[Sweetness follows]

Hey everyone I started taking Zoloft 25mg 4 days ago and I feel that it's making me worse. Worse anxiety, very nervous, low appetite, trouble sleeping, feeling very strange. Is this normal? I feel so horrible

Medication effects are different for everyone. I can tell you that my experience with Zoloft was this: I started at 200mg. I was a MESS of agitation, anxiety, horrible fear/dread...a very, very negative and severe mania. Worse than I was when I started taking the stuff. Somehow I made it through a month in that awful state of being. Finally communicated with my p-doc. Dropped dose to 150mg. Still in a very bad state. Hung on with that for another month (it was sheer hell). Went down to 125mg...still in a very mixed-state horrible place. Changed p-docs. New p-doc told me that ssri's can set off mania (either positive or negative) for bipolar people, of which I am one. Dropped the Zoloft down to 100mg. I've been at 100mg for about a month and it seems to be more or less okay. Definitely much, much better than the higher doses.

You might be very sensitive to the Zoloft. Since you feel worse I think you have two options. Either you can stay with your current dose and see how you feel in, say, 3 more days OR you can contact your p-doc and see what s/he has to tell you.

[Sweetness follows]

Originally Posted by Sister Rags

Medication effects are different for everyone. I can tell you that my experience with Zoloft was this: I started at 200mg. I was a MESS of agitation, anxiety, horrible fear/dread...a very, very negative and severe mania. Worse than I was when I started taking the stuff. Somehow I made it through a month in that awful state of being. Finally communicated with my p-doc. Dropped dose to 150mg. Still in a very bad state. Hung on with that for another month (it was sheer hell). Went down to 125mg...still in a very mixed-state horrible place. Changed p-docs. New p-doc told me that ssri's can set off mania (either positive or negative) for bipolar people, of which I am one. Dropped the Zoloft down to 100mg. I've been at 100mg for about a month and it seems to be more or less okay. Definitely much, much better than the higher doses.

You might be very sensitive to the Zoloft. Since you feel worse I think you have two options. Either you can stay with your current dose and see how you feel in, say, 3 more days OR you can contact your p-doc and see what s/he has to tell you.

Wow that's amazing you were able to go so long feeling so horrible! I haven't been diagnosed as bipolar and I have no idea what mania feels like so I'm not sure if that's what is going on or if I'm just feeling normal side effects. Great to hear that you're doing better. I hope I get there soon

Thank you so much for your kindness. Yeah...sometimes I think I tolerate things too easily. I survived it by going to support groups and just switching meds around until I felt some relief. Anyway, I can understand how you might need to tolerate some side effects (sleepiness, for example), but the ones you've described sound like they might be reasons to contact your p-doc. Actually, if you're truly feeling worse then you were before starting the Zoloft (especially sleep probs) I think it would be a good idea to contact your p-doc.

[Stronger]

Zoloft was my miracle drug. It definitely helped me get my life back together. But, unfortunately, 4 years on the max dose (200mg) and my body got used to its affect on me. I was sad to tell it goodbye.
Of course, everybody's body is different. I may be wrong, but 25mg seems a little to low of a dose to be able to tell anything. I certainly couldn't tell a difference on 25mg. But if it is what's causing you to feel awful, then I hope you are able to find the right med for you
Good luck, dear

[Travelinglady]

Just a note: "pdoc" is our shorthand here for "psychiatrist."

[Sweetness follows]

I saw my counselor and she said I should try half the dose. And I've been sleeping fine when I take an Ativan before I go to bed. I guess my biggest complaint is this strange high feeling, like I smoked pot. Anyone know anything about that?

Hmm...wellll....for me, most psych meds give me somewhat of a strange, sort-of high feeling.

[angelswalk]

I have the same effect with the Sertraline/Zoloft. I was supposed to start at the 25mgs but was scared and only took 1/2 that was 7 weeks ago. The side effects are terrible. 2 weeks ago I tried the whole pill thinking it would get better it hasn't. I'm trying to stick it out but feel so awful.

[angelswalk]

This whole medication thing stinks!!!!!!!

[angelswalk]

So frustrated!!!! Sorry!

[WePow]

I was just bumped up from 150 to 200 afew days ago. I am feeling the odd rubbery feelings but also not so depressed.

[Sweetness follows]

Hey angelswalk. I totally agree with you! Medication is a drag! How are you doing with yours? I feel I've balanced out a little bit but not completely.

[StrongerMan]

I concur.. meds can and do suck. I have been on a few ssri's in the past and recently felt the need to go back on something after a decade off. My therapist thought depression was hindering me. I also wanted to relieve some social anxiety and gain some motivation and confidence to tackle some problems. Tried Wellbutrin (ndri) and then zoloft and then both in combination. Nothing but various side effects including worse depression and SI even. I am off everything now (2 months) and am finally starting to feel normal again. I guess my level/type of depression just doesn't lend itself to meds. I've been told the greater the level of depression, the more likely meds will help.

[angelswalk]

Originally Posted by Sweetness follows

Hey angelswalk. I totally agree with you! Medication is a drag! How are you doing with yours? I feel I've balanced out a little bit but not completely.

I have stopped the meds. Had bad side effects guess I'm just super sensitive to them. Just my luck! Now going crazy trying to battle whatever is going on with me. I don't think I will try meds again.

[borderline00]

I felt pretty horrible when first starting zoloft. I had extreme dizziness, but after a couple weeks it all went away and I found that it worked really well for me.

Everyone reacts to meds differently, but for me it helped.

[ChangingMyMind]

As with every drug it's all different based on the person. I took 12.5mg pill and had an allergic reaction. hope it works out for you!

[ArtBen2014]

I'm having the same problem. I recently increased my Zoloft dose from 100mg to 150mg. It made my mild depression turn into severe anxiety. I went down to 125mg. Hopefully this will work. Any advice, folks?

Zoloft is a wonder drug, by the way. I've been great with it for 10 years at the 100mg dose. Sometimes I need a little boost. Then I end up going back down to 100mg when I'm back to feeling normal.

[meg29]

Originally Posted by Sweetness follows

Hey everyone I started taking Zoloft 25mg 4 days ago and I feel that it's making me worse. Worse anxiety, very nervous, low appetite, trouble sleeping, feeling very strange. Is this normal? I feel so horrible

Hi there, i started zoloft five days ago at 25mg and my doc told me to possibly expect more anxiety , sleep issues, headaches the first week while I wa s adjusting. The first four days I had side effects described above and the 4th day was so intense (a lot of dizziness, some anxiety, headach,sleep issues ) that by the end of the day I had almost convinced myself to get off it. The fifth day however was significantly better and the side effects were much less and I feel like I may be able to give it some time to see if it works.give it another few days and if symptoms don't ease up I'd check In with your doc. Good luck!