Zoloft headache

[Beeingme]

Hi!
Im from Canada and have GAD. Im on zoloft since 2yrs now at 100mg. Last summer, I increased my dosage at 125 but since a few week I had suffer from bad tension headache and went to see my doctor. She knows me very well and did a check up. She suggested that I go to 150... So, I did and started 4 days ago but since, I stil have those bacd headache like big pressures in the back and the sides. I also got some kind of palpitations in the afternoon and I felle my heart beating fast. I am scared that the dose may be too high for me or that I have something wrong or worst!???

I know im a big anxious person and i just hope this can go away. I remember that the symptoms were a bit like that at first but wasnt when I went on 125. But since, i had anxiety and needed to get on a higher dose, im just quetionning if it still normal to have symptoms ( my body must be used to the molecule, no????)

Thanks for helping me...

[Beeingme]

The past two days was good and I had a decrease of my anxiety and headache. But tonight, Feel a little sore, like if I trained all day. Also headache but not as bad and feel anxious... Im suppose to have my menstruations pretty soon.... Do you think it can be relate?

Thanks

[cj29]

I also have to agree with everyone here.  I have been on and off of Zoloft for years.  I actually prefer it and combined with counseling has been invaluable in me confronting my anxiety. But any time I adjust dosage under my doc's supervision, I get a myriad of side effects to include headaches, but within a couple of weeks, my body does adjust.  I just usually stress paitience during this time.  

[nursegirl6572]

I agree with the above posts.  It sounds very much like the headache is caused by the increased Zoloft dose, which IS very common.  If that's the case, the headaches will subside after some time passes, and your body is adjusting to the new dose.  

Remember when you first started the Zoloft, and had to allow ample time for the medication to start working, and how there may have been some initial "start up" side effects?  The same applies to dosage increases.  It's common to see a reemergence of those initial start up side effects (usually on a much lesser scale, and shorter lived) after increasing your dose, just as it will take time for you to adjust to the new dose, to able to fairly assess whether it's effective or not.  Plan on giving the new dose about 4 weeks (maybe even a bit longer) to be able to see the full effects.  Any side effects (including the headache)...should abate after 2 weeks or so.  Keep in contact with your doctor on how you're doing...hang in there!

[Paxiled]

My experience is that headaches are one of the most common side effects of medication, so the increased dose could certainly be the culprit.

[TIPCrys]

Hello. I'm glad you have a doctor you trust!
I'm wondering if you two discussed doing a smaller dose? I get the sense that is what you are feeling should be done. It would make sense to me that your body is familiar with the substance even if the dose is changed, but chemicals effect everyone differently and your body may have difficulty handling any change in it. Or even handling the chemical at all - There isn't much way to know except by manipulating the intake. If your symptoms have gotten worse, or more have become apparent, since the dosage change, I suggest calling your doctor's office and letting them know. I would expect to go back to the 125 until you can get back into the office to speak with the doctor.
I'm curious what the cause of the headaches is believed to be and why the zoloft is chosen to treat them? If the headaches aren't part of the original reason for the zoloft perhaps a different treatment is more likely to help?
With more/worse symptoms, I suggest giving a call to the office anyway to see if you should give a couple of days more for adjustment or if they also feel it would be better to set up a another appt now.
I hope all turns out to be a simple complication and that your headaches subside soon. Keep taking care of yourself and write things down (symptoms, questions, etc) if you think that will help when trying to figure things out with the doc.