Starting new med with terrible side effects

Posted , 3 users are following.

I've recently been prescribed zoloft. I have been on lexapro and cymbalta in the past, many years ago and they seemed to work fine, but trying them this time caused my anxiety and panic to increase and made me feel like I'm crazy after only a few days on them, so we are trying zoloft instead.

I'm only on day 2. The first day on the medication I took it during the day and mostly made me very sleepy. I decided to take the second pill last night to try and sleep through it. Today has been nothing but mostly panic, fear, tiredness, depersonalization, and the same "I feel like I'm crazy feeling". I also have a prescription of ativan, but am scared to take it because I don't want to feel worse.

My question is, is it to early to quit the medication or should I keep with it? I'm getting really tired of starting a medication then quitting once it gets terrible.

2 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • Posted

    i do the same thing. i keep quitting due to side effects. its frustrating. im supposed to start zoloft now but im afraid to.

    i know it takes 4-6 weeks for the med to kick in.i would say try to hang in there because a lot oF anxiety meds make you feel more anxious in the beginning, but supposed to taper off. hopefully you will feel better soon!!

  • Edited

    I was on zoloft for many years until last year when i quitted as I was in a great place mentally.Tthis Spring the anxiety hit me like a hurricane and decided to go back on zoloft. The night i took 50 mg of it was the worst in my life. I had palpitations, racing, intrusive thoughts, random images popping up in my thoughts, a panic attack, and pretty much the same symptoms the next day. I was so scarred of all this that i quitted right away. Of course, my anxiety and panic attacks did not get better, so at my doctor's advice, I re-started it at a much lower dose, 12.5 mg/1st week, 25 mg/2 weeks and perhaps 50/afterwards. I still got horrible side effects (racing, intrusive thoughts, high anxiety, nausea, insomnia, sweating , fatigue, foggy brain etc) but i kept going and I an close to my 3rd week. I also had better days and sleep much better after starting taking it in the morning. I also have bad days with high anxiety and racing thoughts, when my mood is low for no particular reason, I feel like crying but i can't, i start questioning or doubting that anxiety is the cause for all my symptoms, what if I have something more terrible, things like that, but i really hope I will feel better soon. I really cheer the days i feel ok and dread the days I may feel terrible I have anticipatory anxiety and always worry that something bad may happen to me or those close to me, so it is very easy to expect having bad days due to the medication.

    My advice is hang in there, that's what I am doing now, and hopefully both of us will see the light at the end of the tunnel soon.

    • Edited

      Thanks for the replies

      Ive decided to stop taking it in the meantime until i talk to my primary dr. tommorow. I dont feel as bad as yesterday.(The psychiatrist that perscribed zoloft i wont be able to talk to for over a month from now)

      I was already at a low dose of 25mg but maybe ill try 12.5. I feel that it wont do much as i also lowered the doseage when i was on lexapro and it didnt help at all. Maybe my body just doesnt like ssri's anymore. All i know is i cant feel that way for weeks and wait for the meds to kick in.

      Good Luck on your journey and i believe in your recoveries

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