I started taking 50mg of zoloft 8 days ago. The first 2 days were fine, just a little spacy feeling but then on day 3, I started feeling anxiety and kind of a speedy feeling. It got worse on day 4 and 5 then it has slowly declined but I still feel very anxious. I am toughing it out at work but finding it hard to concentrate. I take it at night and I take sleep meds to go to sleep so I sleep good but when I wake up I feel anxious. I keep thinking it will go away soon but it keeps hanging on. Has anyone experienced this and if so what was your experience?
How long does it take for the increased anxiety to go away from starting zoloft?
Question posted by jrlundy on 11 Nov 2015
Last updated on 21 December 2022
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
51 Answers Page 4
kelszzzer
12 Feb 2018
I just started Zoloft again. Was feeling angry a lot and doctor won't prescribe my Ativan anymore so this was my option. I am only on day 2 and I hate the onset of panic attacks and anxiety I am getting. It is nice to know this is temporary but ugh it is hard.
Susanking
11 Jan 2019
Don't I know it I'm struggling to sit a peace been on sertraline a week no appetite yet bad in the morning I upped from 100 mg to 150 keep in touch your going through same as me does help if someone s going through the same and it's a reaction a lot of people are getting so we are far from alone x
Lorin4083
16 Jan 2019
How are you doing. I see you were still having anxiety five days ago. I'm on day 5 of 25mg and the panic is content. I need reassurance too.
Susanking
16 Jan 2019
Hi Lori I'm feeling a bit better today I know they work eventually as started years ago it's was when I upped to 150 felt really bad I've had bad diarrhoea it's eased off tho no appetite in morning how are you with eating are you managing x
Dodo7511
4 Feb 2019
Hi , I’m on week 11 of 100 mg I’m better in general but still not where I want to be . Still feel anxious in the morning and through the day . Low motivation no excitement also intrusive thoughts are still around with fear .
I don’t know how it will be if I upped my dose .
Dodo7511
4 Feb 2019
How are you feeling now after upping to 150
rosewood46
11 Nov 2022
MaryRose here. I started Zoloft around the beginning of October still on Prozac so had to wean off that. I am now at 150 mg of Zoloft, only day 2. I went from 50 (still on Prozac), then to 50, then 100 and now 150 as I had a great week and then the next week, symptoms returned. I am still anxious, meditate with the balance app which helps. Please comment and let me know your thoughts. I’ve learned so much from reading these comments. Thank you.
janisse1978
21 Jan 2018
Is my second day in 50mg of Zoloft and feel so bad. I have nausea is so hard to eat, lack of energy. And I fell anxiety, I'm so scare about what I feel. Is this normal in Zoloft treatment?
WildcatVet
21 Jan 2018
janisse, these are "normal" side effects experienced by about 10% of all users when they first start an antidepressant/anxiolytic. The good news is they almost always resolve within just a couple of days to a week and you'll feel better every day.
Don't let anxiety get the better of you... try to be patient because this won't last long. Soon you'll be feeling the benefits of the medication and you'll forget these first couple days.
Susanking
16 Jan 2019
I'm soo glad I found this site as I too have been shockingly I'll nausea and diarrhoea also heightened anxiety there are so many people on hear with same so not alone stick with it my friends and hopefully soon we will all be back to normal x
rag27
9 Nov 2017
I have been on 50mg of Zoloft for about two months. I was having some minor anxiety problems so my doc upped the dose to 100mg. Now I really feel anxious but have faith that it is temporary. I take a 25mg of Trazadone (1/4 pill) in the morning and it seems to smooth things out.
Crothers8
17 Jan 2018
The waiting period of just starting or an increased dose is terrible - the anxiety heightens and so can depression - can take up to 4 weeks for it to start phasing out. It is a scary, hopeless feeling but it does get better. I am on day 10'now of an increase and feel like a mess, but I know it will pass. Getting a supplemental med like xanax is also a huge help
Starchildone
13 Feb 2019
Your post just made me feel better! I upped my zoloft from 50 to 100 then to 200 a week ago. Last week was bad, cried alot. But today is day 10 of newest dose and feel much better, can it be that sudden.?
Starchildone
13 Feb 2019
Oh and thanks for your post!
Elle6
1 March 2019
I recently started taking 100mg Zoloft after taking 50 mg for about a year. The 50 was great. My temper was not bad at all. And I felt happier. I talked to my doctor about some issues and we decided that going up to 100 was worth a try. It was terrible. Instead of getting 50 mg tablets, i started breaking the 100 tablet in half to get back to 50 and it was still awful. Could this be possible? The 100 tablet is a different color and shape.
Well, yesterday I got a prescription of 50 mg and took one this morning. I want it to work the way it did at first... for over a year. My thoughts have been scrambled and scattered; my temper has been bad. I wonder if ther 100 mg tablet could have a slightly different make up(?).
chuck1957
14 Nov 2015
This is great jrlundy; Glad it is working for you make sure you let the doctor know to that it is normal for this to be this way so if he runs into it that the beginning side effects almost always go away if you can stick with it and you did good job. Glad it sounds like it's going to work for you. Remember it should get better to in 6 to 8 weeks when it reaches the full blood level Keep at it
jrlundy
12 Nov 2015
Day 9 on Zoloft and my anxiety has almost disappeared over night. Thank God! Days 2-8 were hellish. I was so speedy and anxious and restless, I could hardly concentrate and I was useless at work for days. I seriously almost threw in the towel yesterday and was going to quit taking the medicine. I am glad I hung in there. I feel fine today. No anxiety at all. Wow! That is so strange how it can be so bad for days and over night it cleared up. I had read other peoples stories of this happening and I didn't believe it. My advice to anyone starting out on Zoloft is to hang in there and know the side effects can leave over night. Day 9 was my magic day. Yay!
jrlundy
13 Nov 2015
I am still pretty much free from the anxiety brought on by the Zoloft. I mean I still might feel a tinge every now and then but night and day difference than a few days ago. I feel my normal anxiety come on at work that used to send me into a panic attack and the medicine seems to stop it from going into a panic attack. It starts up and builds then it lessens. I think it is doing its job. This is good news. I thought I'd keep posting to share my whole experience. I will keep updating
Sher63
12 July 2017
Hi, just was wondering how everything is going on Zoloft as I read ur posting it was 2 years ago.. I to just started Zoloft 4 days ago and today my anxiety was through the roof... glad that I had some essential oils to calm down... It is great to hear others stories about their experiences.
Musicman101
1 May 2018
Thanks so much for your postings, Jr Lindy!!!
chuck1957
12 Nov 2015
jrlundy; well the good news is that you are at least half way through this part of the start of the Zoloft and yes this is very normal with the SSRI med's and it gets over this part normally in one week to two weeks then you start to settle down and remember to reach the full benefits of this medication is around 6 to 8 weeks when it reaches the full blood level hope that helps.
jrlundy
12 Nov 2015
Thanks Chuck. Ya I was put on zoloft a few years ago and I stopped after a few days because the anxiety was so bad. My doc thought it might have been a negative hypomania experience brought on by the zoloft. I have been on zyprexa ever since but 8 days ago started zoloft and cut my zyprexa in half. It's kind of an experiment to see if it does it again. I don't feel hypomania just anxiety level is high during the day. I took my zyprexa when I got home from work today and feeling fine now. I will check back in tomorrow and report if the anxiety eases or not
Related topics
zoloft, depression, anxiety, social 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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