Question posted by turkee25 on 17 July 2011
Last updated on 25 December 2023 by anxioustom
Dr just gave me an RX for Zoloft 50mg for panic and anxiety but said take half the pill. i haven't filled the RX yet cause I'm nervous about taking meds.
The past few days I had pretty good days until yesterday and today not so much. So I'm just on the fence about it.
Any good stories about Zoloft? Side effects? Hard to come off of them...
uggg i feel so frustrated!
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Took it 2 1/2 year ago and was just like you very nervous about it. For me it worked well once I got to proper dose which was 150mg it just took a little while to get there.
According to the NIH, SSRI’s have been linked to dementia. I tried Zoloft for 2 weeks and I couldn’t stand the vivid dreams and hallucinations. It took 3 months to leave my system. My daughter has been on it for 8 years and it has ripped the family apart. She is making crazy accusations against family members and quoting things that never happened. I begged her to wean off bc her hallucinations are getting wilder and wilder. I’m very happy with Xanax (the real ones) and I think SSRI’s in some cases do more damage than good.
Hi ,
I am on Zoloft for just 10 days. I was
on Lexapro and Dr switched it. I was on
Prozac, disipramine and klonopin for
over 40 years. My MD decided I should
get off them and “maybe” I would not need
them. Took most of the pandemic to wean myself off. (Took Xanax prior to klonopin.)
Was great for months and than WHAM horrible anxiety,depression, etc.
So now I start all over again and am having a
hard time fighting side effects of Zoloft starting out again. I started prozac when it
was first introduced in the late 80’s.Need some help, again.
sorry I'm just seeing this. I hope all is well. I liked the way zoloft made me feel emotionally but it made my stomach huey really bad and so I couldn't take it. I'm on paxil now as of two weeks and I'm waiting for it to start working.
How do you feel about the switch from Zoloft to Paxil?
Did u ever start taking the zoloft?
Holly, I'm pretty sure all these folks you added to your "Friends" list are no longer active. You can click on their avatar (which is now a colored circle with the first 2 letters of their member name. It will take you to their profile and you can click to see what their current activity, statistics, friends, etc are. Hope this helps. You can add some of the members names that you see on your current activity page, or who have given answers or comments about medications that you are personally interested in. Hope this helps. You'll catch on! "G"
Holly: One more thing:
You can go to your profile page and click on the phrase "support groups" at the top, next to the options for "activity", "friends", "statistics", etc.
Click on "support groups", and you'll be offered a box to type in. Type in the group you would like to be in the box, it will offer you to "join this support group", click the blue words, and it will add that support group to your list of support groups. Go back and enter another support group you would like to join and repeat the process. For an example, click on my avatar, the "gold circle" with the initials GM in it, click on this and it will take you to my profile page. You can click on my support groups and see which ones I have joined. And you can click and see the rest of my info to give you and idea of what to do. Let me know if you have any questions. This should get you started! "G"
Holly, you won't be able to see my first comment to you, above, unless you click on the word "Expand" in blue. Click on it, please, to see some information I wrote to help you get started on this site. Let me know if it helped. "G"
did you finally ever take the zoloft?
Hi Holly:
I noticed you said that you didn't understand how this works. If you look, you will see the dates posted with the questions and comments. This particular one is from 2011 through 2013. There are many current sites you can click on. You can join a support group, then click on that support group and ask a question and members will post answers and comments to help you out. If you go to your profile page, click on "MY PROFILE". then you can click on the word "activity" and see the questions and comments that have been the most recent for the day. You can click on those and they will take you to the particular question or answer that you might be interested. Then you can leave your comments there. Go to your profile, click on the words "support groups". Type in the word "zoloft". It will take you to the support group questions and answers (click on that option) and it will provide a box for you to type in a question.
Then follow the bouncing ball and your question will appear in the zoloft support group. Be sure that when you type in your question, you click the box below that says "Yes, e-mail me when someone else answers this question." Then later when you check your e-mails, you will be sent a link in blue to click on to to find your question that has been posted, along with any comments and/or answers that have been made to it. Let me know if I can help you further. "G"
I just commented on another answer for you. I hope you see it. Don't give up and pls try the Zoloft. It is better than the anxiety and depression you are going thru. It's a work in progress. Pls don't be nervous. I just started on the 25mg and I am sure as time goes on, I will up the dosage. But, it's worth a try. Depression and anxiety is awful. I sometimes have fear in the pit of my stomach and don't know why. I do take 0.25 mg Xanax when needed. It helps, too.
I am writing this because 12 days ago I started taking 25mg of zoloft. I was having horrible anxiety attacks and feeling depressed off and on. On my second and third day of meds I felt 10x worse! I was terrified my body felt like tingly and I felt almost out of my body. I started reading everything I could and I really cant get across really how scared I felt. It was a nightmare. But I talked to a few different people that said just ride it out it will get better, its just your body adjusting. And its true! On the fourth day I felt a little better but was skeptical so I continued. But everyday has been better than the day before. Here on day 12 I feel really good, my anxiety is waay down and I feel a lot calmer in situations but not like a zombie. So far so good :) I just wanted to let any new people trying zoloft and having the same side effects. Oh I also have the nausea but not too bad and its getting better as well.
Hi knikkiknack-I started 25 mg of Zoloft 10 days ago. On day 7 I upped my dose to 50 mg (Dr. orders) and my anxiety shot through the roof. I decided to go back to the 25 mg... did your dr. recommend you stay at the 25 or are you suppose to go up at some point?
I was put on the 25 mg. I am waiting for my next appt to revaluate and go from there. I have heard that upping your dose will cause that just like what I had when I started. If you can handle it I would keep with it. I heard its really common while your body chem is adjusting. Do you have anything like valium to help with the acute panic attacks?
I have klonopin to help with anxiety and to help me sleep. It just seems these past couple of days my anxiety is so high and my heart just races-I just wonder how long it will take for the 50 mg to kick in and make me feel better. And how do you know when this medicine just isn't going to work for you?
I dont. I had the worst anxiety I have ever experienced when I started it. At like the fourth day felt like I was in a walking nightmare. It took about a week to subside then after about 2 weeks I was feeling better than I have in years. Then that seemed to go down a little and I was thinking I might need to go up to the 50 so I will wait and see. Im not gonna lie im scared to feel that way again. Im really sorry your feeling that way. Did you have any of those reactions starting the 25 mg? I just know im glad I stuck with it. I know its scary.
Thats the thing, when I started at 25 the first week I felt great. I was so happy that I was feeling better-more energy, heart wasn't racing, I felt really good. Then on day 7, I took the full 50 mg and my anxiety shot back up and even though I dropped back to the 25 mg the next day, my anxiety has been high ever since. I'm calling the Dr. to see if I just need to try the 50 for awhile (even though I dread the side effects) or stay at the 25 and hope the anxiety goes awhile with time. I hate the not knowing if this is the right medicine. It seems to take forever for these medicines to kick in and the whole time you are left wondering what if this isn't the right medicine for me and I have to start over with a whole new one?!
Thats weird that it did that after only 1 time. And terrible that you felt that great only to have it be worse after. I am really scared of that happening. This is the only med I have tried so I dont know a lot. I think they want you to continue for 2-4 weeks usually.
I talked to my doc and she said to stay at the 25 mg and give it another 2 weeks or so, by that point I will have been on it for a month and should know if this is the drug for me. In the meantime, I will take my klonopin to help with the racing heart and anxiety. I sure hope the 25 mg works-I would rather stay at a low dose then have to go up.
When do you take your pill-morning or night? Do you have trouble sleeping?
I take mine at around 5 pm because that just happened to be when I got home the first time I took it. Everything I read said take at the same time everyday. I had the insomnia at first but thankfully that went away.
You are giving me encouragement and I think I just need to learn some patience and keep up with Zoloft. I've only tried one other drug before-Lexapro and I could not tolerate the side effects at all. I'll give Zoloft a couple of more weeks-its good to know that you had similar side effects to what I have and they have gone away. So glad you are doing well-hope I can get there soon!
Im glad I can help. I know its terrifying and you feel alone and scared. I wanted to quit but my husband talked me into keeping it up for just a couple more days. I needed some extra hugs and I would litterally start crying randomly but it did get better. I know its hard but you can do it and you will be happy you stuck with it.
I'm on 200mg of Zoloft at night tends to work for me and if I don't have my valium when I have panic attacks I can take my Zoloft and it calms me down. This med doesn't make me feel funny or loopy it's a mild med for me . Wish u the best :)
I have been on zoloft quiet awhile, kept breaking them in half and have them pretty good regulared. Now you will get alittle asleepy at first using zoloft but your body gets use to it. Don't know how much you are to take but I started off with the 50mg and cut them in half because it don't take much medicine for me. Just start off slow nad see how it work, my grandchild swears by zoloft she is 28.
I always hated to start new meds and am glad I have the same old ones: zoloft and xanax. The xanax is an old stand by, keep them in my purse and only take 1/2 of a 0.5 in the daytime. Take a whole one at night but it don't do anything but keep me relaxed. My son takes them for nerves and my daughter always liked them. Good luck. nannywiz
I am currently taking 100mg of zoloft n it made me very sick but I stuck through it tired of trying to many new meds so I'm deciding to give this one a try.but so far my anxiety is still sooo high but Dr suggests that it won't work unless I'm on 200 mg. the side effect I hate is I can't eat I've lost ten poundss:(
I take 200 mg and it seems to be keeping me pretty calm. I was sick too but it went away. I lost my appetite too but then it came back..:(
I have been on Zoloft for 7 years and It helped me tremendously..I too was afraid of taking any medication but after having horrendous attacks and unable to function. Dont be afraid... its nice to be back in the sunshine!
Hi turkee25; I have taken zoloft 50 for about 2 years and I also take xanax for an added pill. The zoloft makes me sleepy but I can handle 50mg. When I took 100 mg I got so sleepy. My daughter and grand daughter take zoloft and like it. The only bad I have heard is not take it if you want to get pregant or you are pregant. I do know for a fact if you cut down on the med, you will tell it the next day or two. You seem to be sad and cry over nothing. Don't know why but my kids say the say thing. I cut down from 100 mg to 50 mg because that gets me thru the day and then I take a 0.5 mg. xanax at night. I have broke an xanax into and took o.25 under the tongue if I get anxiety. Xanax is one drug I won't let them take it away from me, but I am 74 yrs. and pretty well don't abuse drugs. Am a LVN for over 35 yrs. Hope I helped you smitty1935
Zoloft in my opinion is a great med for anxiety and depression, but I am currently trying to stop taking it because of wanting to get pregnant and with all these warrnings out about birth difects it worries me. Anywho just a warning the withdrawls are horrible! I have not taken any for over a week and I weened myself off of it and have had horrible dizzy spells and can't shake the nausia. So just remember that before you decide to take them, Zoloft and many other antidepressents are VERY adicting!! Its probably way to late since you posted this in July but just a little fyi
I was prescribed zoloft 200mg for mood modiftication and after a month i still didnt think it had kicked in so i stopped but my mate was on it and started hallucinating whilst riding his motorbike and nearly killed himself. I think they are way better meds for anxiety than zoloft but everybody is different and you have to account for side effects of each individual medication. I take valium for anxiety and i fine it works for me but it is very addictive so i cant recommend it in good conscious. I hope you find something that you are happy with. Skins1970
zoloft, anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, anxiety and stress, nervous
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