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How Safe is Zoloft?

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Posted 10/20/2014 3:40 PM (GMT 0)
I know this is my health anxiety getting to me, but how safe if Zoloft?

My doctor only mentioned a few common side effects. I weary about medications after my experience with Lisinopril.
Posted 10/20/2014 3:52 PM (GMT 0)
GF.,

A/D's/SSRI's are considered safe and many people have used them to treat their mental health needs with no complications for years.

Everyone is going to react differently of course, so finding the right one for yourself is key.

What reaction did you have on Lisinopril? This class of meds is (ACE inhibitors) is completely different from an SSRI...so your worry about similar s/e's should not be an issue at all.:)

With your plan to start therapy...you may very well find that you need the Zoloft only temporarily. Once you gain the tools to manage your anxiety with the help of your therapist...you can discuss discontinuation.

However, even if you find you need to continue with your SSRI...like I mentioned...many people need and use this as a maintenance med with no problem.:)

You are going to be fine either way. Keep posting!

S.C.
Posted 10/20/2014 4:09 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the reply and re-assurance. I've had some side effects which I knew there would be while I adjusted to the medication, but I'm having ones my doctor didn't mention and looked up the side effects and kind of got freaked out by how many there are and how sever some can be.

I was on Lisinopril for two weeks for high BP, before I ended up in the ER thinking I was having a heart attack. That is the first time I was in the ER and had all kinds of tests done. That is actually when my anxiety really became a problem. The jury is still out on if the Lisinopril was the root cause or not. Maybe it was a panic attack.
Posted 10/20/2014 5:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hey there, I am a sertraline user (a different named medicine which has sertraline in it, same as Zoloft) and in terms of effectiveness and healing, I am quite happy with it.

You probably won't have much side effects, since these new generation meds have less side effects.
Even if you have some, they will go in 2 weeks time. It's worth continuing because Zoloft is very good for treating anxiety/depression.

Good luck and hope you feel well soon :)
Posted 10/20/2014 5:48 PM (GMT 0)
Greyfox,

Zoloft (aka:sertraline) Is a very safe SSRI. Like I said in one of your other posts this morning, this is my "go to" med, and this is the 5th time I'm starting it again.

There can be some pretty harsh side effects in the first few weeks of taking it, but they DO go away. If you can just ride out the side effects, you'll slowly start noticing them slipping away, and you'll start feeling better.

It takes some time, it's not going to be like you wake up one morning and BAM!, you feel better. It's a process. So please give it time to work.

Good luck!

Fox
Posted 10/20/2014 6:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Fox7,

What kind of side effects did you experience?

I am experiencing the ones my doctor told me about, headache, head pressure, stomach discomfort, nausea, acid reflex, drowsiness, and disorientated / zoned out.

However I am also getting back pain (mostly left side), pain under left armpit, some chest tightness/pain, tingling, pin & needles sensations in arms and hands (mostly at night), and increased thirst.
Posted 10/20/2014 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
The only thing I got for first 2 weeks was increased anxiety. Other than that I didn't have anything.

I think you shouldn't care about what others had as side effects because it is different in every person.
I also think you have yours because your dr told you about them. Because you think that your are going to have side effects anyways.
Try not to think about it and continue taking your meds :) I promise you will feel a lot better.
Posted 10/20/2014 7:26 PM (GMT 0)
The side effects my doctor mentioned really aren't the ones I'm too concerned with. In fact today I haven't really noticed them. Its the back and chest pain that is concerning. I think its GERD / Acid reflux related because its been bad all day and I can't stop belching. I might need to start taking prevacid again, this is awful!!!!
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