HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Increased Zoloft dosage and anxiety.

Support Forums
>
Anxiety & Panic Disorders
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 12/26/2011 1:55 PM (GMT 0)
I've read similar stories but wanted to share my own and see if I'm going through something to be considered normal.

I was on 50mg of Zoloft for awhile following my diagnosis of Crohn's in June. In August I developed Sepsis and Pancreatitis from one of my Crohns meds and one of the antibiotics I was put on has an adverse reaction with zoloft so I was forced to stop taing it. I had also been taking .25mg of Xanax 2x a day.

I was finally able to see my Psychiatrist in October (my original appointment fell on a date I was in the hospital.) and I went back on it. In late november I began having some chest pain that was determined to be reflux but it increased my anxiety so I went to 3x a day on the Xanax and 75mg of Zoloft for 2 weeks then up to 100mg, which is where I've been for a little over a week.

My morning are fairly difficult. I wake up feeling blah, take my xanax, wait 30 minutes, take my Prilosec, wait 30 minutes, then eat and take the rest of my meds. I should also mention that I'm on Prednisone which I know doesn't help with my anxiety. Usually by afternoon or evening I feel close to normal. Yesterday was a bit different and I had to take an extra xanax. I also went to the ER after 3-4 days of minor pain in my neck lymph node area and found out I have an ear infection.

I feel like I'm turning into a hypochondriac, every minor thing becomes serious, like yesterday with my rush to the ER. From what I've read it can take 6-8 weeks for Zoloft to kick in, and before that you can have increased anxiety, even if you've been on it that long and are simply increasing the dose. My Crohns symptoms are fairly non-existant, but it's every other thing in my body that freaks me out. I'm guessing part of that is adapting to the change in the zoloft... but I don't know.

Thanks for any help you can give.

Posted 12/26/2011 3:09 PM (GMT 0)
I can't say I've had first hand experience of increasing Zoloft as I'm only on 50mg but 100mg made me very sick from the get-go (I think I told you on my other thread) and I don't know whether that was a reaction to it, or to something else I was taking at the same time I was on antibiotics at the same time which I stopped straight away.. I was told I was suffering acid reflux though but I know for a fact that I suffered a severe increased anxiety the whole day so it probably was the Zoloft. Did you do okay on 75mg? Maybe you should consider sticking to that as 100mg is quite alot?? I have something similar to Xanax myself if I need it but I tend not to take it as I don't want to get dependent, but like you I'm completely hypochondriac at the moment with every little thing worrying me! Though my symptoms are a little bit more evident atm so I have grounds to worry a little :(

I hope you're okay though and don't feel bad about having t rush to the hospital, I'm thinking I might end up having to go myself as my doctors are doing nothing to help me!
Posted 12/26/2011 9:14 PM (GMT 0)
Ishiman, I am on Zoloft 100 mgs right now, and I also take .5 xanax twice a day (supposed to be 3 times, but I don't take it). I took it 3 times within the last ten years at 50 mgs, but this time I needed more. I have been on 100 mgs for 2 weeks exactly, today.

It is perfectly normal to get increased anxiety when increasing the dosage. And once you hit that dosage, it takes 6-8 weeks from there to get to the therapudic level your doc wants you at. You should start alot feeling better by then.

100 mgs is not really a high dosage, the lower dosages are usually used for depression, it sometimes takes a higher dose to handle anxiety/panic disorders, OCD, and PSTD. Don't fear that you are taking too much, just continue to take your xanax to help with the side effects. Your anxiety should start going away within a week or two.

Hope this helps.....((hugs)) Fox
Posted 12/26/2011 9:18 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, hearing it from other people helps. I'll see my Psych Thursday to talk about it as well.
Posted 12/28/2011 2:38 AM (GMT 0)
Its due to the fast heartrate it causes. I read up on the internet. Idk but some of these medicines I think cause arrythmias
Posted 12/29/2011 1:38 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on zoloft since I was twelve for panic disorder. about 5 weeks ago my doctor switched me to celexa because I felt like to zoloft was not workin anymore. BIG MISTAKE! I took the celexa for 2 weeks and it made be crazy. So I have been back on zoloft 100mg for 3 weeks now and I have had 3 or more panic attacks a day. When will this maddess end? sad  It is affecting my work and social life.
Posted 12/29/2011 6:02 PM (GMT 0)
Turtlechick, It's going to take a few weeks now for your body to readjust to the Zoloft. Why didn't your doc just increase your dose to see if that helped? It baffles me sometimes as to why these docs act like we're guinea pigs, and they can just switch our meds on a dime. There are repercussions from doing this, and the only ones that suffer are US! Maybe if you drop down to 50 mgs for like 2 weeks and then go back up from there it won't be so bad as far as the side effects. Just a thought. Hope you start feeling better soon! ((hugs)) Fox

Post Edited (Fox7) : 12/29/2011 7:10:45 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/30/2011 1:19 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks fox for the advice. I may try the 50 mg for a week or so. I will just be glad when everything gets straight. I keep having all the weird feelings. Like tonight I was cooking dinner and all of a sudden my tongue felt heavy which sent me into a panic attack. What is the deal with my body. I have just had an MRI which was fine. An stress echo test on heart which was normal. Two trips to Ed for tachycardia which they said was coming from my panic and stress. I am glad to know that I am not alone in this world. Thanks again fox.
Posted 12/30/2011 2:08 AM (GMT 0)
Turtlechick, Do you have anything like xanax to take with your zoloft? If not, i'd definately ask the doc for some, it really does help with all the side effects that we get on these ssri's.
It's basically as if you're starting all over on the zoloft again, and I just recently went back on it, so I know exactly how you're feeling. I take .5 mgs of xanax twice a day along with my zoloft. I'm really supposed to take it 3 times a day, but I choose not to, and if I do need anything in between my doses, especially around that time of the month, i'll break one in half and take that. Please keep us informed on your progress. Take care of you, Fox
Posted 12/21/2013 5:07 AM (GMT 0)
Ishiman0627

I just wanted to tell you I almost cried I felt like I was reading my own post I too have Crohn's an extreme panic attacks. I too have gotten pancreatitis.I am on Zoloft right know and pentasa and hydroxyzine pamoate 50mg for anxiety attacks. Any help would be great or ideas.
Posted 12/21/2013 5:30 AM (GMT 0)
Hi razzbear and welcome!

I am sorry to hear about your struggles with health and anxiety.

I encourage you to check out our Resources on the main page here (1st post) for great anxiety management ideas.

...and since this thread is a couple of years old now, consider starting a new thread of your own.

So that more members who are having similar experiences can respond to you.;)

Again welcome and post often!

Scaredy Cat
Posted 12/21/2013 5:32 AM (GMT 0)
Ok I will thank you I appreciate it.
Posted 1/19/2014 2:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hello! I am new to this community, but I find your forum extremely informational and comforting. I was started out on a very low dose of lexapro of 12.5 because I had such severe side effects from trying Lexapro. I had some increased anxiety initially and was feeling much better by the end of two weeks. However, my pdoc increased my dose to 25mg (Normal starting dose for zoloft) because I was still having breakthrough anxiety. I am on day 10 and take it at night per my pdoc's instructions. The past 2 days I have had increased anxiety, insomnia, feeling very restless, etc. Will this pass once my body gets adjusted to the increased dose or is this dose possibly too much? I can't feel like this forever and really don't want to have to take my xanax on a daily basis. Anyone else have similar issues with dosage increases?
Posted 8/5/2014 3:19 AM (GMT 0)
Hi it is so good to be able to share what is happening with others. Like many of you am going through a really rough patch of husband going in to a nursing home, financial worries, family conflict etc. Anyway am now on 75mg of Zoloft and a small dose of xanax a day and am praying it helps. The constant worry, fear, obsessive thinking - no sooner do I get one worry out of the way then another pops up. I have anxiety, depression and OCD and I hope the Zoloft will help all of them. It is really scary and horrible and at times i have felt the only escape is suicide, but I am not going to do that because I have family who love me and I am determined to get well again. Any suggestions? Thank you all for being so honest and supportive with each other it helps. cheers Bruny
Posted 8/5/2014 3:19 AM (GMT 0)
Hi it is so good to be able to share what is happening with others. Like many of you am going through a really rough patch of husband going in to a nursing home, financial worries, family conflict etc. Anyway am now on 75mg of Zoloft and a small dose of xanax a day and am praying it helps. The constant worry, fear, obsessive thinking - no sooner do I get one worry out of the way then another pops up. I have anxiety, depression and OCD and I hope the Zoloft will help all of them. It is really scary and horrible and at times i have felt the only escape is suicide, but I am not going to do that because I have family who love me and I am determined to get well again. Any suggestions? Thank you all for being so honest and supportive with each other it helps. cheers Bruny
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply