Hi everyone
I was going to start the a/d today but I am freaking out. I've had such a bad day so far..and I think its because Ive worked myself up... I have even taken 1/2 xanax and thats not even working!! I really need to do something. Has anyone ever been afraid to take a medication and then they did and it was ok?? If so how did you do it??? Any pointers will be greatly appreciated. Thank you all in advance. My husband is even getting frustrated with me.
Lisa

I was afraid to start them too, but I was feeling SO badly that I KNEW I needed it. May I ask which antidepressant you are going to start?

I'm going to try Zoloft ... I know I need to because I'm at my wits end and I've tried to get rid of this on my own for years and can't and now its getting worse.. Thanks

Definitely try it UNDER A DOCTOR'S CARE. Remember that there might be side effects but many of them will go away. And give it four weeks to really work. It takes a while to get in your system. Be positive! They CAN be very helpful :)

Dont be afraid to take them. Some may suit you , some may not, you just need to find one thats ok for you.

I was afraid to take PRozac when i started it 10mths ago, but im absolutely fine on them, i dont really take any notice that im on them, they have made me feel better. The only thing i hate about them is i cant have a drink now when i go out, which is a bit of a bore.

I was so desperate when i first went on them, i could have taken poison if the Doc told me it would make me feel better!!

So be guided by your Doctor, and you will be fine.

Hi. Let me share with you my experience with Zoloft. I started having panic attacks at 20 in college and now I am 33. Zoloft was a bear to start up for the first week. I am female 5'4 and about 150 lbs. (but everyone responds differently). I had nausea issues. I was completely cured of my anxiety on Zoloft. Literally, not a single panic attack ever again......until this past Sept. Went to visit an endocronolgist for a thyroid checkup (may have hashimotos) and he said that <BECAUSE> I hadn't had anxiety in 13 years that I should go off of Zoloft because you should never take a drug "just because". He said that anxiety is situational and I was probably stressed in College. Guess what? Trusted this Doctor, tapered off zoloft over 3 weeks, and all was okay. I got sick in January- upper respitory, ringing in ears, then had a fever for 2 months straight all of which my doctor said I had a nasty virus. I kept saying that maybe I should go back on zoloft because I am really freaked out about how this illness is affecting me mentally. He said, no, just focus on rest. Well, to make a long story longer, last month I spiraled into depression - which I never had and became extremely afraid to take medicines and a bit OCD. I knew I had to see a psychiatrist for the first time because my anxiety took control over me. Immediately put me back on zoloft- did a week at 25mg, then a couple weeks at 50 and now at 75. I am now 6 weeks back on zoloft, I will NEVER be off of zoloft again. During these past couple of months I stopped sleeping and was given several different sleeping meds which I was afraid to take and would worry all day about taking. Then would cry at night when my husband would get angry for me not taking the pill. Guess what? The psychiatrist said that most anxiety suffers are anxious about taking medicine! I am on Restoril to sleep but trying to get off it. Ideally I would like to just stay on zoloft. My girlfriend did not have the nausea that I had when starting zoloft but several other people have. It was worth every second of it for that week. SSRI's should not be scary to take because they are a "build up" in your system drug unlike xanax which I was given to get me immediately under control. Because my anxiety was untreated for a good 6 weeks, I spiraled down...FAST into depression and didn't even know the signs of depression. I thought because I wasn't crying I wasn't depressed...but I stopped sleeping, lost weight etc. Telling you not to be scared, when you don't know me, I know is tough. All I can tell you is, that as a 33 year old woman having gone through what you are going through just this last month, take what the doc gives you. So many <PEOPLE> are on ssri's and fortunately for me, zoloft is my best friend. ;)

Hi
Thank you all for your input . Your stories are all reassuring to me, I hear peoples' successful stories and I can't wait to be one of them. Hopefully soon I will. My doctor is so nice she even told me I could take 1/2 of the 25mg to start. I'll let you all know how I do when I get the courage to take it. Thank you all again I really appreciate all your info.
Lisa

I've gone threw this process that your going threw right now almost 10 times with different anti-depressants. The thing is if your worried about taking the drug like you are now it's never gonna work because your just gonna talk yourself into side effects and you are gonna succumb to the negative side effects of the drug instead of the positive. The only way anti-depressants work is if you can take the pill and just continue on with your day and not pay ANY Attention to how the drug is effecting you. But like me I sit their and wait 45 min after taking the first dose and just pay attention to every little effect going on in my body to the point where I throw myself into a panic attack and the taking the drug is not even worth it.

Hi,
I am a person who is afraid to take anything. i read the side effects check it out on the computer. i am also sensitive to many medicines so i usually do get some of the side effects. however i am also a person who suffers from anxiety and depression. i just went through a few rough weeks starting paxil and had intial anxiety increase,nasuea,dry mouth and just felt spacey. i was posting on these boards like crazy for support and got so much of it to get through the rough period. let me tell you when you get to a place that you cant pull yourself up from sometimes that is the time to put your fears aside and start slowly on the med to get better. i know for me it took me 2 weeks of thinking about taking the ssri and my daughter begging me to just take a little piece because i had sunken so low. well i started slow but i kinda pushed myself up pretty fast in dose because i just wanted relief so bad. i drive my husband nuts when i an prescribed new meds because i panic on taking any of them. i take xanax and paxil now and i feel good finally.
i think the most important thing in starting an ssri such as zoloft,lexapro and paxil is to have support whether its family or on here. let them know that you may feel a little different ahead of time and that you are starting new medicaation and you may feel little different for few weeks. 3 weeks and i am feeling good and i am so glad i went through it. i wish you luck and we are here to support you.
tami

lisa,
i would also suggest to start slow i broke mine into quarters for 4 days then moved up in dose from there. its what you are comfortable with. i started on april 4 and today i feel great and have for close to week. just wanted to add that. dont overthink it that will make you more anxious if you know in your heart that is what you need the sooner you start it and the sooner it will work.
tami

I can really relate to you all. I suffer from severe anxiety, stress and some depression. I am so stressed about our finances right now. I lay awake worrying about our bills and maybe losing our house. Lots of issues I am dealing with. So last week I went to the doc after having a couple of nights of insomnia. She decided to let me go on some Celexa (anti depressant) 20 mg and also xanax to take as needed. I am a paranoid freak about taking any meds into my body. I almost panic as I swallow the pill. I took one antidepressant last week and it was horrific. I knew about hours later when it opened up in my body. I felt so weird. Disjointed, spacey, my heart started racing. I became nauseated and had diarrea for 24 hours on and off. I decided that I just can't handle how horrible it made me feel not to mention the anxiety. I decided to try and make my way through my problems without the drugs. I will take the xanax if I need to. I just like knowing its in my purse in case I need it. I think it is pyschological. I am 43 and think some of my issues are hormonal and I feel different throughout the month. Anyhow....it is all so frustrating. I hate having this condition!

After a very rough Monday I took 1/4 of a zoloft in the afternoon. I'm going to try 1/4 tablet for a couple of days and see how I feel. I was a little nervous this morning but not as bad as Monday. I really hope this works because I need to get back to normal. Thanks you all for your input. Any more positive feedback is still greatly appreciated. Thanks, Lisa

Glad to hear you started the zoloft and started it slow to see how it reacts with you. If you get anxiety while starting you may want to ask your dr to prescribe you some xanax while you get through this period. be patient and give it time to work.
keep posting to let us know how you are doing.
tami