My journey with anxiety / stress and Zoloft....
Posted , 5 users are following.
Ok, here it goes. I have always been a competitive and anxious person, but recently have had full blown panic attacks. I had similar episodes a year ago and went through numerous procedures and testing only to find out there is nothing wrong. The Drs. tell me all my physical issues are due to stress and anxiety which lead to panic attacks. I tried Wellbutrin and Lexapro which both had terrible side effects. So after awhile I went off the meds with approval from Dr. and was going to deal with it through diet and exercise. Which has worked up until about a month ago. The panic attacks would hit with no warning and the "fight or flight" adrenaline rush was too much to bear. Very debilitating.......So I reluctantly agreed to start on Zoloft 50mg once a day. So I have been on them for two weeks with no improvement and terrible side effects. Severe headaches, jaw pain and clenching, eye pain, neck and shoulder pain, leg cramps and weakness, diarrhea, light headed and cant focus. I dont think I have depression but this medication is leading me into a depresiive state. The Drs keep telling me to give it at least 4 weeks. I have finally made an appointment with a psych to see if I am truly going nuts. I am limping through life taking .25mg of Ativan when I am at my worst just to get through my day. Having to rely on the ativan more and more. This also makes me very concerned. Not sure what to do.......I am hpoing one day I just wake up and I am my normal self. I havent laughed and cannot cry for over 2 months now. I now have a fear of being soemwhere where I cannot get help and the thought of a plane ride terrifies me. Which I was not nervous about prior to Zoloft. I am desperate even to the point where I am thinking of taking a leave of absence form work and going to a inpatient program. I get mad and tell myself this is just a phase and suck it up. But, at times it is very difficult and not sure why this is happening. Any suggestions, thoughts or words of encouragment would be appreciated. Thanks!
0 likes, 7 replies
dmw1611 jim53674
Posted
I had the same effects from zoloft and had to start at very low doses and work my way up. I started with 1/2 of 25mg for 3 days, then 25 mg for 3 days, 37.5mg for 3 days,then 50 mg. The side effects you mentioned was exactly what i experienced and I seriously thought I was going crazy. It took at least 6-8 weeks for any small signs of improvement. I felt depression from the whole experience after, not before. Almost a year later i am still not completely better, but so much better than before! I feel having people to talk to that understands is so helpful and since i do not have that, i keep trying to find a good therapist. It is very difficult and hard to understand why it is happening. Even if i kbew why, i am not sure it would change much. I guess that's where a good therapist could help. I bet if you drop your doses down to 25mg within a few days those nasty side effects will begin to diminish. It did for me and its worth a try. I have to take xanax which is like Ativan and i am not happy about it either. I am here to chat if you need to talk. Take care of yourself and remember it will get better!!
GodsServant jim53674
Posted
Jim, I understand exactly what you are going thru. I had been there a little over 3 months ago. This med will make you feel worst before it makes you feel better, so please hang in there. All the side effects are normal. And yes, you need to give this med at least 4-6 weeks to begin to see improvements. Appetite will come back first, then it will help reduce the panic attacks, then numbness, derealization, then depression, then sadness, then you'll start to return to your normal self. So please stay strong, take time off from work, stay away from anything that increase stress and that includes people and closed ones, and also try to be gently with yourself. Keep occupied with something you love (a computer game, a book, etc.). You are really just killing time till the med kicks in.
Take care.
sa57528 jim53674
Posted
Funny the plane ride thing is something I'm obsessing about, even though I am not due to fly anywhere. I just imagine having to travel & am immediately in a state. I have just finished week 1 on Sertraline & today has been the worst day. Feel like I should be locked up. But reading these forums have helped, over & over again people say give it time & it will get worst first. I have friends arriving in 5 days & I really don't want to be a nutter in front of them. Although if I told them what I was going through I know they would understand. My only other side effect is muscle pain, particularly in my neck & shoulder.
I think one day you will wake up feeling your normal self. But posts on this site all say it is a slow process. Look forward to that day.
jim53674 sa57528
Posted
Well I made it through the work week with the help of Ativan. I have only left the house once over the weekend. Could not go to a sporting event because I thought it would be too overwhelming.
I have been on the couch with all of the uneasy feelings. I can't keep my legs still and have a weird sensation in my left arm( I have this most of the time) . I haven't taken any Ativan over the last two days. Trying to use the breathing techniques that a biofeedback person taught me. It does help but just barely. Hopefully when my family returns I can settle down. I feel tired but can't sleep. When my body is tired my brain is weird and when my brain is tired I can't get my body to slow down. I have to sit and bounce my legs continuously. Has anyone else experienced this ? I am assuming the Zoloft has something to do with the bad side effects.
jim53674
Posted
I had been told that I have not been providing my brain with the proper nutrients just like you should when exercising your body. Has anyone had success, relief of Zoloft side effects and relief of anxiety with exercise?
Sometimes I feel like exercise will help reduce some of my jittery feelings. But nervous that I could spiral down again.
Just curious if anyone is using exercise as an outlet and what successes they have had.
jim53674
Posted
The smaller dosage of Zoloft have really help reduce the negative side effects. I am told that I can take up to 3 tabs (50mg) of Klonopin a day if needed. So far the .25mg twice a day is doing the trick.
One thing I would strongly suggest is make an appointment with a Physiological Biofeedback / NeuroFeedback specialist!!!! They have ways of explaining what is going on inside your head/body and why from a physical standpoint. They have coping mechanisms and treatments. I have had 2 sessions and they have really helped. Such a safe and understanding place, again please seek out this avenue. Again, we need to focus on our mental health just as much as our physical. And for people like us, the mental is what is causing the physical in many cases. Once these two are in balance we can truely get back to a normal life. Use the tools that are available to you. We all need help at times, nothing to be ashamed of (I am learning this myself!, I am very hard headed).
jason74042 jim53674
Posted
Just reading through your post mate, hope you are doing better now, just wondering how the rest of the sertraline went? I’m day 7 on 50mg, seem to be having similar side effects!