Bad days after good when starting Sertraline
Posted , 5 users are following.
I started taking Sertaline/Zoloft 5 weeks ago.
I began at 12.5mg and gradually tapered up to 25mg over the course of 3 weeks. We chose this plan bc I am very sensitive to meds. I had very few side effects (likely because I was at such a low dose). I felt a sense of calm within the first week, so it seems the drug began working in my system, tho its possible it was a placebo effect.
Ten days after I reached 25mg I began to suffer the more standard side effects of Sertraline (nausea, feeling hot-then-cold, fatigue, poor sleep). Ive had this now for the past 4 days.
It seems odd to me that the side effects came a full 10 days after the up dose. This of course makes me worry that my flu-like symptoms are some other health problem (I started Sertraline bc I have health anxiety btw).
So I guess my question to you all is:
Is it possible I experienced a delay in side effects bc I tip toed my way into Sertraline, and it essentially took 10 days at 25mg for my body to really feel it?
When you were starting this med, did any of you have some bad days after a long string of good days?
0 likes, 3 replies
paul55823 andi76
Posted
hi yes I am almost at 5 weeks 50mg...I have a run of good days then seem to go backwards as if the medication is not working afternoons and evenings are normally good....mornings feeling rough but the roughness is getting shorter
FranzSchubert andi76
Posted
I'd say the ups and downs are very common. There is no rhyme nor reason apparently for our minds who automatically think that after a few good days that's all we'll get when in fact the drug will take weeks to settle in your system and your brain's reaction to it will evolve and stabilize. I am now at 5 & 1/2 weeks at 50 mg and still get ups and downs. It also depends on your final therapeutic dose. Until you reach that, the side effects might start again each time you increase. Patience is key here. Don't be frustrated if you get another string of bad days after some good ones. Rather, whenever you have good days, see this as evidence that the drug is slowly working. Once you reach about 8 weeks, you should be able to tell whether there is consistency in your improvements.
k76024 andi76
Posted
I am in the same boat. First few days of my dose increase I felt pretty darn good (almost sedated which I didn't hate!). Gradually got anxious and then had severe panic by day 7 and 8. I think it is just our brains adjusting to the meds as it builds up. HUGS Hang in there