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784382 tn?1376931040

anyone take zoloft for anxiety?

dr just gave me an RX for zoloft but i havent filled it yet.....its for 50mg but he said just take half of a pill so it would be 25mg

the past few days i have had good days but today blows.......im scared to be on meds but i dont want to feel like this anymore

anyone take zoloft?.....any advise?.......stories are a great help
Best Answer
480448 tn?1426948538
Hiya turkee!  I'm glad to hear you're still addressing the anxiety...that's great.

Keep in mind that when you ask for input on meds, some of it may be less than favorable.  That's fine as everyone has their own experiences, but don't get a preconceived notion about it either way...let yourself have your own unique experience.

I can tell you about MY experience with Zoloft. First, it is actually one of the the most commonly Rx'd SSRI's for anxiety and panic with a great record of success.  Zoloft was the first med I ever took for my panic disorder and I'll tell you, it gave me my life back.  I went from literally housebound to "back to me" in a matter of months.  I am a huge Zoloft supporter.  I tolerated it pretty well too, a few initial (mild) side effects, slightly increased anxiety being one for which I took an occasional Ativan while I was waiting for the Zoloft to start working.

Generally speaking, these meds take about 4-6 weeks to really start noticing improvements.  Many people report a subtle change for the better after about 2-3 weeks, but the dramatic changes take a little longer.  For some, it may take even a bit longer than 6 weeks.  That's especially true if your doc is going to gradually increase your dose (ie 25 mg for a few weeks, then up to 50)...which may be necessary.  Some people require a higher dose and some do great on the low dose, it just depends.  It's very important to take it every day and to allow it ample time before making a determination that it does or doesn't work.  People that experience side effects are often inclined to throw in the towel before giving it a fair shake.  Which brings me to the side effects....

Zoloft can come with some initial side effects.  Again, it varies, some people don't ever have one side effect, and others have an harder time adjusting.  One of the most commonly reported side effect is an initial increase in anxiety, which stinks, because that's what the med is Rx'd for!  I've had this with other SSRI meds and would describe it more of a "jittery" feeling, like I drank too much coffee.  Other common side effects can be GI upset (nausea, diarrhea), sleep disturbances (either insomnia or drowsiness), headaches.  When I have experienced side effects with these kinds of meds, they have started improving between the first and second week, and resolving all together by the third or fourth week of treatment.  Again, this varies...so don't go into this thinking the worst.  If you do have some side effects...work with your doctor...try to stick it out.  The benefits are worth it.  I cannot stress enough that deciding early on that it either isn;t working or is making you feel worse is not giving it a chance.  Also, 25mg is a great starting dose...it will minimize any side effects.  Some docs will start people out on 50mg.  I feel that less is better, and if dosage adjustments need made later, that's fine.

One day at a time...keep in contact with your doc.  If side effects are bothersome, call your doc.  There are usually different things you can do to help ease those effects, if you happen to get them...before they start going away.  Go into this with an open mind...and be patient.

Of course, we're here for you as well.  This is really a great step....I can't say enough good things about Zoloft.  I was amazed at how it worked for me.  The more positive you feel about you taking your life back, I believe the more successful this will be for you.  Don't be scared...be relieved!

All the best!
273 Responses
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5023808 tn?1362472759
Hey man, just read your post and wondering how you are doing these days?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I had a skin problem which was not diagnosed for five years in my country and later treated and diagnosed as dissecting cellulitis of scalp.After two to three years I statred to feel breathless and strech in nose.I went to ENT who prescribed antibiotics.After having no effect he advised an exray which showed anterior group of paranasal sinus is clear and swollen turbinates.Again got treated with anti biotics,anti inflammatory and others.After having no effect doctor performed a turbinate reduction surgery to correct turbinates.There was no improvement after surgery.The xray after surgey showed anterior group of paranasal sinus is clear.Again got treat changed doctors after 6 to 7 months again an xray was performed which showed Anterior group of paranasal sinus is clear and swollen turbinates.My Ct Scan and Mri reports say that swollen turbinate and paranasal sinus is clear.Allergy test show +3 for house dust mites.I feel stretch in nose which changes into pain.I feel breathless but actualy there is no problem phsyically.I am unable to drive as I feel breathless,uneasy,restless and tensed.I have no social life.ENT say thay your paranasal sinus are clear and turbinates are swollen due to allergy but not that much to block your air passage.24/7 when I am awake I think of breathing.Ent have advised me to a psychiatrist because they say that everything is find there should be no strech or pain and even breathlessnes.The psychiatrist has advised my Zoloft.Has anyone ever had this kind of situation?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm new to this site. For the last 5mths I've had horrible anxiety and panic attacks to now I don't drive at all and it literally takes all I am to go into a store. I've been put on ativan and its just not working.  Would zoloft work you think in my case?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have been on Cymbalta for 2 years it I tried to get off it 5 months ago but didn't go well so I started Zoloft 4 days ago have anxiety and bad thouth are coming to my head early morning
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi, I'm Katie
I am just coming off Cymbalta in the next two weeks and then starting Zoloft 25mg for 1 week then bumping up to 50 mg.

I have been reading your post I'm just curious what kind of things can I look forward to at the start?

I also am on Ativan 1mg and Clozepam both for anxiety too.

Thanks,
Katie
Helpful - 0
784382 tn?1376931040
HEY ALL....i miss you guys!!..... been off the zoloft since may and doing well.... hope everyone is doing great!
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784382 tn?1376931040
hey all been off the zoloft for a week and a few days....  so far so good!....
Helpful - 0
1880256 tn?1322569908
I can't tell you what to do,but I would first and foremost be HONEST with your doctor.How is he supposed to help you if you aren't being honest with him?
And you cannot just stop taking Zoloft,you neeed to taper off with the help from your doctor.
Helpful - 0
784382 tn?1376931040
hey all, no i would never leave yall... just been super busy with dental school.... I MISS YOU GUYS!!!,,,, happy valentines day as well!...hope everyone has been wonderful....

so im still on zoloft, 50 mgs, dr thinkins im taking 75 mg , but im not. and im actually thinking about coming off the meds. i just want to try and not have to take meds every day. ***** having this little pill control my life. and to be honest i think i still have this "fuzzy, dizzy" feeling, that i had before i started taking it, so whats the point?..... and im sure the dr is going to tell me to go up in dosage but i dont want to be on 100mgs or anything like that....i dont want to be on meds!!!!!!!!!!!!!,,,,,sorry just venting lol.

would love to hear your input!....xoxoxoxox miss you guys soooo much!
Helpful - 0
1880256 tn?1322569908
Hi,I have been taking Zoloft for a long time.I started out at 50mg yrs ago.It took awhile for it to start working well.But I hung in there!:) I also had Librium as a back up for the panic attacks.Librium was a very strong med.hated it,but took it when I had too.I tried taking myself off Zoloft 3 x and went right back on. For a whole year I tapered myself down from 50mg to 25mg and then skipping once in awhile. Boy that was a mistake. I started (from what my phyciatrist has told me) having withdrawals. Anxiety,brain zaps(which you can get those from to much Zoloft and not enough),insomnia,very moody etc. But I was also going through menopause.So that could have made things worse too.
As of last March I started out taking 50mg of Zoloft again with the help of a good MD/phyciatrist.After a couple of months he upped my dosage to 100mg,because of the side effects I was having from the withdrawals.He also prescribed Ativan 0.5mg as needed. I took one a day for a couple weeks. Now I maybe take 2 a month. And my doc and therapist have both assured me that it is ok. Trust me I always ask!lol
If your doctor says you need to up your dose to 100mg,then you need to do it.
Thinking of you and I am here to talk with you if you want:)
Helpful - 0
535822 tn?1443976780
Hey turkee  glad you are here thought you had left us ..sorry you not feeling good ..oh darn dont be scared ..something will work out, aww we all get like this sometimes ..come and natter if you want to , good to hear from you we miss your cheeky smile .
Helpful - 0
784382 tn?1376931040
hey all. i have been doing pretty well until yesterday and i feel like a truck hit me, my hubby and i are seperating for a little while, now im back to the crazy dizzy spells. i dont have insurance anymore so i cant just up and go to the dr. im guessing i feel like this cause i been so stressed and crying my eyes out for the past 2 days, and havent ate. im really scared

hope everyone else is doing well
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey turkee... glad to hear you are doing well. I was to up until last weekend where I went to a couple of parties and kinda overdid the drinking and now it feels like I am back in the first few weeks of adapting to the Lexapro again... all the familiar adjustment symptoms are back. Called my Psych to meet her and discuss this. Read that taking too much alcohol can stop the SSRI from working so its as if I stopped abruptly for what could have been as much as three days... so hoping now that I am back to normal and dosing regularly again (With absolutely no booze) that I will ramp back up to where I was... totally ***** and I have learned my lesson.... you can't have more than a beer or two on this stuff or it really messes you up.....
Helpful - 0
784382 tn?1376931040
yea today im feeling a lil anxious again....i kinda want to get to my therapist but i thought i was doing so well i put the appt out for 3 weeks...=(

i dunno maybe my period has something to do with it....yesterday i was a lil stressed out about something with my dad. so i thought maybe thats what did it......but there should be no reason why im nervous today......i dont know its kinda weird.....

i did say i could probably use just a LIL extra dosage. but deff not the 100mgs. so im still thinking about trying the 75 mgs want to talk to therapist
Helpful - 0
1699033 tn?1514113133
I can't speak for the others but I am fine.  I'm glad to hear you are doing well.  You can expect to have a bad day here and there.  I don't think once in three weeks is cause to go upping the meds.  If you have been happy where you are, then I'd stay there for a while.  Journal the times you do have some anxiety so that you can see the timeline.  

Nursegirl has a new job, so she hasn't been on here.  CanuckyGuy...I haven't seen him in a very long time so that must be really good news.  Not sure about the others.  

Helpful - 0
784382 tn?1376931040
yea when you up the dose it usually causes those shakes and the jitteriness. it happened to me as you can see

hiiii all i miss you!!!.....been busy with getting back in school and family weddings and stuff.

so i went for my 8 week check up with the psych dr. i been taking 50 mgs of the zoloft and actually been feeling great. even my therapist thinks its just amazing how much different i am from when i started seeing her. anyways the dr said i should go up to 100 mgs.....i dont feel likei need to double my dose so i told him i didnt want to do it, so he suggested trying 75 mgs. but that was 2 weeks ago and i have stayed at the 50 cause i been feeling so well and dont wanna be over medicated and the therapist agreed with me.

its been 3 weeks and 2 days since i had to take a xanax during the day for my anxiety, and then today bam my anxiety spiked outta no where so i just took a .25 xanax, kinda depressing but hey i came from taking them everyday to not needing one in 3 weeks!....go me go me!

so im hopeing that this is just one of those days....... anyone suggest going up to the 75 mgs? i think i might wanna give it try but i am on the fence about it.....would i know if i was over medicated?......

nursegirl,Persephone3576,JGF,jade,cancuk how is everyone?????
Helpful - 0
1298400 tn?1316718457
hello turkee ive been reading ur succes thats great ive been taking 25 mg since sept 5.. then the doc after 10 days updose my med to 50mg 3 days of feeling shakinees inside all over my body iso i lowered back to 25mg bc i was scared im doing ok but still felt anxious today i felt my worst i wanted to cry so badly felt so depress bc of this anxiety ugh
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784382 tn?1376931040
im back!.....yes i been good been busy, my best friend just got married on saturday so the planning for that been stressful but glad its over.

im been feeling alot better yes. the only problem im really having is sleeping. i go in for the 8 week check up with psychiartrist tomorrow. kinda nervous about that, i think he is going to up the meds dosage, even though i dont really want him to. if he does i just want VERY little increase, cause i pretty much feel back to myself but still have the anxiety at times so i dont know what to do with that. im going to mention the sleep to him hopefully he will give me something besides xanax so i dont get hooked.....any suggestions?....


how is everyone here???......hope everyone is doing well!
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784382 tn?1376931040
yea im deff expecting a increase when i see him in 2 weeks.

did you have these brain zap things?
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480448 tn?1426948538
No, it wouldn't poop out that fast.  I typically needed an increase in dose about once a year, twice at the most, once I was on the dose that worked for me.

You may still need a higher dose, like you said, but the important thing is...things are improving!  Yay!  Keep it up girl!
Helpful - 0
784382 tn?1376931040
well i only been on it for 6 weeks so i dont think it would poop out that fast.....right?...

yea in general im feeling alot better and more like myself everyday, wouldnt be suprised if he upped the dose at the 8 week mark, cause i still getting some anxiety, so im expecting a increase. just yesterday and today been getting the weird zaps, almost like a wave come over me but happing alot it seems. and i been taking my meds every morning. i even write it down in 2 places so i dont forget that i took it lol
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Type in antidepressant poop out into google and look at how many hits you get. Yes you can get tolerance, i did. It is different for everyone as to how fast it will occur.
I became dependent on prozac for 9 years and i believe it caused my conditions to become more chronic long term and less responsive to numerous treatments. Withdrawal is hell worse than my original problem.
Helpful - 0
1719825 tn?1316265832
Hey turkee, brain zaps usually happen when you don't take your meds. Or when you're tapering off.

How are you feeling in general? I am feeling more like myself every day. Sleeping better, eating a ton, and I'm actually starting to enjoy things again. I hope you're feeling good, too!
Helpful - 0
784382 tn?1376931040
getting weird brain zaps today.......akward.....yesterday was 6 weeks
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