nearly two weeks in and mood dropped

Hi there. Hang on in there. It takes a little while longer for the sertraline to kick in. 3-4 weeks as I remember. I've been having therapy for many years now and I can assure you that some of the things that come to the fore really surprise you. Therapists are very skilled and bringing out the things that are at the root of the problem, even when things seem just fine with family and life around us. It's ok to have days like you're having, don't beat yourself up about it. Let it be. Things will improve soon. Keep taking the tablets and keep in touch with your GP. If after 5 weeks you're not feeling the benefits then he/she may increase your dose. X

I read Jens reply to you and I agree with her. Im in the U.S. & wondering if your doc can prescribe anything to help you until your time frame for the Sertraline works for you. 

Its been a long time for me, but I remember days like you are experiencing. Remember, you'll be okay.

Hi there.  I'm five weeks on 50 mg.  My anxiety is ebbing and flowing, some days very panicky and other days, can see light at the end of the tunnel.  For the first four weeks, I saw no improvement at all.  Think I might give it another week and if progress is still slow, will ask doc if can increase dosage.  Am making progress but it's slow - thought my medication would have been more effective sooner.  Have taken citalopram before and this seemed to work much quicker - maybe I was on a higher dosage.  Just keep in mind you will get better - it might just be it's gonna take a bit longer than you thought it would - but you will get better.  Xxxx JudeJude

Hi there splodge   responses to you are bang on   I have been on Sertraline for 10weeks now and during that time have experienced ups and downs  that made me feel more anxious   I wanted the meds to kick in straight away but realisticly looking back I have been anxious for a long time and my gp stated it wouldnt happen overnight and that I would probably feel worse before I feel better.  Now however things are defiantely on the up  I have had to change my dosage several times  its all about finding the right level for you   so although you have your dark days  they will gradually become more fewer and far between. As the others said keep with it  we have all been there  it is really hard I know when you are in a black day but you will come thru    Good Luck

Hi,

I have been taking 25mg for 14 days and just like you it started better and the last few days it has been really bad.   Last night I slept "0" hours and terrible headache  which I don't get frequetly.  I started taking this because I was light headed 24/7 and heavy breathing-  The first few days it made me sleep like a baby and the last few days almost no sleep so I'm pulling back the hours to see if taking it in the morning makes this better. I'm going to see my psychiatrist in 1 hour but I will still wait another week before I ask for a change.  I also noticed I was very jumpy last night trying to sleep.  I have been told to wait at least 2-4 weeks.

 

Hi...in the beginning I was on sertraline 50mg too. GP told me it would take a few weeks to take effect but after 4 weeks I could see absolutely no change..still extremely anxious. When I went back to gp she increased it to 75mg and that's when things started to improve..I have been on them for about a year now and definitely feeling a lot better. As everyone says hang in there...it will get better..as my doc explained it has to build up in your system over a number of weeks before it really begins to take effect..or your dosage may need to be increased slightly. Regarding counselling as someone else said it's amazing what comes up..could b something from years ago that u didn't think had affected u...worth trying maybe?

My psychiatrist described this as a 'flight of health'. As mood is controlled by more than the medication, the psych warned me that I would feel like everything was cured once I started taking the medication, but would then slump. He explained that this was because the relief at having found help and an answer would temporarily lift me before the medication started to work. This would be flight of health number one and come within a few weeks. There would then come flight of health number two when the medication actually started to work. This is the dangerous one as its is common for patients to feel so good that they feel completely cured and so stop taking the meds. It is just the medication kicking in and as you rebalance and your depression/anxiety begins to assert itself you will 'slump' again after six weeks/couple of months etc. It is therefore important to keep getting taking your meds even if you feel well as the slump can be extreme. Once you're over the first two, it gets easier and you'll quickly find a balance where you are neither feeling absolutely, take on the world, I'm completely cured and everything is brilliant good or deathly depressed, everything is awful and scary shut yourself in a room bad. In my experience his warning was spot on and I've had similar phases when changing dosage etc. I've been on 100 - 200mg for, wow, nearly five years and most of that has been balanced - but it does take time and work and is not a miracle cure. Counselling might be useful during the down phase as it is temporary and you just need to sit it out for a few days. You'll be right!

Just read about jumpiness as well - Sertraline is known for causing a 'zapping' sensation when dosages are changed or withdrawal happens. It is really horrid when it happens, especially when you're not expecting it, but is totally normal and not a sign of anything going wrong (although if you're not changing dosages and it happens it can be a sign of something not right - happened to me taking Milk Thistle as well and it was a sign the Milk Thistle was blocking the Sertraline). The zapping is similar to a sensation I had on antimalarials and is kind of a cross between your brain not moving at the same time as your head, a lift coming to a stop and someone squirting or spraying something inside your skull. Not very pleasant, but considerably better than major depression or anxiety (like I say, I'm usually on 200mg!) and widely reported and harmless. It will take a few months for everything to settle properly (more if you're working up to a higher dose) but just concentrate on the future without anxiety/depression. Its just the final hurdle.