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Zoloft question for the group.....

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Posted 3/4/2012 2:38 PM (GMT 0)
OK, try to follow this LOL

First off, I'm not looking for medical advise just maybe people out there who have experienced some of the same I am going to ask.

When I realized that I was relapsing from stopping Zoloft cold turkey and three traumatic events that happened in my life I started taking my Zoloft again at the same dose I was at when I stopped in August 2011.....75mg. That was on February 17th. By Feb 21st I realized I may have started off too high because my anxiety was through the roof so on Feb 22nd I went down to 50mg. Oh by the way I called my doctor at this point and told him what I did and he said to stay at 50mg for a week and then I could bump back up to 75mg. So on Feb 28th I went back to 75mg and that is what I am on right now. I went to see my doctor on Friday (Mar 2nd) and he said to stay on the 75mg for at least another week to give my body time to adjust.

So, here comes my question.....Honestly what is the expected time frame before Zoloft starts to kick in?? I mean I hear people say I took Zoloft for a week and felt great but that isn't the case for me. I'm on day 17 and I'm sure because I started out on too high of a dose I might be a bit behind schedule but isn't it true that it takes (in combination with dosage increases) and about 4-6 weeks to begin to really feel the effects? And I have heard that full effect can take sometimes up to 10-12 weeks.

Can anyone shed some light on this for me......??/ One more thing, when I went to the doctor Friday he started me on Xanax XR which is a once a day pill that slowly releases the xanax into your body throughout the day. He said this will help with the anxiety until the Zoloft kicks in. I took my first one yesterday and for the first time in over 3 weeks I didn't have to take a regular xanax (fast acting) so I'm hoping this is a good thing.

Sorry for the novel but I really need some feedback about the Zoloft issue. I'm "googling" myself crazy!!! :)

Thanks,
Packer
Posted 3/4/2012 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
Packer,

The rule of thumb, it usually takes around 4 weeks for the medicine to work.  When I first started taking it I was nervous, jittery, and anxious but I managed to muscle my way through until my body adjusted to the med and I started to feel better. 

Using the Xanax XR short term to help you tolerate the side effects of adjusting to the Zoloft seems to have been a good choice by your Dr. and I am glad to read that it is helping you.

Try to avoid worrying about when the medication will kick in for you and just take it one day at a time.  Know that you will have side effects until you own body adjusts but accept that and concentrate on other ways to help keep you anxiety from ruling your every thought. 

Focus on what’s right in front of you; push all other thoughts out of your mind.

Kindly,

Kitt

 

Posted 3/4/2012 3:04 PM (GMT 0)
Kitt....

You're amazing....thanks for the feedback. It doesn't help either that I am a tad bit impatient! :)

Packer
Posted 3/4/2012 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
Inpatient is my middle name -  devil smhair devil   Smiles !

Kitt

Posted 3/4/2012 8:21 PM (GMT 0)
GB,

"isn't it true that it takes (in combination with dosage increases) and about 4-6 weeks to begin to really feel the effects?"

This is not true.

It takes 4-6 weeks on your TARGET DOSE, meaning the dose your doc wants you at, to really feel the positive effects. So if your doc started you on 75, then you dropped back down to 50, and then went back up to 75. It will take you 4-6 weeks on your 75 mg dosage again.

So you start from February 28th and go from there. Some people feel better before 4-6 weeks, and for some people, it takes longer than that. Depends on how your body reacts to the med.
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