Hi All,

I'm new here - Last week my doc switched me to Zoloft from Prozac. The Prozac was ok in small dose 10mg but I could not tolerate 20 mg as it was increasing my anxiety. I felt it was helping to lift the depressive symptoms and didn't really want to switch but she insisted I try Zoloft. Again I am finding the same problem. I have been on 25 mg for about a week now and she wanted me to go to 50mg. I tried for several days to take the 50mg but was again finding my anxiety was hard to bare. I am on AD for severe GAD, Depression. I also find my mood is up and down, after reading posts here I guess this can be common in some people. Last night I felt very wired and could not sleep, I dare say I felt I was hypomanic. I had to take more Seroquel (for sleep) than normal and even this took longer to work. I have tried splitting the dose on in AM the other early evening around dinner - seemed to be *better* but again felt wired towards bed time. I see the doc tomorrow and am not sure if I can stay on the Zoloft or not. I have a couple of other side effects which are "mild" at this point. I was wondering if I should get up early like, 7 am and take the 50mg and see how this works? Any one here take it that early, anybody have any suggestions. How long should I tough it out on this drug before trying something else? (Was on Prozac for about a month)...My anxiety is pretty troubling = my doctor felt that the Zoloft would help better with my sleep and have more of a sedating effect. It does seem to work as far as sedation at 25mg, but the anxiety is still there, but maybe a little more manageable? I am also on Risperidone for anxiety and parnoia from the anxiety (I think the drug combo could also be causing some trouble). Thanks in advance

Dee

Hi Dee, I used to be on Zoloft as well and suffered anxiety. My psychologist put me onto "Cymbalta" which is an anti depressant cross anti anxiety. i find it works much better. might be worth a try.

wild_fire

The doc wants me to continue to split the dose 25mg AM/PM and added Clonzepam to help with the anxiety; she's hopeful the anxiety will get better with time, although I'm not so sure. Anyone else take Clonzepam or another Benzo to help with SSRI anxiety????????

Yep, I was given xanax when I started celexa.. It worked great to rid me of my anxiety, unfortunately, the celexa made things worse for me, so I am now on zoloft. I have heard a lot of doctors will prescribe a benzo when you start a new ssri to help with side effects. Xanax makes me kind of sleepy, but takes away almost all of my anxiety and panic. The clonazepam should do the same in reducing your anxiety.

I also found that I do better if I take my zoloft in the morning. I am now on 100mg and take it right when I wake up. When I started zoloft, I noticed a huge decrease in my anxiety almost immediately. I felt barely any on 50mg, plus no panic attacks. Now I'm on 100mg and I feel a slight increase in anxiety. Hoepfully this will subside..

I've heard some people who wait out the first few weeks end up feeling great, so hopefully that will be the case for you. (And me as well!) Take care & I hope you feel better soon. =)

my doctor warned me when I started taking zoloft that I may feel an initial increase in anxiety before it starts to get better. Its only been a week and a half, so the jury is still out. She did say though that it can take 4-6 weeks before you start feeling the full effects and I've talked to people on here who had to wait until 8 weeks but now have a significant decrease in anxiety. Hang in there!

hi im newish here been here before but have now come back. my doc put me straight on 150mg of sertraline...im sure this is why my anxiety is worse. i am seeing him on wednesday....i need something for anxiety. clonazepam works but he wont let me stay on it! x