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i've been on sertraline 50mg for a wk now, but I feel worse than before, Am I even on the right med?

Posted , 6 users are following.

paulette36290
paulette36290

I think my case is kindda complex.

About a month ago I got obssesed with reading the bible as I wanted to get closer to my religion. Long story short, I started researching mostly on youtube about demons and i think between reading and researching to much about it, it got into a point I freaked out and I couldnt stop thinking about it.

One night I exploted having a horrible anxiety attack or psicotic attack (i am not even sure) where I was so desesperate of those thoughts to leave me alone I even felt for a moment maybe there was a demon who wanted to control me. Let me just say that I have suffered from anxiety from the longest time but never like this. I was also counscious the whole time that was insane to think something wanted to control me ect. My boyfriend was next to me the whole time and he was trying to calm me down.

After that night I was sure I needed help so I went to the hospital where they ended up baker acting me unfairly and mixed me with other mental health patients who were hitting themselves, and doing weird things. At some point I felt so nervous I thought I was in a movie and that was not real.

After 8 hours I saw the pscichiatrist and she let me go because she saw I wasnt a threath to myself or others.

That night was very difficult to me.

So I called my family to my country and they all bought a flight and came the next day.

I cant describe how bad I felt the next weeks: I couldnt eat, take a shower, brush my theeth, everything seemed like a mission to accomplish, even the most automatic things a person does in a every day basis; but added to that I was having several nervous breakdowns a day. Why this is happening to me, what happened to me, was a psicotic episode? That means I am ezquisoprenic? Bipolar? Am I losing my mind? I am become crazy abd losing control?

Well, two weeks ago I arrived to my country trying to find help. I went to a psichiatrist and he said I was in a bipolar crisis hypomaniac or something like that. He prescribed lithium 300mg twice a day and aripriprazole 5mg (medicine for ezquisophrenia).

I couldnt accept that diagnosis because I dont feel I change of moods all the time, in fact my family eigther beilives it, so we did what everyone else would have done: look for a second opinion.

This other psychiatrist did not talk about a diagnosis but he changed the medicine to sertraline 50mg and clonazepam 0.25mg twice a day.

By the time I went to see the first psichiatrist I was feeling a little better over all, at least to function, but since I have been taking this sertraline and clonazepam I had another episode like the first one but less intense or thinking too much, still was very stressing. I am currently feeling worse than I was before. I dont want to do anything anymore, I am tired. I dont know what to think or what to do.

Does sertraline makes you feel worse at the beginning or not?

Also, what ideas do you guys think I should try or do

To get better. Right now im so exhausted and my mind is so exhausted I do not know what to think, my body feels heavy and I keep having anxiety attacks and fears over everything.

1 like, 16 replies

16 Replies

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  • tim72563
    tim72563 paulette36290

    Posted

    Stick with the sertraline, it will help, but first 4 to 6 weeks can be rough, make you feel like your worse, but it just the med getting in your system, the clonazipam will help you thru rough patch. Don't let your thoughts get in the way, you will get better stay positive stay active it helps. Tim

    • bri57085
      bri57085 tim72563

      Posted

      Are you taking sertraline? Did it help you? I have been on sertraline 50mg for a week and two days. I know everyone is different but I just need some advice on when it will start working. I have physically been feeling a little better the past two days. I'm not suicidal or anything. I have anxiety which is the biggest thing and I'm a worry wart. I get physical symptoms like panic attacks, muscle twitching and restless leg and restless arm in the morning. It goes away by mid day though.

    • tim72563
      tim72563 bri57085

      Posted

      Hi Bri, yes I'm on sertraline 100mg it took a little over 4 weeks for me to get thru the side effects, intrusive thoughts, panic attacks, jittery, couldn't rest, hands shaking ( still do occasionally). Most of the side effects bothered me in morning, would ease at work, but start again in evening. I started with 25mg 1st week, then 50 for 3 weeks, and those were the worst weeks, week 4 doc moved me to 100mg and 1mg xanax as needed to help me relax. Within a few days I was feeling much better and have just continued to improve in week 10 now and feel really good, so take it one day at a time, don't give up, takes 4 - 5 weeks to see real improvement, and 12 weeks they tell me for sertraline to take full effect. Stay with the forum there are a lot of great people here and they all want to help. Here anytime want to talk, hope this helps.

    • bri57085
      bri57085 tim72563

      Posted

      Thank you so much Tim! I'm hanging in there and hoping to start feeling better soon!!

    • tim72563
      tim72563 bri57085

      Posted

      Anytime, I understand what your dealing with, and happy to talk you through. Here's to getting well🖒🖒

    • bri57085
      bri57085 tim72563

      Posted

      I sent you a private Tim. Maybe you can answer some of my questions and if you've experienced any of the same physical symptoms that I have with anxiety and depression.

  • GodsServant
    GodsServant paulette36290

    Posted

    Hi Paulette, my goodness, what you went thru reminds me of an attack I went thru about 2 decades ago. I was exactly where you were. It got so bad at one point I just prayed that God would just take me home in my sleep. I didn't want to go on, but since He didn't take me, I guess He wants me here to speak to you. You are going to be fine. 

    It seems like this is your first attack and I agree with the second doc in that it's hard to put a label on your illness. I didn't even know I had childhood OCD until I became an adult. And, as an adult, early on I thought I was losing my marbles, God no mad, possessed, etc. I thought I had schizophrenia, etc. But don't worry about any of that. 

    What is is certain is that you are in an anxious state. Continue taking your sertraline, and yes, there are some terrible initial side effects but it gets better. The first month is usually quite hellish. By the 8 week mark on the right dose, you should see improvements or start to feel better. Take it a day at a time, an hour at a time if you have to. We are all here for you. Try to get plenty of rest and sleep, if you can, even if you can't sleep, just shut your eyes and rest. Eat even if you can't, have some milk or smoothies, and try to take walks. Read your Bible. God is stronger than Satan. Remember what Paul said God told him about the thorn in his side, "My Grace is sufficient, for my power is made perfect in weakness." And the Lord never gives you more than you can handle. You will get better. I will pray for you, too.  Xx

    • paulette36290
      paulette36290 GodsServant

      Posted

      Thank you so much.

      Your comment helped me to calm myself down, seeing other people have feel the same that I have. Thanks God I feel better since yesterday, not perfect but way better.

      I have nausea every morning.

      I am excersicing 1 hour a day, swallowing the food three times a day, and been sleeping alot.

      Mental health is serious. If I completely get better I will partially dedicate my life to help other people like me.

      As for now, I am taking it day by day. Prayers are more than welcome.

      Thanks again for your comment.

    • GodsServant
      GodsServant paulette36290

      Posted

      Yes, you will still have ups and downs until the med is settled down in your system, but you WILL get better. God be with you, us. Xx
  • duddy
    duddy paulette36290

    Posted

    I am sorry that you are going through all this pain and I can only comment on one thing. You said it was like being in a movie. For along time I would think that I was in a dream. I have now found out that this is depersonalisation and is one of the symptoms of anxiety and I believe it is due to all that adrenaline in your body so it is a reaction to it just like a racing heart and a churning stomach are other reactions. Have you asked your doctor for something like Diazepam to help through the more difficult times? 
    • bri57085
      bri57085 duddy

      Posted

      Can the derealization feeling make you feel sick? Like physically sick? Fainty & dizzy feeling?

  • susan32309
    susan32309 paulette36290

    Posted

    Oh you poor love going through all of that . . . if you can hang in there it will get better, I'm not sure if it's something that Sert does in the beginning - I'm in the process of re-starting it - as a strong Christian I have struggled with very negative images of life, faith and goodness knows what else since re-starting, but I do know this will fade over the coming days - I'm pleased you're here and are, hopefully, finding support.

    wishing you well

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