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advice on Sertraline???

Posted , 3 users are following.

anna89475
anna89475

I have suffered with depression and anxiety for over 2 years now. The dr put me on 50mg Setraline which I have been on for over 2 years. I felt great for this time but all of a sudden my anxiety and depression has came back. There is no reason for it to come back but it is effecting my life. I get feelings that I don't want to live anymore, because I can't live a normal life. I am only in my 20's. Been to my dr and he has prescribed Sertraline 100mg. I asked could I be put on 75mg but he said no it's from 50 to 100. I have been taking 75mg for 3 days and I feel slightly more tired but my mood isn't changing I still feel down. Should I try the 100mg? I am scared to as when I started the 50mg my side effects were awful I lost a lot of weight, and I can't afford to be off work. I can't understand why they have stopped working. Should I take the higher dose???

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • louise74777
    louise74777 anna89475

    Posted

    Hi, I eventually sought advice from my GP at the end if March this year after suffering from anxiety and depression for as long as I can remember! He initially put me on a dose of 50mg of sertraline once a day. The side effects were horrendous to begin with but they subsided after a few weeks. The worst thing I found was that my mood deteriorated even further and I didn't think the medication was working. After one month I had a review with my GP and told him I felt worse than before and he said it was quite normal to feel that way. He increased the dose to 100mg daily and told me to see how I got on. Another month on and I had another review. By this time my mood had improved slightly but each day was still tinged with anxiety and completely irrational disturbing thoughts! I remained on the 100mg and now? Now I feel fantastic! My mood has gradually improved bit for the last few days I've felt completely on top of the world! I have absolutely loads on at the minute - I'm at college and have literally one week left to cram in three assignments and an exam! My old self would have crumbled and quit by now, and despite knowing how important it is to get my work done on time, I'm 100% stress free about it! I know not everybody is the same, and what suits one person may not another but I would sincerely advise you to take the higher dose and keep with it. I wish I'd have done it years ago! I really do feel great and I hope you too will feel much better very soon! Good luck xx
    • anna89475
      anna89475 louise74777

      Posted

      Thanks for the reply! when I first started the 50mg it was horrendous for about 6 weeks but then I felt on top of the world, I was so confident I didn't have a care in the world. But all of a sudden after 1 year and a half I have gone back depressed, I have panic attacks everyday. I always think I don't want to live and it's a horrible feeling. I haven't felt any better or worse on the 75mg. I'm scared to take the 100mg incase I get side effects I can't take time off work. Did you have any side effects when upping the dose?
    • louise74777
      louise74777 anna89475

      Posted

      No problem. As I've only been on sertraline since March, I don't think I'm qualified to say whether or not your body eventually gets used to it, meaning you need a higher dose for it to be effective but it seems this may be what has happened to you. For the first month or so of taking sertraline I felt awful, both physically and mentally but I am so glad I stuck it out! Don't get me wrong, I still have bad days but they're now few and far between! When I increased my dose, the side effects weren't as bad as when I first started taking sertraline but I did become very jittery, shaking and jaw clenching! I simply started taking it at night instead until my body was used to it. It did take me a little while longer to fall asleep but I'd much rather be restless while in bed than during the day at work or college. After just over two weeks I swapped back to taking it in a morning and have been absolutely fine!
    • anna89475
      anna89475 louise74777

      Posted

      Thanks for your advice! I think I am going to try the 100mg and see what happens! If it's too much I can always go back down to the 50mg. Can't feel much worse than I'm feeling now. I usually take mine at night as it used to make me sleepy but can take it anytime now.
    • louise74777
      louise74777 anna89475

      Posted

      No problem. Try it like you said and if you feel no better in a while you can always go back to your doctor. It's worked wonders for me - I hope it does for you too! Good luck! ☺
  • Mynameisalyss
    Mynameisalyss anna89475

    Posted

    When I was experiencing higher anxiety they increased my dose and I felt so much better. I would stick to 75 for a week. And if you're still not feeling better then go up to 100. From 50 to 100 is a big jump you will get side effects from this. Every time I increase I only go up half a dose at a time.
    • anna89475
      anna89475 Mynameisalyss

      Posted

      Oh I understand now. I have been taking the 75mg for 3 days now and I haven't had any side effects I don't know whether to try 100mg. I am going back the doctors on Thursday but I know he will say take the 100mg like I told you.
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