8 weeks steraline fuzzy head. Increase or stick?
Posted , 6 users are following.
Hi I've been on steraline 50mg for 4 weeks and they took the edge of my anxiety and started helping me but towards the end of week 4 my anxiety starting creeping back so my doctor gave me 100mg... again they started working like the 50mg did at the start but the anxiety is creeping back in again.
Im just at the end of week 4 on 100mg so I've been on steraline for 8 weeks now but the first 4 50mg the next 4 for 100mg.
When I say anxiety creeping back in its not like it was 4 weeks ago and I no the medication can takes weeeeeeks to work and see the benefits 
But now I have started getting bad anxiety again for no reason all day with it an I'm slightly dizzy and light headed but most of all my head feels weird a little spacey and as if I have pressure in my head that someone has been squeezing all day as it keeps going through my head like waves making me feel all fuzzy. If that makes any sense it's just not the usual dizzy an light headedness I get it feels different...
Just wondering if it's side effects kicking in and my medication playing up and it will soon pass or will I need to up my dose. It's strange I feel a little bad like I did on week 1?
Anybody else been through this ive been great lately but the past few days has got worse and it's kicking my anxiety right in now :'(
0 likes, 12 replies
DaveyDee Bluesapphire
Posted
Hi Bluesapphire,
I've been in 50mg now for Eleven weeks and have had all sorts of not so wonderful and weird things, like tiredness for one and as you say a fuzzy head. It is a strange sensation I also have found my focus and concentration affected to. Make sure you drink plenty of water.
holly34337 DaveyDee
Posted
Hi Davey,
Are you taking for anxiety? I am getting discouraged as I just started week 6 on 50mg and did 2 weeks on 25mg and don't feelbloke I am seeing much improvement. Some days I feel like I might be on the right track and then the next day or two are still filled with bad anxiety. Are you feeling better from the treatment and if so when did you start noticing a more level improvement? Thanks in advance!
DaveyDee holly34337
Posted
Hi Holly
From experience I was prescribed 50mg of sertraline, Nine weeks I noticed I was losing focus and somewhat absent minded. Also my attention to detail was hit or miss, so, because I felt these symptoms were interfering with my work. I took it upon myself to halve my dose tlo 25mg, and being Nine weeks into the course of medication, I thought it be ok, wrong, first day was fine. However towards the end of the Second day I had a Anxiety attack which I never had the whole time being on Sertraline. So I took anothet 50mg dose, having 25mg earlier in the day, and within a short period of time it all setteled. And since then (touch wood) I've been fine. Me personally, I think it's finding the correct dose, if you was fine and functioning on 50mg, but 70% hit and miss on 25mg. Then I would consider going to your GP and increasing your dose you were happy with to 50mg. Hope I've been of some help and please let me know how you get on ?
DaveyDee
Posted
holly34337 DaveyDee
Posted
Thank you for your reply. I started on 25 mg for two weeks and am now on the 50mg . Starting week 6 of 50mg. I haven't dropped back down from the 50mg. I have taken this med before and 50mg was always my effective dose. Just seems like it is taking awhile to really take effect. I do believe in the past it took a rather long time to see a marked improvement but I guess you could say I am getting impatient and wondering if it is ever going to really kick on for me this time.
Bluesapphire DaveyDee
Posted
Yes that's exactly it a strange sensation. It's so uncomfortable!! And the tiredness!? Think I'm sleeping more than I ever have but weirdly wake up through the night it's a nightmare. Shame tho cos when there isn't no symptoms the anxiety is more relaxed than normal
think I'll stick another 4 weeks at 100mg an just see how I go daily 
Yes I will do thanks
russengland Bluesapphire
Posted
Hiya Blue,
I think you're doing the right thing by giving the meds a bit longer.
I'm a great believer in the "no meds" school. Ive done monsterous amounts of CBT and emotional management. It works, but only at a low level. Now I feel I 'need' the additional support and if that means 'flying over the cuckoo's nest', then so be it.
I've never taken anything like this before and am quite uncertain on how to judge the success of the drug. But I'm gonna percevere and give sertraline a good run.
I'm not doing myself any favours right now by being a bit of an isolationist. Since joining this forum I have felt a bit more communicative. Onwards n upwards, eh!
Stay true, Blue
Russ
DaveyDee Bluesapphire
Posted
Its best (if you don't already) to take sertraline in the morning, also, my sleep pattern is ok. However, I could have Eight hours of sleep but when I wake up its like I've had a couple of hours on the Settee. But do drink plenty of fluids as Antidepressants are known for dry mouth, especially at Night x
DaveyDee russengland
Posted
Hi Russ,
I agree with your view on taking supportive drugs, and I know Sertraline as any other antidepressant is no quick fix. My concern now is will my biological system become dependant on Sertraline, and after having frightening bouts of Anxiety and not knowing whats happening to your body. I've got to admit, my doctor did ask (before prescribing me Sertraline) me to practice breathing techniques etc, but I told him as much as I would like to and which I did, it is quite difficult when I'm at work and interfering with my work, Hence a suppressant. But I do take my hat off to you Russ for sheer willpower 😊
russengland Bluesapphire
Posted
I'm up to week 6 on 50's. Spoke to doc at WK 4 and she wanted to raise to 100.
I decided to keep giving 50's a go for another 4 wks.
Your symptoms are very much like my own. Fuzzy feeling at forehead. Dizzy, low concentration, forgetfulness. Lethargy.
Anxiety still there. I settle down maybe 3 hours after taking the med and back to a fuzzy life.
Feel like absolute crap on a morn. Zero motivation. Not a happy chappy!
The question is; do we keep taking, raise or come off?
Then it comes down to the individuals cost benefit.
Do you have less or more depression, anxiety, ocd, or whatever when taking than not taking?
Don't know if this helps, hope it clarifies.
Russ
Bluesapphire russengland
Posted
Yes that's what I'm doing another 4 weeks see how i go. I've been up and down the past 2 days... when I went from 50 to 100 I didn't really get much side effects just bad anxiety the 1st day and day 2 an 3 felt a bit off it like I was a little high on drugs :O but after that I didn't really have bad side effects until this weird head stuff started :'(
But it's actually eased a little now... but where as the tablets have been calming me at nites to sleep I can feel the anxiety there tonite but I'm just trying to get on with it and ignore it!
I take it for social anxiety ive tried citilopram and cbt In the past but both useless Im really hoping these help even if it's just to keep it at bay slightly. Nearly 14 years with it its driving me crazy haha!!
Fingers crossed we all "eventually" have some sort of help from it lol :'(
tracey21663 Bluesapphire
Posted
I have been on sertraline for few year 100 mg.I no wat you mean it's like a buzzing for quick second but I only experience this if I miss them which I often do .if I don't miss any I am usually fine .