Anyone take Zoloft without side effects? - Panic Disorders Message Board

Rion · 01-28-2003, 09:46 AM

I tried taking a paxil cr (12.5 mg) tablet a few months ago, and had such bad anxiety from it that I couldn't even take a second dose of it. I wish my psychiatrist had prescribed xanax or something to go with it, but he didn't, nor did he even tell me to expect some anxiety. Nada!

So, I've been taking xanax by itself as needed since then, and it's helped me get through the tough times. I saw a new doctor yesterday though, and she feels that an SSRI would help me "even out" my anxiety, instead of having so many ups and downs. I'm supposed to take 25mg here sometime today, but I'm terrified that it is going to make me crazy again like paxil did. I am allowed to take xanax with it for the first couple of weeks, which I'm sure will help, but I'm getting anxiety just thinking about taking the pill... I can't imagine how I will feel once I swallow it. /cringe

Well my question was going to be, has anyone taken zoloft for panic without all the increased anxiety levels? I've talked to several people with depression that loved it, but everyone with anxiety seems to freak out for a couple weeks on SSRIs. Is this just inevitable? I hope not!

Rion

mommyof5 · 01-28-2003, 06:22 PM

Hi rion
I took paxil for 2 days and felt completely freaked out,total high anxiety and rapid cycle panic attacks (I was much worse because of the paxil). I stopped them and went back to the dr. She put me on zoloft (jan 7th) 25mg for 1 week then 50mg since then (it's now 3 weeks total), along with it she gave me clonazepam twice a day to keep me cool and calm until the zoloft kicks in. I go back in about 2 1/2 weeks and then she will start to wean me off the clonazepam and see whether I will be bumped up to a higher dose of zoloft.
I was on zoloft by itself 2 1/2 years ago and my side effects were 1) insomnia for the first few weeks and 2) heartburn and indigestion (but I wasn't eating with the pills - my mistake!) So I had stopped taking them and went med free until this January.
This time around I have 1) a weird kind of insomnia, I have no trouble to fall asleep but if I have to get up with any of my 5 kids or to pee then I have a harder time to fall back to sleep (maybe by then the clonazepam has worn off by then?). I don't have the heartburn and indigestion because I'm playing it smart and taking my zoloft right in the middle of my supper, seriously - I eat half my meal, take the pill, then eat the other half of my meal. Did I mention I have not had a panic attack since starting the zoloft and clonazepam.YAHOO!, But I've become housebound unless I go out with someone (since the episode from the paxil!) I did feel the agoraphobia sneaking up all fall (probably since august) but the paxil was the icing on the cake for me.
Hope I have helped, if I were you I would try the zoloft (if worse comes to worse you have xanax right?). I didn't have anything when I freaked on paxil, only moral support (my mom- she suffers too only not as bad as she used to, lucky her!)

mommyof5

munky · 01-29-2003, 06:18 PM

im taking zoloft right now for like 3 weeks.. im still on 25mg..

when i first started.. i felt queezy.. and nausious.. and a lot of anxiety.. which was my mistake of not taking the ativan my doc prescribed with the zoloft..

after i started taking ativan 2 or 3 times a day.. i felt much better.. i dont feel any effects of zoloft.. and i always take it right before or after i eat dinner..

im giong to see my doc next week.. maybe ill goto 50mg of zoloft..

but for you i think.. definitely take the zoloft.. but make sure you have ativan or xanax to help you calm down if you feel anxiety..

good luck

Mrs.romano · 01-29-2003, 06:59 PM

I took zoloft for 2 daYS and i had insomnia for a week after i stopped taking the stupid drug.. it gave me heart pals i was so scared i went to the ER..
Anyways i had a bad experience maybe cause i shoulkd have been on a lower dosage .. hopefully it works for you ..

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stacy

Rion · 02-05-2003, 12:29 PM

Well, I took a half of one of the 25mg zoloft starter pills yesterday to see if I would have any reactions to it... and aside from 30-40 minutes of drowsiness (and some temporary self-induced anxiety lol) I have felt normal. I certainly don't feel anything near what I felt on paxil, which I am so relieved about. I actually was on a little high last night because I was so glad I finally took it and especially glad that it turned out ok so far that I felt great and went out with some friends even. I hope it keeps heading in this direction.

Rion