Zoloft Experience Continued...

Awesome Update!! Thanks for letting us know how you are doing, so far pretty positive if I say so myself. Sorry you are waking up at night anxious, it could be a side effect of the zoloft but I'll pray that whatever may be causing it that it stops and you can get a full nights sleep. :)

Let us know how your appt goes next week, although I'm sure he is going to say you are A+ alright, :)

YaY for improvements, It is nice when other people notice that we are improving so Kudo's to hubby for noticing and telling you.

And, You are welcome. I'm happy to hear my support helps you, that is my goal and why I'm here. Oh and that it helps my own anxiety helping others is just a plus, lol. Hugs Park!

Hmmm....having some mini panick attacks today. Having such a hard time deciding if these feelings mean I should go up to 50mg of Zoloft.

Park,
Your body could still be adjusting. Panic attacks unfortunately still will happen here and there, it's just a matter of how we handle them. But, I'd definitely talk to your doctor to see if he thinks upping your dose would be beneficial. Either way, happy to hear that you're making progress.

IF I remember right it has only been about a month since you've been on the 25mg, although 50mg is the recommended therapeutic dose I would wait at least until you've been on the 25mg 6 to 8 weeks and see how you do.

To start with yes, to see how you do on 50 mg but it can go up from there, but I think as well as the 25mg has worked for you I don't think you'd need higher then 50mg but I'm not a doctor so that is something you'll want to discuss with your dr.

I found this on drugs.com
Panic Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder
ZOLOFT treatment should be initiated with a dose of 25 mg once daily. After one week, the dose should be increased to 50 mg once daily.

While a relationship between dose and effect has not been established for major depressive disorder, OCD, panic disorder, PTSD or social anxiety disorder, patients were dosed in a range of 50–200 mg/day in the clinical trials demonstrating the effectiveness of ZOLOFT for the treatment of these indications. Consequently, a dose of 50 mg, administered once daily, is recommended as the initial therapeutic dose. Patients not responding to a 50 mg dose may benefit from dose increases up to a maximum of 200 mg/day. Given the 24 hour elimination half-life of ZOLOFT, dose changes should not occur at intervals of less than 1 week.

Well, just a quick update. Still relying enough on my xanax that I think I'm going to call the doctor and ask about a slow increase. Maybe bump to 37.5.

Fingers crossed that the side effects won't be crazy.

I agree, NC. I'm just still using the xanax throughout the day and I'd like to see some more improvement. I'm scared to increase my dose, but feel like it might be the best plan.

I don't think you'll have any or not many side effects increasing it to 37.5 that is a low jump and should do you good. :) Hugs to you

Thanks for the encouragement you guys. I almost changed my mind, but then logged on here and saw all of your positive words and it made me realize I should just go for it. Just waiting for a call back from the doctor.

Here's my fear....I've been taking my Xanax regularly while starting up the Zoloft. I just cut my Xanax back a teeny bit and feel myself clenching my jaw a bit!

Could this all be in my head, or has Canax been masking the symptoms and once I increase things are just going to be bad?

The goal is to be using Xanax as a rescue med, not in combo with Zoloft regularly. I'm so nervous about this...

Well, my doctor has given the ok to do a slow increase from 25mg to 37.5mg. I'm scared though. Same fears as before. Will side effects be bad, will I feel worse, etc.

I know I need to do it because 25mg doesn't seem to be cutting it right now. My anxiety and shortness of breath have really been getting to me and sleep has been just awful. Lots of panic in the middle of the night.

I'm thinking because the increase is so slow, maybe side effects will be minimal? Anyone have any experience doing it slowly like this?

In other news, I have my cardiologist appointment today and I refuse to be treated like just another person with health anxiety. Something is different and I intend to figure out what it is so I can move on with my life.

I think you'll be fine with the side effects, I don't think you'll have any and if you do they will be so minor you probably won't even notice. A small increase like you are doing is the best way to increase if you ask me.

Good luck at your appt today, I hope they listen to you and treat you like the valuable person you are, Let us know how it goes please.