Increased Anxiety before taking daily meds?
Posted , 4 users are following.
I am taking Sertraline for anxiety. 21 days @ 25mg and now 5 days @ 50mg. I am taking my meds at 7am with food. I have noticed now that every morning my anxiety will spike in the 45 minutes before and after my dosage. I am trying to maintain a strict schedule - I don't want to take it earlier each day, afraid that I will give in to the anxiety i have when I wake up and need the meds earlier and earlier.
Is this morning anxiety due to the ramping up of the dosage and because I haven't reached the theraputic level/the correct dosage for me yet? Or does everyone experience this daily when its time to take their meds because the previous days dose has worn off?
I'd appreciate any suggestions/advice.
thanks very much. CG
0 likes, 13 replies
mariaisms19 CG1964
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CG1964 mariaisms19
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mariaisms19 CG1964
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pauliepie CG1964
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Also my dreams are the weirdest I've ever had sinse being on this drug.
That's probably no help to you whatsoever!! but I thought I'd share my experience re. mornings.
P
CG1964 pauliepie
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pauliepie CG1964
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I started taking my meds in the evening but this (for me) was worse, so my doctor suggested taking them in the morning, circa 7am, that way it tends to settle in your system during the day. For me personally I was worse when I was taking it in the evening because I just could not get to sleep for hours and hours and for me personally that was worse. I'm no GP but I'd say ride it out as you are as long as you can taking in the morning as a change can often make you worse. Just my take on it though.
Stay strong you are not alone.
Paul
CG1964 pauliepie
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Tomorrow will be day 27, 6th day @50mg and I am hoping that within a few more days the side effects should lessen - really wish the heightend anxiety is the first to go! I am going to stick with the morning dosage until I have given the 50mg 5 weeks to do its thing.
I hope you get some sleep tonight. I am going to try rescue remedy drops that someone suggested i take when i wake in the night. i'll let you know if they work.
Please know that your support is greatly appreciated.
ann35714 CG1964
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The side effects will go. I take 50mg in the morning and It took 4 weeks before the side effects ceased. I still wake in the night. What I do is put music on through a cd player with the headphones in my ear, Sounds crazy but that does work for me.You concentrate on the music and that certainly relaxes your mind. You take care. Ann
CG1964 ann35714
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another night of wakefulness - I tried the rescue remedy however it didnt seen to make much difference. I had a brief nap around 1pm yesterday (fell asleep while watching tv with my daughter) that lasted around 20 minutes and i think that may have contributed to the insomnia. I got up and read for an hour and then was at least able to get back into bed to 'rest' but not really sleep. I will try the music idea tonight Ann, thanks for the suggestion.
Hope you both fared better than i did last night. CG
pauliepie CG1964
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I went back to see my doctor this morning, I’m not ashamed to say I broke down in front of him. im only on day 7 and the anxiety is crippling me (i didn’t start taking this drug for anxiety incidentally, it was only for depression) I know that might seem to some as being overdramatic, using the verb "crippling" but I don’t think it's until you’ve really experienced it for yourself you (one) can really understand just how bad this feels.
The lack of sleep i can cope with (pretty much) it reminds me of when my son was little! the banging headache all day long -no problem, the flu-like symptoms –any day, the lack of appetite -fine, the nausea the dizziness, the blurred vision, the shakes and the constant ringing in my ears, 'the trots' too - BRING IT ON! bring them all on, but the anxiety from the early hours to mid to late afternoon that is utterly debilitating. leaving what little respite there is for the late afternoon/early evening, when you are too tired to care and end up nodding off and missing it anyway!
For me personally I wake around 3 maybe 4am and that’s it, I can feel the anxiety creep in and that’s it for me, I know the chances of getting back to sleep are virtually impossible. The trouble with this is by 2-3 in the afternoon you are yawning your head off. that in itself i have no problem with but this Anxiety i now feel: HORRENDOUS! I tried last night watching some TV and reading in order to try to keep myself awake as long as possible to try to sleep longer in the mornings and thus avoid a few more hours of the darkness (i don’t mean darkness in the literal sense, i mean the terror that is anxiety) but it was to no avail. I think today is the worst that I have ever felt, and its terrifying me what tomorrow has in store for me. I was fortunate enough to talk to a friend who has experienced exactly the same feelings and that I found “comforting” to just know I am not the only one feeling this bad, and hopefully given time it will pass.
My doctor has given me some diazepam 2mg tablets he said I could take in the early hours of the morning it it gets too unbearable, but I am a little scared to take one, sounds daft I know but just feel like its one drug to counteract another. But I’ll see how I go and try one if I get really desperate. I just keep clinging onto the fact that the general consensus is the first two weeks are the worst.
It is entirely possible that I feel worse today because I feel guilty that this weekend just gone was my weekend with my son of 7 and we are always out and about doing things, here there and everywhere having fun non-stop. This weekend however, we left the house once to go to the park (and even that was a real struggle) I know my child understands that I’m currently “poorly” and I’ve told him that when I am better I will make it up to him but the guilt is really weighing on me on top of everything else.
Anyhoo before this turns into War and Peace I shall leave it there, I must say though having this forum is really good to be able to see other peoples experiences and coping mechanisms (or lack thereof) and know you (one) are not alone and there ARE countless others going through exactly what YOU are going through. I just wish I could convince my brain of this fact.
Hoping and praying that tomorrow is, if not better (as I’m not expecting miracles) but Its not worse than today. Apologies that post has ended up all me me me, but sometimes it feels good to let it out.
Wishing everyone better days to come. Stay strong (says he with conviction! And more than a hint of irony)
Paul
PS apologies for the apparent blatant disregard for the correct use of any form of grammar, spelling or punctuation, but quite frankly I don’t care!
mariaisms19 pauliepie
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pauliepie mariaisms19
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I'm glad you are now on the mend though. it seems such s long way off for me at the moment.. When you're really down it seems almost impossible to believe you will ever get back up again
Paul
CG1964 pauliepie
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Feel free to vent your feelings anytime. I am here to listen. It helps me deal with my own journey, and gives me a sense of belonging that I need right now. CG