Nightmares on Zoloft

After being very depressed for about 7 years now, I am finally out of the parents house and with insurance and trying to get myself taken care of. Within the last 3 weeks my feelings have probably been the worst they've ever been. I was given .25 mg xanax to take "As needed" yet I feel like i ALWAYS need it. I was having chest pains and after trying to get ahold of someone to drive me to the hospital I had a panic attack. I went back to the doctor and was given Zoloft. I have only been on it for about 4 days. I can barely sleep at night. I did fall asleep and had the worst, most vivid nightmare of my entire life. Horrible gruesome nightmare that made me have terrible anxiety when I woke up, to the point where I didn't leave the house that day. I tried to fall asleep last night but I kept seeing things, my vision was fading in and out with the darkness of the room. I have LOTS of suicidal thoughts, I always have but they have been pretty bad recently. Basically, has anyone else had nightmares after beginning Zoloft or other antidepressants, or have you had any sort of hallucinations/ weird vision?

I also want to know how anyone deals with having to get up and go to work, I am so anxious and depressed and have no motivation to do anything. Any advice/ words of wisdom would be great.

-Paige

I agree with Darren, talk to your doctor and see about changing the medication. Hopefully you will not have the nightmares anymore. My sister has hallucinations. She is bipolar. She has been put on a medication to help stop them. I will let you know the name of it if you think it isn't from the medication. I believe it is seraquil. But have to check on that.

Best wishes to you and I hope that you get your meds straightened out.

hugs, Karen

Hi Paige, I am Kevin. As far as the panic attacks and the Xanax go, talk to your MD and see if Klonopin would be a suitable replacement for the Xanax for you. Klonopin has a much longer half life than Xanax and works much better at controling the panic attacks, at least it has been for me. When you have the panic attacks under control you can determine what your daily maintenance dose for Klonopin would be and just take that instead of having to pop the Xanax all the time. I know how terrifying panic attacks can be. As for the Zoloft, vivid dreams (i.e. nightmares) and sleep interruption are in it's side effect profile, so it is a good bet the Zoloft is the reason. how long have u been taking the Zoloft? Call or see your MD and tell them that the Zoloft is giving you nightmares, BIG TIME. If he tells you to "just stick it out and give it a couple of weeks and to keep taking the Zoloft" tell him that is not an option and that you need something else NOW. Taking an anti-depressant is such a crap shoot anyway, and unfortunately a lot of MD's don't do their homework on how a particular AD may effect YOU personally. Are you seeing a Pdoc or a general MD? or both? I might suggest that if your insurance will cover it that you try and find a psychopharmacologist,(long word). They are usually MUCH more knowledgeable about the side effects of different meds are and which one may work best for you personally. Actually a good therapy plan may be to see both a talk therapist and the psychopharmacologist, but i am not a doctor and you are the one to determine the best approach for you. Good thoughts to you, keep fighting and keep posting!!!

Welcome to the board,

Kevin

Yes Paige, you are right. Most people just don't GET IT when it comes to depression being a disease. They think you can just "think" your self into a better mode. If only. It sucks that your family isn't more supportive. Is there a mental health agency in your county? If there is they may help you find treatment on a sliding scale. I guess u must be seeing a regular MD at the clinic who sounds as if they are just good for writing scripts and haven't a clue on how to treat u. If you have only been taking the Zoloft for four days it should be safe to discontinue it. Is there a crisis hotlline in your area? If there is and you call them they may be able to refer you to a medical professional who can advise u on that. hugs and attagirls and keep on fighting and keep on posting!! Remember, survival is a habit.

Kevin

I've been on 25 mg Zoloft for 2 weeks and haven't been upset, or moody. However, I've been having horrible, vivid nightmares all about my family. Two nights ago I had a dream my dad had died, and last night I had a dream that my mom and me had been killing people and all of my younger siblings were with her. When the police found us they asked me if I had killed anyone and I said no, and they executed my family in front of me. It woke me up gasping and sobbing and that nightmare is still in my mind. Are nightmares a side effect of the medicine I'm taking? I know it's supposed to help, but I've noticed my nightmares get more vivid and disturbing to me. Thank you, any answer would be greatly appreciated.