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Posted 8/5/2012 10:34 PM (GMT 0)
hey, i just started taking zoloft today.. i take 25mg one in the morning and one at night.. i read reviews that its great for panic and anxiety which i have. i was wondering if anyones taken it before and if it worked well for them? i havent had any side effects thankfully !!! :D :D :D :D ....but also i want to know how does it work? how will it stop me from thinking "omg im going to panic and die" or "omg i have to go to this social party and am going to be nervous or panic"

thank you :)

Posted 8/6/2012 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
This is the most simplified explanation of how an SSRI works...and it's not that simple if you ask me...but here goes;)

How does an SSRI work?
The brain is made up of neurons, which are interconnected brain cells. Messages travel along these cells. When a message reaches the end of a neuron, it has to jump a gap (called a synapse) to the next one. To do this, the neuron releases tiny amounts of a chemical (a neurotransmitter) into the gap between the nerve cells. Ideally, a nerve impulse starts in the new nerve, and thus the message gets from one nerve to the next. In order for the original nerve to recover and get the next message, it needs to replace its stocks of the neurotransmitter in the original neuron so it is ready to send the next message. The "healthy" body thus takes the neurotransmitter back into the originating neuron (this is called "re-uptake").
In the case of depression, certain neurotransmitters such as serotonin are lacking, so they cannot be taken back in full to the originating neuron and therefore cannot send the next message. SSRIs slow down the process of returning serotonin to the end of the neuron it comes from (they inhibit the process of re-uptake). This makes it more likely that enough serotonin will build up to set off the impulse in the next neuron. Therefore, SSRIs work by allowing the body to make the best use of reduced amounts of serotonin.

A couple of other things to remember about starting an SSRI:

*it can take from 2-6 weeks typically for the drug to build and level off in the system

*side effects can happen during this time, but should lessen as time goes on.

*symptoms of anxiety and depression can get worse initially, but this will pass and benefits/improvement will begin, and the anxiety/depression levels will steadily drop.

I wish you luck and really hope that this works out for you! Keep us posted as to how you are doing.

S.C.
Posted 8/6/2012 2:06 AM (GMT 0)
I do take zoloft and the first couple days it cleared my mind, but after ward my heart rate went up, night sweats, a little anxiety, weight lost and upset stomach. It has been 1 month and 2 days and I feel better. The only thing I do get time to time is, I could fall asleep and feel my foot or arms move( not sure how to say it). But I can go about my day without really having negative thoughts, although sometimes it comes back now and then, especially around period time.
Posted 8/6/2012 10:46 PM (GMT 0)
i hope it works, i feel a little sickness but not much. i normally dont give them chances but this one im going to give a good shot.
Posted 8/6/2012 10:47 PM (GMT 0)
also, i cant sleep.. last night i was up all night and tried to nap today and i cant fall asleep!
Posted 8/6/2012 11:12 PM (GMT 0)
Im on zoloft for about 3 yrs...It takes awhile to kick in and it took a really long time to finally sleep through the night. The doctor gave me meds to sleep until the zoloft worked on that area. The only thing that is getting to me is the weight gain. When I was going through my anxiety and went on zoloft I was down to 94lbs. Im now up to 127lbs and its bothering me. But if I go off the meds to lose weight Ill get the panic again. ugh!!!
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