ZOLOFT USERS........ have questions!!!

Chele,

Everyone is different...so the magic number of 4-6 weeks at your therapeutic dose is going to apply to some, but not all people.

You could very well have turned the corner already...so try to just stay positive and in the moment!

Neither anticpate a downturn...

...nor be suprised if a not so great day does come along.

You are in the process, and the results are not always linear...but you are moving in the right direction it certainly seems!

Keep using your coping skills as well...even during good times...this is when they can really be practiced effectively for when and if you need them at some point.

Congrats...enjoy feeling better, and keep us posted!

S.C.

Thanks so much for your replies. I am still dealing with some anxiety even with the Klonopin and I have had a couple ups and downs during the day. Dont think I am quite there yet, but I am glad for at least some relief. I have also found that I need to keep moving. If I sit down, I start to fall asleep. Most people have told me they get insomnia on Zoloft, but it knocks me out. I will wake up usually around 4am with the racing thoughts, but as soon as I can get them to quiet down I am back to sleep. I can remember praying for the day that I could sleep and struggle to get out of bed. After over 4 months of not sleeping it does feel good, but I just hate the dopey feeling. I am praying that goes away also. Thanks again for your comments.

I take .25mg of Klonopin, one in the morning, in the afternoon and before bed. The drowsiness did get a little worse when I increased to the 50mgs of Zoloft. My third day after the increase I sat on my couch from 4pm to 9pm. I literally did not want to move. But it hasn't been that bad since. I am just trying to keep myself busy and moving. Do you take your zoloft in the am or pm?

Also, if you are finally sleeping more, I bet your body is adjusting to that - and just like with kids, 'sleep begets sleep' - you would think that sleeping more you would just feel better, but your body is craving more and more sleep because it's like WOW! FINALLY! So sleep when you can, IMHO. ;)

I started out on 25mg for two days then 50 and kept going up every couple weeks to 150mg I was having obsessive health anxiety and insomnia and crying fits :( I had lost my appetite too. Which never happens, lol.

Did your anxiety go away pretty quick when you got on the right dose? Also did you take the Ativan every day? Was it hard to come off of? One more question....I promise...lol! Even though you were taking the Ativan how did you know when the zoloft was actually working?
Thanks for all your help!!!!!

lol! I always have tons of questions too, so no worries! It has always been gradual - don't worry, that doesn't necessarily mean slow! But it's not like one day there was a complete change. But at some point you realize you aren't counting the hours to your next pill, or even that you don't think you need to take it. :)

And I have had several rounds of experience with this - because life has its ups and downs and I have tapered off several times and then gone back on. Sometimes I felt better within days, and sometimes it did take weeks or months of days that still had rough patches and times I needed to stay busy.

A couple questions for you 😉 is your doctor your regular doctor or a psychiatrist? Also, do you have a counselor? I can also recommend some books that might help if you like to read. With almost 18 years of experience having 'superpowers' 😁 I've learned a lot.

One rather simple thing too - are you taking any vitamins or supplements? Anxiety and depression can be intensified by deficiencies, and there are some supplements that many people find helpful, magnesium and omega 3s for instance.

My dr is a psychiatrist. I have had anxiety in the past. At times it has been really bad. to the point of not leaving my home. After I had my last daughter I had the anxiety with OCD. But I overcame it and that has been years ago. In March my husband walked out one night and moved 4 hours away. It has been the worst time of my life. I couldn't eat or sleep and I just fell apart. I couldn't work and experienced severe depression for the first time in my life. I went to my regular doctor and he gave me the lexapro. After that experience he told me to see a psychiatrist. I have been in therapy since late April. We were trying to do this without meds, but she thinks I need to revisit some abuse in my past and heal from that. We started and the panic attacks came on strong. So I finally gave in and decided to try the meds. It's probably a good thing since I now have court dates to attend, my husband wont talk to me, his parents or our children. He wouldn't even come to our grandsons birthday party. Our anniversary was last week and I texted him and he won't even respond. So having the meds is obviously not taking away my problems but is helping with the symptoms. I did at one point start taking the magnesium. I was having horrible night jerks and that really did help but it seemed to make me more depressed. I haven't taken omega 3s, except through my milk. I've heard that taking supplements with anti depressants was not a good idea. I guess they can interact?? I would love to hear your book recommendations. My daughter works at the library and could probably get them for me.
So now I have unloaded my life story on you....sorry about that. I guess to just help you understand what I am going through. I am hoping that I will not be on this forever. I have heard that therapy can really be a big help. I'm also praying that my husband will get over his mid life crisis and come home. But once again will not solve all my problems. Life can be pretty tough.

Chele, Check my profile for my email address then email me so I can delete it :) it'll be faster to email or text each other ;)
MJ

**profile, not signature... I must be getting sleepy

Post Edited (VitaminsAtoZ) : 8/28/2015 6:54:22 PM (GMT-6)

SC, thanks for the support and encouragement. I can use it today. Been fighting anxiety since 3am. Even after the Klonopin :(

Hang in there, W2b - how many days has it been? That wired feeling is certainly part of the process whenever I've increased doses - go for a walk, stay active, keep plugging along... It'll smooth out soon!

Okay, so the plan is to switch back to Vitamin Z. Was today any better? Hope you get a good night's sleep!