I have taken Zoloft for 3 years. It takes about a year for it to work to its full potential. It is for long term anxiety, not the shorter term panic attack stuff. I am also now starting to take clonazepam for those wonderful times... but they do not happen so often or as easily as before the zoloft. I love zoloft. I still feel like myself, but calmer and with no physical side affects. Hope it works for you!
I take Effexor with Clonazepam. I take 1 mg of clonazepam in the morning together with Effexor and my anxiety is stable all day long. I even went through a separation which would not be possible if i stayed on my previous meds such as celexa and paxil.
You can take Clonazepam before zoloft why not? But if zoloft doesn't work ask your doctor about effexor. Just be carefull because effexor shouldn't be mixed with other antidepressants. Do it only under your doctors supervision.