More than 100 million people worldwide take selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as Prozac and Zoloft, to treat depression, anxiety and related conditions, but these drugs have a common and mysterious side effect: they can worsen anxiety in the first few weeks of use, which leads many patients to stop .
Table of Contents
How well does Zoloft work for anxiety?
However, for secondary outcomes, we found evidence that sertraline led to reduced anxiety symptoms, better mental (but not physical) health-related quality of life, and self-reported improvements in mental health. We observed weak evidence that depressive symptoms were reduced by sertraline at 12 weeks.
How long does it take Zoloft to work on intrusive thoughts?
A: Typically, people start seeing results within 4 to 6 weeks of starting to take sertraline.
Can you still get panic attacks on Zoloft?
Although sertraline has been approved for the treatment of panic disorder, there have also been reports of patients treated with sertraline developing increased anxiety or even frank panic attacks ( 3 , 4 ). Sertraline is not the only SSRI with which this phenomenon has been associated.
What happens if Zoloft doesn’t work for anxiety?
Because antidepressants can take some time to work, give yourself at least 8 weeks to see how your medication works. If you feel that your antidepressant isn’t helping you, speak with your provider and consider other ways to get help for your depression and anxiety, like therapy or support groups.
What is better than Zoloft for anxiety?
A 2014 study published in International Clinical Psychopharmacology suggested that Lexapro may be more effective and better tolerated than Zoloft or Paxil. Lexapro has different binding site interactions which may lead to better efficacy and tolerability.
How do you feel when you first take Zoloft?
The most common side effects to expect within the first week of starting the medication are: Headache. Increased sweating. Feeling nervous. Fatigue or drowsiness.
What is the first drug of choice for anxiety?
Generally safe with a low risk of serious side effects, SSRI antidepressants are typically recommended as the first choice of medications to treat panic attacks.
Why does Zoloft take so long to work?
SSRIs work to inhibit the transporter that recycles serotonin by preventing the transport of serotonin back into the neurons from which it was released. Antidepressants take so long to work because they inactivate not just individual serotonin transporters, but also the genes in our DNA that code for the transporter.
How do I stop intrusive anxiety?
Label these thoughts as “intrusive thoughts.” Remind yourself that these thoughts are automatic and not up to you. Accept and allow the thoughts into your mind. Float, and practice allowing time to pass. Remember that less is more. Expect the thoughts to come back again.
Does Zoloft stop racing thoughts?
“Zoloft has changed my life. I used to feel like I wanted to stop living. I had anxiety with racing thoughts, feeling short of breath, social anxiety, and obsessive bad thoughts. I no longer feel suicidal and my irritability has gotten 100% better.