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Zoloft and questions...

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Posted 10/22/2012 6:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hi ,

Was recently prescribed zoloft for depression and had some bad side effects within the first 6 days.
They included nausea, feeling jittery, sweating profusely and hot feelings out of nowhere, drymouth,
my coordination being off, and just generally feeling weird.

My questions are: are these common side effects? I know everyone can have a different reaction,
but have many of you who have taken this drug, experienced the same feeling as I have?
If so, how long do they last? When can I expect to feel better? Or is this a red flag that this is
no good for me?

I want to add that all these negative feelings have me feeling a good deal more depressed. Also,
I normally do not feel at all like this. Some general anxiety yes, the above side effects,no.
I went jogging the other day and felt so screwed up that I had to stop and go lie down

Also it seemed to make my insomnia worse. Its very important for me to sustain a healthy body
and mind now, so I dont have time for this. Im at a point (I know its early that I want to stop), try
something else, or some non - medicinal methods.

I have little experience with taking prescripton drugs - what is the story with side effects?

Any advice that can be given is greatly appreciated. I feel sick from all this.

Thanks.
Posted 10/22/2012 9:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hey ghosst8,

Nice to see you here.  I did not tolerate Zoloft well at all and I gave it 4 months with dose increases but things only got worse for me on this med.  I know it has been a wonder drug for many others. 

Be well my friend.

Hugs,

Kitt

Posted 10/22/2012 11:21 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Kitt for your reply. I was interested if you had similar
side effects as me?
Posted 10/22/2012 11:27 PM (GMT 0)
I took zoloft for 4 years and then went off b/c I felt so much better I was off 2 years and now panic came back but in the beginning four years ago it was tough but after about the 3rd week I was feeling better...I had nervousness, jittery arms, nauseau, diarrhea and dizziness at first but then after the 3rd week it became the miracle drug....I took clonozepam to get me thru the side effects and it was okay....

I actually just took my first 25mg pill tonight, starting back on it now...I am hoping the side effects are not too bad this time....I wish I would have never stopped taking it....it made me feel normal but watch the weight gain...I lost 18 lbs when I first went on it b/c I was always feeling bad and not eating but then after a while I gained it back plus 12.....this time I know that I will have to watch exactly what I eat much more.....Good luck but if you hang in there it worked for me....hope it works for you and me again....

Posted 10/24/2012 4:11 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Ghosst8,
All of the symptoms you have listed are normal start up side effects. I went through the same thing FOUR times, (and had increased panic attacks to boot!) LOL! That's right, this is my fourth time taking Zoloft. I should have never went off of it the last time.

These side effects could last up to six week or so, maybe less. It is very common for people who start taking SSRI's to initially feel worse before they get better. That's why docs sometimes prescribe another drug, such as xanax, ativan, klonopin, etc... to help with the start up side effects. Don't ask me why, but I think it has something to do with the med trying to adjust the serotonin levels in your brain.

Give it a few weeks to see how you're adjusting to it, and if you're not feeling any better, then a call to the doctor is in order. Like Kitt said earlier, for some people it works extremely well, and for others it doesn't. It's all pretty much trial and error when you're trying to find the right med.

Good luck!
Fox
Posted 10/24/2012 5:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Fox7,

Thanks for your response. I already have discontinued taking , for the stress on me and those around is not worth it. I was
basically hardly able to function. so wired up that my xanax which usually helps me sleep did not work . I do understand
that in this case its two steps back before three ahead, but at this time I know myself, and its not a good fit.

I want to add that the prescribing clinician should be more responsible and let the patient know about possible side effects.
Yes, I know you dont want to put something in someones head - but from my research the side effects are pretty common,
so its appropriate. Anyways, thanks.
Posted 10/25/2012 3:25 PM (GMT 0)
Don't give up...I tried Lexapro and that is how it made me feel only after 2 days so I switched back to zoloft b/c I had a good experience on it before...but maybe another med is a better fit for you....I would hate for someone to try something else....goodluck and take care
Posted 10/25/2012 10:35 PM (GMT 0)
There are number other ones to try. If you find the side effects intolerable, tell your doctor. He or she might tell you the side effects are manageable.......but, you are the one who has to manage them on a day to day basis. SSRIs were not something I could tolerate. After having a bad relapse of anxiety/panic and depressive symptoms in 1999, my psychiatrist prescribed Paxil......he had a great sales pitch for me for this medicine. 20mg dosage to start (I never went above this dosage) So, right away side effects that did not go away and after a few weeks....when I complained to the doctor about the side effects, he tried to tell me they were manageable.....I told him they were NOT. I had night sweats, I was constantly waking up all night, would be so sleepy during the day that I would doze off at work and more then one time almost doze off while driving my car, teeth grinding during sleep, weight gain, flippant remarks I would make at work with out thinking, increased attraction/libido towards women......only problem was having a orgasm was all but impossible on this med, feeling impatient....I remember one time waiting in line to order something at a coffee shop and I had this feeling that I just wanted to shove everybody out of line in front of me....almost felt like my body was starting to move on it's own to do that.....this side effect was the final straw for me and I started tapering off the medicine....
Posted 10/25/2012 11:11 PM (GMT 0)
That's terrible...I hope you found something better and I hope the results were better....
Posted 10/26/2012 1:51 PM (GMT 0)
Im sorry but six weeks is too long to wait to get better. Then again , it depends how bad you are in
the first place.

With me - not worth it!

The problem is that most clinicians ( Im sure some do,but many not) can not relate to how we are
feeling.

The bottom line is you have to experience it to really understand it.

Everyone is different.

The people who prescribe these meds make irresponsible comments.

I told the Dr. why didnt he let me know of side effects- he said it might have
placebo effect. Perhaps with others , but I have never been this way.

I have found in my life that people can be easy to give advice that they wouldnt
so readily follow themselves. To me the percentages of people who experience
side effects is so high that means there is something off.

Sometime in the future, a better way will be found.
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