I started taking a low dose of Zoloft 9 days ago. I was on 12.5 mg for 1 week, and I just upped my dosage last night to 25mg. I have some increased anxiety, a little shakiness, and slight nausea. I woke up yesterday morning and was EXTREMELY dizzy, like the room was moving under my feet and having the feeling of wanting to pass out. The xanax I have helps a bit with it, but I still feel really spacey. I've been feeling this way now for the last 2 days, today has not been as bad as yesterday, but I feel really "funky" and off balance, can't look up and can't move my head quick or the dizziness gets worse. Is this a normal side effect? I was on Zoloft twice before and don't remember getting THIS dizzy from it. Any help would be greatly appreciated. THANKS! :)
Is Zoloft causing my dizziness?
Question posted by Foxxii on 15 Aug 2011
Last updated on 18 August 2011
4 Answers
After re-reading your question, maybe you are just to senative for this particular med, or maybe you have an inner ear problem going on. That will definately make you dizzy enough that when you look up or move your head feeling like you will fall over. I should think a call to your doctor would be best rather than the rest of us just guessing about it. Everyone reacts differently to different meds. My husband said it kept him awake at night so I suggested he take it (after reading somewhere in this site)in the morning. Walla! Problem solved. Please give you doc a call. Something just doesn't sound right to me...
I should have mentioned that maybe you are just a wee bit anxious about taking this med too since you do list anxiety as a problem. I hope all goes well for you. Mary
Thanks Foxxii. So you upped it on the 8th day. I have several older textbooks that I use, to do my research from. They talk about the common side-effects, and some not so common. Some of the common ones are nausea, stomach aches, trouble falling asleep, diarrhea, shaking, headaches. Not so common, drowsiness is one mentioned. Well, the xanax is doing its job. Your anxiety level is down. I'm old school. In as much as I know fairly well, how say, I might react to a certain drug. If I were going through what you are going through, I'd be on the phone, to my doctors office. Again, my thought on it. Why should you have to go through the misery of putting up with being so dizzy. In a nutshell, I can't or don't have a specific answer. Its easy for me to say, wait a few more days, wait and see then how things are. But, I don't care to say that. Rather, contact your prescribing physician, at least to get her/his opinion. Maybe one of the other members of the site, may have an idea, or better one than what I suggested.
And hello and goodmorning to you Mary, (bit late in coming by) meaning me, yup, right on coffee is still pipeing hot. Good to see you friend. Hope that your week-end went well. And theres a fresh pot of tea, for I seeBilly is just walking in for a cup. We knew he'd come by. Hope you are also doing well. Little baffled? no more frustrated in Foxxii's zoloft side-effects goings on. Hopefully someone might have a better answer than what I came up with. Well, have a good day, and theres plenty of coffee and tea to go around. :-0)
Hi Foxxil. I agree with blaze. It is a common side effect. I was once on zoloft as well. I believe its the increase in your dose. But, I'd phone your doctor, just to confirm that all is well. As you said, you were on it before and never had it happen to you. Just wondering if its the xanax, that might be causing this to happen, interaction of the two drugs. You might want to call your pharmacist. Hope it goes away to say the least.
My husband is on 100mg of Zoloft, & has never complained about these conditions you are taking of, but he is dizzy anyway most of the time. Each person is different & reacts differently. Good luck to you. Good morning Pledge. Coffee hot still(of course)?Godd to see you this morning. Your friend,
Sorry about the typo. That was good to see you! Mary
Hello Mary and Pledge hope all is well ! Billy
Pledge, I didn't increase my dose until later that night. I woke up feeling dizzy that morning. I took 12.5 mg for 7 days. And on the 8th day I had to increase my dose to 25. I take it around dinner time because last time I started it at night before bed I woke up a few times with nocturnal panic attacks. (not too pleasant) But I did up my dose anyway like I was supposed to. Just been feeling really crappy and off balance for the last 3 days now. The xanax actually seems to be helping with this. Maybe i'm staying in this "zone" because I did up the dosage while feeling dizzy, or maybe it's something else all together. The only s/e i seem to have is a little shakiness, some increased anxiety, decreased appetite, and this spacey feeling that seems like it doesn't want to go away. Like my legs feel like jelly or rubber when I walk, kinda like the floor is moving under my feet.
Yes this is a side effect of the drug and you need to take it slow and easy and see if it goes away within at least a weeks time to let your body get use to the new dosage and so on... it should go away within 48 hours as long as you don't up the dose again... If it is too bothersome then speak with your physician about this and you may need to be switched... good luck... blaze22
My concern is that it happened on day 7 of 12.5 mg. So it was in my system for 7 days already, I did not up my dosage until that night so I know it wasn't from that. Just wondering why it wouldn't have appeared sooner. Maybe i'm just a little more paranoid this time around. :)
That may be and too you need to take note of anything else that you may be taking, if not, an empty stomach may be the cause, and just the adjustment itself could have caused the oncoming side effect... all depression medications are funny that way and it is just a matter of time to see if it will work for you... hope you are doing a little better and will keep tabs here and there of your progress... I've been on zoloft myself off and on for over 2 years and it definately had it's pros and cons... now taking celexa... blaze22
Related topics
zoloft, anxiety, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder
Further information
- Zoloft uses and safety info
- Zoloft prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Zoloft (detailed)
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