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Dropped too low on Sertraline, relapsed and now back on higher dose--but no relief!

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diana_17326
diana_17326

Hello everyone, 

So a bit of background. I was diagnosed with OCD and GAD about 13 years ago and was put on Paxil, which changed my life for the better to be honest. I went a full 10 years on Paxil, but then with the help of my doctor switched over to Zoloft ( in case I want to have children some day its apparently a safer option). I didn't experience any change or increase in anxiety when I switched, the only thing I remember is that it was a bit harder to take a deep breath. But that eventually went away. For 3 years, Zoloft worked amazing for me, so amazing, that I started to drop my dosage, from 75mg to 50mg and then back on August 9th of this summer, I dropped to a measly 25mg. I was doing great I thought.. until on November 11th (3 months after the dosage drop) I got weird heart palpitations/PVCs that threw me into a full blown week long panic. Couldn't eat, couldn't sleep. So my doctor suggested I go back up on 50mg. On November 17th, I went up to 50mg again. My palps went away, and for a few days I felt like myself again. Then, about 11-12 days into the dose increase, my world came crashing down--panic and anxiety, sheer hell for two weeks straight. I can only attribute it the increase. Last week, I felt I had a bit of a turning point--I felt good, was able to sleep, the anxiety was still there but was bearable. My husband and my parents said they noticed some improvments. Fast forward to last night (first week back at work) I had a full blown panic attack trying to fall asleep. Had to take an ativan to go to sleep which I didn't have to do all the week earlier. My question is, is it possible that my increased anxiety and insomnia is being caused by my dose increase? I feel like I am doing a bit better than two weeks ago, but I still feel extremely anxious and have the intrusive thoughts, fear etc. I just want to be the happy person I was a month ago, and I'm scared I'll never get back there again. Which is also fueling my panic. By 4-6 weeks, should things improve? Will I ever feel like me again? In need of some reassurance and kind words. 

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  • sarah40069
    sarah40069 diana_17326

    Edited

    Your story is a little similar to mine. I was on Sertraline for 12 years and gradually cut down over the last few years. I was on 50mg for a year or 2 and I was fine, so thought I’d finally beaten the anxiety and started to come off them completely over the summer. I took it slow over about 3 months and stopped completely mid September. Less than 2 weeks later I had a full blown panic attack in the night, which totally freaked me out and the next day I went to the doctors to go back on the Sertraline. Since then it’s been a total rollercoaster of emotions. The first few weeks we’re pretty rough with the side effects, but I was still have hopeful that the medication would sort it out pretty quick. I’m now about 12 weeks in and starting to feel like I’ve turned a corner, the last week or so. I think over time things have quietened down anxiety wise, but I’ve still ive still some bad days. The panic attacks stopped around 6 -8 weeks and my thoughts are less crazy and intense now, although they do still race along at top speed from time to time! 

    I dont know why why this happens with Sertraline. Someone else on here said they started having panic attacks after stopping and they’d never had one before. For me what has helped has just been to accept that I am ill. Whatever the cause or reason I need time to get better and let my body adjust to the medication. I know it feels like you’re never going to get better when you’re in the middle of it, but you will. I try to see each day I get through as one day closer to coming out the other side of this. At the most meant I feel like I am getting better so I hope this gives you hope. 

    • diana_17326
      diana_17326 sarah40069

      Posted

      Our stories are very similar Sarah. Thanks for sharing! Wow. Glad I’m not the only one. I felt like I was doing pretty decent last week, like I was on the upswing, and then bam—last night and today have been messy again. I’m coming up to 4 weeks this Friday on the 50mg, I’m really hoping I start to feel like myself soon. Did it take 3 months for you to start feeling better at all? Or were things improving leading up to then? Around 6 weeks you said? 
    • sarah40069
      sarah40069 diana_17326

      Posted

      I was very much up and down to start with. I think the awful physical symptoms started to subside by about 6 weeks, but I still feel like my brain is on fast forward some of the time. I think that’s going to take a bit longer.  
    • diana_17326
      diana_17326 sarah40069

      Edited

      Ya, for me it’s more so the increased anxiety and panicky thoughts and feelings. I did have tremors, but they seemed to have subsided. I think the side effects are wearing off, but now I really just need the medication to start working for my actual anxiety. I think that will take a few more weeks. I took a leave of absence from work, as I have a pretty high stress job; I think taking time just to focus on myself and distracting myself with light, fun things over the holidays will help a bit. Gonna take Ativan to sleep as needed and just go from there. We can do this! 
  • kerryhs
    kerryhs diana_17326

    Edited

    Hi Diana

    I was on sertraline about 3 years ago, worked up to 150mg. It changed my life for the better and I reduced my dosage over a year to 75mg. I was fine for months and months on 75mg then my world came crashing down. Horrendous anxiety with panic attacks thrown in. Awful awful. I went to 100mf for 4 weeks and the six then upped me to 150mg about 4 1/2 to 5 weeks ago. I have seen an improvement, I am eating and sleeping pretty normal, my anxiety is more manageable, I have been holding concentration and able to have normal conversations etc. Until this morning! Omg 😮 

    The anxiety has been a constant with ‘on the edge’ of panic moments. Headaches, dizzy, hot sweats, sick feeling, racing thoughts and the shakes. 

    Its horrible and I wouldn’t wish it on my worse enemy.

    From what I remember from my experience before is that it took a good 8 weeks before I felt better. I keep telling myself it will get better soon but It’s so hard isn’t it. 

    We can do this! Hour by hour we will fight to become happy again. I’m trying to celebrate the small things like I’m not waking up at 3am anymore with dread and fear thrashing through my body. 

    Please let me know how you get on x

    • diana_17326
      diana_17326 kerryhs

      Posted

      Thank you for this! It sounds like you’re having better days than not better days, which is a good sign I think! Sorry about your setback today, but you’re right— we need to persevere and believe it will get better. This is not permanent. Are you working while this goes on? Toying with the idea of taking a leave of absence from work. Not sure if that will help me, but last week I felt a lot better when I didn’t have to work. Also, were you taking any Ativan or Xanax or anything to help sleep and get over the hump? 

      I feel such despair when I have to take one. Ugh. 

    • Stacey29819
      Stacey29819 kerryhs

      Edited

      Hi Kerry,

      I have same anxiety side effect.  I wasn’t even having anxiety before, I was put on it for depression.  Week 4 and 5, I had so much anxiety I paced around all day, and couldn’t sit still.  I think it’s finally getting better.  I just started week 6.  I still feel the anxiety, but it is better for the last 2 days.  Before I had to take 1/2 Xanax several days to manage.  I would like to give it 8 weeks because I have heard it takes that long.  The Dr wants to change it on Friday if not better.  Hope you are doing ok.

    • kerryhs
      kerryhs Stacey29819

      Posted

      I'm glad to hear it's getting better for you!

      im so hoping it's going to end soon. It's so bad at the moment. It's 2am and I have tried really hard to sleep but to no avail. Tummy churning, room spinning. 

    • kerryhs
      kerryhs diana_17326

      Posted

      I don't take anything apart from sertraline to help with the anxiety. I'm on a waiting list for CBT therapy so hopefully that will help. Probably going to be mid January before I hear anything from them. 

      I work part part time and to be honest I dread going but I go anyway because it is a distraction. The routine kind of helps in a strange way. X

    • diana_17326
      diana_17326 kerryhs

      Posted

      Deep breaths Kerry! 

      You can do this! Minor setback. Just a little blip. Power through this. Better days are ahead. I was just there last night; cold sweats and tremors in my bed. We’re stronger than it. 

  • Stacey29819
    Stacey29819 diana_17326

    Posted

    I just started week 6, and the anxiety seems like it’s just starting to calm down.  I didn’t even have bad anxiety until week 4, and I started it for depression, not anxiety, my anxiety was ok before, so it is definitely a side effect.  It should go away eventually.  I was having to take 1/2 of Xanax every day or I could not even sit still.  I haven’t had to take one yesterday or today.  It’s strange something supposed to help anxiety makes it so bad at first.  I really think it will go away, especially when you were ok on it before.  It’s hard to get through it, I know.  
    • diana_17326
      diana_17326 Stacey29819

      Posted

      Glad to hear you’re starting to feel better Stacey! This gives me hope. While my anxiety and panicky feelings are still dominant, today I want to cry. Such a rollercoaster. I just want to enjoy things again and start feeling like myself again. I feel like that’s never going to happen and it’s making me panic. It’s good to hear there’s a light at the end of this tunnel. I also have had to take 0.25 of Ativan to get through some days. Last night I did to sleep and tonight I’ll have to as well. I didn’t need it last week, so I’m frustrated that I’ve had to take them this week, but I guess that’s pretty normal while adjusting to the dosage change. I just want to feel better. Ugh.  
    • Stacey29819
      Stacey29819 diana_17326

      Posted

      Yes it seems to be normal.  I had anxiety under control before I started this, so it’s definitely the cause, and it was on week 4 when it hit, some days are better than others.  I’ve heard it takes awhile to adjust to it.  I’ve heard to give it 8 weeks.  Hopefully it will be better soon.  The panic is probably a lot worse right now, but it should get better.  I know it’s hard to wait.  I would take the Ativan if it helps.  I’m was totally against those before, but it’s not forever.  Everyone tells me to take the Xanax if I need it.  I take the same amount .25.
  • danny09
    danny09 diana_17326

    Posted

    This is my 4th week on Sertraline 75mg for Anxiety, it's a good thing that my doctor also prescribed Ativan, without it I don't think I could've handled all those side effects well at all. Seeing my doctor next month to decide on which medicine should keep.

    • diana_17326
      diana_17326 danny09

      Posted

      Hi Dan thanks for sharing.

      Does the 75mg seem to be working for you yet? 

    • danny09
      danny09 diana_17326

      Posted

      Hi Diana, I'll find out for sure by next month, I'm going to give Sertraline a shot, when I first started @ 50mg it made me depressed and withdrawn but that lasted less than 2 weeks, now I have 2 side effects... Blurred vision in the morning but gets back to normal in the afternoon unless I take a dose of Ativan cause it will clear my vision within 15 minutes and a tremor now & then.

    • diana_17326
      diana_17326 danny09

      Posted

      Hi Dan, just wondering what you ended up doing with your dosage? 
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