Are these beginning side effects of zoloft normal? personal expieriense would be helpful!?

Question

im a 17 year old girl, ive had panic anxiety, depression, and some odc since i was younger. this year it has all gotten to be too much with racing thoughts, panic attacks and anxiety. its simply a chemical imbalance in my brain.
im in theripy and was perscribed 25ml of zoloft exactly a week ago. today im suppost to begin taking 50mg.

i have heard things are suppost to get worse before they get better but these "starter side effects" suck! the first two days i felt extremely lethargic and tired. people would talk to me and i felt like i would fall asleep any moment, my eyes would almost close, i felt kinda like i was high. it wasnt a bad feeling but normally im a very outgoing, interactive person and my mind is all over the place. but those first two days i didnt feel myself. toward the end of the first week i have been feeling very nausious and tired. i already have sleep issus anyway so i take 10mg of ambian to sleep, since i started 2mg of zoloft i will wake up in the middle of the night and absolutely cant get back to sleep. i have been really dizzy during the day, my mind is awake, but i feel drunk/numb/high.

ive missed the past two days of school and i was suppost to take my act today for college but i felt so dizzy and out of it, i couldnt drive or stand for too long. so im home again today. im suppost to up my dose to 50mg tomorrow morning, will that make my side effects worse or better? i have prom this weekend and im freaked out that im not going to feel well enough to go. i have to go!! im scared to have some new side effects, feel awkward, non social, dizzy, or lethargic.

is any of this normal? what do i do? how long do you think these effects will last? anything, please help!

by the way: i have never taken an anti depressant before and i realize everyone is different. im willing to stick it out through the starting side effects because supposibly things will eventually get better and i want to see if its true.

Answer

I've been taking Zoloft for the past 12 years, I had the same symptoms starting out as you with the feeling tired, feeling like you're moving in slow motion etc.

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but they do go away after a while, you're body gets used to the medication and you adapt to it and it does get better, I have no side effects now of the Zoloft, the only thing I worry about is my body getting used to the Zoloft because I'm maxed out on the dosage, which is 200mg, and you can't go higher, so I'm worried that my body will get accustomed to the med and it will stop working, it's the only drug that I've been prescribed for my major depressive disorder that's worked, it took a year to find out it was the best antidepressant for me, but so far the Zoloft is hanging in there and it's continuing to work like it should, so you hang in there too, and the side effects will go away, you won't feel like you're moving in quicksand, and the tiredness will eventually go away, and hopefully if the Zoloft helps you like it did me, you'll be feeling better, have more energy, etc. Hope this helps a little, just hang in there!

Answer

Hi there! I'm sorry that you are going through so much! Yes, side effects can be zingers when taking any kind of  antidepressants . The dosage given to you is based on your symptoms and what your doctor thinks. It will take a good 30 days for your blood levels to adjust to the medication. I took it many years ago and different side effects, but they seemed harsh to me too. Give it a month and see how you feel and do. If no improvement, let your doctor know to see if things need to be adjusted or if something else can be given. My guess is that once your system gets used to it, you'll feel better. Hang in there!

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I have 3 kids I'm 24 yrs old a single mother I just had my 3rd baby Oct 23 n I have been suffering from anxiety and high blood pressure I never had these problems before it's been going on for the last month Im nt really a drug user I hate taking meds. Bt I have to take los. For blood pressure I had effor n boost bar I tried the effor for a week n started feeling weird so I stopped i felt normal after two days out my system bt then anxiety came back now I'm on Zoloft 50mg which I haven't looked yet because I'm scared the effects gone be like the effor oh yea I think I have  insomnia  also I need help fr

Answer

"Side effects have been reported to be generally mild and transient. They are most common during the first 2 weeks of treatment and decrease in intensity and frequency with continued treatment. They generally do not lead to treatment cessation."

Talk to your doctor about the side effects... there are options... sometimes even just a dosage adjustment for a short while.The alternative is living with depression, anxiety, panic, and OCD for months or years...

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These drugs are dangerous be careful getting on And off them.

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hi keelim95, i have been on zoloft for 3 weeks. believe me, i know side
effects from antidepressents and most of them are horrible. everyone is
different, a have found that i have to take the lowest dose for not only 0ne
week but until i feel i can tolerate taking more. i am on 25 mg. and i will
stay on that dose until i feel i can tolerate going up to 50 mg. i would check
with your dr. and ask if you could stay on a lower dose until you can
adjust to the 25mg. speaking from lots of experience with these meds,
too much too soon dosen't work for me. hope you will be feeling better,
honey.

Answer

My daughter had more success with Lexapro for the depression and Vistiril for her anxiety.

Answer

Keelimk95,
You know how I feel, I feel the same way you do when your tired. I've been on anti-depressants since I was 18 yrs old (on and off since I was 18 yrs old) When I was younger I didn't stay on them some times. When I was 40 I told myself, "ok, do what the doctor tells ya to do" I quit drinking beer on the weekends 2 yrs prior to this decision. Then I got pregnant while I was on Prozac. I had twins, their dad walk out when they where 6 months old. Their soon to be 15 yrs old. I'm 56 yrs old. I tried working when they were babies. I always got fired from my jobs. One twin would get sick, the other baby would get sick. Always doctor appointments... etc. This lady at the W-2 program seen how depressed I was, trying to keep up with the 2 babies and suggested I apply for disability. I've been on disability since. I tried going back to school with DVR ( Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.) I drop out.

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Now I feel useless. I know the twins need a mom out of bed. Their
so use to it they just go on as it's no big deal. What does ODC mean?

Votes: +1

Answer

All the side effects are pretty normal when starting Zoloft. Zoloft is good medicine for adults but I worry about young people taking it. there is a risk of increased suicide among adolescents and young adults taking this medication so be careful and if you ever find you are feeling suicidal at all, be sure to get help right away!! I have had a certain amount of anxiety and depression since I was a little girl too so reading your story just breaks my heart. I would hate for another person to go through what I have in my own tormented mind! I never did well on antidepressants. Depression runs rampant in my family. I have had a cousin on both my dad and my moms side of the family commit suicide at your age and many of my family members are on antidepressants. We take depression very seriously in my family. Everyone tells me I should be on an antidepressant but I cant stand the way I feel on them.

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I find that cognitive behavioral therapy and "talk" therapies do more for me. Let me talk something out and figure out an answer-that is what works for me. I would encourage you, at your age, to look into CBT. It will help you build coping mechanisms. Mental health patients are really no different than anyone else other than their coping mechanisms (and a little faulty brain chemistry) But being able to cope is a powerful thing!! CBT helps to give you the resources to cope better-without drugs. Drugs definitely have their place but I dont think they are always the answer. Find yourself a good counselor for CBT. I think it would be very helpful for you at your age. Learn how to cope well. It is a worthy skill to have. Sorry you missed your ACT's. My son is taking his today too. He is mad because he had to be up late working on a homework project and now he is tired taking his tests today, plus he ripped a contact this AM so his morning didnt start out well either!! lol Hang in there, girl. Like Pledge said, it can take a month to a month and a half to get full affects of this medication. If the side effects get too much to bear, dont suffer in silence-call your Dr. There are many drugs out there so perhaps this is not the right one for you or you may feel like me that none of them are the right one and have to learn other ways to deal. Keep the lines of communication going!

Votes: +2

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Since you are missing out on life because of it, I would call the doctor and ask if I could hold off on the increase for another week. I would hate for you to miss your prom. Tell him exactly how it makes you feel.

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yes,ur2yng2 be taTAking them.Zoloft worst on market here in Oz,Efexor or Diazapem be better4u or do bit of relaxation breathing exercises.Gdluck take care x Marie

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Hello keelimk95. Yes, the side effects are harsh, but more often than not will ease up the longer you remain on the Zoloft, and then disappear. Your dose is a beginners, so you should be feeling less as you are at the moment and soon be side effect free. Some years ago I was on the drug. My body built up a tolerance to it, so I stopped taking it. It will be close to a months time before you really notice a major difference, only because it will take that long a period for the chemistry to work to its full theraputic value. Regards, pledge

Are these beginning side effects of zoloft normal? personal expieriense would be helpful!?

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