holy buckets!!! (rant)

save_adopt · Aug 14, 2005

most of you know about the problems ive been having with my anxiaty/depression stuff. Infact you probably all know so well that im becoming a pain! But these meds! wow oh wow! They told me that i wouldnt get that many/ bad side effects because they started me on a very very small dose (half of a .25 mg of zoloft, and they are increasing it every 4 days so right now im on my 3rd day of .25 mg.) But these side effects! there have been so many so far and i still have 2 more dose increases!!!

Side effects:
-dry mouth
-nausia
-lots of yawning
-exhaustion
-interupted sleep
-unable to sleep
-some nervoseness
-the headachs
-more jaw clenching/ the other tension ive had
-"fuzzy brain"
-very WEIRD vivid dreams
-chapped lips
-weird taste in mouth
-dizzy/ light headed spells
-one more that is too inapropriate to speak of

thats 15 side effects so far! and they told me i would have barely any! Im almost flabbergasted (haha fun word) at how bad im feeling, my depression has been even worse these last few days. Please anyone that has taken these things tell me it will get better!

thanks for listening to my rant

pandybear · Aug 14, 2005

when i first started zoloft i had yawns, vivid dreams, fuzzy head and extreme flu symptoms for ages, i nearly quit taking them but it does get better.

i'm on 50mg a day and i still have bad days but at least i don't have anxiety attacks anymore, they are too frightening

if it gets too bad, talk to your doctor, the depression getting worse is natural, when i first started zoloft my anxiety was a bit worse too for a while.

hang in there okay and if you need to chat pm me

miss mew · Aug 15, 2005

What terrible side effects!!

Try and stick it out though, hopefully all the good benefits will kick in soon and you will be feeling better!.

fwan · Aug 15, 2005

thats what i have at the moment and im not on any medication at all!

loveysmummy · Aug 15, 2005

It takes your body at least 3 months to get used to a new medication.
I had the EXACT same side effects on Zoloft but when I took Effexor, they were by far the worst.
Medications tend to affect everyone differently.

They are likely to dissipate but by all means, if you are concerned, call your doc and let him/her know.

Cheers

beckiboo · Aug 15, 2005

Originally Posted by ilovejoelyo

most of you know about the problems ive been having with my anxiaty/depression stuff. Infact you probably all know so well that im becoming a pain! But these meds! wow oh wow! They told me that i wouldnt get that many/ bad side effects because they started me on a very very small dose (half of a .25 mg of zoloft, and they are increasing it every 4 days so right now im on my 3rd day of .25 mg.) But these side effects! there have been so many so far and i still have 2 more dose increases!!!

Side effects:
-dry mouth pretty common, I suggest you drink frequent sips of water
-nausia pretty common, try taking it with food
-lots of yawning I would ignore this one-probably due to your anxiety about taking medication!
-exhaustion this should get better as your sleep improves
-interupted sleep if you take it at night, ask your doc if you can switch the dose to morning
-unable to sleep see above
-some nervoseness probably due to your anxiety about taking medication
-the headachssomewhat common, try Tylenol or Motrin, this should go away as your body gets used to the medication; 2-4 weeks
-more jaw clenching/ the other tension ive had probably your anxiety
-"fuzzy brain" should improve as your body gets used to the medication, 2-4 weeks
-very WEIRD vivid dreams unsure, maybe anxiety, maybe side effect
-chapped lips probably due to the dry mouth, increase fluids and use a good lip balm
-weird taste in mouth increase fluids
-dizzy/ light headed spells probably anxiety-don't drive until this goes away
-one more that is too inapropriate to speak of hopefully this will improve with time, also

thats 15 side effects so far! and they told me i would have barely any! Im almost flabbergasted (haha fun word) at how bad im feeling, my depression has been even worse these last few days. Please anyone that has taken these things tell me it will get better!

thanks for listening to my rant

People who suffer with anxiety disorder tend to have more side effects to medications. No, it is not "all in your head". But I think your body is just more reactive than other people's, and your anxiety increases with each change noticed, which continues to increase the anxiety. If you are able to tolerate the Zoloft long term, it WILL decrease your anxiety and improve your mood. If Zoloft doesn't work, they will try you on something new. I have never heard of taking 1/2 of a Zoloft 25mg tablet-even kids usually start on 25mg. This tells me that you are working with a very cautious doctor who is aware of your concerns.

Usually, we tell people not to increase to the next dose until the side effects of the lower dose go away, but the risk is that if your dose is too low, you are not getting very much benefit. If you were my sister, I would advise you to go ahead and increase to the full 25mg tablet after 4 days, and see if the side effects worsen. If significantly worse, call the doctor. If not, give it more time. I would guess that 2 weeks after going up to the full 25mg dose, you will be noticing minimal side effects (if any), and beginning to see some benefit.

Can you tell that I

love

what I do. There is nothing more satisfying than having someone who was miserable, begin to feel better. My favorite words from a patient are "I feel like myself again!"

Feel free to pm me!

gailc · Aug 15, 2005

that sounds like most of my side effects from my hayfever/decongestant medicine.
Follow the advice that fellow TCS'ers gave you. Good luck.

scamperfarms · Aug 15, 2005

Aww i am sorry your having such trouble. I have never had that kind of medication before i stick to the all natural stuff when I can.. *HUGS*

Hey if you ever wanna get together..even just to talk hang out..whatever...Pm me

I am sure we could meet somewhere! I could bring a puppy or two..hehe or you could come meet the gang!

save_adopt · Aug 15, 2005

thank you all for all your advice and kind thoughts. Ive talked to my mom and im staying of my 25mg dose for another 2 days instad of going to 37.5mg.

God bless all!

me-n-my guys · Aug 15, 2005

I remember a thread where there were a few of us chatting about it for awhile...
What you have listed are 15 good reasons why I refuse to get the meds..my own choice, I know, but I'm sorry to the pro-med people out there-there is NO WAY I will deal with side effects like that for the rest of my life.
It just seems like a person has to decide the lesser of 2 evils. Which one makes you feel more/less awful?
Please don't think I'm being insensitive, I don't mean it like that! I just wish you could have found a better way..there HAS to be a better way.

save_adopt · Aug 15, 2005

oh the side effects dont last forever they go away but getting used to the meds takes a while

beckiboo · Aug 15, 2005

Originally Posted by Me-n-my guys

I remember a thread where there were a few of us chatting about it for awhile...
What you have listed are 15 good reasons why I refuse to get the meds..my own choice, I know, but I'm sorry to the pro-med people out there-there is NO WAY I will deal with side effects like that for the rest of my life.
It just seems like a person has to decide the lesser of 2 evils. Which one makes you feel more/less awful?
Please don't think I'm being insensitive, I don't mean it like that! I just wish you could have found a better way..there HAS to be a better way.

If everyone had 15 side effects to every medication, very few would be on meds. However, you have to decide how debilitating the illness is. If you are sad more than most people, and anxious a few times a week, you probably don't need medications. But if your illness interferes with your ability to function as you normally do, I think it is silly not to try to get help. Certainly you can start with alternatives, but you may end up choosing traditional medications. (Just FYI, St. John's Wort has more side effects than Zoloft for most people, and is helpful in moderate depression, but not in severe depression!)

Most of the side effects listed will go away within a week or two. Since she has started the Zoloft, she might as well continue to see if it can help. It certainly is a personal choice, but I think (based on the facts presented) that Ilovejoelyo is being very wise!

No secret that I am pro-medications, since I work as a nurse at an outpatient mental health clinic. I have seen many lives vastly improved.

holy buckets!!! (rant)

save_adopt

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pandybear

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miss mew

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fwan

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loveysmummy

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beckiboo

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gailc

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scamperfarms

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save_adopt

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me-n-my guys

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save_adopt

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beckiboo

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