Medication Side-Effects Are Scary

[BubbleBaby]

i have suffered from anxiety and depression for many years and have mainly treated myself through exercise, meditation and Xanax as needed. Recently after having a dental problem, I have not been able to stop obsessing about dental treatments and it has taken over my life. My doc encouraged me to try Zoloft and after almost two weeks on 12.5 dose I have recovered from the nausea, diarrhea type effects but I feel like I've been given a huge shot of adrenalin every time I take the pill and it takes hours to calm down. Not sure if this is the kind of thing that will go away or if I should stop. Scared to stop because I am already so anxious and unable to function. Can anyone give me some perspective?. I am alternating taking small doses of Xanax and Seroquel to sleep at night as I usually do. But I spend my days crying and shaking after I recover from the initial adrenalin rush from the dose.

[Midori]

Talk to your doctor, as it is possible that that medication doesn't suit you.

Cheers, Midori

[designguy]

It usually takes zoloft 2 - 3 weeks before it takes effect and it normally doesn't produce the kind of anxiety spike you are describing because it's not fast-acting like the xanax. More than likely it's your anxiety that is blowing things out of proportion because you are already so hyper-focused and anxious and you are just adding fuel to increase it which increases your adrenalin and raises your cortisol. Health anxiety is a form of trying to be in control and a distorted way of dealing with uncertainty. Anxiety is a paradox and the more you resist and fight it the more it persists so try to surrender to the anxious thoughts and feelings and not feed them with more anxious thoughts and feelings. I found that medication alone did not eliminate my anxiety, I recommend the DARE Anxiety book and youtube videos, the book "At Last a Life and Beyond" by Paul David and the books and youtube videos by Dr. Claire Weekes for learning what anxiety really is and how to accept the anxious thoughts and feelings. You can also check out the youtube videos by Paige Pradko about health anxiety

[Serenity212]

My therapist told Me it is super important for people with anxiety to transition into meds, even anxiety meds, in tiny increments over months. For instance I took a quarter of a pill for three weeks before increasing dose. Even anxiety meds can overstimulate nervous system and make us anxious. I was on Zoloft for two years after 911. It relaxed me until it didn’t work anymore. That said just experienced a nightmare at the allergist who put me on inhaled steroids without weaning into it and i became so anxious and stomach reflux—my body overreacted in multiple ways. Doc kept giving me different meds to deal with side effects. After an insane week of meds making me sicker, I stopped inhaled steroid, antibiotics, antihistamines, and ENT doc started treating just my new acute acid reflux.

[Blueruth]

Second Midori but I have to ask... this latest episode seems situational not chemical. The doctor isn't going to treat that unfortunately. Is that something you want to talk to someone about?

[samack]

Hi Bubble Baby

I haven't been on t his site of late but found this in my email box. It seems you need to speak with your doctor. Your adrenaline hit from Zoloft is interesting its supposed to calm you. Seroquel is common to take for sleep. I have no personal experience with it. Don't know why you switch on and off with Xanax. Best of luck to you.

[Tcbabe]

I know exactly what you are talking about the adrenaline rush you get shortly after taking Zoloft,

It’s nothing to do with you it’s what the med does and that’s exactly what I felt also.

I stopped taking it and started on Prozac little over 2 weeks on a higher dose and you don’t get that adrenaline rush,

But so for it has not worked like Zoloft did when the side effect went away for the most part. Thinking about getting back on it but hate to have to go through that feeling again my hand shaking, sweating, the speed rush and so on .

But I will say this much if you dare to get through all that it made my brain at peace protected in a sense. Like it has boundaries that it could only drift so far off.

Starting to talk myself into getting back on it again and hope that will happen again .

You must be taking some kind of benzo to help you get through the side effects and yes I had to take Seroquel to sleep but it will make you sleep without really any side effects.

Hope this help s I I know it’s the only one that has worked for me but was to scared to get back on it but now I’m to scared not to get bs k on it.