Should I take sertraline HCL (ZOLOFT)??

[sickofthefog]

I have been feeling sick for three months with the following symptoms:

lightheaded/dizziness almost all the time
off balance feeling while walking
blurred vision/halos around lights, Sensitivity to light
numbness and tingles in face/fingers/feet
insomnia
FATIGUE all the time
depression
panic attacks/anxiety
fullness and slight ringing in ears
lost 6-10 pounds

I have had the following tests:
brain MRI
spinal MRI
Stress Test/Echo/EKG
a myriad of blood work including Lyme and Epstein Barr
Ear nose and throat doctor checked ears/hearing test
eye doc did eye exam

Only things we've fond so far:
Vitamin D deficiency (which I was prescribed supplement for)
irregular heartbeat (which appears fine)
positive for Lyme disease which I am waiting on a apecialist to determine if it is a false positive or not

In the midst of all this my father went into the hospital and I care for my mother who is handicapped!
so needless to say my doctor thought it might be helpful and decided to put me on 50MG of ZOLOFT

after research I am terrified of the side-effects... especially nightmares (well, and weight gain)

please weigh in need to gain courage

[RubyWitch]

I don't think you need any courage...........everything you are going through takes courage. I think you just need a little reassurance that the Zoloft is not some horrible medication that will leave you weighing 300 pounds and crazy from nightmares.
I agree with your doctor that for right now, you need something to help you cope with everything you have on your shoulders, which is a lot.
The vitamin D will help you feel better, but as was stated, it does take a few months to feel a difference. Zoloft will help within a week or so. 50mg is the smallest dose and you may need to up it if you are not feeling relief after a few weeks on it. Many people find good results between 100-200mg.
I am on 100mg of Zoloft and the only side effect I had was dry mouth the first week. I've had no nightmares and in fact, have been sleeping better than I have in months. I have also lost 6 pounds! And trust me, it wasn't from dieting!
As the poster above stated, she had bad nausea from the Zoloft, but she also said what we say on this forum all the time. We are all different in how we react to medications and the only way you're going to know how YOU react is to give it an honest trial. Many of these meds can have some effects until our bodies adjust and many people don't have any at all. Don't assume you're going to have any. If you do, speak with your doctor. It may be something bothersome, but harmless, and will soon pass.
I hope your father will be OK and I wonder if you have any help taking care of your mother? Your stress level right now is off the charts!
I wish you the very best
Peace
Greenlydia  

[kccc]

You'd be surprised that many of your symptoms can be caused because of your Vitamin D deficiency (and also the Lyme Disease...if you have it). When we become deficient of a vitamin they can throw our bodies out of whack. And although you were superscribed supplements for your Vitamin D deficiency, they take a few months to take effect.

Do you feel so upset that you think you need to take the Zoloft? If you're scared about the side effects, why don't you take the Vitamin D supplements for a few months and then see how you feel. :)

I personally got such bad nausea (that i couldn't even eat) from Zoloft, but everyone is different and we metabolize things differently.

[tina0214]

Wow, needless to say, i am going throught the EXACT same thing!!! I have an appointment to see a nuerologist in a few weeks because i dont see how anxiety can give me constant dizziness everyday!!! my doctor also prescribed me Zoloft (sertraline) 50mg a few weeks ago and i have yet started taking it... But to be honest this feeling is starting to take over me and i feel like i have no other choice but to try something ya know? all i know and all i hear from all the support is ANXIETY causes so much kaos in your body, so because im me and i understand completely what your going through, i say give the medication a try! the pharmacist and my doctor said i should notice "something" by the 3rd day on zoloft, so after a week, if my body aint liking it, my plan is to call my doctor asap! i hope it helps to know someone is going through what you are. Let me know if you need anything :-) hope you feel better soon!

[mammo]

Don't allow this to stop you from taking the medication, most don't have any of the side effects.  We all respond differently to these types of meds.  I took Zoloft for several years, with no side effects, and certainly no weight gain. If one person out of thousands experiences a side effect from the drug, they have to list it.  It is a safe drug, and if you should start to feel any of the side effects, just contact your doctor and never stop taking it abruptly, always work closely with your doctor where your meds are concerned.
I think an antidepressant will help you.  We're here to offer support and understand what you're enduring.  But remember for every person who has a bad side effect from a drug there are thousands who don't have any.  Hope this helps, as you have a full plate there,
Take care.