i would like to give everyone an update on my 11th day on 50mg of zoloft. Last couple of days i have been feeling numb and cold in my feet
and i have been feeling more nervous then usual, i sometimes get confused and pace the floor like im nervous and have also been getting butterflies in my stomach. could this be that becasue im coming up to my 2 week mark and my anxity is increasing by giving me these side affects of numb cold feet
nervous stomach e.t.c, ive had to take 4mg of xanax last 4 days just to safe guard me from a full bown panic attack.
i hope this will pass is is a normal reaction as i am taking my zoloft more and more.
Any help or similar feelings friends would much be appricated.

cheers

Jayman

An increase in anxiety like this is common when starting a med. Use the Xanax as needed and hopefully it won't stay around too long. I know that you do worry anyway though. I am having anxiety after coming off my med and I'm starting to think it's me and not the withdrawal, which only makes you panic more. Just keep holding onto the fact that it's not you. Good luck xxx

Yep, just like PRT said, it's highly likely that it's from the meds. Again, the best advice I can give you is to try to stay as calm as you can and let things work themselves out. I still get some anxiety, like this weekend from various outside factors. It's unfortunate, but I'm starting to be able to cope so much better now. You'll get there too. Just hang in there.

Thanks Guys! I realise that it could be coming from me and not the meds however, my pdoc did say maybe after you start to reach your 2 week mark
that nervousness, and a increase in panic could happan due to seritonum starting to increase in your brain and starting to reach a stable state.
But it does make me worry sometimes as i can sometimes think the meds aint working or they are making my anxiety and panic worse.
then i also think it could be from the xanax use which i use daily and when i dont have my dose of xanax my anxiety goes up.
Anyway i know were your coming from PRT and darcness. I think my side affects and your side affects darcness seem quite the same
i know you have been on the Z longer but what ive read from your side affects when you started up are basicly the same as mine! Gut rot, Headach
Nausa, and an increase in anxiety lol.

Well im still gonna hang in there at least for my full months suply.
how long was it untill you were pretty much side affect free darcness?
and how long untill it kicked in? did you sometimes feelt like throwing in
the towel? and your on 50mg right?

cheers mate

Jayman

(((jay)))

I'd say the side effects started to go away around 2 weeks in, and then by a month pretty much gone. I still get the occasional headache or sleepless night, but for the most part I'm SE free. Sleeping was the only really lasting side effect. Well, not sleeping, more a lack there of.

As for how long it took to work, I'd say around a month for that. Even then though it was still all over the place. A few days of feeling really good, then a few days of anxiety again. It didn't really get fully stable until 2 months or more. Thing is, it certainly helped me get out of the place were I thought I could never be myself again. I knew I was getting better, it just got frustrating at times.

And yeah, it's funny you ask about throwing in the towel. If you could see a history of my posts you'd see that I did indeed want to quit. At 2 months, and the roller coaster ride of emotions, I was ready to take my Zoloft back to my doc and tell him to shove them up his you know what. The good folks here at DF urged me to stick it out, and I did. The rest, as they say, is history.

Edit: Yes, I'm on 50mg.

This post has been edited by darcness: Aug 9 2009, 12:25 PM

I felt a lot of the things you are feeling right now. If you can distract yourself that can help. It's easier said than done but try it really helps with the anxiety. I drank Coke for the butterflies. though it relates back to when i was a kid. Coke settles my stomach. keep on going just a few more weeks!

Dont want to steal Jay Man thunder but since we are pretty much at the same place with taking the med I was thinking I should give a little update. Yesterday I had a HUGE anxiety attack and I mean REAL BAD. Felt extremely nervous, couldnt sleep, felt I was suffocating (that is the worst one of all) Had to take 1 mg of klonopin to sleep, specially since I was getting back to work today.

Today is not too bad. I still feel nervous inside but its easily bearable. But yesterday, I got actually kind of scared. Still abit of prolbem with my stomach and I also lost some weight since I dont eat much.

From what I am reading, the pattern seems similar to many people starting on zoloft. I'm glad to see that otherwise I would be feeling kind of desperate that the med aint working as I want.

I really like zoloft so I truly hope things will even out soon.

Joyce try keep in there i am feeling the same way i am on my exact second week on 50mg
and i have been get nervous with anxiety and panic, i also which is a main one been getting
bad anoying headachs which dont seem to be going away!

Thats good that you are only taking 1mg of klonopin for the anxiety as i take 4mg of xanax everyday
in the one hit specially now as i am feeling the same as you are, i also sometimes take 4-6mg of klonopin
before bed. Im scared becasue i know i have been dependent on benzodiazapines for a while now and
cannot go a day without them yet and like i meantioned im taking high doses not 1mg not 2mg but 4mg.
Thats why i hope the zoloft will start to work and help me to cut down on xanax and klonopin. I just need
to take it its not like i take it coz i want the "feeling" i take it for anxiety and panic attacks, without it i would
not be able to work!

Anyway i got my months supply and ill finish a good 1 month- 6 weeks and i hope full affects of the zoloft
will start to work, however if im still in the same position as i am in now i would have to talk to my doc.
stay strong and will get there!

Jayman

Both of you hang in there. the 1st few weeks are the worst. Talk with your Dr. as much as possible. I know this is rough and agonizing, but worth it in the end. You both are in my thoughts

Dont worry about the about of klonopin and xanax you take. Me, its because i'm highly med sensitive, always been. With 2 mg of klonopin I would probably sleep even on the floor! lol
I only take 25 mg of zoloft and its plenty to me. For now anyway.

I actually am feeling better but more on the mental side. I dont feel depressed most times. I actually had a few times of feeling happy. but of course they are scarce right now.

Now, its mostly the physical symptom of my anxiety that I want gone but since this is the worst of all I suppose its kind of normal it is the last to go.

I really like zoloft like I said. I dont feel differently at all. I really feel its going in the positive direction.

I hope you have good moments Jay Man. They are important to give us hope that we will finally get better. As for the benzo, dont worry too much about it. I've been taking it for 7 years now and frankly, if I need that too for the rest of my life, I dont care but maybe the zoloft alone will eventually be enough.

Pllease, keep us posted on how u are doing. I will do the same

Joyce

Thank you Ajubledmess

Ok. NOT doing well. How long will I have to still endure this feeling of suffocation? Its been 2 1/2 weeks now. It should be better by now no?

I'm not always like that but it happened alot in my opinion.

This is real tough. I am at work but my attention is constantly on my breathing cause I feel like someone is sitting on my chest.

anyway....just need to vent

Ok guys, i'm really really not doing well!

Any words of encouragement? Ajumbledmess? You are our zoloft mascot.
Please....I really need some encouragement right now.


This post has been edited by Joyce49: Aug 12 2009, 01:36 PM

(((Joyce)))

All I can say is that it's normal to be going through these crazy roller coasters of emotions. It happened to me right up until the 8 week mark, and then some what still beyond that. It was horrible. I didn't know what I was going to do from one day to the next, nor how I would feel. Some days I was fine, then others I was a mess. Heck, sometimes it changed by the hour. I also had to go to work through it and let me tell you, it wasn't easy by any means. It did help me in the end though, because it gave me some kind of routine and structure to rely on. I couldn't rely on my moods because they were all over the place.

You're going to be fine, just give it some more time. The first month is by far the hardest. After that the up's and down's SHOULD start to level out and you'll be having strings of good days. You might still get the occasional bout of anxiety that could last from an hour to a couple of days, but it will get less severe and there will be more good times between these episodes.

Do you have anything like Xanax or Ativan to help you through this? Often times the best time to use them (in my opinion) is during start up on a new med. Perhaps you could talk to your doc and get a short term supply for the next week or 2.

(((((((thank you darcness)))))))))

I definitely need someone to talk to and have some encouragement. That is exactly how I feel. Like you said not only from one day to the other does it change but even by the hour! I am fine than bang, start to feel down again and anxiety crawls its ugly head!

I do have klonopin and took .5 at lunch as I take zoloft at 9am. I was about to take another .5 tonight (my doctor prescribed twice .5) but I wonder if it is enough right now. For today anyway.

I made an appointment and seeing him on saturday so I will see with him what is the best to do. Whether to higher the dosage or higher the klonopin. I just dont know right now.

Gosh, I CANT wait for things to even out. Thank god I do work too! I need structure and routine.

But mostly, thank god I have this place and people like you to listen and help! You are a life saver!

Man i just woke up again with a bad migraine headach again! this is the most anoying bit of the zoloft! i have to take some strong pain killers with codine in it its my 13th day
and i am due to see my pdoc today in the afternoon and i will be telling him this. Joyce thanks for the encouragement about the benzo use because i need it regarding the amount
of xanax i need to use. hopefully in a month i will feel better. if not i cant wake up with migrain headachs and go to work it to hard!
I'll keep you posted on my pdoc appoitment today and see what happans.
take care

Jayman

jayman: your questions are really best answered by a pdoc. Side effects can be tricky and dangerous, and youd doc may need to make a medicinal move. Only a good pdoc can determine what action to take and what is causing your problems. The anxiety and other se's may not be a side effect at all- it could be from stressors, your thought process, or your condition.
I'd be careful with the painkillers- did you doc okay them?
Maybe taking xanax regulalry would help you more. I know it did with me.

supersack i have been seeying one of the best Pdocs in Melbourne Australia for over a year now it is
the best outpatiant consulting suites in the country. i spoke to him today and he just said what do you want to do??
im still getting the headachs i told him. he said you can stop it or keep trying it for the full 4-6 weeks so i decided to stick with it.
i know it is a side affect from zoloft because if i wasnt on it i never have got headachs, so i think you need
to research some more about it yourself mate. paracetomol 1000mg and 60mg of codine is a pain killer
but notthing compared to the strong narcotic ones out there. i know alot about what medications i can take and what
interactions they have. I know these are still side affects from zoloft and i know that it is taking a little longer to diminish, maybe it will maybe it wont but im going to stick with it for 6 weeks.

Sounds good Jayman. I came to a point that I had to make a similar decision (to stay or go) and I chose to stay. I'll regret that choice, that's for sure.

Jay man:

I'll do some more research on it.

if your doc attributes it to zoloft, fine. But coincidence is a demon- I got a bruise the other day- which I never get- and I attributed it to the zoloft. Turns out it had nothing to with zoloft.

On a funny note, I once got a line on my scrotum while on xanax and thought it may be the xanax. Turns out it wasn't, nor was it a problem.

Did your pdoc approve those doses of klonopin and xanax? They're awful high. Hopefully you can cut back when the zoloft kicks in.

Hope the zoloft works for you, it is a long wait.

Good to hear you have a handle on things, though, bro.

cheers

Just want to say good luck everyone, and hang in there.
For me, it took 2 weeks or so for side effects to go away (I still have slight tremor all the time, but it doesn't bother me)... and 8 weeks to kick in completely.

Supersack i know were your coming from, my pdoc knows that i am taking 3-4mg of xanax everyday, however the klonopin use which i use very rearly 6mg in the evening for help with sleep, as the klonopin is very slow acting unlike xanax. so it sometimes takes me 1-2 hours to feel the affects and reach its peak plasma concentration in my brain. i need it sometimes also due to bouts of panic and mild mania. So he does not know i sometimes take it, if he did he would just tell me to stick with the Short acting alprazolam, however i think sometimes you need to look after yourself becasue you know how you are feeling, i know it will never account for a speacilist psyciatric DR but i find that it helps me. i go to see himevery 1-2 weeks and i ask alot of questions as i want to get the best out of my heath anf know about his views and what to do next. I mean im paying $300 for 45min so i like to talk as much i can.

I have been taking xanax for quite a while now and if i was to write a chart regarding the pros and cons, the pros what outweigh the cons
well mainly getting me through all the side affects of the many meds i have been on and helped me not to stop them.
Man i know what you are saying about the benzo use but what can i do?? i need to work bro i need to be able to drive on the highway
in peak our traffic and not be scared to turn back or scared of having a severe panic attack.

But anyway i am on just about my 3rd week on the Z and if it wasnt for evryone here darcness and the rest i proberlly would of stopped it.
i thinki m slowlly getting better just feeling a tiny bit notthing major though but i think side affects and diminishing so i can cope going to work.
I mean i am getting married in 2 weeks to my beautifull finacee and i hope that i can be happy and remember it as the most wonderfull time in my life. so i just pray and hope on the weeding day i can have a "WINDOW DAY" as you call. and not feel depressed anxious panicky. its a very big wedding and we have been waiting for this for a long time! so once again thanks for the support everyone and i will keep you all posted.
we are all in this together and we will all get there!

cheers

Jayman

This post has been edited by Jay_Man: Aug 15 2009, 10:53 PM

((jayman))

Thanks for the kind words my friend.

It sounds like you've got this whole thing figured out pretty much. That alone is a hard thing for many of us to do. I'm glad to hear you're being so active in your treatment and really trying to do what you can. Also, like you said, you know your own body and what you need to function and be normal. As long as you're staying with in your limits and not self medicating, I think you'll be ok with some benzo use for the time being. I'm not a doc, but I certainly know it can help while getting on an AD (or switching to a new one). I certainly am glad that I had it when I did.

In fact, I had to use some tonight. I drank a cup of coffee tonight and that was a bad move. Couldn't sleep and was feeling very fidgety. Feeling better now that the Xanax has kicked in a bit and I got a bite to eat. It was my own fault for drinking coffee at midnight.

Sounds like you're starting to feel a little bit from the Z too. Stick with it. Those good feelings should get better and better and last longer and longer. Then one day you're feeling very "in control" again and you realize that you're recovering. It's a great place to be, and I'm confident you'll make it.

Thanks mate anytime. I hope i can keep my benzo use to a good level. see i dont lie and i am very open about it all, i mean this is a great support group we need to be open and try and help each other out as much we can1 we are not Dr's i know but becasue we are taking the same medication we sure can relate to the effects it has on each of our bodies. I know that i take quite a high dose of xanax and the very rare klonopin, but im open about it and i feel that i need it it tough times and if i have to take that amount which i have mentioned every day then so be it. I need to work i need to be good to my soon to be wife in 2 weeks, i just really want to get the most out of my life without alwys struglling. As we all know our illnesses can play a big part on our family and it can be hard on them to as they may have never experienced or felt the pain that we do.

Anyway i guess today is quite a good day no headach and ive got monday of work, ive just had 4 days off which i get once every 10 weeks
so i just really tried to get out there and drive and face the outside world, sometimes usung acceptence and trying not to control my worries anxieties and fears and just viewing them as only thoughts, thoughts cant hurt us they are just thoughts its when you give in and listin to your mind you get caught up in them, i simply just thank my mind when i have a bad thought in my head and let my thoughts come and go as they please wothout trying to get rifdof them and control them, i mean by trying to get rid of them and fight with them that might by you some short time relief, but in the long run it will keep coming back. just think of your mind as a radio station playing radio doom and gloom 24 hours a day 7 days a week thats what our minds do most of. feeds us bad thoughts and we cant control that. Anyway Sorrry went abit of track there everyone i am just into a great thearpy which i thought i might share with you all. It takes over the normal CBT its called ACT (acceptence and commitmant thearpy) so rather then fighting with your thoughts try to observe them and let them come and go as they please without trying to change negitives to positives and fighting with it, all that time trying to controll your thoughts you could be living a better life, having goals which are guided by your values and doing the things you enjoy most in your life, and you can still do this even with all those bad thoughts that come into your head.

If anyone is interseted in this i am happy to help and try give my knowledge as much i can im not a therapist but i have read alot about it and
have seen one.

Hope this helps anyone as it is helping me and is a great thearpy for depression, anxiety and many other mental illnesses

Anyway i hope everyone is feeling better today and tomorow and the day after that.
i hope you have goals in your life that you want to reach and you can start one step at a time
i know mine is to let the zoloft start to work so i can cut down on my benzo use.

P.S darcness dont drink ot much coffee lol, man if i had a cup of coffee i would go bonkers

This post has been edited by Jay_Man: Aug 16 2009, 03:55 AM

Jay Man,

Congrats on your wedding! I didnt know. This is wonderful!

I understand how you feel too aobut the Zoloft. I am in my 4th week now and started 50mg on saturday. No side effects. Saturday I felt great! But Sunday went backward a little. I'm going to see my doctor in a month again to check if we need to upper the dosage. I have a feeling I will have to.

I truly like Zoloft as I dont feel I am taking a med but gosh, we need to be patient for this med to do its work. Thats the part that gets me discouraged abit sometimes but I want to see if in about 2 months it will reach it full effects and what it will be for me.

I cross my fingers I will finally be symptom free. I also am still taking klonopin like you. From what I read, pretty much everyone on zoloft go through the same stages.

Hope you are feeling better today
Luv
Joyce

Ack! I so did not want to hear that it will take 8 weeks to really work. I'm at four weeks and still having bouts of anxiety/panic and depression (serious crying spells). I was just beginning to wonder if I shouldn't switch to a different med, but I hate to give up too soon and have to start all over.