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Is Sertraline working?

Posted , 6 users are following.

samantha41589
samantha41589

Hi

I have been on Sertraline for coming up to 14 weeks now. During that time I've had good spells but I just dont know if its the Sertraline working.

I increased my dose 16 days ago from 150 to 200mgs and after about 6 days on the increased dose I found myself going downhill. I get very trapped in my mind where no matter what I'm doing I cant distract from it, which results in me feeling very disconnected from life and very low. This is what became very bad and then on top of that last sunday I started feeling anxious; not cripplingly but enough to be unpleasant and to further shackle my awareness to my mind.

My question is could this be down to the increase in dose, even though that was 16 days ago, and can anyone else relate to the constant awareness of your mind? This for me is one of the worst aspects of anxietyas it prevents me from losing myself in activities and being 'in the moment'. I liken it to when you think about a word over and over and it then looks unfamiliar and strange; the constant awareness of my mind does this to my life.

I'm feeling pretty desolate atm, like life is passing me by, and so am reaching out for some encouragement from people who may be able to relate.

Thankyou for taking the time to read this,

Sam x

1 like, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • MibuKyo
    MibuKyo samantha41589

    Posted

    Hi!

    I have that constant anxiety and intrusive thoughts too, and it was most prominent during starting and increasing the Sertraline dose. Usually it levels out after a month or so on a stable dose. But recently I missed a dose and the anxiety and mind loops came back very strong. That was 2 weeks ago and I still feel terrible. sometimes I wonder if I was better off before the Sertraline since when I started it I got way stronger anxiety than before... But I am hanging in there because I have had a few weeks of feeling good. The best way for me to overcome anxiety is to challenge the anxiety and just do stuff that I like or I know is good for me even though the anxiety is telling me just to just lie down in my bed. Like just try to become its friend instead of fighting it.

    • samantha41589
      samantha41589 MibuKyo

      Posted

      Thank you for replying. I'm sorry you are feeling bad after missing a dose.

      My anxiety was very severe before taking Sertraline so it has definitely improved since taking it. I continue to do everything I would normally, just with this horrible state of mind!

      I hope you feel better soon. I guess it shows how powerful the drug is if 1 missed dose can have such an impact!

      Take care x

  • kat47033
    kat47033 samantha41589

    Posted

    Dear Samantha,

    Hang on in there as you will come through this time. I think it may be the increased dosage too high too soon. Did your GP advice this Samantha?

    I am a CBT therapist and work with people with anxiety and depression. I am a qualified eating disorder therapist also. You can read more about me on my website www.nourished-renewed.me I cannot give advice on here and go against your GP's advice.

    Wishing you all the very best Samantha and really hope you feel better soon.

    Kathryn

    • samantha41589
      samantha41589 kat47033

      Posted

      Hi Kathryn

      Thank you for replying. I am under the care of a Psychiatrist and he advised the increase. He said we might even have to go beyond 200mgs to reach a therapeutic dose.

      I've looked at your website and would really like to talk further. I will make contact with you soon.

      Thank you again,

      Sam x

    • kat47033
      kat47033 samantha41589

      Posted

      Hi Sam,

      Thank you for taking the time to look at my website. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Take care. Kathryn x

  • sue74917
    sue74917 samantha41589

    Posted

    Hi Sam, it could be that your dose is too high, if you were having good times on the lower dose but it wasn't consistent then probably all you needed was more time, it is always best to settle completely on a dose before making any changes. Sertraline is a very slow acting drug that takes weeks to regulate. You have 2 choices really, persevere on the higher dose and see if things are any better in a week or 2 or go back down to the lower dose where you were beginning to make progress and give that more time. Sorry I can't be of more use to you but I do wish that some Dr's (not all) would give the patients more time on their dose rather then just throwing higher doses at them in the hope it will work

    • samantha41589
      samantha41589 sue74917

      Posted

      Hi Sue

      Thank you for replying.

      I think my Psychiatrist anticipated I would need a high dose as I have previously been on Paroxetine and Escitalopram that stopped working at 9 and 6 years respectively. When my anxiety returned in October last year (I have very severe physical symptoms that then cause obsessive thoughts and derealisation) we tried Paroxetine again but it didn't work.

      I think I will persevere on the higher dose, given that I'm 17 days in, in the hope that it will level out in a few weeks.

      I so hate feeling like this; In the last 10 months I have gone from being a happy, bubbly mother of 3 working as a Manager of 14 people, to an unemployed shell of a person. I pray that Sertraline will work for me as I'm desperate to get my life back.

      Sam x

    • sue74917
      sue74917 samantha41589

      Posted

      Sam I was on citalopram 3 times in the past but for some reason the 4th time it did not work and made me feel worse both physically and mentally. This is my first time on sertraline and I have to say it seems so much more effective with less side effects, although probably at the moment you may not agree, I am sorry to hear that you are no longer who you used to be but you sound like a strong person who is just having a bit of a rough time at the moment, I truly believe you will find your way back to where you were once you are settled in your dose

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