4 weeks on Sertraline 50mg / please help me

Hi,

Thank you for your message! I took my first 100 mg last night so we will see how I get on! Anxiety is through the roof atm and intrusive thoughts also. How long did it take for you to get full benefits from sertraline? just need some reasurance?

Good for you, increased anxiety is a side effect when you first start sertraline and sometimes when you increase the dose so that should pass. I've been on it for 11 weeks but I just finally got to a therapeutic dose for me. I've been on 100mg for 3 weeks today and I feel great. I just started feeling the difference a couple days ago. I wish I would have listened to my doctor 10 weeks ago when he advised me to go to 100mg but I was scared to. Hang in there! You'll get there. I was in my darkest moments when I started sertraline and I couldn't see the light! I thought I'd never get better but I did!!!

Hi Tina,

So glad your feeling better! Have you found that sertraline has helped you with your thoughts a lot? and how long do you think after dose increase side effects will settle?

Hi Robbie, thank you and yes it did help with my thoughts it took about 3 weeks for that. The extreme side effects lasted 2 weeks. I still have some mild side effects that I'll gladly take over panic and anxiety. I know it's hard and one day seems like forever but you'll get there it just takes time unfortunately. Like I said before I never thought I'd get there! But I did and you will too! Hold on to hope!!

Thank you Tina that gives me a lot of hope. Being stuck in your mind and having constant anxiety is horrendous! I feel like I am just living in a dream. The Propranolol I take takes the edge of the anxiety but its still present. One thing ive noticed is our minds like to hold on to negatives and the worst possible outcome of things! The more you react to them the stronger they get.

Yes that's all very true! It helped me when I googled intrusive thoughts and it said it's normal everyone gets them at some point and it's not a reflection of who you are! Try to brush it off when they happen if you focus on it they are worse! I know it's easier said then done! I will check my notifications daily, please reach out if you need to, I'll be here! You got this!!!!

Thank you Tina! it is so reasuring to know that you have been through this and came out the other side. Your words have a lot of meaning to me.

I was on this site all day before just looking for reassurance! I know how it feels, I promise you'll get there! I never would of thought I'd be someone giving advice, but here I am proof that it gets better!! Are you in the UK? Most people on this site are lol, I'm in the US! Anyway keep fighting! You'll be better soon and look back and see how strong you were to go through the hell that is starting sertraline!!!!!

Yeah I am from the UK, I am also on this site everyday just clinging on to any words of positivity I can! Yesterday I had a really bad day and just thought to myself to end my suffering, I managed to brush that feeling away and trust the process of this medication. I just wish I had my life back without this constant fear and worry in my mind of what ifs in scenarios and just horrible thoughts that just arent me as a person! This is the hardest thing I have ever dealt with in my life

I was exactly the same way! Wanting my life back so bad! Thinking I'll never get better! My son is the reason I made it! He needs me! I used to wish my days away and couldn't wait for night time as the only peace I had was sleeping! I suffer from extreme anxiety and I started having panic attacks, they were terrifying!!! It's all gone now, I still have some slight anxiety but nothing like before, I'd say I'm 85-90% better. If I have to I'll up my dose again! I finally believe in the medication!

Another word of advice only search positive sertraline stories. I would reread the same ones everyday because it helps knowing that other people were as low as us and they made it!

Yeah that is what I have been doing just reading all positive reviews and success stories to try keep myself at some sort of positive state. I have a son also and I feel as though I am not being the best daddy I can be with the state I am in. God willing I get better tina cause I really am banking on this!

Also I am so so happy your better for your son!!

You will get better! I feel like the negative stories people put out there about sertraline (we call it Zoloft in the US lol) are due to them not giving it time to work and suffering through the side effects. For some people it works quicker and they don't have side effects. That is not the norm I feel. I was so jealous of those people lol. Also you have to find a dose that works for you and unfortunately that takes time! I was unlucky and had every side effect you can probably have! I went through hell for quite awhile in the beginning! Try and be patient I know it's hard but you're doing great!!

Yeah I have seen quite a few people putting reviews up after only a few days and weeks telling people to stay away from Sertraline / Zoloft which I don't think its helpful given that it needs time to settle. I have always read the positive ones to try keep me positive and to give me hope. You don't understand how it makes me feel just being able to talk to you about this and hear your words of wisdom. Not going to lie I am really struggling.

And I was struggling too and that's why I come on here! I try to respond to everyone who is struggling on sertraline. ❤ I am here and you are gonna be fine and have your life back soon!!! I will always respond to your messages! You aren't alone!!!

Thank you so much Tina! I never thought I would feel like this in my life. But what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Hearing you will always be there to reply to me is so reassuring. God willing I come out the other side I will defnitely be active on here to help people like you are helping me. God bless you Tina

I never did either, those were my darkest days and I really wasn't sure I'd make it so rest assured I know exactly how you are feeling! And like I said I'm proof that it will work! I always questioned will the Zoloft work for me and comparing myself to others who have taken it but everyone responds differently but YOU WILL RESPOND!!

Thank you, that's why I'm here! I will help you as much as I can with reassurance always! I promise you will get better!

I will check in on you tomorrow! Hope you can enjoy some of your evening!

I am forever grateful!!! I dont know what time it is in the US but what ever time it is I hope your enjoying yourself and you are happy. Thank you Tina I really do appreciate it.

Thank you! I think I'm 5 hours behind you lol so it's still early here, almost 2:30 pm!

Its 8:13pm here lol, in evening I usually feel okayish but this evening I feel rubbish! suppose you have to ride the waves thrown at you good or bad.

Yes you do it's a rollercoaster of emotions for sure! I got so tired of the ups and downs but soon they will pass!

tina did you find your intrusive thoughts to offend you? they really are bringing me down. I know who as I am as a human, but I'm trying not to argue with myself (sounds silly) cause that then feeds the thoughts.

Yes my intrusive thoughts were negative and definitely not who I am. I know it's hard but try your hardest to just let the thought come and then move on, don't even recognize it. The more you fight it the worse it is!

Yeah very true we cant control our thoughts no matter how much we try. Did you find that when sertraline kicked in it helped your negative thoughts slow down? Thank you for keep replying Tina

Yes absolutely! I think the increase in dose for you will help! It just takes time now for your body to adjust. I hope your day is going okay, I'll be here today if you need anything!

Hi Tina,

I don't feel to bad today but not great, I'm sure you know that feeling. Hopefully one day closer to getting where I want to be. How are you feeling today?

Yes I definitely do know that feeling! And yes you are another day closer to feeling better! That's the way I look at it every morning when I take my zoloft.

Did you mention your doctor gave you diazepam to help too?

I take xanax as needed and it really helps!

My day was started lol as you know I'm 5 hours behind you. It's gloomy here! I hate gloomy days they do nothing for my mood.

I need the sun everyday lol

Hope your day is going good! As always fight on!!!

Hi Tina,

Sorry for the late reply. Unfortunately I had a set back today and I ended up in hospital. Don't worry I am fine and will continue to move forward. The train keeps going x

Oh no I'm so sorry to hear that! I'm sorry for the late reply, I have a family member with covid fighting for his life in the hospital right now so I've been out of sorts today.

Just settling into bed and thought I'd check in!

I hope you are doing better! Let me know! I'll check back with you tomorrow!

Hi Tina,

Sorry for the late reply! I have been having some better spells today thankfully. Still anxious but better moments for sure. I've started meditating in the morning and in the day and that has helped. I am hopeful! How are you?

Hi Robbie! Hope you are feeling better! I'm doing okay just the stress with covid and my cousin has my anxiety a little high. Plus I go for my second jab tomorrow for covid vaccine 😬 so I'll be better once that's done and over with!

Hi Tina,

Sorry for late reply, How are you doing? Has your anxiety settled a bit?

hello Tina, I keep track of your response to others and its amazing that you didn't leave us behind once you felt better, I'm hoping I could do the same some day. I'm 40 year old mom of 4 beautiful kids and a wife. I been dealing with Anxiety/Panic for my whole life but on Dec 23rd 2020 it turned for the worst. I'm not 7 weeks into Setreline 6 weeks on 25mg and 1 week on 37.5 mg. I wake up every day feeling tingly, nervous, and anxious every evening I start to feel better more like myself I even find myself laughing or wanting to make dinner, but then I go to bed and wake up feeling horrible, is that commen part of the process? I thank and appreciate your support all tho I have a great husband and he's very supportive he doesn't understand my illness.

Hi ileana, sorry I haven't been on in awhile but just decided to come on tonight and seen your message. I used to be very anxious in the morning too. Just didn't feel completely like myself. I am happy to report I am finally anxiety free!!! I started my journey on sertraline in February. Slowly I increased to 100mg and I've been at that dose for about 2 months maybe a little more and I just hit my 100% feeling better 2-3 weeks ago? It took so long to get here but I'm finally here and you'll get there too it just takes the right dosage and time. Hang in there and keep fighting!

Hi Robbie I hope this message finds you well. I am doing fantastic!!! Totally anxiety free 😊 It's been 2 months or maybe a little longer on 100mg and I finally feel great! Completely back to my old self. It's been about 5 months total on Sertraline but like I've said from the beginning it takes the right dose, time and riding out the side effects.

Hi Tina,

WOW! I am so happy for you!!! Did you find one morning you just woke up and never felt anxious? what about your thought cycle did you find the negative thought cycle just stop or gradually stop? so happy for you tina

Thank you! No I didn't just wake up without anxiety it was gradual and took soooo long but yes the negative thoughts just disappeared! How have you been?

A lot better to be honest, still wake up with anxiety but im having more good spells. I am around 11 weeks now on sertraline so hopefully I am close. I am so happy for you tina

Thank you so much and I'm so happy to hear you are doing better! Yes you are close, once you start having good days it's not too long after that you are back to yourself. 😊

I hope so! My thoughts are scrambled on a morning when I wake up and I still get anxious but as the day goes on I feel better. I know for a fact I am feeling better because from where I was to where I am now is just unbelievable. I am staying patient! I really want to stay on 100mg and give this another month or so before I make any decisions as once I do another 4 weeks on 100mg that will total 12 weeks on 100mg.

That's exactly what happened to me, I knew I was so much better than before but I still had this lingering anxiety everyday. I upped my dose though from 75mg to 100mg at that time and I really think that was the ticket for me. It took a bit for the anxiety to go away after I upped my dose but eventually it did. I still have some slight anxiety if I'm dealing with a situation that would normally make me anxious but it's bearable. I no longer take my xanax in those situations!!! It just passes. I also no longer have panic attacks!! That was the first thing to go when I started the zoloft, thank God!!! And no more lingering anxiety for no reason!!! I'm so happy you are making progress!!! Keep going, you will definitely get there soon!! 😊