Just started zoloft (sertraline) 25mgs 4 days ago. When will zombie feeling go?

[Kiwi_87]

Hi, I'm suffering from GAD and was having really severe insomnia, sleeping only an hour a night or going days without sleep. I've been taking Zoloft/ sertraline for 4 days now at 25mg. It is giving me great sleep- but wake up feeling flat. I have been pushing myself to leave the house and do things which has been good these past few days.

It's weird though because my main anxieties were leaving my flat and/or being in crowded areas. I didn't really have a problem with talking to people. However, since starting this med yes I have had much more motivation to leave the house and do things, but when interacting with people I find it unpleasant because I feel so numb that interactions feel stultified and awkward. My face feels like an ironing board in the emotions department. Just numb.

Is this the outcome effect of this drug, to just feel like a numb zombie? As hating that so far. Does it go away soon?? Should I increase my dose to 50mg this being day 4? I just feel so flat right now :(
want to still be able to have a range of emotions.

Any feedback welcomed
Xx

[Kixxi]

Hi, I'm suffering from GAD and was having really severe insomnia, sleeping only an hour a night or going days without sleep. I've been taking Zoloft/ sertraline for 4 days now at 25mg. It is giving me great sleep- but wake up feeling flat. I have been pushing myself to leave the house and do things which has been good these past few days.

It's weird though because my main anxieties were leaving my flat and/or being in crowded areas. I didn't really have a problem with talking to people. However, since starting this med yes I have had much more motivation to leave the house and do things, but when interacting with people I find it unpleasant because I feel so numb that interactions feel stultified and awkward. My face feels like an ironing board in the emotions department. Just numb.

Is this the outcome effect of this drug, to just feel like a numb zombie? As hating that so far. Does it go away soon?? Should I increase my dose to 50mg this being day 4? I just feel so flat right now :(
want to still be able to have a range of emotions.

Any feedback welcomed
Xx

Hiya Kiwi,

Let me reassure you, I been on Sertraline for 7 years and I don't feel any side-effects any more. It really reduced my anxiety at night, so I could sleep good again. Still, don't forget to do other stuff as well to reduce anxiety, it will definitely benefit you in the long run. I take 100mg of Sertraline a day. In the beginning I felt really tired and lethargic, but that feeling disappeared after a week and a half. I did notice that I do need my sleep now, I can't do an all nighter any more like I use to lol. But I think it's really worth it.

[Kiwi_87]

Hiya Kiwi,

Let me reassure you, I been on Sertraline for 7 years and I don't feel any side-effects any more. It really reduced my anxiety at night, so I could sleep good again. Still, don't forget to do other stuff as well to reduce anxiety, it will definitely benefit you in the long run. I take 100mg of Sertraline a day. In the beginning I felt really tired and lethargic, but that feeling disappeared after a week and a half. I did notice that I do need my sleep now, I can't do an all nighter any more like I use to lol. But I think it's really worth it.

Hi Kixxi,
Thanks for your feedback, much appreciated. Did you feel the same with regards to not having any emotion in the first few weeks and feeling blunt/ flat? If so, how long did that take to go? I haven't had my usual morning tablet yet as I am so put off....thanks again for coming back to me and I'm happy the Z is working great for you now with no side effects. Sleep is a big thing for me, as I can be sitting there worried and scared about everything so I enjoying the sleep! I just don't want the sleep at the expense of my emotional range, as I work in a hospital caring for others in a therapeutic role so being able to express myself is really important for me Xxx

[Cullingford]

Hi there Kiwi, I am also on 100mg I have no side effects and feel better than I have in years. Everything just's seems to go over my head nowadays and I am more able to enjoy life, the side effects will wear of soon I am sure! best wishes Cully.

[Kiwi_87]

Hi there Kiwi, I am also on 100mg I have no side effects and feel better than I have in years. Everything just's seems to go over my head nowadays and I am more able to enjoy life, the side effects will wear of soon I am sure! best wishes Cully.

Hi Cullingford, thank you for your reply. Did you get these same feelings of zombie numbness in the beginning? How long did it take to wear off? Don't think I can take much more

Kiwi x

[Cullingford]

Hi again no problem I felt really bad for nearly two weeks It's the trouble with these meds you have to get worse before feeling better. I find it best to take mine in the evening as i said I don't even know that I have taken them now, you say your face is numb they used to make me clamp my jaw until it ached like hell. Try and stick with for a while.

[Kiwi_87]

Hi Cullingford thanks again for coming back to me, it's good to hear that the effects went away after 2 weeks for you. It's not so much my face being numb really, it's just emotional expression and feeling awkward due to that effect x

[Cullingford]

I have to admit it does mess you up for a while but you will start feeling a lot better soon. I was on 50mg for a long while and was still having suffering anxiety on and off then I got it put up to 100mg and BINGO I felt so much better and have been really good for nearly six months. 25mg is a very small dose is your Doctor building you up to a higher dosage ?.

[Kiwi_87]

I am meant to be going up to 50mg, yes.

Did you get this emotionally numb feeling when you started though?

I've been trying to ask a few people here but no ones really answered that question on this thread other than just saying there are side effects to the pill and that they go away.

It makes sense to have initial side effects which go away, but specifically- did any of you get this emotional numbness as an initial side effect which later went away?

Thanks
Kiwi x

[Kixxi]

I am meant to be going up to 50mg, yes.

Did you get this emotionally numb feeling when you started though?

I've been trying to ask a few people here but no ones really answered that question on this thread other than just saying there are side effects to the pill and that they go away.

It makes sense to have initial side effects which go away, but specifically- did any of you get this emotional numbness as an initial side effect which later went away?

Thanks
Kiwi x

Hi Kiwi,

It's quite normal. I had that to to start with. I felt very hazy and didn't feel much emotionally. After a week or two that subsided as well.

[Kiwi_87]

Hi Kiwi,

It's quite normal. I had that to to start with. I felt very hazy and didn't feel much emotionally. After a week or two that subsided as well.

Hi Kixxi,
Sorry for the late reply not been well today. Thanks for coming back to me, I really appreciate it. It's good to hear you did get your feelings back after a few weeks. If anyone else can come forward and give any more reassurance I would really appreciate

Love Kiwi Xx

[Kiwi_87]

Thanks Kixxi,
Did anyone else get these side effects initially too?

Kiwi Xx

[em1]

Yes I to had that emotionless feeling to, it took a few weeks for the sterling to kick in and then it was great :) , I was on 50 mgs for a year and I'm now off them since January, stick with them it will get better

[Kiwi_87]

Yes I to had that emotionless feeling to, it took a few weeks for the sterling to kick in and then it was great :) , I was on 50 mgs for a year and I'm now off them since January, stick with them it will get better

Hi Em thanks for your post, how do you feel now you are off the sert and was it hard? I have a long history of depression and I worry that when if I ever stop taking them I'll feel more depressed than I was before. My main issue right now though is much more anxiety. There's so many stories on the net horror stories about coming off :/ Xx

[em1]

Hi Em thanks for your post, how do you feel now you are off the sert and was it hard? I have a long history of depression and I worry that when if I ever stop taking them I'll feel more depressed than I was before. My main issue right now though is much more anxiety. There's so many stories on the net horror stories about coming off :/ Xx

I think everyone is different,for me all I really
Had was the brain zap feeling,all I know is they are really good and they will take up to 12 weeks for the full
Affect to kick in,you have to get the right dose that you need,for some people they will
Need 50mgs to start off with,at the end of the day no two people are they same but what I do know is this is a good med and if it works for you don't stop taking it and give it a chance

[JustBreatheTaryn]

I had my first tablet last night and i didn't sleep too well.
I have got up this morning and i am really fuzzy in the head and i feel like a zombie.
I have a tightness in my head.
Feel disjointed.
Gonna just rest and try to stay relaxed.