Depression, GAD, social phobia, agoraphobia, afraid to take Zoloft, please help...
Posted , 4 users are following.
Hi guys, I've been suffering from agoraphobia and dystimia for 20 years now. Had 4 or 5 major depressive episodes, every one is worse than the last. Now it is gotten so bad I am barely enduring not going to the hospital, and I am terrified of it. Long story short. I've been prescribed Zoloft to start with 12.5 mg 5 days, then 25 mg 5 days, then whole. It's been months and so far I have only been taking 3-4 mg (a tiny bit of tablet). One night I have taken maybe a little more, about 6 mg and had a panic attack in the morning. I've convinced myself that it is because of Zoloft and cannot bring myself to take anymore. I am also terrified of the black box warning, but the increased anxiety is something I think I could not handle. I'm afraid I'll end up calling the ambulance and they'll take me to the hospital (which I am also terribly afraid of), and then I would have to move because the neighbourhood stories and stigma regarding mental health. My family is also all over me with the phonecalls and questions everyday is it better. I am unemployed, my wife is only working and me and my daughter stay all day together reading positive reviews and gathering courage, but when it comes to that moment I just cannot take it. I am afraid I will ruin their and my life is something because of the tablet. Please help, I want to be a better husband and father, to work to be happy, healthy, but I am just so scared I wont be able to go throgh the side effects. Is there any way to minimize them by starting perhaps on 6.25 then upping the dose slowly...is it possible that I have had a panic attack from all the thinking and not from zoloft? Please if you have any advice I would be very thankful. Best whishes to all you dear people and stay healthy!
0 likes, 4 replies
usha0299 mahironi09168
Posted
Hi Mahironi,
I have not used Zoloft but have been on mirtazapine and citalopram. It sounds like you would be helped by being on some treatment. You can either build up slowly on the same or get your doctors to give an alternative. All the side effects are usually mild and go away after use for couple of weeks. Zoloft is very commonly used so should not be the reason for your panic attacks. Try persevering with it. Dont give up.
If you think of it the side effects cannot be worse than your symptoms. I am sometimes so desperate to get rid of symtoms that get tempted to increase the dosage. I know it is not a good habit to do it. I have stopped doing it now but anything is better than facing the symptoms if anxiety and depression that I suffer with.
I hope you can find a happy balance.
mahironi09168 usha0299
Posted
Thank you very much for the kind words. Every advice of help to me me right now. Good luck on your recovery, too. Wishing you all the best!
wayne1962 mahironi09168
Posted
Hi mahironi09168 - The medication takes 3-6 weeks to work effectively. You have not followed instructions and I would suggest that the anxiety you are experiencing is not the medication. 3-4 mgs is a very small amount and you won't get the benefit of the med unless you give it a chance. Why not try the prescribed amounts in the increasing dosage and give it a month. I would suggest that in that time you might well notice a decrease in your anxiety and depression. If it doesn't work, there are other meds available. There is no one-size-fits-all with anti depressants. You have to be patient and give it a chance.
leela23707 mahironi09168
Posted
Hello my names Leela.
Call your emergency services for a chat and some advice. Whenever i felt suicidal i called the emergency services. They always gave me so much love, attention, help and diagnosed me with depression. Call the emergency services and you will realise just how loved you really are...to people who dont even know you personally !
Many many people would be heartbroken if they knew how you and your family are suffering, including me ! And i dont even know you personally but so many of us feel or felt that same way you do now. So we are all in it together. You are not alone. Just ask for help. I feel much better now. I just wish Id asked for help sooner.
But however if you're not feeling suicidal then call someone to talk to however hard it is you need to force yourself to get help. Go chat to your doctor. If you dont have a good one then find yourself a big doctors surgery with lots to choose from. That's what i did.
Now i'm happily on anti-depressants (happy pills) because i didnt have enough happy cells in my brain so i had to top them up. I had panic attacks and they cured them. I had insomnia and they cured that. I had to try out various medicine combos till i found the right one for me but I feel much better now. I just wish Id asked for help sooner. You may need to see your doctor again to increase your medicine or try a new or extra medicine.
Also they let me try out all different kinds of therapy (one to one or group therapy) to help me feel better and learn to love myself and forgive myself for all the mistakes i'd made in my life.
Lots and lots of sympathetic hugs from your new friend Leela Davis xxx