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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Wisekaz on October 13, 2007, at 2:54:33
Hi There
Have just started on Zoloft for severe panic attacks/agoraphobia and ocd. Am on 25mg at the moment (for 5 days and meant to increase to 50mgs in a few days (very hesitant.
My problems is it seems to have increased my levels of anxiety but at the same time is making me feel really dumb and sleepy which is in turn making the anxiety levels worse. I am also suffering from awful pains in my stomach and acid reflux. Has anyone who has been on Zoloft before had these side effects and does it ease off as my body adjusts? I don't really feel like swapping to yet another tablet.
Thanks!
Posted by Netch on October 13, 2007, at 4:29:54
In reply to Zoloft - Increased anxiety but feeling dumb, posted by Wisekaz on October 13, 2007, at 2:54:33
Wisekaz, it can take up to two weeks before you'll feel better on SSRI. Some actually get worse during the first two weeks before the AD effect kicks in.
Sometimes the anxiety and insomnia will not fade away after two weeks and you'll have to medicate these side effects continuously.
If you experience anxiety or insomnia you should contact your pdoc and ask him to prescribe meds for these side affects./Netch
Posted by wisekaz on October 13, 2007, at 5:51:44
In reply to Re: Zoloft - Increased anxiety but feeling dumb » Wisekaz, posted by Netch on October 13, 2007, at 4:29:54
Thanks Netch
Is really hard to tell if you are feeling worse because the tabs are not for you, or if it is just a temp thing. I suppose to be fair I need to stick to them for a few weeks at least!
Have some valium here I will try :)
Posted by Netch on October 13, 2007, at 6:50:20
In reply to Re: Zoloft - Increased anxiety but feeling dumb, posted by wisekaz on October 13, 2007, at 5:51:44
I've tried zoloft and I had dramatic side effects the first two weeks... it was also a dramatic since I had no experience of psych meds at the time.
I also later had to quit zoloft because of anxiety and insomnia.
It's important not to quit psych meds too early since side effects are quite common in the beginning. An option is to titrate target dose but then it will take longer before you reach anti-depressive effect and each time you increase dose it may temporarily get worse.
It's important to evaluate your meds because if quit too early you'll never be sure if it would have had an effect or not.
The longer you take the med the more you learn if it's for you or not. I usually quit a med or complement it with other meds if my depression is not in full remission within 8-10 weeks, since that is usually the time it takes for full remission with most ADs./Netch
Posted by Phillipa on October 13, 2007, at 10:34:41
In reply to Re: Zoloft - Increased anxiety but feeling dumb, posted by wisekaz on October 13, 2007, at 5:51:44
Oh the valium will help and funny I could tolerate 50mg with my benzo and didn't go up should of Phillipa
Posted by Maxime on October 13, 2007, at 15:07:21
In reply to Zoloft - Increased anxiety but feeling dumb, posted by Wisekaz on October 13, 2007, at 2:54:33
Hi
I had many of those side-effects when I started Zoloft and everything but nausea when away eventually. My dosage was 250 mg.
Maybe you should stay at 25 mg a little longer. It might make you less anxious about increasing the dosage, and maybe your body needs to time to get used to this new med in your system.
Don't give up!
Maxime
> Hi There
>
> Have just started on Zoloft for severe panic attacks/agoraphobia and ocd. Am on 25mg at the moment (for 5 days and meant to increase to 50mgs in a few days (very hesitant.
> My problems is it seems to have increased my levels of anxiety but at the same time is making me feel really dumb and sleepy which is in turn making the anxiety levels worse. I am also suffering from awful pains in my stomach and acid reflux. Has anyone who has been on Zoloft before had these side effects and does it ease off as my body adjusts? I don't really feel like swapping to yet another tablet.
> Thanks!
Posted by Netch on October 14, 2007, at 9:41:47
In reply to Re: Zoloft - Increased anxiety but feeling dumb » Wisekaz, posted by Maxime on October 13, 2007, at 15:07:21
250 mg zoloft... that's a high dose.
Usually maximum dose is 200 mg./Netch
Posted by Maxime on October 14, 2007, at 18:50:57
In reply to Re: Zoloft - Increased anxiety but feeling dumb » Maxime, posted by Netch on October 14, 2007, at 9:41:47
> 250 mg zoloft... that's a high dose.
> Usually maximum dose is 200 mg.
>
> /NetchI am always on the high end of dosages for some reason. I needed 120 mg of Prozac and then 100 mg of Parnate etc. Obviously it has nothing to do with body weight!
maxime
Posted by wisekaz on October 14, 2007, at 22:13:53
In reply to Re: Zoloft - Increased anxiety but feeling dumb » Wisekaz, posted by Maxime on October 13, 2007, at 15:07:21
Thanks Maxime. I am trying not to give up. Something has to eventually work!
Posted by Maxime on October 15, 2007, at 19:23:56
In reply to Re: Zoloft - Increased anxiety but feeling dumb, posted by wisekaz on October 14, 2007, at 22:13:53
> Thanks Maxime. I am trying not to give up. Something has to eventually work!
You're welcome! I start it tomorrow so we can be Zoloft buddies! Wish me luck.
Maxime
Posted by rvanson on October 18, 2007, at 3:30:45
In reply to Zoloft - Increased anxiety but feeling dumb, posted by Wisekaz on October 13, 2007, at 2:54:33
>> Has anyone who has been on Zoloft before had these side effects ?YES! Majorly stupid when on Zoloft. Felt like I lost 30 points of IQ, at least.
>>and does it ease off as my body adjusts? <<
Not for me, it didnt. But it might do so for you.
Posted by rgb on October 19, 2007, at 10:39:52
In reply to Re: Zoloft - Increased anxiety but feeling dumb » Wisekaz, posted by rvanson on October 18, 2007, at 3:30:45
Hello, I'm new. I will probably introduce myself later, but for now here's my experience on this topic:
I think that sertraline hasn't negatively affected my intelligence. Of course there is the problem of evaluating your brain with your brain... But I use my mind every day in my current occupation, so I think I would have noticed if there was any impairment. Quite the opposite, it has helped to restore my motivation.
There was some "being screened from the environment" effect, but IMO this seems to be purely emotional and *not* correspond to cognitive impairment, though you may interpret it as such!
A few other possible explanations for the differences:
- It affects everyone differently
- Maybe you *expected* it to make you dumb
- If you are acutely suffering from strong anxiety (which may be increased by SSRIs in the beginning, though it wasn't for me), of course your mental abilities will be affected
This is the end of the thread.
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