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Having major anxiety after dosage increase! :(

Posted , 5 users are following.

deboriole
deboriole

I was just bumped up to 150mg from 100mg of Sertraline last week, and I am having major anxiety issues. This morning I woke up shaking really badly and my heart was beating so fast it was about to jump out of my chest. Adrenaline was shooting through my body, and it took over an hour for me to calm down. I have a panic disorder and I am on Sertraline to try to control my anxiety, not make it worse!

I have heard that sometimes dosage increases cause side effects, and that they usually last around two weeks. Can someone please confirm this? Has anyone gone through this exact problem before? I'm really scared. Thanks!

1 like, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • deborah12336
    deborah12336 deboriole

    Posted

    Sorry you've had to deal with this. I am having the exact same reaction. I was only on 50 mg and have moved up to 100 mg for panic attacks. It has made me more anxious and heart coming out of my chest too. Its been over 2 weeks now on the increased dosage and its not calming down. Friends don't want to help me now, keep saying to take more medicine.
    • deboriole
      deboriole deborah12336

      Posted

      I am so sorry you're suffering. sad What we are dealing with is absolutely horrible. I read online that if you're not on the right dose, sometimes the side effects don't go away because you haven't reached a point where the medicine will benefit you.

      I am on Sertraline for depression brought on from panic attacks. I was on 50mg two months ago and then 100mg last month and saw absolutely zero improvement in my condition -- only side effects. I am on so many benzos to help me cope that I could start my own pharmacy. Now that i am on the 150mg, I am not getting as much anxiety, and I'm not waking up to a panic attack every morning anymore, like I was when I was on the 100mg. I still get them (like this morning) so I am still really scared, but maybe 150mg is the right dose for me and things are starting to even out.

      My advice would be to tough it out -- and believe me when I say I know how tough it is. It's agony sometimes. Try the 150mg as soon as your doc lets you. Once you are on the right dose, you won't have as much anxiety anymore.

      Your other option is to bail on Sertraline and try another med. But from what I have heard from many other posters, the beginning is pure torture but it's worth it in the end. I sure hope they are right!

      Best of luck and let me know how you're doing in the future!

      -Deb

  • rachel62244
    rachel62244 deboriole

    Posted

    Me too trying to get on 150 but it's hell trying 125 but it won't settle either. 100 mg wasn't enough to control my anxiety and pnd
    • deboriole
      deboriole rachel62244

      Posted

      Perhaps 125mg isn't enough to control your issues, either, and you should try 150mg? I never got any relief at any stage of my dosage, but I kept moving up anyway. Now that I am on 150mg (only a week so far) I have seen tiny improvements so I am hopeful things will start to work out for me. I'm still skeptical because I am having so much anxiety, but it is less than when I was at 100mg.

      Best of luck and I hope you get some relief soon.

      -Deb

  • vikki2303
    vikki2303 deboriole

    Posted

    Hi yes it's the side effects of the increase, and with any increase it can take 6-12 weeks to settle. So as u have move from 50mg to 150mg in such a short space of time your body hasn't had a chance to balance out. But stick with the 150mg for at least 6 weeks. Sertraline is a very good anti d but the downside is it takes a while to settle and balance out. Try rescue remedy on the anxious days until the dose settles, but like I said give it time to settle and balance out. I wish u well x
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