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50mg Dose to 200mg Dose, huge leap, would like help to understand why?

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marion68539
marion68539

Hi, I have just joined the Setraline forum, and was wondering if anyone can HELP ME.

I have been on Setraline 50mg for 6weeks, I saw my therapist and she asked how I felt, I told her I did not feel any different, she contacted my Dr. and the Dr. uped my dose to 200mg, this has frightened me, a leap from 50mg to 200mg, has anyone had this outcome, and what were the pro's and con's of this sudden higher dose. Many Thanks.

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • Tezes
    Tezes marion68539

    Posted

    I'd say 6 weeks isn't really long enough to feel the full benefits and the increase is way too much too suddenly . I would stick at 50 for another couple of weeks or so. If no improvement see a GP but I would have thought if you do need to increase to go up to 75mg and so on. I'm just coming off it after two years at 50 mg. I resisted going up and gave it more time and it worked for me, good luck
    • Tezes
      Tezes lattifa7777

      Posted

      It's taken me 6 months to get down to approx 5 mg from 50 mg.

      its my second attempt the first time was last summer and my GP advised I go down to 25 for two weeks then stop !!!! Way too fast and the withdrawals were horrific. 

      I know now it's taken months going down 10% of the last dose a month at a time but it's been worth it to avoid the nasty and sometimes permanent damage. I should be off completely in 3 weeks.

      check out the tapering recommended on this site, there's a load of great advice under the heading 'sertraline withdrawal, does it go away'

      all the best

    • adrian54
      adrian54 Tezes

      Posted

      Hi there. Am in the weaning off phase too..reducing by 10% each month. Just wondering how you are now that you are almost off completely. As you were reducing did you notice any return to old thought patterns and low mood??
    • lattifa7777
      lattifa7777 Tezes

      Posted

      have you had any side affects, or old symptoms back? ?
    • Tezes
      Tezes adrian54

      Posted

      Hi, yes I've had occasions when I have felt 'down' , had crying bouts the odd nightmare and anger. BUT are these normal feelings ? My emotions have been dampened for so long on the medication it's hard to tell. Ive just got through those days by telling myself that it will pass and it does.

      the research shows that the withdrawal does often get mistaken for relapse so if you get any of the old feelings back don't be fooled into thinking you need to stay on the drug. Having said that if you can't cope then just reinstate the last amount for a month longer. I did that when I went down to 12.5. I stayed on that for two months instead of one then once I felt OK again I tapered from there. It's a long road but worth the patience because I've avoided the serious withdrawal people often get like brain zaps etc.

      ive learnt not to worry about things so much, learnt not to take on other peoples anxieties and I don't rely on other people to make me happy etc. I look after myself better physically and emotionally.

      I take things a step at a time and face problems knowing that s**t happens it's how you deal with it that counts.  the sun will still shine tomorrow etc etc

      It's often a battle but one you can win, we are stronger than we think !

      all the best x

  • mariaisms19
    mariaisms19 marion68539

    Posted

    I startes on 50mg for 2 weeks and after 8 days of hell from side effects i felt some benefit from it but not a whole lot. I was noticing my anxiety was under control more. When i saw my dr. At the 2 wrrk mark she upped to me 100mg and ive been on that for 3 and a half weeks, and i am gradually seeing changes but i did get side effects for the first week of the increase. I wouldn't recomend a leap that high maybe just to 100mg not 200 and id in 6 weeks of 100 i don't feel a change then maybe go to 150. U should of noticed some changes ovwr the 6 week period though.
    • mariaisms19
      mariaisms19

      Posted

      Sorry for the typos. I mean to say that if in 6 weeks of the 100mg you felt no changes then up to 150.
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