle the Valium and watch them at the same time. My problem is I still feel horribly nauseated after eating and I had another bad episode where I felt like I was on fire. Has anyone experienced this? Will it stop on its own?

[killi]

Thank you so much for your feedback. I have made an appointment with a psychiatrist, but i am under tri-care and they cannot see me until the 16th of april. I am trying to hang in here the best I can. I have often tried getting to the bottom of my anxiety but I have had a lot of different things happen in my life that were troubling as a child and I think therapy will be the most helpful for me. I have been able to manage my panic attacks with different techniques for so many years but my husband has been in Iraq for ten months and will be coming home in a few weeks and suddenly I am feeling so overwhelmed. That's what brought on this dramatic change in panic attacks mixed with the zoloft. I am still having the bad panic attacks with the horrible stomach pain and burning sensation. I have just told myself to accept that this is going to happen don't be afraid I will make it through it like I always do, until I can get evened out again.

[amber711]

I had the same side effects with Lexipro and will never take another ssri again because of the bad reaction.  I have been taking Xanax and all have subsided but I'm taking it regularly and will be weening off it soon.  As I have been told by my dr. if you are not depressed you don't take ssri.  These will make it worse for a short period of time.  You need to find out WHY you are having these feelings and Xanax has the least side effects but cannot be used for long.  Drs. seem to just keep prescr. these ssris. at the drop of a hat lately and its really seems to be a serious problem.  Therapy  is the best bet with a dr who just does not presr. meds. but has to find out the real problems.  Good Luck.  I'm still working on it too.

[eronski]

I am on Zoloft, my side effects were nothing like yours.  I did feel pretty icky the first couple of weeks but not sick like you.  I started out on 25mg I can't imagine starting at 50 since the 25mg made me feel pretty crappy.  Infact I just took a 50mg for the first time today, I have been on it for 26 days.  I too, am sensitive to meds and HATE taking them.  Why not break you tablets in half, that way you can take as little as possible and if it doesn't work you can take a little more.  

I say let yourself get some relief at this challenging time.  I have talked with many, many people who have had trouble with Zoloft so you are not alone.  It's not working that great for me this time, I may try something else too.  If you do try something else take just a tiny bit and work your way up to the perscribed dose so your side effects (since these meds all have them) aren't so drastic.  Of course I'm not a doctor but that seems to work the best.  I hope you get some relief, remember it's only temporary.  Take care.

[killi]

also I am very sensitive to medication.....I am prescribed 0.25 mg of xanax and 5mg of valium if I break the Valium in half would this help me?