I'm sorry I can't help you with your questions about Zoloft. I just wanted to say good luck if you move forward with, and to remember that everybody is different. Don't let yourself be discouraged from a negative response, especially if others have good things to say! I have some anxiety on the matter as well. I sat down and cried with my girlfriend when I was nearing my first dose of Celexa, but it worked!

Hi!
I think I can empathize with your situation. I also feared the meds. Looking back I realized I have had GAD all my life, but it got much worse after my mother died when I was 16. I was not diagnosed until I was in my late 20's. By then I had been treated for depression only, when after a proper eval by a psychiatrist, I was diagnosed with GAD. I have three kids, so I understand that also. All that being said, I took Zoloft briefly and it made me very tired and very hungry. I ate and slept and gained about 20 pounds quickly. BUT, it affects everyone differently. I am sure your doc mentioned that, or you may have seen similar comments on the web. I have tried Prozac, and it made me very agitated. I lost tons of weight but I had restless legs, a constant low-grade headache, and I was the opposite of calm. I have tried Lexapro, and it works great but I walk into another room at home and forget why I went in there. That worries me. Also missing a dose causes dizzyness, crying spells, etc. It has harsh withdrawals. Cymbalta is the worst. It gave me nightmares. Withdrawals were horrible. After having tried Citalopram, I went back to Lexipro. I am now managing the side effects. Overall, it takes the edge off but nothing ever takes it all away unless it is an Ativan or Lorazepam and you are sleeping off your anxiety attack. I am still looking for the right solution for my anxiety. Trying to cut out caffeine? Meditation? Exercise? Different things work for different people. I know this isn't very encouraging, and I am sorry. It is a trial and error process to find the right meds. One big thing, though: make sure someone is monitoring you in case you start acting weird. You can't monitor yourself. I wish someone had been watching me more closely when I was on Prozac, Wellbutrin, and Trazedone all at once. I was not myself, and I made some very unwise choices that still grieve me. Make sure someone is monitoring you and making sure you're ok. Check back and give an update on what you decide to do. I hope you find that it helps and you feel better! Definitely try something. Don't be afraid. You are in good company. Lots of us have anxiety :)

hiya--it has worked for me--but starting it was a little rough-I was having major anxiety--and I didn't realize that I was depressed too---which seems to go hand in hand with anxiety--all that negative thinking leads to major fear. I had ups and downs with starting it--I was up and down moody for about a month--anxiety got worse before it got better--it took 6 weeks for it to really help my mood. my gp first just gave me a full dose and told me to have at it-bad side effects-my psych started me lower and moved me progressively to a higher dose. that helped with the side effects. I do have some sort of physical anxiety left that is from the zoloft--I chew the inside of my mouth--that's happened before when I took zoloft--when I feel myself doing it I can usually distract myself and it stops. not a bad trade off--so I've found it successful--but am also in therapy and meditate. I also take klonopin to sleep--used to take it during the day. you have to sleep--keeps your neurotransmitters working! I'm figuring with all those babies you need some quality sleep!! take care of yourself.

I just started on Zoloft about 3 months ago. Before I started taking it I had been having stomach problems(constantly burping). I got everything checked out by family doctor .He sent me to specialist who did an endoscopy and said I had mild acid reflux but no other problem.They put me on Prilosec which did not help. After taking the Zoloft about 3-4 weeks my stomach problems went away. So it was all caused by my anxiety. My anxiety is over all a bit better. I also am a little less irritable. Which I think I'll be even better after I get my cpap machine (have severe sleep apnea).
Side affects are different for everyone but they did not give me any problems. If I were you I would check with doctor to see if it''s o.k. to start taking now. If you start taking them you will want to be able to get them refilled before you run out. You might also want to ask if they can give you something fast acting to help till the Zoloft kicks in. (Diazepam, Lorazepam, Xanax)
Good luck and hope you feel better soon.

I will add to this, keep a journal, simple, to help you sort through the different ways anxiety splits your moods, your actions, and your feelings.

Stay hydrated. When I experience anxiety attacks, panic attacks, depression attacks and I can't think of anything else to try, I sip on liquid, and usually within minutes, I find calmness returning.

I have generalized anxiety disorder, had it from childhood, not diagnosed until a few years ago. I have mild chronic depression. Birth of children, post partum depression...this one can really throw you for a loop, because you already have a raised anxiety level and you can experience depression thinking you're doing better. So, taking the time to know you are feeling different, may help you through the changes with the medicine.

I tell everyone Zoloft works on the worst symptoms fast, quietly, and with precision. It does not take all of it away in one scoop, it mixes up the combination effect so you can function normally.

It does work different on everyone. What you have to decide for yourself, no one else can do this, is what is the purpose you were prescribed the medicine for? When you are in the doctor's office and getting the medicine, what symptoms were the ones being described? By keeping this in front, you'll be able to help yourself continue to heal.

Best wishes, congratulations on the birth, and recovering.