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Need help deciding

Posted , 10 users are following.

laura36585
laura36585

I just can’t seem to decide on upping my dose from 50 to 75.   I have had a few really good days but now I’m back to feeling anxious again and thoughts racing I don’t know if I should up or stick it out.  It’s been almost 7 weeks.  What’s your thoughts guys I could do with some help.  X

0 likes, 65 replies

65 Replies

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  • darla_22432
    darla_22432 laura36585

    Posted

    I actually just today went from 50 to 75 mg. I’m really hoping the side effects are minimal. It used to be anxiety that really got to me but right now I am really struggling with the depression. I have anxiety about upping meds all the time which is why I’ve been thinking about it for a week before I finally did it. I have been on 50mg for 5 weeks. 
    • laura36585
      laura36585 darla_22432

      Posted

      I am waiting on a call back from my doctor so will prob be starting 75 today too.  You Brenda and I can be the three musketeers then, we can help each other through it.  I’m hoping side effects will be minimal.   Good luck Darla x 
  • laura36585
    laura36585

    Posted

    spoke to my doctor and she said no increase for at least another 1-2 weeks as she thinks I have been so sensitive to the 50 already and doesn’t want to set me back with symptoms if I increase.  So I guess I’m just waiting it out.   Good luck to you guys who have upped, keep posting here and let me know how you are getting on.   Love and hugs to you all today xx 
    • darla_22432
      darla_22432 laura36585

      Posted

      I’m surprised they didn’t want to raise you! Although they told me the same thing a few weeks ago because I was still having really bad diarrhea from the medication. At this point though I’ll take the diarrhea if it means I might feel better! I lay in bed every morning just dreading the day and the future and there’s no reason for any of it. 
    • laura36585
      laura36585 darla_22432

      Posted

      I had a few visits to a&e with high bp and tachycardia since starting this, I had a 24 heart monitor on last week as they thought perhaps I had irregular heartbeat still waiting on results but this is why doc doesn’t want to upset the Apple cart quite yet.  X

    • darla_22432
      darla_22432 laura36585

      Posted

      I just saw the doctor today and my blood pressure was a little up, 140/80. They said it’s come and gone over the years but they aren’t worried about it. My heart rate was 95, I had an ekg recently but they said it all looked fine. This anxiety stuff really makes us not feel well and we get all these tests done..:it’s just awful. I’m shaky and out of it today. I have to go back to work tomorrow and I’m hoping things settle. Increasing medication is never easy. I am just so tired of suffering with this crap. 
    • laura36585
      laura36585 darla_22432

      Posted

      Aw Darla that’s a shame I’m sorry you feel so crap.   My bp is up and down like a yo-yo I know it’s to do with my anxiety.   Hopefully you will be calmer tomorrow and have a better day.  Positive vibes to you tonight X
  • Izzybee10
    Izzybee10 laura36585

    Posted

    Thanks for having this discussion, like you and Brenda were saying it becomes an agonising decision about whether to increase or not! 

    I’m at 8 weeks now and the side effects are starting to settle. I can see some signs of improvement but it’s so slow. I managed to do a bit of the things I see as ‘stressful’ and getting back to ‘normal’ but once it got a bit too much i’ve reverted back to the ‘comfortable’ to recover ??.

    My doctor probably won’t really advise properly but would be so useful to know whether you just carry on with the slow process or would increasing actually help?!

    Another day anyway and support to you all  😊 x 

    • laura36585
      laura36585 Izzybee10

      Posted

      You explained the way I feel so well, I am getting braver very slowly but I am definitely getting some positives now, I think some people who are less sensitive to these meds manage increasing and start ups really well, the first time I took sertraline I was one of those people.  But this time it’s a different story completely and It is taking aaaaaages to see improvements but I do believe 7 weeks in that they are starting to happen.  X
    • annie57651
      annie57651 Izzybee10

      Posted

      Hi Izzybee

      You have hit the nail on the head. I am exactly the same space you are on 50mg for about a month. I’m “content” & calm as long as I’m at home & doing very little but not keen to push myself too much .

      I love the peace & quiet .

      This is such an agonizing decision & I don’t think even the Doctors can accurately decide for us. What I do know is that most people do “best” at 100mg.

      I’m very grateful for this group.... it’s about real people with real issues.

      We can do this together.

      Strength to all today.

      X

    • Hoopz
      Hoopz Izzybee10

      Posted

      You may have read some of my posts. I had really horrid side effects and was in that catch 22 position not knowing whether to increase or decrease but I kept increasing.

      I was off work for 8 months as I had constant panic attacks and palpitations and ridiculous exhaustion.

      Slowly I felt better ..panic attacks stopped.

      I can quite honestly say I've not had a panic attack since 75mg. But I was up and down with anxiety and felt like I couldn't breathe.

      I have been on 150mg now for a month and oh my god I feel so much better. I'm so glad I kept going. I had a rocky week last week because I decided to go back to work and that made me a bit anxious.

      Anyway I went back and all is well. I still feel a bit spaced sometimes and I'm not good at open spaces ( but I never have been lol)

      Sertraline has saved my life seriously. Fingers crossed that 150 is my dose

      Don't give up the fight

      🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄🦄

  • Izzybee10
    Izzybee10 laura36585

    Posted

    Thanks guys it does at least help doesn’t it to hear about what other people experience. The support is also great! 

    I’ve been off work before when I took this last year and it worked a lot quicker and with less side effects. This time because it’s taking longer i’m conscious that i’m off again and that adds to wanting to hurry things up but I suppose you can’t rush your mind ??.

    I’m also considering CBD oil, somebody has posted about this and if it does help with sleep that would be such a good thing for me. Maybe that and the sertraline rather than increasing the dose 🤔😊 x

    • laura36585
      laura36585 Izzybee10

      Posted

      I am off work too Izzy.   And I know what you mean, it’s constantly on my mind that I need to hurry up but that doesn’t help at all.  X
  • annie57651
    annie57651 laura36585

    Posted

    Same here.Not being productive causes guilt.& guilt causes impatience .Its a bad cycle.The reality though is that despite our current incapacity due to an illness (from no real fault of ours), is crippling.My constant worry is that whatever Im not attending to currently,is still piling up & that I will have  a mountain to attend to at some point.

    Still on 50 & I'm on day 34(as you can see Im counting the days).

    Does anyone else feel the need to "sleep in" until at least 9am,irrespective of the amount of nite time sleep????

    Prior to Sertraline,I was able to push myself to be awake by 6.30am at least.

    • Izzybee10
      Izzybee10 annie57651

      Posted

      Unfortunately I have the opposite of not getting enough sleep and waking up early! That was nothing new to me though i’ve always been an early bird. The only difference at the moment is not getting up straight away because I don’t want the day to be too long ☺️. I did have some time earlier in the process where I didn’t want to get out of bed and felt I couldn’t but also wasn’t asleep. That’s passed and it was worse than at the moment 

      x

    • annie57651
      annie57651 Izzybee10

      Posted

      Thanks Izzy. I think you spot on. I probably am sleeping more so that I don’t have to face the day too. It has improved though . Previously I too wanted to just stay in bed. Even though I’m rising later than normal , I am better at getting going if I need to & my mood does improve slowly & is best by the evening.

    • laura36585
      laura36585 annie57651

      Posted

      I am sleeping worse on sertraline.  I wake every few hours and don’t feel rested.  Then I crash in the afternoon and have a nap but the way I see it is this is recovery.  If you need to sleep more or take a nap then do it, it’s what your body is asking for.   I also have a mountain of stuff to do Annie but the mountain can wait.   We can tackle it all when we are stronger.   I cancelled my cbt today because it’s so hot and I can’t cope with the heat and trying to listen to cbt woman prattling on so staying home with my fan instead lol.  X
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