Hi everyone,
This is my first time posting here - and as I’ve veen going through this road, every day I seem to come back aimlessly searching for someone who’s had a similar experience, or any kind of reassurance really. I previously was on Zoloft(setraline) for 2 years, I went off the medication cold turkey, went back on for a couple weeks because withdrawals were bad, then went off again, rather quickly, within 2 weeks, because my husband and I wanted to have a baby. I had a couple anxiety attacks and panic attacks about a month after coming off, but nothing too bad. I stuck through it up until my severe depression came creeping back - I found myself hysterically crying saying I didn’t want to live anymore... so I knew I needed help. I took 50mg Setraline that night, and in the morning I felt terrible, like a panic attack that just wouldn’t go away. Shakes, nausea, adrenaline, couldn’t sleep, racing thoughts, no energy. The best way I could describe it is that feeling you get when you’re going down the stairs and you think you’ve missed a stair... that, but for a week straight. I took it upon myself to go down to 25mg to see if that would help the side effects... about a week and a half later the constant panic began to subside so I upped to 50mg... but I was starting to have anxiety attacks, derealization, intrusive thoughts etc. It was a nightmare. 2 weeks after the 50mg, I upped to 75mg. I was constantly crying and truly believed I was losing my mind and I would never get better. Finally after a couple weeks it started to get less and less. It’s been a full 5 weeks now since I started the 75mg. Now I feel more depressed than I have in a long time. I have no energy, all I want to do is sleep, I get excited about nothing, I feel numb.. except for when I have crying fits. I have been off work since I took the first pill on August 4th.. and I just feel hopeless. Is this normal? Should I be waiting longer before upping the dose to 100mg? Has anyone had a drastic improvement from 75 to 100? Any advice is so appreciated and thank you so much for taking the time to read this long post. I’m sorry if it’s confusing.
Hi there, I experienced the same as you, I went up to 100mg four weeks ago and I have to say it's really worked for me. My mood and anixety is much better. I thought I would never get to this point. Stay strong. You can do this! ☺️
Hey, sorry to hear your having such a rough time with them, I also have been off work since August but I have only ever been on 50mg so I might not be very helpful to you. The first couple of week were horrendous for me!! Everything you have just described, after two weeks everything settled. Maybe because your dose keeps changing your suffering worse with the side effects because your body is constantly adjusting,, have you spoken to your gp? Also cold turkey is not a good idea, if your ready to come off then talk to your gp and try come off slowly. Maybe stick to the same dosage and give it time to work whist your body adjusts to that dose. From what I know the side effects come back each time you up your dose, but keep in mind this is all normal side effect of the drugs and they will go away!! Can you remember how it was the first time you took them two years ago? Did they work well for you then?
I hope this helps a tiny bit! Take care, it will get easier 😊 xx
How long did it take you to feel better on the 100? Ive been on the 100 fpr nearly 3 weeks but feeling worse at the mo
I can totally relate. I just increased my dosage to 150mg after trying to go down in dosage (which obviously didnt go well). The first time I took Zoloft was almost 10 years ago, so I dont remember the side effects but I remember it was really hard. This time around, my side effects are crazy. I have constant anxiety 24/7, dry mouth, shakes, head feels fuzzy, tired, unable to sleep, panic attacks, sleep panic, the whole 9 yards. It's like living in a nightmare that I just cant wait to wake up from. Yesterday I had an okay day, the morning was horrible and then the rest of the day I was finally able to engage my mind in something for more than 30 seconds. I know that it can take 6-8 weeks to feel the full effects of the medication, so try to stick it out and talk to your doctor about it. Hope this helps.
I was on 50mg for about five weeks, it wasn't really doing anything for me, mood and anixety was low. Raised my dose to 100mg and it's been four weeks now and I'm definitely seeing a difference. My mood has improved so has my confidence. Anixety has improved although I do get the pounding heart in the morning but I use apps and relaxation audios to help with that but I can manage it now. Hang on in there!
Emma, I am on tablets at 50mg for almost 3 weeks now. Like you first 2 weeks were deadly. Sleep is a nightmare, did your sleep settle?
Hi Jacquiski,
I’m happy to hear you are feeling better! I can relate to feeling like I’ll never get to that point., but having this support really helps. Thanks for the reply!!
Hey, my sleep has got better than when I first started, I would fall asleep then wake up soon after but after been in a deep sleep I would think it was morning then I found falling back to sleep difficult, that has changed now but I will fall asleep easily and wake up around 4 hours after falling asleep around 2-3am i check the time then fall back asleep no problem. I don't know maybe I might be waking up throughout the night because I'm not doing much throughout the day, but it's not really an issue anymore because I can just roll over and fall back asleep, hope this helps you 😊...oh and also I get some very realistic but weird dreams!!!
Hey Emma
Thanks for the reply. My GP has been out of town but I have an appointment in a week when she returns. I heard that it can take a full 8 weeks or longer to feel effects so I guess I’m really hesitant to bump the dose again... especially since the experience I had that alone is giving me anxiety. I just feel like this will never end and I’ll never feel my normal self again 
. The first time I took zoloft I was really lucky in the sense the only side effects I had was fatigue and loss of appetite, and it didn’t last long. I didn’t know all of this was normal so I was convinced I had gone nuts lol! Thank you for your reply, the support really does help xx
Hey Ashley,
I’m sorry to hear you’re in the middle of the rough patch.. but I can tell you that this does calm down, I know it doesn’t feel that way, but it will! We’re all in this together
It can be so scary though!! I came on here to find some reassurance when I started because I thought something was seriously wrong, I was SO anxious, more than I was before so I thought why am I putting myself through this to feel like that? Didn't make sense but after reading up on other people reviews I decided to give it time, one day I couldn't get out of bed was dizzy and just awful then slowly after that day I got moving again and went up from there.
We're all in a very similar boat here so we can go through it together 😊 im fairly quick at replying so if you feel like a chat 👋🏻 I'm here.... take care xx
I couldn’t have said it better myself lol - if I was doing anything, it was searching forums.. hearing about people that have similar stories really does help. That’s actually a huge thing I wonder all the time - before I went back on zoloft I was honestly a MUCH better than I have been since August.. it doesn’t make much sense, we up our medication to make us feel better from the side effects the medication is giving us in the first place lol!
Thanks Emma 
same to you! I’ll be here xx
It's so confusing isn't it! It's good to talk to people who can relate because as much as family love us they don't quite understand fully. I'm only 22 and feel like my life's on hold at the moment! We will get there I'm sure 😊 xx
That it is! I’m 23 and in the exact same boat. Love my family but you’re right, it’s hard to fully understand something you’ve never experienced. I’m just not sure on if I should stay at 75mg for the 8 weeks and see if it helps or up to 100mg. I have a feeling my GP will want to do the increase, but then more side effects
Try and remember though once you get past them side effects how good you will feel then! I was surprised the dr didn't put me up a dose when she saw me the other week she just kept me on 50mg and signed me off for 4 weeks, so hope they work because I can't afford any more time off work with rent to pay it's getting hard, id rather up dose and get side effects over with rather than prolonging it xx
I hope so! I just keep remembering all the posts I’ve read where people have upped to 100mg and it didn’t help. And honestly thinking of another 8 weeks of this or worse makes me nauseous. But I can’t keep thinking that way I know, I have to try to be positive but man, it’s hard lol!
Hi, a couple months ago I was a true mess, and was looking st a tunnel that had no light. I started on 50mg about 12 weeks ago and in that time we have raised the dose, lowered the dose, changed when I took the dose and the side effects were awful, but light thru yonder window breaks.... been on 150mg for 7 weeks and things are soooooo much better. It is so frustrating but it will work you just have to hang in and give it time. Please remember and you won’t want to hear this but it is true, the meds are just part of the equation , cognitive therapy and daily meditation are the other parts. It is hard to believe because you just want it to stop, I did to, but we have to do the work. Think of it like this, the meds are the smart kid in class you get to do your homework, you may pass the class but eventually the fact that you didn’t actually learn anything will catch up to you.
Good luck and stay strong
Hey Sharon,
Thanks for the reply! I’m happy to hear you’re doing much better!! One thing I can say is this experience really tests us as humans and what we can handle. I can’t wait for the day to be able to say all of this is behind me. My GP recommended CBT years ago, but I never ended up going - I’ve been researching about it a lot and only have heard good things. Thanks again for your support xx
Hey Emma! I am on a measly 12.5 mg because I had nightmarish side effects at 25mg. I have been on 12.5 mg for almost 2 weeks now and the side effects have calmed down some. My doctor wants me to up it to 25 but I am seriously freaked out because I am still struggling to eat and drink, and sleep has been a burden. I keep having the thoughts if I don't eat enough or what not I am going to starve to death, but I literally have no appetite until like 10 pm. Any suggestions on how to continue on?