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Help please

Posted , 4 users are following.

Aj1986
Aj1986

hi all,

i have been on zoloft now for 55 (almost 8 weeks) days for ocd and gad.

when i first started it was terrible but when i hit 6 weeks i started to feel a little better but the week after bad and then good for a few days.

im just wondering if this is normal, the zoloft has helped but not entirely i would say 40% but i still have intrusive thoughts and anxiety and my sleep is still bad. i had a good two weeks but then im back to being shaky anxious again.

im not taking xanax anymore because i felt better but i feel it creeping back

im at 100 mgs now for the past month.

thank you

guys

2 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • Giggity
    Giggity Aj1986

    Posted

    I personally found that after feeling better and then declining as you have described, the only thing that worked was a dosage increase. Others will tell you 6 to 8 weeks blah blah blah, but trust me. Go to 125mg and when you start to feel the same as you do now up it to 150mg. It took me until I was on 200mg before everything finally settled. Don't fear the increase, it works and the side effects are far less difficult with each increase.

    • Aj1986
      Aj1986 Giggity

      Posted

      thanks for the reply.

      so if i increase my dosage how do i know if it will not get better and then get bad again.

      when you finally got on the dose you feel better on was it consistent ?

      how long have you been on zoloft

    • Giggity
      Giggity Aj1986

      Posted

      I've been on z for 9 months. My typical scenario after an increase was a week of better, followed by a noticeable decline for a week or so, at which point I would bump it up another 25. After I reached 150mg I didn't miss work any longer so I knew it was working, but I still didn't feel right. At 175 it was good for a few weeks and then it started to decline a bit so I went to 200mg and find it is the dose for me. Pretty much the day I started at 200 and every day since, have been good. No unexplainable anxiety whatsoever, and the only lingering side effect is a bit of constipation. After 4 months at 200mg I have not felt the need to increase my dosage at all.

      Listen to your body. If you feel good for a few days and then start to feel like crap again for consecutive days then an increase will help

    • Aj1986
      Aj1986 Giggity

      Posted

      thanks for your response its just confusing because some people are telling me to wait itll get better and others like you are telling me to increase including my doctor

  • christineA1975
    christineA1975 Aj1986

    Posted

    Hello there, your ups and downs are completely normal especially after an increase. Your recent increase was 4 weeks ago, give that increase a good 8-12 weeks before you consider another increase. This is my third time on Zoloft in the past 15 years. i was on 25 mg for a week and 50 mgs after...i felt horrible the first 2 months, i saw a somewhat good day here and there, but not many. i couldnt leave my house for 8 weeks. After week 9-10 on 50 mgs i progressively saw better days, im on 17 weeks now and feel so much better! People often get impatient or feel the medication is not working for them, whereas if they would have waited a couple more weeks they would have found the relief they were looking for. Unfortunately this medication is sloooowww acting and for many things get worse before they get better...please be patient before increasing, trust me, its worth it. Also, keep in mind, for many with each increase the side effects come back seeming to prolong the process. If you have Facebook, you should join our support group called Positive Zoloft Support Group. Best Wishes to you

    • Aj1986
      Aj1986 christineA1975

      Posted

      thanks for your reply i really appreciate it. will give it a while before i decide to increase the dosage.

      im glad i feel better since being on zoloft im just not where i want to be

    • lauren56079
      lauren56079 christineA1975

      Posted

      hi christine,

      can i ask - i've been on 50mg since august and 11 days ago upped to 75mg and i feel dreadful. do you think the dose is too high or are the side effects normal on an increase?

      thanks x

    • christineA1975
      christineA1975 lauren56079

      Posted

      hello lauren, yes for most people with each increase the side effects will more than likely come back for a while...remember all the negative side effects you are feeling IS the zoloft trying to stabilize....please be patient and try not to mess with your increase to much until you give that dose at least 8-12 weeks. I promise you will feel better.

    • Aj1986
      Aj1986 christineA1975

      Posted

      thank you so much christine youve been a great help. its day 58 now on zoloft and i hope you are right ill stay on 100 mg and see how long it takes.

    • christineA1975
      christineA1975 Aj1986

      Posted

      Absolutely, I remember how awful i felt the first couple months, it was a nightmare my summer of 2018 was completely shot. Now im hiking mountain peaks feeling amazing. Remember give the 100 mg dose 8-12 weeks before you consider an increase. Best wishes to you all.

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