Posted , 8 users are following.
I have been on 50g of Setraline for 10 weeks with slight improvement in anxiety and depression. Do I need to wait longer for further improvement or is this as good as it gets? I dont want to up to 100g for no reason. So many people seem to be going on higher doses much quicker but not feeling any better? Any advice? Thank you!
1 like, 12 replies
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karin88115 jenny93142
Posted
hi jenny
by 10 weeks you probably should be feeling a lot better
but i wouldnt go straight to 100mg
maybe try 75mg . that dose seems to work for a lot of people
but talk to your doctor before making any changes
good luck
Johncl jenny93142
Posted
Wait a bit longer if you can , when I very first started taking them ,it took 3 months before I was right as rain .
TurtleTom jenny93142
Posted
I was on 50mg for about 8/9 weeks then on NYE went up to 100mg only real extra sode effect at the moment is fatigue and have had weight gain through out but seems to have settled now.
elizabeth33282 jenny93142
Posted
Jenny I have been on 25mg for 8 weeks, tried to go up to 50 a couple of times but ses were too bad. Had ups and downs with 2 periods of several days of feeling normal,/good/ level, then back on the sofa feeling unmotivated and bland, have odd moments of feeling OK, only very occasional anxiety now, and the best effect for me so far is not waking up with terror and having dread feelings, these have mainly gone. But wake up feeling directionless. Now Im at the stage where I havent done anything much for the past 8 weeks apart from the periods where I felt good. Ive been in regular contact with my GP, I feel like I either need to stop, carry on or do a gradual increase, the tiredness and lack of any motivation is very hard to deal with. I think dscussing with GP is best, you can read all sorts of false information on here, eg I read that 25mg is only a test dose and not a therapeutic dose, my GP said thats nonsense, depends on all kinds of factors, Im female, quite small and light also everyone had their individual tolerance. I have had previous good exp of SSRIs on two previous occasions where they just started working after a few weeks, had ses but they were tolerable and lasted only a few weeks. my issue then was depression. Last year I also went back on expecting to have the same positive response, but the ses were awful so I stopped with my GP input, this time I decided to stick with it and hope to have a consistent/level improvement in time. But its so debilitating with the nausea and lack of motivation or drive to do anything. One thing Ive started to do is to ask myself what advice I would give me !!! A bit like having a discussion with your best friend as I cant ring the doctor all the time and I actually hate talking about this to anyone except my partner, its so boring Im boring myself!
jenny93142 elizabeth33282
Posted
hi elizabeth, i understand all of that! i am in much the same position. last few days have been very on edge, not wanting to go anywhere(although i have) and feeling dread about work coming up, travel,low confidence and lack of enthusiasm. the side effects are not much now fortunately. so i dont know whats best, the GP doesnt have time to discuss and really i suppose i should try an increase of dose before giving up. i had cbt for 6 sessions and it did nothing to help, except got me out of the house! we just have to have faith a bit longer i guess?
Ala1483 jenny93142
Posted
Hi Jenny, I think you have given 50 enough time... It's probably not enough and maybe increasing even to 75mg would make a difference. I have been on Sert for 15 weeks and I am completely anxiety free so I hope to feel more like myself soon and depression free. I am on a much higher dose though.
elizabeth33282 jenny93142
Posted
Jenny, you are 2 weeks ahead of me, but Id say it works at different rates/progress for each person...... I still have nausea and feeling days are pointless, but largely the anxiety has gone and as Ive had 2 periods of feeling really good/normal/active/motivated Im thinking well it must be working, so I keep saying to myself its just a matter of time, its hard to narrow down peoples experiences, Im not on these forums, just this one and only just joined, had a scan around and it seems a high percentage of people give up because of the side effects, a lot give up very soon after starting, so its difficult to know if they had perservered how they would have fared. Im on my third time of feeling maybe I should stop them, I feel if I go to the GP (they are pretty good) they will addvise me to do what I think is best for me ie keep on with half a tab 25mg or increase to 37/50mg or taper off all together. So I know its my decision., but I feel like my life is wasting away (Im 60 soon!) Im fortunate I dont have to work and money is fine, but I wonder if I had more resposibility if I would do more, Ive done cbt too and use that to get some things done, but everything seems like a massive task, of course once Ive done it, I feel happier with myself, so more of the same I suppose. Its quite helpful just thinking about it and getting my thoughts out 😃 . Im going to hang in for a bit longer and make a small inrease and see how that goes. It would be helpful to hear how you are progressing. Thanks.
sue74917 elizabeth33282
Posted
hi Elizabeth I was on 25mgs for 8 weeks and although a bit better, like yourself, my motivation and enjoyment of things was not there, so decided to increase dose to 50, felt fine for 5 days but the the side effects, anxiety and depression came back so lowered it to 37.5 and after a few days it seem to settle, stayed on that for another 4 weeks then went up to 50, that was 2 weeks ago and have had no side effects and I am nearly back to normal, had a bit of a down day on thursday but it only lasted a day, I think if you are unsure about increasing then little and slow is the way to do it. I understand your feeling about wasting time, I used to think what is the point of planning anything I am not going to want to do it or enjoy it and I do not need the pressure of having to do it but if you can get yourself back out there because after you have done it, it is a tick in the box and holds no fear anymore. Once you have found your correct dose you will feel better
elizabeth33282 sue74917
Posted
Thanks for that, we seem to have had similar results. Im feeling better, did a 4 day gradual increase and started 50mg today, feel its going to be OK, Ive been naturally active and breezy, generally more motivated and no anxiety for the last 2 days and no nausea today, seems to be working at last. Its been a challenge sticking with them but Im glad I did. Good health to you too 😃
elizabeth33282 sue74917
Posted
Sue my exp. so far has been similar to you (and jenny) , I was also on 25mg (8 weeks) went up to 50mg a week ago (over a period of time). Had another few days of feeling Ok , light and breezy, and The nausea has gone mostly, then I went flat again, sleep and motivation are still bad and Im back to feeling flat and pointless again. I look around at things that need doing and I cant be bothered. Im 9 weeks and 4 days in now. Only on the full 50g for the last week . I feel Im so far into it now and have tolerated all the bad stuff that I think it would be a mistake to give up now. Im just hoping I need some more in my system and the increase to 50mg will do the trick. Im sure Ive read that it can take longer than 2 months to fully work. Id like to hear from people who have stuck with it and what the outcome has been, but end of the day, its all very individual. Last time I was on this and it worked I was on 50 mg, so Im hoping thats the right does for me.
sue74917 elizabeth33282
Posted
Hi elizabeth sorry to hear you are feeling a bit down but if it is any help to know I am nearly into week 4 of 50 and am so much better, dare I say back to normal. yes I still have low times but doesn't everyone? The only times I feel like I do not want to do things is when I really do not want to do them and again this is normal. I sure if you give it another week or 2 you will see so much improvement, I know its frustrating but I believe you are on the home straight now and the finish line is in sight if you can just hang on in there
elizabeth33282 jenny93142
Posted
Thanks for the encouraging words. I feel a little better today, but its ebb and flow, but I agree and Im sticking with 50 mg, the nausea has gone and I need to push myself more to engage in day to day activities, which Ive started. Ive booked an app with GP to review. Ive been on ssris twice before successfully on this dose, and as I was on 25 for 8 weeks Im thinking it will kick in sometime soon.
Thanks a lot, I appreciate you all taking time to respond. And I hope I havent hijacked this thread too much!