Need expert opinions!!
Went back to the 50 mg and the shakiness and increased anxiety that started with the 75 mg is still hanging on but at a lower level.
I keep getting panic flushes for no reason and have a tense stomach and shoulders. This has been going on for about 2 weeks. I am still doing everything -- even went on a flight for work the last two days.
But I feel like I have really gone down hill with my anxiety progress. I want sooooo bad to figure this out.
The zoloft helped so much with my mood and energy and for awhile I thought I had the anxiety under control at about 95% :)
Now I am all discabobolated :)
Do I try the 75 mg again and see if the side effects go away --- last time I waited two weeks and it did not get better.
Do I really have to give up on the zoloft -- I hate to start over on something else.
What do you guys recommend????
Recommend you talk this over with doc or your pharmacist to make sure 1 week was long enough trial to be on 75. Or did doc say side effects at 75 should last less than 1 week?
Thanks --- I talked to my doc and some of my "issues" such as the hot flashes and racing heart may in fact be menopause symptoms. So it is a toss up on which dose to take - 50 is good ---- but I hope a little more would be better. I am going to try creeping up to the 75 mg slowly --- try 67.5 at first to see what happens. AND have patience with the side effects :)
How are you doing?
That is what I think is part of my problem is the whole pmmd or perimenopause, yipeee for me!!
I am doing pretty good -- but would like to be doing better :)
For some reason I thought I was doing really good on the 50 mg -- just a little anxiety here and there. Then when I tried the 75 mg to see if I could get rid of the rest of the anxiety --- panic like surges, hand tremors and a zoned out feeling came the second week. Doc says okay go back to the 50 mg and I would use my CBT skills to deal with the remaining anxiety. But after a couple weeks, it seemed like the anxiety was still stirred up --- panic attacks back that I had gotten rid of!!!
The zoloft has been effective in improving my energy level, my mood so I can handle the anxiety, and I sleep really good now. So I think it has worked for me to some degree. But I still have the darn anxiety.
I don't let the anxiety keep me from doing anything -- but it takes a lot of positive self-talk and determination to keep it from dragging me down.
So I am trying to creep up the level of zoloft -- have been taking 67.5 mg for the past four days.
Anyone have any suggestionis, opinions, comments :) I love to learn what has worked for others.
Am I on the right path???
Questions for those with more experience with using zoloft for anxiety:
Does the zoloft eliminate all anxiety or does it just give you a foot hold so you can use CBT and other tools to overcome the rest of the anxiety. That is the guidance I have been given by my therapist.
How do you know if the remaining anxiety is caused by a side effect of the zoloft or is the original anxiety that is still there?
Is it part of the process to go up and down with the anxiety? Some days I feel like I am close to 100% -- then the next day the anxiety could be back. Could be hormonal changes I guess??
I know all the years I was on it, I had very few panic attacks in the 12 years with some anxiety still. I don't think it would not be normal to have some anxiety that is just life!! Glad to hear you are creeping up on the zoloft, I do believe it will help you, just stay positive....Just try not to read too much into it and enjoy life, it does sound like you are!!