“Anxiety and OCD diagnosis?”
I am a 19 year old girl. I wanted to ask an expert for something that's bothering me. I have been diagnosed with anxiety and OCD. I have had bad thoughts all my life, until 1 month ago I started having bad physical symptoms, numbness of the limbs, frequent heartbeats, jaw clenching, negative thoughts that I will die or go crazy, etc. I went to the doctor and he gave me Zoloft, 2 weeks I started 25 mg, the third week 50 mg I just finished 6 weeks of treatment. The first week I had fatigue, drowsiness, and difficulty sleeping as well as loss of appetite and weight. The second week I recovered, started eating, and was calmer. The third week I started having some symptoms such as: Feeling like I am in a dream (I read that it can be derealism) I have it almost all the time, feeling like im going to pass out, blurred vision, and flies. Also, the feeling of being out of breath, heavy head and tightness, frequent heartbeats, and feelings of fear as if I will go crazy or something bad will happen to me. Now I have just derealism, feeling like im going to pass out and blurred vision and light-sensitive vision. I had blurred vision before I started Zoloft but not so bad. I wanted to ask you because I know this medicine takes time to work, but are these signs normal?
Female | 19 years old
Complaint duration: 2 months
Medications: Zoloft 50 mg
Conditions: Epilepsy but not anymore
4 Answers
Neurologist|NeurologyNeurologist
Please see your prescriber and pharmacist right away. Given your current reported symptoms and medication effects, it is not okay to expect these side effects as tolerable or will simply go away or get better. You should always consult the person who prescribed for you as they have a medical responsibility to care for your conditions and avoid harm.
No, you are having side effects – please see a doctor who specializes in psychiatric medication. You need an adjustment in it – perhaps a little less Zoloft, perhaps an addition of another med such as a little Ativan for a short time. I assume the “doctor” you went to was a general PCP – s/he gave you good treatment, but it may need a little subtle adjustment. Glad you are getting it taken care of quickly – such an unpleasant thing to live with!
Peace,
Dr. Marian K. Shapiro
Peace,
Dr. Marian K. Shapiro
Always important to know the side effects of every MH med...
See this link...
https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-35/zoloft-oral/details
and
https://www.rxlist.com/zoloft-side-effects-drug-center.htm
See this link...
https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-35/zoloft-oral/details
and
https://www.rxlist.com/zoloft-side-effects-drug-center.htm
Has the zoloft been helpful for your anxieties and ocd? If not you may want to change meds. How is your sleep at night? If it's very disrupted and you get energy at night to do things, consider a mood stabilizer such as Lamictal.
