Zoloft Experience Continued...

Not sure why, but having some regrets today about starting the Zoloft. I have fears about it not working and fears about going off of it and experiencing side effects at some point.

I'm also anxious about tapering off of my Xanax. Feels like a lot of change and I'm nervous about it. I never wanted to start an SSRI and while part of me is glad I did, part of me isn't.

I've been pretty anxious today. Today is 3 weeks on Zoloft but only a little over a week at 25mg. Should I be feeling tons better yet? I'm just not sure how I feel. Frustrated I guess.

Park, sorry to read you are regretting your decision of starting the zoloft, if I may be blunt here. Many of us would rather live without being on meds, I know I would. I take 9 different meds every morning and 4 at night before I go to bed, and 2 during the day. I take 3 drugs for depression and anxiety alone, but I have come to the conclusion that I will always need to be on meds until the day I die. Yes my situation is alittle different as I have bi-polar and with that comes deep depression if I don't take my meds. I spent the better of 25 years fighting with taking meds, I'd feel better and just stop taking them. I came to the conclusion about 5 years ago that I"m not helping anyone especially myself by not taking them. LOL I forgot the point I was trying to make here.

You most likely will not need to be on the zoloft for a life time, but even if you do then so be it. You need something to help you along right now and I've seen great strides in what you are doing and how you have been acting just by what you are posting and I think you made the right decision to start the zoloft.

As far as the xanax goes, I already told you this earlier, BUT do NOT stress over stopping them. I know you don't want to be on all these meds, and only want to use the xanax for as needed, but you are putting added pressure on yourself right now that is not needed. You will wean from them soon enough, AFTER the zoloft has kicked in, so stop stressing over cutting down now.

Yes, It is too soon to know if the zoloft is going to work, you've only been on the 25 mg for a week, it takes a good 6-12 weeks to reach it's full potential, so hang tight. You should start seeing small signs of it working in the next week or two, but it will be small signs. Just be patient with yourself. I know you want to be instantly better, so do I but it sadly doesn't work that way.

Keep on doing what you are doing, it's working. Stop stressing over everything today, take one day at a time. :) Hugs

You don't always complain my dear, so don't worry about that. You are documenting your journey pretty well if you ask me and I really believe it is helping others and will help others that search zoloft in the future.

I do understand why you are hesitant on taking the drugs now rather then later after a baby, but even you know you need to get your anxiety in order in order to even have the baby. It will happen and you will have a little bundle of joy, I just know you will. :) I hope you can relax and enjoy yourself tonight and get some journaling done.

Slept crappy again last night and been waking up to mini panic attacks, but I don't believe that this has anything to do with Zoloft. I think it's purely hormonal.

Despite feeling like garbage this morning, I did 30 minutes on the treadmill and have felt pretty good for the most part today. Still feel a little floaty in my head, but the weather in Chicago has been absurd lately so that could be it too.

I'm sure I'll have Sunday night anxiety this evening because my hubby goes back to work tomorrow, so I guess I'll just try and keep busy.

Park

I thought I'd share with you that when I began my Zoloft I didn't notice any change for at least 2 months and even at two months I had anxiety to where I was questioning the effects and the help of the ssris , It took me about a good 3 months to feel like okay I'm feeling less anxious and I think this med is helping me .
I have fears about coming off the meds as well but I know that I'm in. Better place right now with the meds than I would of been with out ,
And we don't know what's going to happen in a few years it might be the end of the world 😐 I'm guilty of having future anxiety too but I have to remind my self to stop . Hope your feeling better today

Hey Park. Glad you're sticking with it and posting. It really will help others.

I don't have any, but I am positive that a Xanax would help me deal with a trip to Target too. ;) I don't think there's anything wrong with a glass of wine to relax with. A bottle maybe, but a glass is okay. lol

Funny you mention Sunday night anxiety. I get the same thing! It was worse before I stopped working, but it is still there. My husband is my safety net. He can help talk me down from an anxiety attack when I can't get there on my own. He had to work out of town a while back, and even though he was home every night, I hated every minute of every day, because I knew he wasn't close enough to come to me if I needed him. You know in case I had the heart attack or stroke I always felt like I was having. Ugh!

I still have those attacks, but the Lexapro helps me thing a little more logically about them, and recognize them for what they are. It did take several months though, and they got worse while I was adjusting to the drug.

Hang in there, and if you need to vent tonight, just e-mail me. I may even be able to get into chat later if you want.

Great Post Park, Thank you for telling your symptoms and whats going on with them, this will for sure help others in the future.

Great News on no jaw clenching today, that is great news. And AWESOME News on no panicky feelings today, I love to hear that.

Keep on going girl, you are doing great!!!!

Thanks, Lisa! Today was a really great day. That isn't to say tomorrow won't be hard, but today was really good.

I think it's important to remember that meds aren't a cure all. Bad days happen to people who don't suffer from anxiety/panic/depression. That's something I have to remind myself of so I don't get down when things aren't "perfect".

Anyway....I was distracted today by POTTY TRAINING! Today I'm thankful for m&m's! 😉

Hey Park, You haven't checked-in for a few days so thought I'd check on you and see how you are doing? How did the Sunday nite anxiety go, before hubby goes back to work, I hope okay. I hope you are starting to see the benefits of the zoloft about now, let us know how you are please.

Hi Friends,

Thanks for checking in on me. I haven't updated because I didn't wanna bore everyone with my constant updates on how Zoloft was impacting me, but I think now is a good time to check in!

Let's see....as far as side effects go, I think mine are GONE! I still clench my jaw a little, but I think that's just what I've always done. I'll have been taking Zoloft for a month on Saturday; 3 weeks at this dose. As far as panic attacks go, I have teetered on having one or two, but nothing major to report. I do still have some health anxiety surrounding my heart, but I actually believe that I'm one of the rare cases where Zoloft decreases your heart rate, so I have an appointment with my cardiologist in 2 weeks. It's not a bad thing, but the feeling is different and causes anxiety, so I think I should get a handle on it and erase it from my thoughts, so seeing my doctor will do that.

Overall I have to say that I think the meds are helping. I'm not sleeping much better, but I really never thought I would. I'm taking a little less Xanax and will work with my doctor on decreasing even further. I'm working out and trying to eat healthy and have lost a few lbs, so other than the occasional junk food splurge, I feel better. It's a work in progress and after a few more weeks I'll see if my doctor thinks I should go up to 50mg, as I know 25 is really super low.

I've been on every day reading everyone's stories, but I just haven't posted. I'll keep up a little more, because I really do think that knowing more info about the med and other people's experiences is helpful.

Fingers crossed for continued improvement!!!

Post Edited (Park12) : 6/4/2015 7:21:12 PM (GMT-6)

Thanks for checking, Lisa! You are so awesome! A perfect, mod!

Thanks, Stacey!

I finally feel hopeful and that alone is major progress!!