Extreme mental side effects from Zoloft?

[savingkie]

Hi! 3 weeks ago I started taking 20 mL (or mg? whatever Zoloft is measured in) of Zoloft for my anxiety and panic attacks. I'm 14 years old and completely healthy, by the way. I've had anxiety since age 5 and my parents have always been very supportive and I've been going to therapy, but my anxiety got to the point where I couldn't go to school, so we started with a subtheraputic dose (20mg) over break. By the second day of taking it, I had noticed an EXTREME effect- nausea, insomnia, diarrhea, and worst of all, suicidal thoughts, depression, and an overall feeling that I was going crazy. Let me make it clear that I have NEVER been depressed and I've never had suicidal thoughts before this medicine, so this was terrifying to me. I feel an intense feeling of detachment and depersonalization as well. My mom just called the doctor and she's taking me off Zoloft now, but is it possible all of these effects were from such a low dose? Am I just very sensitive to meds? I have a history of often getting bad stomach upset from supplements as simple as Multi Vitamins, and I've never been on any medicines besides Zoloft, I haven't even been on antibiotics.. It would be really nice to know if this was all just from my medicine and my new depression will go away, because I've never had depression ever and it's really tough with school and everything because I can barely get out of bed! Thanks :)

[alankay]

It is possible. For younger folks fluoxetine is most often used. Remember to make sure your diet is clean(low on refined sugar, caffeine, etc). make sure you keep a normal sleep schedule and exercise. Minimize the junk(anything artificial) in your diet. I hope your doc gave you a comp. metabolic profile blood test and thyroid check. Just to be safe. :) Alankay.

[acetone]

SSRIs come with black box warning that they can increase suicidal thinking in adolescents.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/child-and-adolescent-mental-health/antidepressant-medications-for-children-and-adolescents-information-for-parents-and-caregivers.shtml

[alankay]

Yep some will not be able to take a given med. They may have to try another or another class like a benzo or gabapentin, etc.
The supplement L-tryptophan has helped me. Very safe too. Alankay