Increase dose? Side effects? Need reccomendations and info!
Posted , 3 users are following.
Hi all!
Haven't posted in awhile as I am trying to get on with my Life but am still not back to where I need to be. Been on sertraline at 50mg this time around some the end of September. I went back to work the first of the year and had hoped it may help with my recovery although I work many hours at a stressful job. I have a about 4 to 5 days a week that the anxiety isn't as intense and will actually feel like myself again a good portion of the day. I feel positive and think it is going on the right direction. Then bam I will have a couple days that anxiety is intense all day making me teary, sick and heart beating forcefully basically the entire day. Awful feeling. I have toyed with increasing but am terrified of the side effects and am afraid I will be totally non functioning and unable to work again after returning just 2.5 months ago. Don't know what to do and need some words of encouragement, advice etc. Did you have bad side effects after increasing from a dose you have been on for about 5 or 6 months? Any responses would be appreciated!
0 likes, 19 replies
GodsServant holly34337
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Hi Holly, if your concerned is the side effects, you shouldn't be too worried. This drug has been in your system for some time now. The increased dose will not lead to terrible side effects. Also you can increase by 25mg, which is taking 50mg on one day and 100mg on the next day, so it is 75mg each day. Trust me, you are going to be fine. Xx
holly34337 GodsServant
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GodsServant holly34337
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Holly, of course you could do 75mg daily! Here in the States, then you'd need to get 50mg pills and 25mg pills. For cost purposes you can just get 100mg pills and then take a 100mg pill on Day 1 and then break a 100mg pill in half (50mg) and take it the next day. That way, you don’t have to get 50mg pills and 25mg pills. I don’t know if they have 75mg pills – not to my knowledge. To me, 100mg pills give the most flexibility in managing doses.
holly34337 GodsServant
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Are you in the US? I am. I took an additional 25mg today and could feel the side effects. I had some episodes of claminess and hot, nausea like I could be sick, no appetite and just feeling yuck. I was thinking I don't know about this! I hope it doesn't last too long.... So tired of fighting this awful illness. I have taken sertraline on and off most of my life and have always managed to be okay on 50mg. It just doesnt seem to be doing it this time. That is why I have been holding out on the 50mg for so long and also don't want to face the side effects again. Thanks for your advice and words of encouragement....
GodsServant holly34337
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holly34337 GodsServant
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Morning,
I am in Arizona so sounds like we are pretty close to each other perhaps. Yes I as well started on the brand name Zoloft in the early 90's, I did have a a medical issue and was very ill for a few months starting last summer. During that episode they took me off of the sertraline trying to rule it out. Cold turkey no less! I then tried lexapro and it was an even worse experience. I then restarted sertraline a couple months later.I had My gallbladder removed after it was finally diagnosed. Was a long few months of being very ill and lots of weight loss. I really think my body was put through the ringer physically and mentally and I am having a hard time getting stable. Do you usually take 100mg when you are on it?
GodsServant holly34337
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Ok, that explained why 50mg is possibly no longer working for you the way it once did. I’m not saying it’s not working for you. It’s just not working for you as it once did. Poor you, your body has been through the ringer, no less. You’d gone for months without the med so your body’s been depleted of it and trying to build up the reserve in your system – perhaps that’s why it’s not working like it did before. But you have had around 6 months being back on 50mg (since Sept), and so…hmm, most interesting.
I had gone cold turkey a few times, too, and that’s not good. I will never do that again.
If I were you I’d go up to 75mg and stay there for 2-3 months to see the improvements. Perhaps by 2-3 months, you feel it’s too much and you can go back down to 50mg.
As for me, my biggest problem is when I’m well (symptoms at bay) I think I no longer need the med, I forget I have an illness, I hate to be reliant on med, I forget to take my med, I get off my med, I don’t take care of myself (like I run around like a headless chicken getting stuff done and not getting enough rest, eat well, or exercise). But that’s all behind me. Since getting back on 100mg on Nov 19 I’ve been good, make sure I take my med first thing I do in the morning so I don’t forget to when I get into work. I also don’t plan to get off. But the strange thing is that the psychiatrist I went to see recently is letting me “self-medicate.” He said to let him know if I feel like I want to lower my dosage to a maintenance dose and he’ll work with me in that I’ll see him more and he can monitor me. Currently the setup is to see him once a quarter for prescription refill. I also have a therapist I see once every 2 weeks, talk therapy.
I hope you feel better soon. Stay strong but be gentle with yourself. Xx
holly34337 GodsServant
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You sound exactly me. I was feeling so good the 5 or 6 years prior to this episode and I would forget to take my med too. This is just awful. I feel so sick this morning. Now I am thinking how am I going to work feeling this ill. Can't win I tell ya. I actually live right outside of Phoenix. I am about 35-40 minutes from Sky Harbor airport. I hope you enjoy yourself. I just feel like vomiting today. Do you generally get awful side effects when you have restarted?
GodsServant holly34337
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Not only do I get these horrible side effects every time I restart, what’s even scarier for me is the fear that this time around it won’t work like it once did. Or that I’d have to increase my dose, which I did this time around, too. I went up to 150mg and stayed there for 2 weeks but it made me numb and catatonic. I was like a football player – I could turn my neck because it was just that stiff! I had to rotate my body. So I went back down to 100mg.
This is my goal now: Take med every day. Try not to get HALTS (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired, Stressed). Eat well and exercise (these 2 I’m not doing yet). I plan to walk once my plantar fasciitis gets better (almost done with PT), and eat more whole grains and veggies. I did cut out chai lattes. And I try to get more rest and not overtaxed myself with too many activities when I am well.
holly34337 GodsServant
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Yes starting this time was really bad for me. Vomiting etc. I never had that the previous times. It may have been due to the gallbladder and sensitive stomach I was already having. I just don't recall it being so rough starting it the previous times. I imagine you must get the horrid increased anxiety as well then too? It is just a shame we have to have this illness and take medicine that makes you so sick on top of it all. Just not fair!
GodsServant holly34337
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holly34337 GodsServant
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GodsServant holly34337
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GodsServant holly34337
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holly34337 GodsServant
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Yes. I always take it after I eat. Never on an empty stomach. Managed to make it through 10 hours of work today, I didn't feel great a lot of it but I made it!
GodsServant holly34337
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Holly, that's wonderful! I am happy for you. Small victories, a bit each day. Ten hour day, you are my hero. But please remember you need lots of rest, so go relax, chill. Eat and sleep.
holly34337 GodsServant
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GodsServant holly34337
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holly34337 GodsServant
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