a positive post.

hi rich and thanks a was to busy thinking about the side effects to notice my ocd and anxiety was much better at week 5 a wanted to run away but a went up from 50mg to 100mg think back to week one and now have you noticed any benefits ?.

It's hard to tell at the moment. As I've just split from my partner of over 3 yrs . So everything is just a bit difficult and anxiety is through the roof. I'm just keeping my self busy on these forums. I have to go to work tomorrow. A daunting thought. On the upside I haven't taken any diazepam today or yesterday. So ill take that as a positive. Thankyou

am sorry to hear that about your partner as its not a nice thing to happen least of all when your going through this and most things are daunting when your on sertraline so not taking your diazepam is really a big positive step they eouldnt give me any even when i asked so not to have them and not take them well a have to take my hat off to you.

Thanks we were going through difficult times Wich is what brought on my anxiety. I did leave her as I couldn't take anymore. All that being said it's the hardest thing I've had to do. And if I'm not worrying about me I'm worrying how she's coping. . Not taking the valium is hard as it does make me feel normal again . In the last 5 weeks I have already taken 12 of the 10mg tablets so that is not so good. Will try and lay of them now though

well you should go up you might get the side effects back again but they wont last long just the same as when you started but as it helped you at the begining it will again but when it does go out even a walk round a park a got that advice of a guy called digsby on here and it worked a thought everyone was looking at me still do but that is a few weeks off you will get there :-).

But they say blips are normal in earlier states. When i upped fluoxetine it was a huge mistake it made me really really mentally ill

You will get there just don't give up. It's early stages yet. I was on fluoxetine for the best part of 10 yrs and 40 mg aa day. I quit and went cold turkey last year and felt great for a month. But circumstances change and I went downhill. I've been on sertraline for 5 weeks 1 week now at 100mg. The side effect are hard to deal with thinking back I had side effect from fluoxetine as well. I've not been sleeping well either but then I've also stopped smoking marijuana after 15 or more years so only myself to blame for that. Chin up you will get there. Just keep on here and let us know how your getting on

All the best Rich x

Iv been through it for too long. Flu helped then it came back again so they upped my dose and I went crazy so swapped to sert I was doing well but at 3week mark my anxiety has come back and I feel low and crying again. I'm loosing hope!!! I don't know what to do

hang in there hun I had dips but they get less as time goes on x

Don't lose hope. You will get there. 3 weeks is early. I was not good at the 3 to 4 week stage. I was losing all hope didn't sleep anxiety at an all time hi. I went back to the doctors and he prescribed me propranolol to slow my heart rate down. This helps. He also gave me a small amount of sleeping tablets. I had one last night and actually slept for 7 hrs and no nightmares. I've even gone to work today... keep on hanging in there.

Rich x

Its just I was ok and now it's back I don't understand. Dr said try a increase but I'm scared to do that x

50 mg is a low dose. Dr's like to start you on that to keep the side effects to a minimum. Some people increase to 100mg and have no side effects what so ever. Everybody is different. Maybe worth discussing this with your doctor. I get prescribed diazepam for flying. They not keen on giving them to you and will only give you a small amount if they do. These helped me as I had really bad side effects to the sert. I only take one if it gets really bad and have not taken any for a while. Now I just take the sertraline and propranolol Wich stops my heart from racing. My resting heart rate was over 108 bpm at the start. The propranolol brings this down to a more comfortable 73. Bpm. Wich then brings my anxiety down. But I am not a dr or an expert by any means. Explain to your Dr how you are feeling and that you are scared to increase the dose and if there is anything else you can take while your body adjusts to the sertraline. I wouldn't just go in there any say I want diazepam (valium) as you will probably get a big fat NO.

I hope this is some help let us know how you get on. Wishing you the best Rich x

Iv two packs of diazapram from the home treatment team, my gp wouldn't give it out. I took it for the first week of sert then I was doing OK to stopped but now its back I just don't know what to think. There is no answers I suppose. I'll wait it out longer as a increase of fluoxetine was a huge mistake I was a screaming manic in fear so fear what increase of sert will do to me. I know its very early at 4weeks its just very hard as I was OK (maybe its late side effects) just before it settles

Was 50mg not working for u? Is that why u increased after 5weeks? Thank u for much for ur support

hi I thought 50mg worked and only had little blips gp advice going up to 100mg to get a therapeutic level in my body and looking back it was the right thing as I have only had 2 blips in 5 wks and feel better. ☺

hi rachel a was at the out of hours due to missing my own doctors it was regards the headaches he told me to see my doctor regards reducing but a also have to get my eyes tested and my blood pressure was slightly high a will let you know if any of these ease the headaches as a feel fine otherwise.

rachel you will get there it might take longer but whether it is the same dose your or higher it will work you have so much to deal with on top of this but it will work wishing  you well x.b