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folklaur
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| Posted: Sept 25 2009 at 4:58pm | IP Logged
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Hi,
my dr feels that my panic disorder is quite out of control (it is) and it severely affecting my life (it is) and that i should really, really try meds (i should).
she prescribed zoloft.
can anyone share any positive, NON-SCARY experiences with it? i can not deal with any scary stuff at all.
feel free to PM me.
i would really, really appreciate it.
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JodieLyn
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I don't know any particular stories but I do know several people who have been greatly helped by being able to use it. You can't learn other ways of dealing with things when you're in a constant state of overload. So even if you want to learn ways of dealing without using meds.. using meds to start with so that you can learn those other ways is a very legitimate way to use them.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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Angel
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I used Zoloft for a while and it wasn't scary. It helped me out of a bad place, actually. I was kind of sleepy the first couple days but after that I adjusted.
Like Jody said, it just made it possible to deal with things so I felt halfway normal again.
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Angela
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Three Plus Two
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mom2mpr
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Not scary at all. A wonderful thing. So helpful. I hugged my doctor after I was on it a few weeks. He kept trying to get me to take it for a year. I was on it 6 months and haven't had to go back--it was about 6 years ago. It was helpful for a tough time in my life. I had no side effects at all.
Don't be afraid to try it, you can always stop or try something else if it is an awful experience. No health care provider wants you to be miserable on a medication.
Good luck in your decision.
Anne
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stellamaris
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A dear relative of mine finally accepted that she needed to go on Zoloft...and she couldn't believe how it helped her. She said, "I feel like myself again." She is more able to deal positively with some very stressful situations in her life. So for her it has been a positive experience.
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Caroline
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jhigdon
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I'm not a regular poster here, but just wanted to say that I took Zoloft while pregnant with my third child, and for six months after her birth. It was a horrible experience. My depression and panic attacks actually got worse, until the psych wanted to add Wellbutrin to the mix. I was nursing a six month old baby and didn't feel comfortable taking that much medication, so I ended up seeing a homeopath instead, along with a new endocronologist. He changed my thyroid meds (the dose and the brand name), and along with the omega 3's I started taking, I felt much better. The new thyroid meds made all the difference, I feel.
Just my experience. If it helps you, wonderful. But I found that was not the case for me (and I had been on other meds before).
God Bless
Jen
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jhigdon
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I also wanted to add that the Zoloft made me gain a ton of weight. That did not help matters, at least for me.
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Michaela
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Laura, my experience is the complete opposite of Jen's. However, I didn't suffer from panic attacks like you or Jen.
I suffered from severe PPD for YEARS which I tried to deal with on my own. My GREATEST regret is that I waited so long for the help. It lasted so long because I never got the help. Why did I put myself and my family through so much when I could have received help sooner?
Weight gain? nope, I lost over 20lbs. I could function and get out of the house! -- got my rear off the couch and got out into the world again. Not exercise, but I was moving again!!
Come to think of it.....I named my blog while I was on it. Filled with JOY -- opposed to filled with feelings of being overwhelmed and in despair (it's not the reason, but I certainly saw the world differently when I was able to climb out of PPD) (took it the first six months of Teresa's life -- while nursing) I was finally out of a dark place and starting a new life.
For me, nothing negative came from zoloft. My experience was 100% positive.
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Michaela
Momma to Nicholas 16, Nathan 13, Olivia 13, Teresa 6, & Anthony 3
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folklaur
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jhigdon wrote:
| I'm not a regular poster here, but just wanted to say that I took Zoloft while pregnant with my third child, and for six months after her birth. It was a horrible experience. |
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i didn't read any further than this.
i am so very, very sorry for your experience.!!!
however - i am really, really needing to hear positive experiences, which is why i worded the OP like i did.
it is very easy to google Zoloft and hear oodles of horror stories.
however, since moving to NV, i have been out of my house and in the car a total of 6 times - and 2 of those were last week with the DVT scare. So, really, i need to do something.
since a major, major panic trigger for me is pills (i can't even take vitamins) the whole idea of zoloft is absolutely terrifying all on its own.
so - i realize this is asking for a one-sided view of things. i know some people do NOT have good experiences. But, i need a positive-skewed run-down here. i am okay with the bias of that, as  i can easily scare myself silly without even hitting on words like "horrible experience."
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Sarah M
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Laura,
I used Zoloft for two years and it was exactly what I needed. I was having panic attacks and crazy mood swings that made it nearly impossible for me to care for my family.
Zoloft didn't make me feel oh-so-happy or off-the-charts. It made me feel like myself again. Like a normal Sarah- and that was a saving grace for me.
No weight gain. Nothing else weird or concerning. I just felt like myself again. My only regret was not going on it sooner.
I slowly started weaning myself after about 18 months. I did it *very* slowly- over the course of 6 months. No negative side effects, and I haven't had to use it again.
I was terrified to take Zoloft at first, Laura. But it was such a remarkable help to me. Going on the medication for a time gave me my family back- because then I was able to care for them and enjoy them. I had heard all sorts of weaning horror stories- none of which turned out to be true. It was all very easy and satisfying and life-giving.
Praying for you, and sending you lots of  !
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JodieLyn
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Laura.. is it *pills* or any medication? for instance.. could you get liquid meds? or crush pills to mix into a bit of apple sauce and take them?
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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Angel
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Laura,
I can't take vitamins either; I have to get chewables. But the Zoloft pills are really, *really* tiny. Really tiny. I had no problem swallowing them, and I can't even swallow Tylenol.
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Angela
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Three Plus Two
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Stephanie_Q
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I didn't / haven't had any problems on Zoloft. My doctor says it's safe while nursing and pregnant (although I've heard scary stories, too and, like others, was terrified to start taking it after baby #4 was born and was suffering from ppd.) I am on a low dose, though. I do have a friend who had trouble getting on and coming off, but she was on a higher dose and has other health issues. The only noticable side effect for me is that it makes me more sleepy...yawn.
As Angela mentioned, the pills are very small. A bottle of 25mg pills costs the same as a bottle of 50mg pills, so I buy the 50mg and break them in half - even smaller!
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LisaD
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I took Zoloft after the birth of my second for PPD/Anxiety, and had no negative side effects at all from it. It was so, so helpful to me. My experience was much like Michaela's.
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~Lisa
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eazheff
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Laura,
I have taken Zoloft for anxiety. I am prone to major panic attacks. After my last baby is was so severe I thought that I would not be able to care for my family. I had 2 days where it was just me, the baby and my rosary. I couldn't do anything else. My doc gave me the Zoloft and some Klonopin for the interim as it can take up to six weeks for Zoloft to kick in. It was a life saver. I have had no ill effects from it. I would encourage you to try it. I have 2 friends who have needed it for anxiety and it worked for them also. I fought meds for so long because of stigma and I wanted to be strong. Well, I now know that strength is moving forward in spite of terrible anxiety. Like I said it helped me GREATLY! I will pray for you because I know, I mean I REALLY KNOW how hard it is to live with this. May God bless and reward you.
Pax,
Beth
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Maria B.
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My thoughts and prayers are with you. After baby #6, I began suffering from horrible panic and anxiety attacks. I thought I was losing my mind, but so afraid (and prideful) to tell anyone else. I kept trying to work through them myself. This only made it worse. Long story short, I finally sought out some help and began taking various meds to help me. It took months to find something that worked for me. But, it was all worth the effort. I have never been on Zoloft, so I can't speak directly to that. I would encourage you, though, to seek help.
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Maria in VA
Proud Mom to 10 Great kids!
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LisaR
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Laura, no direct experience, but I know of quite a few moms that zoloft helped greatly.
One had kind of a "flat affect" for awhile, but that was remidied by decreasing the dosage just a bit.
MANY PRAYERS!
love and Peace of Christ,
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Lisa
dh Tim '92
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many little saints in heaven!
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Leocea
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I am currently taking Zoloft for anxiety. 100 mg per day, and the pills are still small. In fact, going through Walgreen's, I can get 25 mg pills for $4 per month, so $16 per month for my 100 mg. The 25 mg pills are so tiny I don't need a drink to take them.
I have found a lot of relief in my anxiety, especially being able to focus, which helps us get out of the house with less fuss.
I still have some ruminating thoughts, and I start some worrying patterns here and there. Now, I am able to recognize them and stop them in their tracks.
I have been on it for about 1 1/2 years, and also took it for 2 years a few years ago.
I had some fatigue in the first few days, and that was it, mostly. If I miss a dose, I will experience more anxiety in a day or two, but I know it is related to the missed dose. I rarely miss it now.
As far as weight gain, I just had a fullterm pregnancy, and only gained 5 pounds, so I don't think it is a problem for me. My dr told me that what it really increases is your *appetite*, which then makes your weight increase too. I am sure it affect everyone differently. Also, while, hmm, sexual side-effects are often reported, and the thought worried me, this has not been a problem even with my dose.
If your dr recommends it, I think it may help a lot. Most of the side effects are mild and go away quickly if you stop taking it. I weaned off of it when I stopped a couple of years ago, and only felt a little weird. A few *zaps* in my head, as they are called. Very short-lived. Nothing serious or concerning.
Good luck to you!!
Your sister in Christ,
Leocea
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JenniferS
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Laura,
I have never taken zoloft. My dh does take it, though. It has been a true lifesaver, and he would readily admit it. God bless and many prayers for you.
Jen
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violingirl
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I took Zoloft after my second son was born for about 8 months because of PPD. I have an anxiety disorder already that I was able to keep under control by really watching my diet and exercise, but the PPD sent it into overdrive. I needed the zoloft so that I could lift out of the extreme sense of being overwhlemed and incapable so that I could learn better coping techniques. I also saw a Christian therapist during that time to help me deal with everything.
The only negative for me was that it took almost 6 weeks to kick in and that was difficult because I needed something to work quickly. I was fortunate that my mother was able to help me so much with my boys during that time. Once it kicked in though, I could echo many of the women here. It helped me to feel like myself again.
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Erin
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4Real Forums : Our Lady of Good Remedy and Care
Topic: Zoloft
