Anyone else on Sertraline/Zoloft? If so, did it help you with panic attacks /Agoraphobia?

[Platesofmeat]

Hello everyone,

This is my first post so be gentle with me I have been taking Sertraline/Zoloft (50mg) now for 54 days and I'm not sure if it is working?

I was previously on Paroxetine (Paxil) for 24 years for panic and anxiety disorders but after a massive panic attack, saw a psychiatrist who eventually put me on Escitalopram (Lexapro) 15 mg, but that didn't seem to work either.

I have become quite housebound because I also developed a Vestibular disorder which is a balance disorder that was triggered by a vertigo attack on a ship. This led to agoraphobia and increased panic attacks.

Right now I feel quite desperate to be honest, as I feel like I will have a life of agoraphobia if I do not start getting back out into civilisation soon. But I feel too anxious to get out and about.

I am now 49 and have panic attacks since I was 20.

I was also a very busy engineer for 28 years, before the balance disorder stopped that line of work

I guess I'm asking to see if anyone else has been in a similar situation and did Sertraline/Zoloft work for them with panic attacks/agoraphobia.

Really appreciate any replies

K.

[Hidden]

Hi welcome to the site. Sorry you are having these health problems. I am on sertraline dose 150 mgs and it does help me quite a lot. However I suffer depression not panic attacks or agoraphobia, so maybe you are on the wrong meds for you?

I would have thought an anxiety based med would be more appropriate for your symptoms? You need to go back to your doctors and get a review of your meds as it's clear they are not working for you. Take care.

[Kobojunkie]

drugs.com/dosage/zoloft.html

[Kobojunkie in reply to Kobojunkie]

dosages are meant to be treated until you get the dosage or combination dosage that works. Never expect any medication to do magic at first dose. If 50mg does not work, tell your doctor and he can probably increase the dose to see if that is the better start dose for you and so on until he gets you to optimal dosage.

[Platesofmeat in reply to Kobojunkie]

Thank you both very much for your replies, and thank you for the great link, much appreciated.

[Hidden]

I have been on Zoloft 50mg for over a year and it's been ok...over the last 9 months I have developed some tendencies to stay in a "safe bubble"...this isn't just my home but places in my neighborhood and some towns over. I seem to get nervous when I leave this bubble.

I am going to talk to my doctor about changing the meds. Are you also doing talk therapy, EMDR or parts work? Any of these therapies seems helpful for agoraphobia/panic attacks.

Good luck!

[Platesofmeat in reply to Hidden]

Hi There,

thanks for the reply.

I have done Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) in the past and it basically tells you about the panic cycle and how panic attacks are harmless (just sensations and thoughts) and you are not going to die or go crazy. The root of the anxiety disorder being the fear of panic and basically you will be free of it when you begin to face it.

Unfortunately in Britain EMDR is not available on the NHS and parts therapy is part of NLP as I understand it.

I do some mindfulness meditation but things seem to be going awry at the moment but thank you for your reply.