I'm on day 5 of zoloft 25mg - and truly can't function. I've had little sleep last night and I don't know what to do. I had to take.25 ativan to stop the anxiety this morning and now I'm just in a fog and need to sleep. I don't know how to deal with this. Just stick through it i guess.

It is going to start showing at the office and I don't know how to handle it. help, advise, please

Hi BlackDog,

Jeff70 takes zoloft and talks about it in his blog. Have a look and see if there's anything helpful there. Thinking of you xxx

Hi Blackdog.
Vitamin Z took about 4 weeks to settle in with me. 25mg is a good start, are you tapering up to your full dose or is that the prescribed amount? (I tapered from 25 to 50 to 75 over a couple weeks. But I was switching from Celexa to Z)

Also, were you like this before Z? If so, maybe Z hasn't kicked in yet. Maybe not a side effect of the med, but a side effect of our conditions.

It's hard to be patient when starting a new med, but it does take time.

My anxiety was basically throughout the day before, except maybe the evenings and I was getting little sleep. waking up at the 3 -4 am deal. That's why I started the zoloft the exhaustion hole was getting deeper. I had been on it several years past at about 75 mg, although I remember things felt good at 25.. My general doctor prescribed the 25 mg and I can move up to 50 if needed. I'd like to see if the 25mg will lift my anxiety enough to just hold there.

I am in SUCH a fog this morning, and fairly shaky. I probably should take some additional ativan, however I think I'll fall asleep if I do. This sucks. I wasn't this bad before starting zoloft.

Does anyone think this is just my anxiety continuing to come through...I know the zoloft has not had enough time to start working. I can feel it is getting into my system, just not having it's positive effect yet. I think I will take some ativan (I have been prescribed for it) and see if this helps. I did half my ativan dose last night as I wanted to start weaning and let the zoloft work for me. maybe I need to relax and slow dow and just continue to take what I need.

Hi BlackDog,

I think you're panicking about the situation so try to take some time out and do some deep breathing or something. I think you're like me in that you're impatient to see results but unfortunately the drugs don't work as fast as we want them too. Take everything you're prescribed until you start to feel better. I know it's tough but you'll just increase your anxiety by worrying about it xx

I took .25 of ativan, we'll see if this calms me. Yes I am getting panicky. With little sleep last night I'm not clearly thinking. Ahhh, I love this situation. I think I'm most concerned I will not make it through the day in the office and I'll have to say something. I'm trying to keep it all together the best I can..... not doing so well at that:)

(((((((BlackDog))))))))

It's hard to carry on working, pretending nothing's wrong. Any chance of a sick day?

Office of 10 people, no chance....

I truly hate bothering others as we all need to get through this on our own, I just don't remember the side effects this strong before. I may have eased into it with 12.5mg then to 25mg. I really don't remember. The ativan as chilled me out a little. The frustrating part is I did not have to take the ativan during the days before starting zoloft. I was only taking in now and then to sleep. very limited usage over the past couple of weeks. I feel I've gone backwards since starting the zoloft and question why I HAD to start. If a don't keep some ogf the benzo in me I start freaking out. I want off that stuff, it can't be good for me. urgh....

Give it time. I think most people experience increased anxiety when starting their meds, I know I did. And don't worry about bothering other people - who says we have to get through this on our own? I know I couldn't... x

I have experienced the same thing since starting back on Zoloft. I have been on 25 mg for 2 weeks and 50 mg for 2 weeks. I have had anxiety and jitters the entire time, The feeling fluctuates. I have had to us xanax about every 3 days. I don't remember being this jittery for this long last time. It is frustrating to feel like you have gone backwards (having more anxiety) when this med is supposed to help. I'm still sticking it out.

It's been a week at 25mg today... I got such little sleep last night (11pm to 4:30 am) and woke up very nervous. This comes after a wonderful nevening yesterday. I was even jamming out in the car on the way to pick up my son from practice. I had some of the "normal" old side back.

Yet this morning I'm severly tired and depressed. I know things will improve but it is so draining. I accomplish very little at work.

Are your mornings worse than the rest of the day, I simply can't focus or function. I have been taking ativan and was able to decrease it yesterday, however I had to take half apill this morning to settle down. All this does is make me more tired and out of it. I am trying to stay on 25mg, however we will have to see. my main issue seems to be lack of quality sleep.

Blackdog...long time I didn't hear about you...

tell me how are you feeling today?

Thanks for checking in... Well you hit me on a really frustrating morning. I sleep in a little later than usual and was able to fall back a sleep, however I woke with really bad cold sweats. It's happened before a couple weeks ago, but I was drenched. I know it is a side effect, I just don't know why now at almost 4 weeks.

I've been on 37.5 for around a week or so, I switched to cutting 50mg dose/from the 25mg pills to make the 37.5 so I don't know if this has made any difference. But my anxiety has really increasd again. Work has been very stressful, however I simply don't know if: my dose is too low, i've just not been on the zoloft long enough, or I should be taking more ativan to help with the anxiety. When I was on zoloft 2 years back I was on 75 to 100mg, but I don't remember any of these severe effects.

I'm truly struggling with getting through my days and I just want to feel somewhat normal, just for a little time. My whole day is obsessed with the physical symptoms and how I feel. I'm struggling with where to go with all this....

Oh God that's really bad feeling I know.... I was tired as well from up and down feelings... I was exhausted..

You know I wonder when it's too low dose and when is the med is not for you!!!!

Take care and do not give up and focus that the cure day is coming :)

I am off zoloft 10 days now and 1 week ago i started my homeopathic and herbal meds.... hope to feel better as well..

Take care and let us always know what are your updates.