Zoloft, like other SSRI's, often makes anxiety worse before it gets better. Sometimes a doctor will prescribe something like Klonopin (which is basically a longer-lasting benzo like Ativan or Xanax) to take along with the SSRI for the first 2-3 weeks to help keep those temporary negative side effects at bay, then wean the patient off of them about the time the SSRI benefits kick in. Also, it is often recommended to "start low, go slow" with an SSRI.
By reputation, Prozac and Lexapro have the least side effects. That doesn't mean much for you, though, as has already been stated, and it doesn't mean they'll work, either. Often, the better a med works, that means it's been metabolized better, and thus, alas, the more side effects. Clonazepam, by the way, is for long term use, not necessarily short term. Xanax or Ativan would be more likely to be given for short term use.
t get any side effects, some people get pretty significant side effects. Once again, they are temporary, and will abate usually by the 2nd or 3rd week of treatment.
Also, Zoloft can take up to 4-6 weeks (for some people even longer) for it to start really working. Some people even require a dosage increase to get them to a therapeutic dose. Therefore, you must understand that this is a process that takes some time.
Has anyone experience a side effect of increase in anxiety after the first dose, or am I just a medphobic?
When I came off of it, my doc put me on a taper as I came off of it. I did notice some side effects like naseau and increased anxiety, however I kept an open line of communication with the doc. I asked if it would be okay to go on a slower taper as I came off of it. He agreed and the slower taper seemed to help with the side effects.
I am glad that you are seeing a psychiatrist to help you with your medication prescriptions and questions.
One of the side effects of Zoloft can be insomnia, but it seems rather odd that it would begin affecting you after 2 months.
Everybody goes through bouts of insomnia, so it's possible that this has nothing to do with the Zoloft. I would advise giving it another week. If it has not resolved itself by then, speak with the doctor who prescribed the Zoloft. Even though you are on the lowest dose, he/she may have you cut the dose in half to see if that helps.
I have been on zoloft for two weeks and the side effects are still pretty bad, without any benefits (it seems like it has been two years!). (I have tried lexapro, paxil, and celexa, but zoloft was the first AD I have taken and from my first experience seemed to produce the least side effects for me (although this time seems bad). I know it takes awhile for SSRI's to get working and initial side effects are common. I started taking 25mgs for a week and have been on 50mgs for a week.
I believe you can continue to take your Ativan as it is in a different class of drugs from your other meds. BUT.................I am NOT a doctor nor a pharmacist and I will tell you right now that you MUST check this out with someome with real knowledge of the interactions of medications. And that is NOT me!
Zoloft, an antidepressant, normally reaches steady state in about a week and in my humble opinion, you should not still be feeling "really anxious and nervous.
Has anyone here ever taken Zoloft? If so wat were your side effects? I started Zoloft on Monday. I only took one pill n within a couple of hours I felt horrible! I had nausea n diarrhea. Today is Thursday and I still feel nauseas. Keep in mind it took one pill on Monday n no more after that. Please give me some input.
Zoloft has a fairly long half-life of 26 hours. A half-life is the amount of time it will take your body to excrete 1/2 of the amount of Zoloft in your body. I really suck at math, so I'll leave that up to you. Bottom line though is that it's not going to take very long. Couple days at most. Hell, you only took a grand total of 75mg. Drink lots of water and understand that your anxiety about "withdrawing" from that tiny amount of Zoloft IS just that......anxiety.
re on the Zoloft, the quicker the side effects will improve when increasing your dose (and usually the less severe the side effects will be). You thinking about how you feel 24/7 is not helping you.
You've already made it this far, this next dosage increase may actually yield some results in a couple of weeks. My advice is to keep on pushing. Often times, we have to feel a little worse before we can feel better.
I took Zoloft for a week. It was prescribed to ease off of Xanax that I had been on for 3 months for reaction, mild tremor that was thought to be anxiety from asthma inhaler and life "stress". On both of these meds ( Zoloft & Xanax) I had a terrible hypersensitivity reaction, then given Valium but made things worse. Burning, crawling skin sensations, brain zaps, panic, severe anxiety, hallucinations, heart racing etc...
I too am on 175 - 200mg of Zoloft and I admit when first starting the medication I was feeling quite dizzy and nauseated. Dosage started at 50mg, then after a week increased, and every week increased until I reached 175mg. In the past my doctor has had me on Celexa and Effexor but Zoloft seems to work the best, for me that is. Everyone is different. I waver between 175 - 200mg depending on the kind of day I'm having.
This is a very good and unanswerable question. Some people through therapy or just unexplained good luck overcome their problems and can stop the medication, but research suggests the medications themselves will be too strong for some people to ever stop taking because the brain won't be able to work normally again without them.
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