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12 weeks, is there no end to my suffering

Posted , 14 users are following.

vanessa45115
vanessa45115

12 weeks on 150 mg and intrusive thoughts, anxiety still lurking, even on good days. I'm probably 60% better than I was 12 weeks ago. I still get the feeling of dread at least once every day, feeling sad, not looking forward to anything good in my life, etc. Am I missing something here? I've had some really good days throughout my struggle with sertraline but this past 1-1/2 weeks has been the same every single day-sad, scared, no excitement about anything. I have invested so much time into this med, I can't imagine having to switch to another. I guess what I'm looking for is people who have had the same feelings this far along with sertraline. It's been 3 months and I am so frustrated with everything.

1 like, 29 replies

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  • jay98357
    jay98357 vanessa45115

    Posted

    Hi Vanessa. Sorry to hear you are feeling this way. Anxiety is such a pain in the bum. I have also been on sertaline for about 3 months. I started at 25 the to 50 and now on 75. Like you I'm having good days and when the bad ones come, boy do they come. I spoke to my doc about this and she made a valid point. She said because you are having good days/moments, when the bad times come they feel more intense.

    I think this med really takes its time to work and we have to work with it. I try to keep occupied, excerise and take care of myself. I rest when my body tells me to do so. Today was a lovely day here so dI'd some gardening as that helps me. It rotten as I have two young kids and the panic drives me bonkers.. sometimes I feel I should just section myself. But I'm trying so hard and I'm having belief in these meds. I feel alot better than I did but I don't know if you feel the same. Sometimes I feel here but not here and my short term memory is real bad.

    Keep in touch hun as I think we are around the same time span. I started mud July and my goal is to be better... 90% by December.

    Stay strong sweetie

    • vanessa45115
      vanessa45115 jay98357

      Posted

      Thank you so much! It makes me feel better to know that there are other people who have been on this so long as I have and still not feeling 100%, I don't mean I feel good that others are suffering, I really feel for all who suffer from this crap. What I mean is that it gives me hope that this time span may be normal for some. I will stick with it and continue everything else I'm doing on my own to get better and see where it leads to. Thanks so much for reading and replying, it means a lot. I will keep in touch and you do the same. Good luck on your road to recovery.

  • weenett
    weenett vanessa45115

    Posted

    Hey vanessa msybe u wouldnt have to seitch maybe they could add something else in to augment the sert coz its obvs doing something but maybe it needs a little nudge? I know mitrazapine is used together with cit might just b enough to add in a small dose to lift the residual depression? I hear its great for depression and has very little side effects something for u to talk to your doc abt
    • vanessa45115
      vanessa45115 weenett

      Posted

      Actually, my psychiatrist and I have been discussing adding to sertraline. I decided to hold off until November when I get my thyroid out because he thinks that a lot of it is due to my thyroid. Thank you for the advice!
  • michelle63291
    michelle63291 vanessa45115

    Posted

    Me !!! 12 weeks on a 100 I can't imagine's switching meds but this isn't working !

  • nancyew
    nancyew vanessa45115

    Posted

    Hi Vanessa: Started Sertraline July 20th, 50 then 100 for 7weeks, 150 for 3 weeks.  100mg was good and noticed the change.  Went up to 150mg to get that extra push to feeling good.  150 has left me scared also, no interest in anything and definately no excitement.  I, too, do not want to change meds again.  The stress and worry leaves me with a pain in my heart (chest).  I am so afraid that the doctor can't fix this.  Have been fighting this depression since February with other meds, and was hoping that Sertraline was going to work.  12 weeks on 150mg is a long time for you.  You've certainly given it a good length of time to work, is it time for you to try something else.  Good luck -

  • maria93252
    maria93252 vanessa45115

    Posted

    I know what you mean! I actually went up to 200 mg 4 weeks ago and I feel better.. I do have bad moments and same thoughts of dread.. But it is less than before! I know that I needed the dose increase to really make a difference. I hope you have more better days ahead! I know this is such a tough battle.
    • Katyf
      Katyf maria93252

      Posted

      Hi

      I just wanted to ask you something I have been on 100mg for 4 weeks the depression and anxiety have lifted quite a bit but the intrusive thoughts are still there do you think an increase would be good how are you finding it ?

      Thank you

  • princess222
    princess222 vanessa45115

    Edited

    Hi everyone I was on setraline.I have stopped them completely. .I have relised that only we can help our selves I know it's hard but we can. I was on them for about 1 year but than felt worst after. I had a relationship break down then my anxiety increased massively so I decided I was going to be strong. I do a lot of swimming which has helped me relax a little better.

    • weenett
      weenett princess222

      Posted

      Im glad ur doing well off meds but for me i need them and my anxiety certainly wouldnt b tackled by swimming hope it turns out good for u tho
    • vanessa45115
      vanessa45115 princess222

      Posted

      That's great for you princess!! I'm happy for you but not everybody can do that, some people actually do have a chemical imbalance that needs to be addressed. I exercise, eat right, do CBT, on meds and still don't feel like myself so I would be very stupid to stop my meds, but that's just my personal story. Again, I'm happy for you.

    • sparrow01
      sparrow01 vanessa45115

      Posted

      hey vanessa, i might have asked you before (but it can be a bit of a maze searching through the old threads for past information, so) .. could you recap what meds you have taken in the past, and for how long and at what dose (doesnt have to be exact or anything, just want to get an idea of what you have tried in the past with regards to other ssri meds, or any other depression/anxiety meds)

      and dont worry, it doesnt matter if you are not getting on with sertraline this time around because, it's just a case of trying something else (i know you are disappointed about spending 3 months trying so hard on sertraline, but as you said yourself, it hasnt been a waste because it has got you out of the deep hole of depression and anxiety, and so now you can make further progress, and move forwards)

      princess222: im not sure why you are saying 'we can only help ourselves'   ..  well, let's not stop at depression and anxiety sufferers then;  you should also say the same about cancer patients because there have been cases where people with cancer have beaten it by 'saying no to treatment and insted just thinking and being positive'.  so i think all cancer patients should not take meds or receive treatment.. and instead they should just think their way out of it.

          (ps. sorry about my sarcasm... cheesygrin  my point:  some anxiety and depression can be beaten by talking therapy/lifestyle changes/diet/exercise.. and some can't.) 

    • vanessa45115
      vanessa45115 sparrow01

      Posted

      I'm on 150 at 12 weeks. Increased from 100 which I was on for 7 years. I just don't get it, I've had some really good days. Times where I felt the anxiety was behind me. I'm so frustrated and disappointed because I'm pretty sure I can't start over, I just don't have it in me. Is it possible it's just what they call a blip?

    • sparrow01
      sparrow01 vanessa45115

      Posted

      honestly it's not as bad as you think if you want to try a different ssri, because sertraline has managed to defeat a lot of your anxiety and depression, but it sounds like at the moment it has not done enough.  i really don't think you would have to wait another 3 months on the next ssri you try.  you could take the new med for one month, and then decide after one month if you want to continue on it.

      there's quite a few options for you now, do any of these appeal to you below? i can appreciate that you (and i, and anyone, including doctors) cant say exactly what the right or best option would be, because of the whole 'hit and miss' world of depression/anxiety meds, doses, plus time to work

      option 1. just keep going as you are on your current dose, as perhaps you just need a little more time (which is not unusual because some people do need quite a number of months to get better fully)

      2. increase the dose to 200mg (if you are not getting side effects from your current dose.  have to be careful here though, because  if the current depression/anxiety you are experiencing is caused by your 150mg dose of sertraline being a little too high for your body to handle properly, then obviously 200mg isn't going to make you feel any better)

      3.  switch to another ssri.  if you do that i would recommend trying citalopram, which is really good for depression and anxiety (i have been on it myself in the past), and citalopram doesnt have as many troublesome side effects as many of the other ssri meds.  citalopram is a bit different from sertraline; but not so different that you would have to wait another 3 months on it.. it would just take over from where sertraline left off.. and you might find it is spot on for you (you wouldnt need to taper off sertraline first... instead just take citalopram the following day instead of the sertraline.  i would recommend 20mg-30mg of citalopram for the first 1-2 weeks, and then if necessary go up to 40mg, but dont go above 40mg daily as that is not recommended.  note: i dont recommend the newer version of citalopram, which is called 'escitalopram'.  many people (including myself) experienced very increased suicidal thoughts and increased anxiety (particularly morning anxiety) with escitalopram (of course that doesnt necessarily mean you would experience the same, but just wanted to make you aware that it seems to be a very common occurence for people taking escitalopram... whereas those who take citalopram complain much less about the side effects).  when i took citalopram in the past, i didn't get suicidal thoughts or increased anxiety, so personally i much prefer citalopram instead of escitalopram

      4. try adding something to the sertraline you are taking, to see if that helps (i wouldn't know exactly what to recommend, but there is no shortage of options to try.  an anxiety related med perhaps?)

      so i dont know if any of the above appeals to you?  or maybe you have some ideas of your own which are not listed above?   let me know what you decide to do ok?  i mean who knows, maybe over the next day or two you might find your depression and anxiety starts to fade again, so it might just be a case of carrying on as you are.   keep us posted please ok,  i know it's so frustrating and disappointing to not get the results you want much faster, but your recovery and good feelings may literally be just around the corner now, so try to keep that in mind ok

    • vanessa45115
      vanessa45115 sparrow01

      Posted

      Thanks again sparrow, you've given me much to think about. I'm leaning towards staying where I am and riding it out for a little longer. I may even start taking magnesium supplement also because I've read it helps with anxiety, I have nothing to lose anyway. I'm just so disappointed now because they worked so well last time.

    • nancyew
      nancyew sparrow01

      Posted

      Hi Sparrow - You seem like you have been down this road before.  Where do you gleen all this knowledge?  Here's a question:  Have you heard that by reducing your dose that you would get relief. I had  Relief at 100mg (6 weeks), up to 150mg no relief for 3 weeks.  Mtg. with Pdoc, decides to go back to 100mg.  I have read nothing about people decreasing and then feeling better.  Do I have any hope?   Cannot stand this feeling!

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