Increased Anxiety with Zoloft 50 mg after 2 months...?

[naveed539]

Hi All,

I am 31 years old male...Been suffering from IBS-Constipation, Migraine and anxiety for the last 15 years...During this, i never took any medicine and managed to combat the same with my Will power...

However recently 4 months ago, i started having anxiety attacks which turned into panic attacks later...tried to manage that at my own, but was forced to go for psychatrist rather...He prescribed me Seroxat CR 25 mg (Paroxetine) which i took for 2 months but later stopped it due to tolerability issues and Psychiatrist switched me to Zoloft 50 mg...I went with nausea and anxiety as initial side effects for initial few weeks...Its been 4 months in total (Seroxat CR (2 months) + Zoloft (2 months) and 2 months specifically on Zoloft...I have been facing mix of good days + bad days...Recently since last 3 days, i noticed heightened anxiety, body and joints aches, lil nauseous, tiredness and mood irritability...I wonder as to why this has happened after 2 months rather than in initial days...I am still on zoloft 50 mg...

Please advise as is this all natural and common or not...What should i do in order to manage these side effects...?

[Anne1221]

I think you need to give it a little more time. The good news in your post is that you have a mix of good and bad days and that's why I say to give it more time. Then you'll have a better picture if this is working for you or not. I don't understand the sudden side effects but these medications seems to be tricky. The tiredness is one of the side effects of the SSRI's. I have had that with all of them and so have some other people.

[motherOfBees]

Zoloft is one of the anti depressants that works the first few days you take it. Take it with food, and yes it can cause anxious feelings ( :( add the body is regulating ittself on it. You are on a low dose. Sounds like your system is very sensitive bc you are way intuned to body aches etc which I would have chalked up to over exertion! Main thing, talk talk talk to your doc. Only see a psychiatrist for psych issues. Not a GP or worse, gynecologist!

[nikki_marie21]

I'm on zoloft ... The first week was crappy ... Weeks and weeks after I had ups and downs and quiet a few tough patches ., I've been on it since March 28th .. I can honestly say I haven't felt this good in a long time ,, I've had some unfortunate events happen in the past month but the grief was normal for what was going on .. I take 100mg .. If you look through the med section on the forum you will find a lot of posts on zoloft .. Wishing you all the best

[naveed539]

Hi Anne,

Thank you very much for your reply...

I want to add that i do think in same way too...But i wonder i had a massive mood swing along with highly activated fight and flight system...I wonder as if it has got something to do with the dose or these are just the start up side effects...The important thing is that i have to get marry after 2 months and concerned for my mental stability too...Also, i and my doctor plan to stop the treatment of Zoloft after completing 6 months on it and i would like to work my own way along with my will to control this anxiety as i would prefer to stay away from these drugs...But if i fail to manage it this way, then i will have to stick to them...

Is this something that may come under the domain of mania and biplor too...I am very irritated and disturbed...Please advise accordingly.

[naveed539]

Hi Motherofbees,

Well you are right enough actually...I am a hypersenstive guy from my schooling...Had social, Health anxiety over last 15 years but never took the medicine...Normally my body is not at all good with medication because of its senstivity...I have went to my Psychatrist yesterday and told him about all this...He said that as you had good time on this drug earlier, so this may work in the days to come...About increased anxiety, he added that this may be psychological so you have to build a strong will power in order to combat the same...I guess he made the sense...Anyways i am planning to give it further few months, as after that i plan to keep myself away from medication and would like to come back around 40,s if situation sustains like this way...

Do you think that my body may be still adjusting with the drug as anxiety has increased...?

Dear Nikki Marie,

Thank you very much for taking the pain to respond...Well one thing is pretty strange...That whenever i have such increased level of anxiety / anxiety attack, it ends in an urge to bowel movement perhaps because of overactivation of fight and flight system including bowels...But i really like this, as this flushes my bowel because i have been suffering from IBS-Constipation since years...I dont want to increase my dose from 50 mg as i will have to taper down the same after few months...What about drug impact in your case overall...?

Regards,

[nikki_marie21]

Over all it relieved my physical symptoms tremendously .. I use to have head aches and heart palps.. Head pressure, stuffed ears.. Vision problems,, so many issues, too many to name .. While I still get anxious,, it's at a tolerable level and the panic and body numbness is rarely there .. I never wanted to be on meds but it has honestly taken me to a better place in my life, it was like I was forgetting what normal even felt like .,, the impact the meds had on me were overall a great relief and help .. I'm at a point were I can see outside if the box and start to deal with the actual issues that caused all this chaos .. Hopefully you will be able to find relief and get back to a better place as well .. With or without meds :)

[motherOfBees]

Hello! May I ask, you have described yourself and your symptoms quite well, what is happening when you are 'irritated and disturbed?' What types of situations cause this for you? I experience this as well and have guilt over it however I'm seeing psychiatrist who specializes with this

[nikki_marie21]

Sorry not sure who the question is directed towards

[motherOfBees]

Yes I do think that your body could be adjusting itself on the meds. I have Google breathing techniques to stop anxious feelings. They are easy and I do then as I am going into a situation that makes me anxious, it works! I am taking Valerian Root at night and have been able to decrease my Vistaril and benadryl now to almost none! Taking prozac 40mg only once to twice a week as I am on Natural Calm and it is amazing so far. I got that at the health food store, a liquid supplement with calcium, magnesium, k2, and d3,, all major necessities in relieving anxiety and depression. Chances are, deficiencies of these essential mood/brain nutrients has had alot to do with my suffering. Best of Luck to us all!!

[savannah]

At Nikki, what were your symptoms of anxiety? I'm getting ready to go on meds but scared it won't work ;(