On Zoloft For Anxiety, Have Insomnia And Was Given Imovane. It Made More Anxious And Was Given Stilnox

thank you for your query. Zoloft (Sertraline) is an SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) regularly prescribed for treatment of depression and or anxiety. however, during initiation of treatment, it can paradoxically worsen anxiety, also cause some Gastro intestinal disturbance like dyspepsia, nausea etc. which passes away within one to two weeks on its own. Moreover, it takes around two to four weeks for the onset of action of Zoloft, as the actions are brought about by causing structural changes at a genetic and molecular level in the brain. Usually, most Psychiatrists prescribe a sedative hypnotic or anxiolytic (like Imovane-Zopiclone, Stilnoct-Zolpidem etc or a benzodiazepine like clonazepam) together with Zoloft in the initial phase during treatment to cover for these events. If a patient with your complaints would have come to me, I would have reassured her that there is nothing to worry, and these effects will pass of in a week or too. Also, I would have prescribed her a benzodiapzepine anxiolytic/ sedative (like Clonazepam or Etizolam) instead of of Stilnoct(Zolpidem, a Z drug) for the time being for better anxiolysis. hope i ve been able to satisfy your query. please feel free to contact me for any further clarifications if needed. best of luck.