Feel like I've gone mad

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Hello

I'm new to the group and hope to learn from others experiences and share thoughts.  I have always been against medication but after a very traumatic time I was put on sertraline, starting on 50 and moving to 100.  In total I was one the medication for about 14 months, I came off the medication in June this year.   Recently I went doctors on a routine health check and as I was feeling anxious again about stuff that I shouldn't worry about (e.g. Work) the doctor has put me back on 50 and wants to increase to 100 in two weeks time.  Is this too a big a jump too quickly? Will I be on this long term?  I've always been a worrier with bouts of no confidence in myself although I never really showed it.  My thoughts can race and I feel like I'm going mad and I struggles with knowing if I'm anxious or depressed. Does any if this make sense?? 

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4 Replies

  • Posted

    I know what you mean about thoughts racing. That's where I'm at at the moment and because they're mostly negative it makes me feel depressed too, so it's probably a mixture of both. Do you feel better on the 50mg or do you feel you need a higher dose? I was on 50mg for a few days then got put up to 100mg fairly quickly. I did get fairly bad side effects, insomnia and increased anxiety mainly, but it was better after a couple of weeks. I'm still struggling, so I'm hoping things will improve soon. I've been on 100mg for 4-5 weeks now. 

    • Posted

      Hi Sarah

      Lovely to hear from you. It's early days on the 50, am only in my first week. Too soon to tell any improvement and anxiety is still same, maybe a few worse moments when head and heart races and i  expect it to get worse if anything like last time when first two weeks were awful.   To go from 50 to a 100 after 2 weeks seems a bit quick and am concerned it will be a month of hell before it calms down.  I wish I didn't have need for medication! .   Am concerned it will affect my work and am in a fairly new job so don't want to declare I'm on pills and thus adds to the anxiety.  You're a little further along and hopefully you'll see positive results soon.  100 did help me last time but doc thinks I came off too soon. 

  • Posted

    It totally makes sense, to relax. I'm not sure about the dosage as I have been avoiding medicine for about 7 years. I did try Lexapro months ago I gained a significant amount of weight from that and was extremely anxious and like a zombie. I started this almost a month ago I'm feeling better and more accomplished at home, but I'm still nervous to drive by myself and having panic attacks randomly throughout the day. I've needed to take Xanax which I never really needed to do before. However, everyone says to give it to 6 to 8 weeks. I'm suggesting for myself that I'm going to go from 50mg to 75 and then do a hundred I have no idea why doctors don't do slow increases probably because they don't talk to us every day. LOL. I am really hoping that this medicine works and that if I increase it that's the k, I can't imagine staying on this Merry-Go-Round of then having to wean myself off of this and try something else

    • Posted

      Sertraline seems to get positive results over time and it's good it's already started to make a difference for you.  I think a slower uptake to 100 as you say is better and will speak to doc at next appointment. Have to take one day at I time I think ..... 

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