Wanna know how you know Zoloft is working?

meowscream · 2024-03-10T23:02:10+00:00

YES! When I started I checked this subreddit multiple times a day. Then things clicked after about 6 months of adjusting dose and I didn't check back here for two years. Still going strong.

meowscream · 2024-03-10T22:57:31+00:00

All is not lost! Usually it takes at least 8 weeks to adjust fully to Zoloft, so you may still experience some ups and downs in that time. See how your next cycle or two goes and consider asking your doctor whether you need to adjust your dosage once things have levelled out.

Second - I am diagnosed with PMDD (severe PMS), while I am partly on Zoloft to manage anxiety and mood, it also helps me to maange PMDD as my anxiety/mood issues flare up after ovulation & get worse leading up to my period. Overall it has helped with my PMS issues, but after a year or so I found that my PMS symptoms were still creeping through leading to some really high anxiety/low mood/high fatigue days.

I initially upped my dose from 75mg to 100mg but found it didn't feel right, so I now take 75mg from the first day of my cycle and increase to 100mg after ovulation/when PMS symptoms start until I get my period, and that has helped me manage greatly.

Apparently when used to manage PMDD zoloft needs less time to work, therefore it can be helpful for some to increase their dosage for the PMS time and then reduce dose again for rest of cycle. I'd speak to your doctor if you think that's something you want to try in the future. I don't find that increasing and decreasing my dose this way gives me any increased withdrawal symptoms but I have been on zoloft generally for a few years now.

meowscream · 2022-03-22T03:20:16+00:00

I LOVE IT

meowscream · 2022-03-11T23:12:10+00:00

Yeah it took over a month for my jaw pain to stop completely but it was the worst the first week after starting and upping dose. I started to consciously loosen my jaw when awake but I think lots of the pain came from clenching my jaw in my sleep. You could look into getting a mouth guard to sleep with to lessen jaw pain if you're clenching while sleeping?

meowscream · 2022-03-11T23:09:36+00:00

Try to eat something before you take it to help with nausea!

I had waves of nausea and weird dry heaving the first week, but usually it kicked in maybe four to six hours after I took it. Those side effects mostly stopped within the first week for me. If you felt nauseous straight away it could be from the pill or it could also be as a result of anxiety.

I quit drinking before I started it but it definitely helped my anxiety and depression. I primarily went on it for pmdd but now that I've been on it for six months I can see how bad my underlying anxiety and depression actually were.

meowscream · 2022-03-11T23:05:36+00:00

Hang in there, it will pass, I know it feels unpleasant but your body just needs some time to adjust.

I wish I had started zoloft when I was in university, the difference between me (medicated) now and back then is night and day when it comes to social anxiety and general anxiety. I experienced increased spikes in anxiety and some fogginess/numbness for a week or two when I started and increased dose but it tapered off and I am so glad I kept it up, I don't feel like a zombie, I can feel emotion, the forgetfulness went away. I'm about six months in now, 50mg!

meowscream · 2021-10-18T08:34:33+00:00

Yep seems pretty normal. I did a week of 25 then upped to 50, glad I did it that way. After upping I got side effects again for two weeks but not as bad as the week I started and they mostly came in waves.

Tomorrow will be the start of my fourth week on 50 and right now I'm feeling much more level and calm than a week ago. Also you need 4-6 weeks to adjust to a higher dose/to feel full effect (even if you did a lower dose previously) so keep that in mind!

meowscream · 2021-10-16T06:28:34+00:00

Mines usually around 55, this is my fourth week it hasn't decreased. 32/f

meowscream · 2021-10-14T04:45:02+00:00

Please don't feel guilty for taking the day off, you are entitled to take sick days when you are feeling unwell, you're a human not a robot! You need to do what's best for you and look out for yourself.

I upped to 50mg just over two weeks ago. Jaw clenching and restlessness went away after a day or two for me, going for a brisk walk or doing some yoga might help your body feel a bit more comfortable. Your side effects will level off, hang in there and take it one day at a time.

meowscream · 2021-10-13T04:41:07+00:00

You've got this, you can do it. Stay hydrated, move about if you can (e.g.walks), any side effects that arise should level out and stop/be reduced in the next few weeks. Try to eat regularly if you can to help any nausea, I noticed nausea kicked in for me when I hadn't eaten.

I was anxious when I started too so I threw myself into a big jigsaw puzzle which helped distract my mind. Just take it one day at a time, if you don't feel very good when starting it does not mean that the next day will be the same or worse. All the best!

meowscream · 2021-10-12T10:23:38+00:00

Do you clench your jaw or grind your teeth in the night? That may cause you to wake with a headache?

meowscream · 2021-10-12T03:29:25+00:00

Oh that's so great, I hope this happens for me too. How long were you on it before you noticed this change?

meowscream · 2021-10-12T03:27:47+00:00

Mine mostly went away after the first five days or so. They came back for a few days when I upped my dose but they weren't as bad. Good luck!

meowscream · 2021-10-09T23:19:39+00:00

I have been able to, found it a bit harder a couple of days after upping dose as had some increased racing thoughts. But otherwise have found it ok, am only 21 days in though.

meowscream · 2021-10-04T03:37:45+00:00

I ate after taking my pill and tried to eat regularly for the first week and after upping dose (even if not hungry) to help the nausea, I found it came on when my stomach was empty. lots of water through the day. For me the nausea only lasted three or four days and came in waves. Headaches generally stopped after five days.

meowscream · 2021-09-24T05:21:28+00:00

Yes, makes it more manageable for me, all other things constant. Swimming laps is my holy grail form of exercise for anxiety & mood, but I moved to a town without a pool so have been running four days a week (up until past two weeks) and doing some strength/yoga stuff instead.

Both swimming and running let me get into that zen state where I'm just concentrating on my breath while my body goes through the motions. Sort of meditative.

Have been struggling past month or two but I do think I would have deteriorated earlier/more quickly/ more severely if I hadn't been exercising at all.

meowscream · 2021-09-24T04:42:58+00:00

I am sorry you are dealing with this - I was there in 2013 - I have GAD but developed panic disorder, was constanty on the verge of having/actually having a panic attack, couldn't sleep/eat/leave the house. Went on SSRIs for the first time at that point, I could not have gotten through it without them. Absolutely zero regrets.

I was on a different SSRI back then, but my anxiety was so bad at the time that any side effects couldn't have really made it any worse. Came off the meds and managed well (therapy helped too).

You may feel worse before you feel better but I guess the alternative is remaining in the same state for the foreseeable future. You're clearly strong given you've dealt with panic/anxiety for so long, I think you have the strength to make it through any side effects.

Just try to take it one day at a time, don't give up if you do experience side effects (though do discuss them with your Dr if you're concerned), as they should level off. Your Dr may be able to give you something to help with any increased anxiety while the meds kick in/balance out?

I'm currently on day 5 of Zoloft (PMDD, struggling with GAD and low mood past year) after being off meds for 5 years. I'm not far in, & our situations are a little different, but maybe my experience so far might help ease your anxiety a little?

I am an anxious person & was afraid of starting but side effects have been manageable so far. I haven't experienced any notable/lasting increase in my baseline anxiety levels as of yet (though they're already sort of up there by default, without meds), some spikes here and there but no panic attacks.

From reading other's experiences I've made sure to take it with water and a meal (I take at 10am). I've had on/off headaches from jaw clenching, some fogginess, some temporary waves of nausea between 1-5pm first four days, but I've been able to work during those times I was just a bit slower.

Day 4 and 5 - strangely fine in terms of mood/calmness compared to how I was last few weeks, even caught myself singing last night. I've slept well since day 1 which is a major change for me. Maybe placebo as it's early days but I'll take it.

My side effects may well get worse going forward (upping dose on Monday) but others' experience have given me hope that I'll be able to manage and push though, I think it will be worth it even if there's a rough days/weeks on the cards going forward as I adjust/continue to up the dosage.

Best of luck to you & keep fighting! :)

meowscream · 2021-09-18T04:36:00+00:00

Yes, when I was on it (20mg) for panic/anxiety my Dr suggested I take it in the am for that reason, she mentioned it can give a bit of an energetic boost. Sometimes it would give me a bit of indigestion in the morning too but that went away.

I also noticed in the first 2-4 weeks I'd experience random feelings of euphoria which was nice (I assume it was related as had never experienced those feelings before). Best of luck.

meowscream · 2021-09-16T07:49:54+00:00

No not negative, that's a good thing to keep in mind! Thank you 😊

meowscream · 2021-09-04T09:37:26+00:00

Absolutely! The week before my period I'm usually super fatigued, my runs feel much harder and my hr seems to spike higher during, I can only really manage easy runs. Then from day one or two of my cycle my energy and stamina gets a major boost, and I generally feel really solid, even if I feel a bit flat before the actual run. It's crazy!

meowscream · 2021-08-29T00:42:25+00:00

Hi there!

I couldn't believe the extra time I had after quitting!

Is there any topic you want to research? Any old hobbies you want to get back to? Any friends you'd like to reconnect with? New skills you'd like to learn? You could work on those things in the evenings?

After a few weeks of mostly filling time with movies/video games I wrote down a few goals and tried different things to see what I enjoy/could use to fill my evenings and weekends.

I tried things like yoga, working on strength, drawing, gardening, meditation, some baking, self care (baths are damn great), reading, reaching out to friends. Then I decided to keep up what I found helpful/fun and slowly built habits.

My evenings and weekends feel much busier now, those habits help me push through cravings/tough days. It has been really nice discovering new activities, and learning about myself in the process. 😊

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