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I've been on Zoloft sertraline for 20 days its rollercoaster .

Posted , 6 users are following.

dodo81786
dodo81786

Hi,

I'm on sertraline for 20 days now I was feeling better last couple of days but today I feel not motivated as before and have fast heart beats and not feeling well at all . No sleep too I took Ativan 0.5 as doc prescribed but it didn't work .

Just want your experience if this is normal to go down after you feel better or I need a higher dose as I'm on 50 mg .

Please I need your advice as I want myself back , I have 4 kids different ages I need to be myself .

3 likes, 23 replies

23 Replies

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  • Tracy7338
    Tracy7338 dodo81786

    Posted

    Hello if you are only 20 days in you will still be experiencing the side effects which make your symptoms worse. We're all different but it could show as palpitations, dizziness, the shakes etc. I had all that but I've turned a corner now, I'm just reaching week 5 and I can feel myself getting better everyday. It takes at least 4 weeks to reach an even keel but can then be up to 6-8 weeks to be completely better. You need to stick with it a bit longer and go see your doc again as well in another week or so as he may need to up the dose. The average seems to be about 100mg, I'm on 75mg. Stick with it you will get there
    • dodo81786
      dodo81786 Tracy7338

      Posted

      Hi Tracy , thanks a lot really your reply made me calm down , I was a bit concerned as I was feeling better and almost myself but when I felt down again and sleepless with panic this made me go backwards to the first spot I started with .

      We shall keep connected as this really makes a deference . Thanks again. 😀

    • Tracy7338
      Tracy7338 dodo81786

      Posted

      I know exactly what you're talking about it was real ups and downs for me in the first 3 weeks and several times I felt like stopping taking them thinking they weren't working but I'm glad I ddnt. I keep in touch regularly with linda81406 on here we have helped each other so much. She might be a little ahead of you at the moment in terms of weeks. It helps that there should someone there who.knows exactly what you're going through. Believe me you will get there, just try and relax, keep busy that's a must to take your mind off it. It really helps
    • linda81406
      linda81406 dodo81786

      Posted

      Hello dodo  I'm on day 22 of the sertraline and like you have felt better but then felt worse with palpitations, shakes, sweats and not sleeping a couple of days ago.  Today I felt a little anxious but not as bad as a couple of days ago.  Try not to stress about it too much, just remember to think calm thoughts, this will pass and you will get back to normal.  Try to get on with things so you don't dwell on how your feeling.  
    • dodo81786
      dodo81786 linda81406

      Posted

      Yes Linda you are right , will try to keep myself from thoughts . But at night it's hard though I wish I can get back to normal soon and same to you too .

      I will keep you updated ladies .

    • dodo81786
      dodo81786

      Posted

      Also today I'm experiencing loss of apetite , I had this before when first too the Zoloft but it was back , now I lost my apetite again . Is this also side effect and will go away ??
    • Tracy7338
      Tracy7338 dodo81786

      Posted

      Hi Dodo again normal, I couldn't face food for weeks and even the smell of it made me feel sick, lost a stone in weight but I'm gradually starting to get back to normal so am trying to get back to my original weight. Still the odd day where I don't feel like eating but I try to eat a little bit, it does make you feel better. Your appetite will come back, just relax and keep busy.
    • linda81406
      linda81406 dodo81786

      Posted

      Yes Dodo in the early days I had to force myself to eat, it's much better now. Try to drink plenty of water to keep you hydrated.  I woke last night at 1 am and went back to sleep about 2.15 (that's the last time I looked at the time) that is definitely an improvement for me and will be the same for you soon I'm now on day 24 of the tablets and feeling much better today. x
  • Johoben
    Johoben dodo81786

    Posted

    I'm approaching the end of week 1. I'm definitely having similar symptoms, although it does seem to be better than it was after the first dose. I too am looking forward to the medication to start working. I've been on sertraline before, so I know it does work, I just forgot how long it takes to take full effects. I think it took me between 2 to 3 months the last time I had started Sertraline, but that was 4 years ago and I can't quite remember specifics. I also do not remember feeling this anxious and having this much insomnia when I started Sertraline last time. I felt less anxious a week ago without the medication. Definitely a pain.
    • dodo81786
      dodo81786 Johoben

      Posted

      Also I worry about not sleeping at night . I was better in week 3 but worse on week 4 and low apetite too.

      I wish this could end soon and the med starts to give me motivation and to stop the thinking .

    • Johoben
      Johoben dodo81786

      Posted

      I noticed too, that as I took the medication I had to purposefully change my mindset to get the full potential from the meds. When I'm off of meds and feeling crappy, all I start to think is "What's wrong with me? Why do I have to be so broken? I'll never get better." and I think changing that perspective purposefully while on the medication helps aid in how quickly you improve on the meds. Instead of letting your mind think about how sick you are, start focusing on the areas you've improved in. Tell yourself you are getting better, and don't let yourself be brought down by bad days, because bad days pass and good ones will quickly follow. You just have to focus on keeping your head up. Help the medicine help you. You got this. smile
    • dodo81786
      dodo81786 Johoben

      Posted

      Yes your are right , but it's hard to do so . I find my thoughts just rush in my mind without controlling . And fear of being like that . I wish it ends .

      Will try to follow your advice .

      Thanks a lot .

    • Johoben
      Johoben dodo81786

      Posted

      Those thoughts that rush into your mind are often uninvited, which is why anxiety is such a problem. I totally get it. My anxiety is awful most of the time. What you have to do is fill your thoughts with purposefully positive things. When you start feeling anxious or start getting attacked by sub conscious thoughts, you have to purposefully look at the bright side. Just make yourself do it, even though it's hard. And it won always make you feel better, but with practice it will get better. Just start small. When you're having an anxious day, look outside and appreciate the blue sky, or think of 5 things in that moment that you're thankful for. Just try it out and see if it changed anything! smile
    • dodo81786
      dodo81786 Johoben

      Posted

      Really thanks a lot your advice is helpful . I will try it although it's hard bec thoughts just rush without control but I try to avoid it continuously .

    • don45258
      don45258 Johoben

      Posted

      Your trying to make it sound so easy it's not like that just because your getting better doesn't mean everyone else is
    • Johoben
      Johoben don45258

      Posted

      I'm actually not getting better. I actually feel awful most of the time. I can't function unless I'm on Xanax. I wake up at 5am having full panic attacks, I've reached an unhealthy amount of weight loss because I can't eat, I'm working on all of my finals in college right now which is adding to the anxiety, I'm struggling to leave the house and work at my job... You assumed I'm doing well based on me trying to be positive, but that's just silly. It's so important to try and stay positive, even when you don't feel like being positive is possible. It's extremely hard for me, but I know that keeping positive does actually help, which is why I suggested starting easy. Just think of 5 things you are thankful for or that make you happy. The hard part once you start practicing will be stopping at 5 things. wink
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