Advice needed
Posted , 3 users are following.
Just over 5 weeks on 50mg of sertraline for anxiety and intrusive thoughts. The last week had major bust up with our son so unlikely to see him at Christmas, my husband very upset by how he has behaved, also friends son has been seriously ill in hospital and very sadly passed away last night. Is it reasonable to expect my symptoms to have been wacked up they have been, and am I unlikely to make any progress at the moment. Just feel I'm going backwards but do others think it's just due to what's happening at the moment?
0 likes, 11 replies
Guest Guest
Posted
It could be from the recent stresses you are going through, you can ask your dr to up it to 75mg to see if that helps but honestly its still very early in your treatment with it. Zoloft for me took at least 16 weeks at a stable dose before i felt any better. I was just on 25mg but im sensitive to meds and couldnt take any higher dose. I really want to get back on Zoloft but i dont think i will survive the 16 weeks of side effects. Just know that every time you up your dose you will experience side effects all over again for about two weeks for your body to adjust
lynn67615 Guest
Posted
Brandy your post is encouraging zoloft takes so long to work
sue74917 Guest
Posted
Lemanna, I would definitely say that it is the external stress that you are having at the moment that has caused you to feel this way, this medication wasn't designed to help with external situational anxiety and\or depression. 5 weeks is still a bit early on in your treatment to see if you need a different dose, I would not try and adjust it until at least the new year and things have hopefully been sorted out one way or another with your son and you have given yourself time to grieve the passing of your friends son. Just take it one day at a time
Guest sue74917
Posted
Thanks Sue i don't really want to increase the dose, the withdrawal from zopiclone been horrendous so very wary now. Ithink it's external anxiety plus being bombarded with jolly families at Christmas! Just hoping meds eventually kick in as this year been a nightmare with zopiclone withdrawal.
sue74917 Guest
Posted
just put your bah humbug hat on and scowl at everyone who comes within 2 feet of you ho ho hoing, they will soon get the message and buggar off!
Guest sue74917
Posted
Ha ha thanks Sue. Just worry that all additional stress is stopping the meds working, think as you say probably still earlyish on in treatment. My husband had heart attack 3 years ago and getting very angry about our son as well so worrying about him. Least in just over week Christmas be over hopefully things improve next year!!!
sue74917 Guest
Posted
nothing you do is going to stop the meds working. with regards to your husband, yes it is understandable that you are worried about his heart condition but I assume that he is still on medication for it? Maybe he could have a quick check up with the Dr or nurse would be a good idea just to put your mind at rest
Guest sue74917
Posted
Thanks Sue that's reassuring that the extra stress won't stop the meds working. Yes my husband is on meds, he doesn't heart disease luckily, and recovered really well I just worry a bit. He was really upset about our son earlier which doesn't help my anxiety. Just hoping give them a few more weeks and they will kick in once things calm down a bit.
Guest sue74917
Posted
AAre you on sertraline Sue you seem quite knowledgable. Ijust worry the intrusive thoughts aren'T easing I'm nearly 6 weeks did really rack up last week but think that's external stress. Just worry I'll be stuck in this loop for ever.I did lower dose to 37 for just a week as got very depressed probably messed up things!
sue74917 Guest
Posted
yes I am on sertraline and have been for over a year now. I was on citalopram for the 3rd time, which had worked very well for me twice before but after 6 months of trying this time it was not to be so I switched over to sertraline, reduced cit from 20 to 15for a week, another week at 10 then added 25 of sert for another week, 2 weeks with just 25 of sert with the advice of going up to 50 after that but like you I found the double jump too much and reduced back down to 37.5 for 2 weeks then back up to 50. My anxiety decreased to practically none after 6 to 7 weeks of being on 50 and then after another 4 to 6 weeks my depression lifted and my motivation came back, this all happened quite slowly and it took me at least another 3 months to convince myself that when we I had an off day I wasn't going backwards.
external stresses will play tricks with your mind and make you think you are not progressing, your body has had a lot to deal with, withdrawal from zopiclone and citalopram as well as getting used to sertraline, give yourself time you will get there, be kind to yourself, refuse to be drawn into anything that will make you feel worse and trust that the medication your husband is on will keep him safe, to be able to look after others you must look after yourself
Guest sue74917
Posted
Thanks Sue that's really helpful. I probably jumped too quickly from citalopram had a weeks break then started the sertraline at 25mg for couple weeks then tried 50mg for couple days but was too much so dropped back down. Been nearly 6 weeks at 50mg but did drop back down for a about 4 days when depression hit so been very up and down. I did message our son after husband got very upset and coming down at weekend so hopefully things calm down. Several people say it is slow acting, just feel I am going mad some days with these awful thoughts keep looping round.