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Friday, August 22, 2008 hay asks

Q: zoloft is giving me the weirdest and anxiety provoking side effects on day 9!

Hi, I am on day 9 of taking zoloft (sertraline) and the effects are really weird, night time is the worst, tingling, red burning face, sweating, heart palpatations, brain zaps, and floating spots in the eyes, dissconected with reality, I never went to bed until 3am on wednesday night because I thought if I went to sleep, I would die in my sleep, it is very similar to panic attacks, I used to feel the same years ago, wake in the night and feel you can't breathe, is this normal and will it go away, its still early days, but suppose looking for some reassurance, thanks

 

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8/22/08 8:29pm

Hope the expert shows up here to answer.  BUT, I am one of those people who reads way too much of the fine print on the side effects package/paper.  I suspect if you read the info from the pharmacy it would tell you what I would tell you: ...CALL THE DOC.  These side effects are scary and a bit much.  There are other options.  I have not taken zoloft, but some side effects do go away after a few weeks, I gather.  But if it feels scary.....don't put off asking about it.  There is a reason these drugs come with warning labels and all kinds of cautions.  

 

They work, different ones for different people --- and different side effects.  Good luck.

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8/27/08 9:14am

Hi, I think your dose may be too high.  I experienced very similar side effects. Night time was the worst for me too.  I was prescribed it to help with panic attacks.  I broke my 50 mg in half and only take 25mg a day now and that worked with no weirdness.  Be sure to make sure it's ok with your doctor first though.

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By hay— Last Modified: 11/17/10, First Published: 08/22/08