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Help and support from 18 days on Sertraline/Zoloft questions!

Hello, So I started taking Generic Zoloft Sertraline18 days ago for horrible anxiety and unwanted thoughts along with being in the lowest position I've ever been in. I was on Lexapro and Klonopin for a month and that did not work out for me at all. I had been on Zoloft about 1.5 years ago and it worked for me so I decided to ask for it again. I stopped the Lexapro and started on 25mg Sertraline for 4 days then up to 50mg. The first week and a half were incredibly difficult. Every side effect imaginable I was having, and I also was panicking and super anxious. At the two week point (which was 4 days ago I started to feel myself again). The next day I woke up kind of foggy and was like that the majority of the day but lightened up towards the end of the day. The last three days I have felt more positive like I am taking steps in the right direction. I have been going to therapy and also seeing my psychiatrist again on Tuesday. I take 50mg Sertraline along with 0.125mg-0.25mg Klonopin once a day at night. Today has been a decent day.Feeling Flu like symptoms but kind of up and down but trying to stay positive. I am right now at two weeks and about 4 days on Sertraline and am curious if these are signs that the medicine is working for me and will be a success? Like I said it has worked in the past, and am feeling like it is now. I am also curious if I can try coming off the Klonopin or when I should. I know i'm on a baby dose, I just hear so many stories. My psychologist and addiction counselor said there is no way I can become addicted by taking that small of a dose once a day.

My main question is when will Sertraline stabalize and I will notice a 100% benefit am I on the right track? Also me feeling better is this because my body is finally adjusting to the Sertraline after 2.5 weeks or the Klonopin 0.25/0.125ish a day is helping? I just don't want to become addicted to Klonopin and just be on Sertraline.

Thank you everyone in advance!
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Avatar universal
I think what is driving me crazy is not knowing if I am feeling better because the 50mg zoloft is actually working or if it is the 0.25mgish klonopin I take at night. I'm terrified to stop the klonopin but really want off of it. Do u think I can cut the 0.25mg to .125mg for a few days then every other day and see how it goes ? Also my pdoc said that he wants to eventually have me at 100mg zoloft so I'm just in a bad situation right now not knowing what to do and want off the klonopin any suggestions are incredibly helpful. Thank you.
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Avatar universal
OK I understand. I will just take it day by day and hope the improvements keep on showing signs of positive light as I've seen and the days will get easier. It's just tough but I appreciate the support and help from the forums.
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Avatar universal
It's not whether the Lexapro is out of your system or not -- it only lasts a number of hours, so it's long gone.  It's how easily your brain can adapt to working without the artificial action of the drug and go back to working normally.  You don't have withdrawal from the Zoloft, you're still on it, that only comes when you decide to stop.  As I said, there's no way to know if you're suffering any withdrawal or not as you went immediately on another drug, so everything could be start-up side effects of the Zoloft.  Don't expect it to be just like the first time you were on it -- that you doesn't exist anymore, we change as we age and we change from being on medications.  At this point, you've done what you've done, just roll with it.  
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Avatar universal
Thank you Paxiled. I figured since it has been 2.5 weeks since the switch the lexapro would be out of my system. Also I guess the withdrawls plus the side effects made it worse those first two weeks. Ever since the switch I have been sleeping ok and hanging in these past 4 or so days (knock on wood) I have felt more and more like my old self so hopefully something is working out and the lexapro withdrawls will stop soon if that is the case as well as the zoloft withdrawls. It's just a new suprise everyday but I'm determined that the zoloft that once worked for me will work again in time as my days are appearing more positive at times. Thank you so much I appreciate every ounce of advice I can get, if there is anything else you can suggest or tell me about I'd appreciate it thank you !
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Avatar universal
Nobody can answer this -- you are the only you and we all respond differently.  Much of what you were feeling and might still be feeling are the effects of stopping the Lexapro abruptly -- you're describing typical withdrawal symptoms.  We can't know because you not only stopped abruptly but then started right away on another medication, the Zoloft, so we can't ever know if these are side effects of the Zoloft or withdrawal effects from stopping the Lexapro.  This should also tell you about stopping the Klonopin abruptly -- it's not about whether you're technically addicted to something or not, it's how easy your brain finds it to adapt back to being without the artificial way medication makes it work.  Other medications can't duplicate this because they all work differently and target different receptors.  Hopefully, this will all even out and you'll be where you want to be soon.  But there is, unfortunately, no answer to your question.  That leaves you to just be optimistic and assume the best.
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