Im on Zoloft for anxietyplease read
health advisory
Hospital
Mental Health
2007-11-15 19:01:12
...and i am in no way promoting the abuse of illegal substances, i'm just giving my opinion.
Zoloft is supposed to reach full effect within 30 to 60 days; if it's not helping, talk to your doctor/psychiatrist to discuss how your symptoms have changed - such as how you feel worse. You'll probably need to go 2 months with no meds to get the Zoloft out of your system, then you can try something new that your medical professional recommends. DON'T take prescription meds without a prescription - sometimes they have really nasty side effects, like death, when they're combined.
Talk your concerns out with your doctor, don't leave your session/appointment until you understand what's happening with your treatment and why - that's part of why s/he went to school so long, is so s/he has some idea of why s/he makes the choices s/he makes. If you're not comfortable with the treatment prescribed, say so - and hold your ground. It's not going to help an anxiety disorder to feel uncomfortable about your treatment.
Have you discussed alternative treatments to supplement the medicine, so maybe you can need less dosage, or less often, or both?
Good luck, and hang in there!
Taking Xanax on top of the Zoloft may potentiate the side effects (serotonin storm) Please make sure your physician is aware you are combining the two meds because an adjustment quite often needs to happen to the Zoloft or you make induce panic attacks by the combo. All benzodiazepines.. Valium, Xanax, Ativan, etc interfere with the metabolism of SSRI drugs Zoloft, Paxil,Celexa, Prozac, Lexapro so the dose can go too high for your specific needs. We often have to reduce the SSRI when used with these drugs to balance the interference.