I have always been a very happy and go-lucky guy up until about 1.5 years ago. I had my first panic attack and it has caused me to have extreme anxiety and additional panic attacks. My doctor put me on a low dosage of citalopram and after only one day on the drug I had terrible anxiety and felt like I experienced every single side effect listed on the drug and couldn't handle it.
I was now prescribed Zoloft 25mg 5 months ago and have been terrified to start taking it. I'm afraid I will have the same affects again. I am very health conscious and every time I have a pain I always think of the worse and become more anxious.
What do I do to overcome this fear?
I can understand your reluctance to take the meds given your previous experience, Zoloft is a good anti depressant especially for panic disorder and health anxiety. The dose you have been given is the lowest dose but you may be able to cut the tablet in half (you can get pill cutters from the chemists), and try on 12.5mg for a week or two and see how you get on and titrate up to 25mg. Most anti depressants come with side effects although some people don't experience any whilst others are quite sensitive to the medication it's the luck of the draw but taking a low dose should minimise any risk.
I suppose what I'm saying is give the medication a chance, you've nothing to lose, put up with any side effects unless they are severe for a couple of days, don't google the side effects unless you've already done so and cut the tablet in half.
Strictly speaking you should speak to your GP but it's your choice Adam but my suggestion is go for it.
I wish you well and keep posting how you get on.
Neil
I didn't have good experience on Zoloft (sertraline) it made my anxiety and panic attacks so bad that a couldn't leave my home spent most days in my bedroom crying in sheer fear and couldn't understand how it had gotten so much worse considering a was taken medication... then the penny dropped and realized it was the pills.. was only on them 10 weeks and in that short space of time a lost 1 stone and half had really bad jaw pain... insomnia... panic and extreme fear that I'd never felt in my life before also was never off the toilet... I'd rather share to stop anyone else suffering... I know that some will say these help them but I wish someone told me all the ins and out before i went near.. not only that the withdrawals where awful and with big cuts as a didn't know how to get off and doctor told me to just stop as they're non addictive am still not 100 percent 7 weeks off now... all am saying is really think about it try other stuff first and see if anything else will help... change of diet... exercise... meditation... pray....herbal remedies... hope you feel better as I know how horrific anxiety is.. talk about it with people who can help build you up and lift you up...take care... God bless
Medicines are a cast whilst you are in therapy to heal. They are not the magic cures. If meds have helped you then go for it. They do help half the people that use them,but they arent a antibiotic ..not a cure. You have to journey through this mess and find ways to manage it. There are many alternatives to traditional medicines as well but nest to see an alternative doctor, holistic or complimentary to guide you. That way it is done correctly with no guesswork per say. And they know dosgaes way better.
Hi Adam l would say you will have great difficulty getting on any medication as you are probably too anxious to tolerate the side effects.I can say that l have been on and off a lot of meds the side effects are temporary although they are unpleasant at the the side effects normally hit about the 3rd or 4th day of taking the medication.They are not a cure however they help you get to a place where you can get the most out of your therapy.
Thanks for the encouragement. The pills are not solid and can't be split. My wife is slowly convincing me I'm just being over cautious because she is on 100mg and had no side effects and I'm just going on 25mg. Still nervous to experience more anxiety when I'm already anxious. We will see.
My fear is that I will get more anxious than I already am and not sure I can tolerate it. Like I know they go away but how do you take another pill if it's the reason why your feeling so terrible?