Thank you. I have struggled with panic attacks off and on for years. Usually the stress would subside and the problem would go away. This time however it has become so severe I am having great difficulty functioning. But this time I found some help, so maybe I can arrest the decline. Your sources and information on Zoloft have been very helpful. Thank you. The ativan has been most useful in turning off attacks. I just do not want to over use it and destroy its effectiveness. Good luck with your program. And again, thank you for the information.

Ok about me. I was diagnosed with Panic Disorder in February 2004. Ive been dealing with it for around 3 months, but was suffering for around 6-9 i guess. Ive been on luvox, an SSRI similar to zoloft for around 6 weeks now i think. It has changed my life. I was suffering from minor depression along with PD for quite a while and I was dreadfully unhappy inside, mainly due to my work stress situation. Demographically I am 28 year old male, an IT professsional, currently doing my masters degree alongside a very demanding job. All of this changed with PD, but fortunately I still have a good job and am still studying my masters. I am also married to a wonderful woman. Unfortunately once you develop something like PD none of this seems to be able to lift you out of the hole until you get help. In the last 3 months, I have gone from being someone who had next to no knowledge about this disorder to being pretty much an expert. I have done this through extensive reading and research, therapy - both with a clinical psychologist and self mastery therapy, which is still ongoing, and the application of my own insight. I figure attacking the problem from all angles has to be the best approach. I am making really good progress. Its a sh*t disorder as it tends to feed on itself. But its generally a temporary ailment and with the right approach can be cured quickly and permanently. All the evidence points towards the use of SSRIs, combined with cognitive behavioural therapy and self mastery therapy to give you the best chance of a quick and permanent recovery. Even then you are not considered cured until you can go through a 3 month period without a panic attack. And even then you will most likely be on the SSRI for 9-12 months + and using the exercises and management techniques you learn through therapy on a daily basis to get through it. Some people cant handle SSRIs for various reasons. And some SSRIs dont react well with some people. But most people handle at least one SSRI really well. There is some pot luck unfortunately with prescription. My GP said to me just yesterday that he is so pleased luvox is working well for me. It would not be uncommon for me to have to be moved t

How do you know so much about the drugs? I have been searching the internet all I found were prescription guides, advertizing brochures, and anecdotal info that left me no where. Your comments do have a lot of common sense in them in any event. As for me, I am just a curious freakazoid, that does not know how he got here or how to leave, but he'd really like to! Leave that is. No offense intended, there are a lot of nice people here, but the price of membership is just too high.

My background? What do you want to know exactly? As for zoloft. Keep in mind the following facts. 1) It is meant to be one of the easier SSRIs to discontinue, easier than Paxil, Prozac, Effexor and even easier than Luvox I believe. 2) You can taper down a little to help you get off it, and do it over a period of a month or so. 3) You can take this drug for a long period of time, expect a minimum of 6-12 months if you want any therupedic benefit from it. Taking it for longer should not make it more difficult to quit or create more severe symptoms.

My biggest concern right now is how many people have trouble quiting Zoloft? I know it seems like borrowing trouble from the future, but as unstable as my life is right now, I do not know how long I'll beable to stay on it. On the other hand not being on something is being virtually non-functional, and maybe not so virtual. What is your background Chimpmaster?

Any time CQ :) Dont forget that with Panic Disorder, one of the biggest problems and hurdles is catastrophic misattribution. This basically means interpreting every little change in your body or mind as a major problem, and thus raising your anxiety levels and spiraling into a panic attack. With the zoloft, whilst its important that you beware of any side effects, its also important that you try not to let every little minor change bother you. Feel free to post questions here as you notice anything that worries you, and I will try and give you advice. Basically there is a big difference between a minor side effect that will pass quickly and a major adverse reaction that will cause serious problems for you - but for someone with heightened anxiety and PD that line seems somewhat less clear.

FWIW, when I was on Paxil, I really didn't lose my sexual desire, but it was darn near impossible to attain orgasm! Can get kinda frustrating!!! :confuse:

Thank you for the input. I started on the Zoloft this morning. I hope I miss out on the jittery. I really do not need any more right now, but thank you for the warning in any event. It may make it easier to keep going for a while. What is missing from most of these warnings is probabilities. It makes it difficult to make an informed descision. I know each person is a universe of 1 and if you are the 1 in 10,000 it does not make it hurt any less that 9,999 others did not lose, but it is useful up front to know if you a facing 1 in 10,000, 1 in 100,000 or 3 in 5 odds. But then I am addressing the wrong audience on that issue. Again Thank you for all of your help.

Yes I experienced severe sexual dysfunction, loss of libdio, anti-orgasmic on Paxil. The ativan will not contribute to this, its a benzo and works primarily in suppressing the attacks,or will offset an attack if in an anticipatory anxiety, and what has probably helped you to relax. Trish

Hi CQ, Whilst some people report adverse reactions to SSRIs (about 1 in 10000), most people only experience minor side effects which disappear after 2-4 weeks. Weight loss is an issue for some people, but many others actually tend to lose weight or have no effect. Generally this will be more dependent on you and your eating habits than the drug itself. Sexual problems affect some people, but from what ive read only around 10-15% for most SSRI anti-depressants. Not everyone gets them - I dont , for example. FYI I am on luvox, another anti but reasonably similar to zoloft. Main things to keep in mind are - start using it with a positive outlook, be prepared for "jittery syndrome". Often in the first 2-4 weeks you will experience nervousness and a little extra anxiety. This wears off quickly though and soon you will feel really good (for most people). Jittery syndrome actually scares some people off, but if you can stick with it, its worth it. Check out www.crazymeds.org and look at the zoloft section, it has all you need to know with an objective view. Im personally finding that it really helps. If for panic disorder you really need to do it in conjunction with therapy or at least self treatment stuff like from this site to get the best recovery.