Need reassurance on Zoloft

also you might just be straight up from now and keep improving and have no setbacks at all so that's even better x well done!

Yes. The side effects were awful, especially the increased anxiety, low moods, and stomach/appetite issues. I have tried zoloft in the past but never made it past about 5 days or so due to the side effects. this time I am determined because I know my serotonin levels have been depleted. I know I gave quite a way to go yet but I am definitely feeling much better today than I have since I've started them.

Thank you for the encouragement and I pray it keeps going up from here.

Did zoloft work for you? If so, how long did it take before you noticed improvement? Yesterday felt like I went backwards again with low mood, and anxiety, not quite sure about today just yet. I feel a little tired and my eyes are burning, but today is day 16 and I'm really trying hard to fight through this. My understanding was that my energy should be improving the longer I take this.

I'm on week 5 of 50mg and it's been really really tough but I was coming off citalopram so I've got that added into the mix too x

day 16 is still really early days but well done for sticking it out for that long so far. so even though it's tough you've done 16 days so keep going!

I joined a sertraline support group on facebook and it's been so helpful as so many people experiencing the same and so many people reply and support so its a good place to chat when things get tough x

your energy will improve once the tablet starts working x its just a very slow acting drug x so it will take time x

Thank you for the info and the encouragement. I plan to keep going. I have faith, but lack patience. I have read alot of reviews where people are saying that after 2-3 weeks that it performed miracles for them and was starting to get concerned, but realistically, I'm only 2 weeks and 2 days in so I need to try to up my patience a bit. I will continue taking them and stay as positive as I can. Today is not as good as 2 days ago, but better so far than yesterday.

that's the nature of these meds it truly is a roller coaster.

some days you might feel like you are going backwards but this is completely normal x setbacks and blips are normal x

some people I have seen feel better in a matter of weeks and it is very frustrating seeing it when you feel like you are nowhere near feeling better x

but I've seen people who haven't noticed much improvement until 8-12 weeks so everyone is different x it's a slow process but keep plodding on and hopefully you are a quick responder x

So glad to hear it worked for you. I'm glad to say that I've actually felt pretty good this entire day. I'm hoping tomorrow will be the same if not better but not getting my hopes up too high just yet. I've done that way too many times in the past only to come crashing back down again, but today has shown me some hope.

I am scheduled to increase to 50mg at my next appt. (Early in September), so if in fact I am getting past the side effects, I'll look forward to that.

Thanks so much for the positive words of encouragement. I can really use them as this latest bout of depression/anxiety has been the toughest, and longest period of time that I have ever faced.

Grounded, how long did it take you to realize you were feeling better, and what did it feel like for you? Unfortunately yesterday was another rough day with low mood and anxiety and today, (day 16) started out rough again. (Feeling tired with burning eyes). I plan to persist with this medication but the bad days almost make you forget that you even had a good day. I would have thought that by the third week the side effects would have diminished by now?

Oh I think the 3rd week is much to early to rid of any start ups. I would say at least 6 weeks but normally depending on each person up to 12 weeks at the right dose. But yes, you will have good days before that, and you're so right they are so easy to forget when you have a bad day! I think it took me about a month and a half at 50mg and I was noticing a lot of positive days. I stuck with that and felt better then I had most my life, I felt like I should (normal).

But like I said 25mg is a very very small dose, my suggestion is to talk to your doctor and see if he feels you should increase, and go ahead and do it sooner then later. 😃

Thank you, that makes me feel better. Patience is not one of my strong suits. I have been taking 75mg of an old tricyclic, Desipramine for close to a year now and it had me feeling fairly well, but not enough as my depression/anxiety has been strong and persistent. It is a "strong" norepinephrine inhibitor, and a "weak" serotonin inhibitor. So my pdoc wanted to start me low as to avoid serotonin syndrome, and to see how I tolerated it. The problem is that with these side effects, I can't even feel the good feeling from the desipramine for the past week and a half or so. The zoloft is meant to boost the "weak" serotonin enhancing effects of desipramine. The plan is that if I can tolerate the starter dose of zoloft, and if it begins to help, then I can go to 50mg. As for now though, I'm not feeling the positive benefits of either one of them...lol. I have had a few good days, and today seems to be slightly better than yesterday so far, but I really need to get through the side effects. My attitude is still very hopeful, which is what is keeping me going.

So it took you a about a month and a half which is good to know. I've been reading alot of reviews saying that it took 2 to 3 weeks and then the sides began to wear off and people felt much better so I'll have to set my mind on at least a month or so and just try to be a patient as I can.

Thank you so much for your response. I normally don't post on these sites much, but I just really felt that I needed some reassurance as, like I said, I've never gone more than about 5 days with zoloft and was beginning to think it's not the med for me.

So, in your experience, would you say you think that within the next 2 weeks I should expect to see more good days? And last question, in your experience, did the side effects go away within 4-6 weeks?

Thanks again! Getting feedback from someone who has experience with this med is a major mental help to me!

Grounded,

can you tell me how sertraline made you feel when you started feeling the effects? Did it make you feel, calm, happy, confident? Did it give you energy, or make you tired? I'm on day 18 and have felt exhausted with no motivation for the past few days.

It was so gradual I almost didn't even notice, people would tell me that I looked like I was doing much better, that I looked happier before I even realized it myself. I was getting out more, not getting so anxious when I did, all those yucky thoughts were getting further and further away and more positive thoughts were there until I didn't even think about how bad I felt anymore.

Day 18 is really early, just try to stay as busy as you can, and push through, you will get there!

Also, I remember that the side effects lasted a few weeks at least but they did go away.

Thanks for that. Today was a pretty rough day. Alot of anxiety, very low mood, sweating, irritability, and fatigue.

Thanks for the info. I will stick it out and hope for the best.

How are you doing now on your zoloft? I have horrible perimenopause that makes ne so suck on top of my anxiety and depression....so i was prescribed zoloft but im afraid to take it cause every time i do i lose my appetite and feel sicker for weeks then i give up

Well, today is day 26 for me and I have been gradually feeling better each day since starting my 4th week. It made me tired during the 2nd week and 3rd weeks which seemed to lower my mood, which I then got anxious about.

About the end of week 3 and up until now my energy started gradually coming back along with a gradual improvement in mood each day with today being the best day yet so far. Anxiety still there but noticeable improvement along with mood. Yesterday was a strange day - started out great mood/low anxiety, Music sounded better and concentration was very strong, only to drop off and go back to low mood with anxiety in the afternoon, then back to good mood and strong concentration again later in the evening. Today has been more even. Energy better, mood better, anxiety in the AM, but by afternoon, best day I've had in a long time along with major improvement in anxiety! It's like a calm feeling, but very talkative with much more energy. Very pleased right now!

Bottom line: Once energy and mood improved, I stopped being afraid of zoloft, and everything started getting better from there. You've got to make until at least the 4th week.

My advice: Being afraid of zoloft will only add to your anxiety. Just tough it out and know that it gets better. I took at night and was still tired during the days mainly 2nd and 3rd weeks. Noticeably positive changes started at beginning of 4th week when energy and mood began to improve. I'm more than glad to keep you posted on how the next couple of weeks go.

Hope that helps and best of luck to you on your road to recovery.

Thank you! It helps hearing reassuring stories, it is a scary illness to treat let alone having to get used to a medications side effects.

this is great i dont feel so scared starting