I started taking 50mg of sertaline 8 weeks ago and i think im getting worse ?

Hi Clare !! First of all I'm glad u took the time to tell an share your feelings an concerns, after 8 I would really thought u should be feeling a great deal better , has your GP talked about upping your dose even if it needs to be tweaked a small bit , have a chat with your doctor , I'm sorry I can't help anymore xx

Hi Clare,

You're absolutely right, it's not too much to ask to simply live your life!  But it sounds like you've achieved a great deal in terms of successfully putting your life back together which is really positive.  It's also positive that you're looking for support from various places like GP and by posting on this site.  Sertraline did not ease my anxiety and I can really relate to your feelings of being hopeless and lost because that's how I felt on sertraline - basically too scared to get out of bed which isn't like me at all.  There are lots of other alternatives to talk about with your GP.  Be kind to yourself and stay positive.  My CBT lady said to me today that anxiety is not something I asked for and is not my fault so I have to stop being critical of myself. Take care.

Hi Claire

you certainly are not alone, firstly thank you so much for sharing your story with us that is a massive step on its own. everyone on this sight has had some sort of hurt in there live, there is a vast range of medicines are the market so if your not feel better soon you should go back to your doc or get refered. Well I started on the lowest dose and moved to 50mg and now 100 mgs it took 3 monthes for anything to change, Please Please see you gp before you stop taking them as I am going through the most horrible side effects stopping them so I went back on them today and feel a big differants  it really does take a long long time to feel like your coping.DONT stop trying you will get there, chin up girl you will find the right dose for you xxxx

Hi Clare thanks for sharing your story.  I started sertraline 8 weeks ago today. I was in a really really dark place. Anxious to the point of throwing up, depressed, suicidal, not sleeping, eating, pretty much on the floor. I had to be signed off work.  I reluctantly took the sertraline.  First two weeks were hell. Next two hellish and the four after up and down. I started on 50 mg and nothing much happened.  I gradually increased to 75, 87.5 and now been on 100 for 9 days.  I feel like I'm starting to feel a bit better.  I never thought I would feel like this but that is just the depression talking. When you feel low you believe everything your head is telling you.  Its important to detach from that bullsh*t.  You will feel better   . You may just need a dose increase.  You will get there   . I would advise gradual dose increase.  Take care and write anytime :-) 

Ingrid and Adam said what I was about to better, just want to add my support.   It's good you can talk about this, takes courage to ask for help, which is also a positive sign you'll get better. 

I've always found keeping active reduces my anxiety but asked a dr when I got panic attacks, he said I should try sert (try implied if it didn't work, try another, there's hope.)   I quickly got to 100mg, panic stopped, gradually tapered to 25mg.  But I may have too much energy and you too little,  ssri's help get out of that hole so you can move on.  Anxiety and depression can be related, same med can help both.  Good you're working with a dr, don't give up, ask for a specialist if needed.  Take care,

Patrick

hi clare,

you poor thing having to deal with all this at such an early stage in your life.   don't worry though, sertaline will help you sort things out and get out of this black hole that we all know so well.  i am 37 and struggled with depression and anxiety for the best part of my adult life on and off.  this time i went to my doctor to sort it out for good. i know exactly where you're coming from with the helpless and alone feeling and being in a very dark place, where everything looks negative and black.  i had this feeling for a good 12 months this time round but sertraline has helped me no end and i'm well on the road to recovery now.  i started on 50mg and after 6-8 weeks i was increased to 100mg and now i'm on 150mg and this is the perfect dose for me.  it depends how your body reacts to the medicaton really.  if you're feeling down now after 4 weeks you need to go and see your GP again, you may need an increase?? don't take my word for that though, i'm not sure if there are special conditions about increasing due to your age, but it's worth going to see them just to see if you can be increased or not, i've had CBT and hypnotherapy treatment, neither did much for me to be honest, and by the time i'd got a councillor through, i was too ill to even care about anything so just went straight to the doctors. i don't need to talk about it with anyone else, i have this forum for that, everyone on here will do their upmost to try and support you through your journey, and remember clare we are all fighting are own devils and we are here to support and help where we can :-)

 

Hey Clare. I started on Sertraline Monday and have to say my anxiety has increased, which is strange because after taking Fluoxetine and Citalopram with no side effects at all. Luckily my GP gave me 2 weeks worth of Diazepam (thank god). My advice to you would be to have a chat with your GP about changing meds. Sertraline may not work for you, but another probably will. Also, if your not happy with the GP your seeing, make an appointment with another. Out of the 4 GP's at my surgery, i only like to see one of them. Hope this may help you!!!