Zoloft Side Effects? Panic Attacks

Hey guys! I'm new, so sorry if this gets brought up a lot- didn't browse through too much. Kind of long- bear with me!
So I injured my knee in October, and it's reaked complete havok on my life- can't work, can barely walk, basically immobile. I was told a couple weeks ago that I will infact need surgery on my knee.
I've never gone under the knife before, and I'm very aware that arthoscopic (sp?) surgery is very common, and even know a couple people who have had this type of surgery with the same doctor and have had no problems with the surgery.
My rational mind is totally okay with this procedure and know how safe and common it is.  But after I was confrmed and had a date set, my anxiety soared.  I started having a panic attack every couple days, and then they started being a daily occurance. Hyperventating, dizziness, tingling fingers/toes, felt like I couldn't catch my breath, and just utter terror. At that point I could pin point the cause of my anxiety.  It orginated over the surgery, and I ended up being more worried about having another panic attack than anything else.
After calling my physician and making an appointment for today (Friday), I went to Urgent Care this past Tuesday, and was prescribed about a dozen .5mg of Xanax to take one pill four times a day as needed.  They did NOTHING. I had two panic attacks on wednesday, along with one on Thursday. 
Today my doctor upped the dosage of the xanax and also prescribed me Zoloft.

Now I'm a bit worried about the Zoloft.  My doctor obviously wouldnt prescribe that to me if he didn't think it would help, but the idea of the antidepressant worries me a bit.  I've heard the stories of the people that have mental breaks and go into cardiac arrest when on these pills. I don't want to sound completely naive, but I just haven't heard anything about Zoloft except for these horror stories.

I read all the paperwork that came with them, so know the standard side effects for the drug.
I guess my question would be, what side affects affected you the most?  

I'm sure most of what I wrote was irrelevant, but wanted to put it all out there. Thanks guys :)

It's funny how nice words from anyone can put a smile on your face. THANK YOU for the kind words!

I keep re-reading the side effects, 50mg, and for the first week take half a pill a day.
This is horrible, but my biggest issue with the side effects is the potential for weight gain. I'm a recovering anorexic, so this isn't helping my anxiety at all! eek!

Thanks for the support! I feel welcome already!! :)

"Now I'm a bit worried about the Zoloft. My doctor obviously wouldnt prescribe that to me if he didn't think it would help, but the idea of the antidepressant worries me a bit. I've heard the stories of the people that have mental breaks and go into cardiac arrest when on these pills. I don't want to sound completely naive, but I just haven't heard anything about Zoloft except for these horror stories."


dgizz, Like Kitt, I am also taking Zoloft, but I take 100 mgs, and my doc wants me to increase to 150. The worst possible thing that we can do as "Overthinker's" as Kitt put's it, which is entirely true when it comes to people like us, is look online for information about these meds. There are more "horror" stories than good stories, because the people that take it, and find it helps them, don't usually post about it. They just get on with their lives. I, however am one of the ones who will post the good about the drug.

This is actually my fourth time on it within the last ten years or so, and for me it is a lifesaver, I have no plans on ever going off of it again if I can help it. LOL!

Now, you have to realize that people do react to medications in different ways, so what works good for one person, may not work as well for another, and then you just move on to the next, until you find the one that's "right" for you. Don't be afraid to try it, but you must give it the recommended time for it to start working and level off in your system, which is 6-8 weeks.

As with ANY ssri, in the beginning you may have increased anxiety or panic, (and it is completely normal) that's when the xanax helps the most. So, IMHO I think you are reading into too much of the negatives that you've read about. STOP looking it up online and just take it! You won't know if it's going to help you or not unless you try it. Good luck!

Fox

50 mg is a good safe low dose. i took it for 6 years and had no side effects except reduced sex drive