Hello! I have recently started taking 25mg of Zoloft for my anxiety and panic attacks.I know it takes a while to kick in but has anyone else gotten really irritable and just been really scared since they started taking it. I'm sure the fact that I am on something scares me more then anything else and doesn't help the situation. But I haven't experienced any other side effects except really strong bursts of irritability and fear. Did this happen to anyone else? Thanks
Zoloft - what side-effects did you experience?
- Posted:
- 25 Jul 2010 by anonymous986
- Topics:
- zoloft, post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder
Details:
Responses (24)
Anonymous 
christine...25 Jul 2010
Zoloft can be used for panic disorders. I was prescribed this medication sometime ago and didn't have a whole lot of success. It was prescribed to me for ordinary depression. For me, it worked like more of a mood stabilizer... no highs, no lows, I felt like I was just there. Try not to worry and give the medication time to work. Good luck to you.
Zoloft is an antidepressant in a group of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Zoloft affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause depression, panic, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
Zoloft is used to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
zev5110429 Jul 2010
I've taken Zoloft, along with a bunch of other anti-depressants, but at the time it was for PTSD and depression. These are the indications for what the medication is supposed to treat and it did help, however, the lack of self emotion you experience from being on it is... not worth it, IMO. No wonder the commercials say it may cause depression and suicidal thoughts!!! As for treating anxiety I couldn't say, didn't get that far as I am still working on the same issue myself. I can definitely say this: take the medication as the doctor prescribes and give it the necessary amount of time. It will make things better, but it is up to you to interpret what and how you feel to the doc as a good thing or maybe as a bad thing. Zoloft seems to make your life seem worse before it gets better, which is why you have to give it almost a month or longer before you pass judgment.
29 Jul 2010
I started with 50 mg. and eventually moved to 300 and at that point had a meltdown, that made me worse! I moved back to 125 and am much better, I know everyone is different,but for me, it appeared too much of a good thing was not a good thing. I had no side effects as you describe, but then again, all our brains are different. Be sure to keep your doc informed. I believe that's key too.
Anonymous 
tofugodde...29 Jul 2010
I had a major problem with focus with it. I was zoning out while I was on Zoloft. I am Bipolar and currently taking Wellbutrin XL and Topamax. Over the past 6 years I have had to take several different combos of meds, always including Wellbutrin. But at different times in the first couple years of my treatment, I was tried on Effexor, Zoloft, Lexapro, Paxil, Cymbalta..(in combination with Lamictal and Wellbutrin XL)... pretty much, you name it..I've tried it, and was not very successful. I ended up having to have ECT treatments because of my hard to treat depression, and now I am down to only having the Wellbutrin and Topamax and just recently got a script for Klonopin to take as needed for my Anxiety. I don't like to feel like I am sedated, but Anxiety comes with the package when you are bipolar, so I felt I needed something, even if it was occasional. If you don't like being on something all the time, I recommend asking your Dr.
blondie1229 Jul 2010
I took zoloft a few years ago and it was the first medicine i had ever been put on for nerves and yes i was scared to death over everything for the first 3 weeks. I was taken off of it a year ago and recently put back on it at a higher dosage and i am having the same effect. It will go away, or at least it did for me last time. Good luck and just keep taking it. I hope it helps.
morphine4...
DeNeese11 Oct 2010
Hello anonymous986, I took only 3 days of this medicine and am still having these side effects two weeks later. I was told these types of drugs amplify what you are already feeling. This may be the case with you also. I was not very patient and refused to stay on something that made me feel so bad. I suffer from clinical depression only for some years. All of the ones that sedate and help with sleep seem to help more than any of the others. And I have been on a ton of all kinds of meds to help with depression. The fears came mosly when I took the newer meds. Paxil, Celexa, Zoloft, Prozac. Sorry you are feeling so bad. These drugs change you, but not who you are. You may just need time. It takes a long time for all of these drugs to kick in. The fact that you have to be on something is enough to scare the pants off of you, but you are not alone and should not be embarrassed that you need to take meds. If you would only realize how many of us there are.
21 Oct 2010
YES!! Anonymous,
I was irritable, anxious, moody, and just plain SCARED all the time. I waited 2 months for it to work. Then Doc upped my dose and I felt worse. Cried every night. Became totally despondent. Went back down to 100mg then to 50mg. Now I've switched to Cymbalta and 2 mg of Klonopine spaced thru the day for anxiety. I feel much better. (although anything would have been better). Talk to your dr if you dont feel better. Everyone responds different to different meds.
Lexapro also helps with anxiety and depression. I took that for many years with success.
donnsastorey
2 Sep 2011
Lexapro is very expensive - if you dont have insurance. So I take zoloft, cost is acheivable, but it does not work like the lexapro did! I would like to go back on lexapro When I CAN afford it.
sweetie pie23 Oct 2010
Anonymous986, hello. I have been on Zoloft for so long I do not remember if I had any fear or irritability. I do know that this med has helped me with depression and anxiety. I felt a difference in about two weeks. I started on 50 mg and I am now on 200 mg. I do get alittle depressed at times but it is because I do not live near any family. I also live way out in the country away from everything. I hope you give Zolft a try because it may help you. I know it is tough to wait but you can do it. All of the comments from the members of Drugs.com are really helpful. It is nice to know that you have friends out there who care about you. I hope things get better. I will say a prayer for you. Sweetie Pie
26 Oct 2010
To consered zolofot user, read all the possiable side effects and adveresed reactions. Then take it and hope for the best. If you do have any side effects or acverserd reactions that are serious, not just mild. Call your Dr to discusse what the medication is doing you, Best Of Luck.
Sincerly,
JessiMc (MA)
30 Oct 2010
After just getting off of Zoloft for 11 years the symptoms I had started off okay then became worse after 11 years thus why I got off: The early years: Nausea, sensativity to warm or hot environments, made me more anxious, rashes. Years later: Intolerance to alot of foods new allergies. And recently why i got off: Problems breathing, losing too much weight it put me down to 105 from 120, created panic attacks. I won't mention the withdrawal effects there too seriously nasty.
If you keep taking it I hope it works out for you and you never have to get off of it.
Best of Luck
30 Nov 2010
I have been on it for 4 weeks now... I find it to increase my anxiety... I get this very intense rush of energy inside me, that wont release... kinda like my blood is boiling. Doc told me my body will adjust. Hope so.
I call them my Zoloft zaps when this happens! :)
Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.
Similar questions
What are side effects of taking paroxetine?
1 answer • 6 Dec 2009 • 
Ok so I am going to get on this from Zoloft 100mg?
Will this medicine make me more tired. Zoloft has helped my anxiety but i heard this will too. So what do u think?
1 answer • 1 Apr 2010 •
Lack of libido from zoloft then lexapro?
Just curious to know if anyone can tell me (a hypochondriac who has PTSD WITH SEVERE PANIC ATTACKS) If buspar will or could bring me back my libido ...
4 answers • 28 Dec 2010 •
Does Lamictal help ANXIETY, OCD, BPD - ?
I was on Zoloft and had to immed. quit it due to horrible/dangerous side effects that I was experiencing. So now my psychiatrist put me on Lamictal ...
6 answers • 2 Sep 2011 • 1 star
I have been on Zoloft for 3 weeks 100mg and I still feel jittery?
Just wondering if this will go away. My aniexty has subside but the jitters remind me that usually how the aniexty starts does anyone have the same ...
2 answers • 22 Feb 2012 •
I think docs are afraid to prescribe potentially addicting medications. So they prescribe meds like Zoloft which does help with anxiety. If you are less depressed, naturally your anxiety level goes down, or at least it should.
My dr presribed zoloft for me for anxiety/panic disorder. The dr told me that it takes about a month before you start feeling better so she also gave me Xanax (only .25 mgs) for break through anxiety. I do feel better now, I'm not sure if it's the zoloft or me just feeling better. I only have to take the zoloft for one more month so I guess I'll find out. I was a bit irritable when u first started but I think it was mainly cuz I didn't feel good. It will get better.
each one has its own little problem (I think) time is a big help please dont be hard on yourself
I was on Zoloft to be very honest it had been so long until I had almost forgotten, (I deal with Chronic pain and other issues but went through panic and anxiety together) I thought for sure I would not make it, Zoloft I had problems with I was terribly irritable and after I sttod that shaky uncertain feeling the doctor made a change, a one time I use Lexapro which seemed to work faster and didn't seem to cause the effects of Zoloft, now I am off Lexapro and am on extended release Xanax, with pain issues the panic improved but the anxiety was an issue, Xanax is a benzodiazepine and some doctors don't/won't use it, I watch carefully how much I take because I know this could get to be a habit, far better to have help and me work together with the medicine than not to have it to take, I try taing it 1 in the a.m. and 1 in the p.m. the Rx says I can take more but once I take more it will take more to be effective, this is a decision that I can live with and still use the medication. I wish you only the very best!! caringsonbj (Billy)
I currently switched from taking paxil to zoloft and I'm constantly thinking what if's and what not becomming scared and fearful of several things. I've also become more anxious and panicky as well. Good luck I'm trying to change meds!
I would love to know the answer to that too. My doctor prescribed zoloft to me for anxiety too, I told him that I'm not depressed, I am anxious!! He claimed that in small doses, it works well for anxiety. He even told me it would help with my sleep problems too. Then I read all about these people on it that are waking up with night sweats. I used to be on antidepressants for years while i was married, once I finally got out of that bad marriage, I haven't been depressed again. I hated all that side effects of those meds when I was on them and really don't want to take zoloft. He also prescribed ativan for the short term, right now help, but the zoloft for the long term. then I look up the side effects of zoloft and the very first one is anxiety, what the heck??
I cannot take anything that messes with the chemicals in your brain. I took this for a month and started acting really strange. I had to get off that plus any other anti-depressant or anti-anxiety that isnt a benzodiazepine. You have to really be careful.
I agree with Christine I think doctors are so concerned about medications as you mentioned such as Xanax and some of the other benzodiazepines (due to their experience with some patients) that they are very afraid to take the chance, I think a lot of it has to do with the doctor knowing the patient, so I think they defer to these other drugs to which some individuals are sensitive and don't respond well too, I am on a dose of xanax, I have seen and been prescribed by the same doctor for a long period of time, it's important to me if the xanax starts to give me a hard time or I have concerns about if I am wanting more then the doctor and I need to have a talk, I haven't helped I am afraid just wanted to comment. I do hope that you do find something that does give you the relief that you need and that you can find something that works for you and also is comfortable for you and the doc Caringsonbj Billy