Meds only mask symptoms and can be more harmful than good. I feel why would I want to have 10 other side effects to combat the one. They can be hurtful to the body. I took a drug for 10 years and now have other health issues I am dealing with because of it 12 years later. There are natural things you can do to help anxiety and other health issues. Nutrition plays a huge role as well.

Oh sweetie, this is how so many medications work. There's a complicated scientific explanation for this effect, but I can't remember/quote it or dire3ct you to it. But I will tell you this, THIS FEELING WILL END!!!!

And if it doesn't, that means that Zoloft isn't the med for you.

But the first several weeks of ANY med are hard. It takes up to two months for most medications to completely enter your system, and your doctor SHOULD have explained this to you. If they didn't, ask you pharmacist when you pick it up.

I know you're going through so much, all at once, and it feels overwhelming, but you will come to a calmer place at some point, I promise. It may take some time, and I know its hard to be patient, wow - its hard! But it does happen when the right combination of medications is found, right dosage, etc.

Don't give up yet, and give it some time.
-xxxooo

I had side effects from Zoloft for 3 weeks-then things got better--my psych told me to start at a lower dose and work my way up--and it helped with the side effects.....

Please, please, please, drink more liquid!

Often, the side effects of medication are so obvious in the beginning because they meet the need and then some immediately.

People who are not hydration sensitive will often experience hydration sensitivity when starting medication such as zoloft.

Anxiety is "fight or flight" chemical level meeting the need, and when it goes into overload or overwhelming status, it draws all the liquid to the area needing it, which can create dehydration. This dehydration is temporary, and when you increase your liquid intake, it helps reduce the effect of the anxiety physical symptoms.

I hope this helps. Best wishes. I experienced side effects of dehydration and recognized them when it happened the first time to me.

You are not alone.

I didn't know that Mideye, very interesting and well worth knowing, thanks, Susie x

Things your doctor will never tell you...Antidepressants are formulated to not only help with anxiety, and other issues. But to also prevent abuse, by using complex buffering agents that intentionally cause nausea and a host of other unpleasant sensations.This is why they have ZERO street value.

This is also why the DEA and doctors could careless how sick you get, when you take them for the first few weeks. Or the fact you'll go through a chemical hell when you quit them, if you take then daily for a few months or more.

The only thing doctors are interested in is giving you pills, so they can justify the bill. And the only thing the DEA is interested in is you can't sell antidepressants on the street for profit. Because the host of negative issues antidepressants cause is meaningless to them.

So, all this talk about drinking lots of water, is a cover for the fact your body is rejecting this medicine, because its harmful. SSRI's are dangerous medications, that's why they're ALL "Black Boxed" with an FDA warning on each prescription bottle.

But they generate so much profit [ billions yearly] for doctors and the drug industry, Congress looks the other way. Because Congress profits from them also, in the form of campaign contributions.

With Zoloft being the leading cause of Tardive Dyskinesia among all the antidepressants. Wake up people.

And Charissa you are totally incorrect in your blanket statement "the first several weeks of ANY med are hard", some are, many are not. As an example, from personal experience, I'm on Propranolol which is used to control blood pressure.

There was absolutely no adjustment period, none. And my blood pressure came down within 45 minutes, and it continues to be near normal thanks to this med. I could give you numerous other examples, from personal experience, but I'm tired of typing.

Yeah it took about a week for me to adjust to a similar drug (lexapro).

Is it helping with your anxiety yet?

I would give it at least a week but what do I know? Everyone is psychologically different.

I started taking my med at night because I was told the side effects would be less severe that way and I have to say since I started doing that the side effects have been better. Thank you everyone for all your responses I really appreciate it.

I do not always feel medication only masks the symptoms. If something is out of wack the medication will regulate things again. Just because you start a medicine does not mean you have to be on it the rest of your life. It is just a period in your life that you need a little help. Everyone has their own opinions to medication, for me it was the best decision I made. But I tried doing it the "natural way too."

Now was to why does all medication make you feel like crap, I think because our bodies are so out of wack that for them to regulate it takes a while. I know myself with anxiety we felt like crap for so long we want that miracle pill. Because I know I dealt with feeling like crap for probably a good 4 months before I got help and then once I got help it took another 4 months to find the right medication and what not. It was a journey. Doctors are amazed how strong and how well I dealt with it. So stick with it because once it does start working, it feels good. I mean I went from having bearly any energy, unable to focus to being able to run 4 miles a day and the ability for focus and the ability to go in to a store without feeling like I had to run away, or pull my car over because I think I'm going to be sick behind the wheel.

It has been a journey TRUST ME!! But though the journey was a crap and rough one, I wouldn't change it.

So stick it out, if you feel the medicine is seriously making you feel horrible, which one of mine did because the dose was too strong and they had to drop me back to 5 mg to prevent the horrible attacks. Work with the doctor, miss no appointments, communicate with the doctor but do not be overbearing. You have to allow the medication to work. Usually its 4-6 weeks to see if it works but you can sometimes feel times of some relief after 1 week but its not always there. If that doesn't work then the doctor may switch your medicine or change your dose or what not.