Posted , 11 users are following.
Hi guys I hope all is well ive been on sertraline for 5 days 50mg moving up to 100mg Friday. My thoughts are crazy and non stop, and have been for weeks. I was on Citalopram 6 weeks before and changed over. Will this pass? Whats the best dosage? I guess no one can say how long it last. Thank you so much
0 likes, 25 replies
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sandra05603 Hampton18
Edited
Hi there intrusive thoughts are just horrible aren't they.Sertraline is a really good drug but personally I was very unwell 18 months ago and changed from sertraline to mirtazapeine combined with a two week short dose of diazapen this combination worked amazingly for me and after being very unwell for 5 months I made a recovery. I remember reading other people's stories when I was unwell and truly thought I would never get better but I have went back to my job and I'm very happy and getting on with loving life.These horrible mental health things do seem to get better with time something you find hard to believe when your in the middle of it.I actually saw a psychiatrist he changed my medication and I emediately started to recover best decision I made hope your soon starting to feel better it if not don't hesitate to take professional advice .
Hampton18 sandra05603
Posted
Thank you so much for replying means alot to me. The thoughts and did you ever have urges to pick things up or is that all linked? Its terrible so scared
sandra05603 Hampton18
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Hi I think the mind picks up on thoughts that you personally may think are the worst or most horrible thoughts the more you fight to push them away the worse they seem to get it horrible and frustrating though it's difficult you must tell yourself you are unwell at the moment they are just thoughts and that they will pass and go away when the meds start to work the nature of the beast though us that you don't believe it when your in it but eventually with the right dosage of medication and time you will get better.I know how mentally unwell I was 18 months ago I used to cling to every word anyone sent me on here desperate to be well and truly believing I ever would but I am now back in work very happy busy enjoying life to the full and believe me I was dreadfully unwell for nearly six months but I have made a full recovery and so will you .
Hampton18 sandra05603
Posted
Thank you. Sounds exactly like how I feel, its like everything is out of control and the silliest thoughts keep coming its horrible
One23 Hampton18
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Hi Hampton
I know what you are going through. I had OCD, intrusive thoughts which were so out of this world and uncomfortable about 20 years ago. Like mentioned by Sandra, I could never think to get back to normal. I remember looking at people walking outside and they are so lucky, not having what I have in my mind.
I saw such an awesome psy who gave me Clomipramine and was ok when I turned down counselling. He was always very kind. It was NHS. he was south African.
Long story short, I made a full recovery, with those horrible thoughts diasappearing without me realising. I switched to sertraline many years after as the then GP thinks thst it is good to try the newer anti depressants which have less side effects. I have been on Sertraline 100mg eversince. I feel fine on Sertraline. Every one recovers. My son's psy told him. He is now on week 7 of Clomipramine, just short of 3 weeks on 150mg. He takes 15mg of Mirtazapine for help to sleep and a very small dose of Quetiapine 25mg as combination. He has been anti d resistant. It hasn't started to have effect on my son, 19, yet, but I am hopeful. Like you he cannot think that he will recover. I believe we will. The right med, and a caring community like this forum, a dose of comedy, sunshine, some exercise and courage will all work towards recovery. The sertraline is working while you are feeling down. It just needs to power up and will lift you when you least expect it. Do continue writing. I will also post how my son is doing. Currently he is foggy and feeling low. As a family, we are always here to listen and comfort and care. He went to a high school that ruled by fear, shouting and making pupils terribly guilty in front of your friends in class for just forgetting to bring in a maths book, He has been on high alert since then, 8 years now. He suffers so badly because he has such a pure and kind heart, putting others first. It is time the guilt stops and he must put himself first. It is not being selfish but like the saying goes, you cannot pour from an empty cup. Same goes for you Hampton. Look after yourself very well, every moment is a new moment..you are a survivor! like me, like many others here.
Hampton18 One23
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Thank you it is terrible and you feel like you cant go on. My mind obsesses about everything is that normal?, I am sure the meds made me worse I wasn't this bad until I took them. I hope your son gets well. Always here to talk as It feels like you are alone, I just want to hide from myself but I am stuck in my head for now
Jane859 Hampton18
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hi there,
i'm on starting week 11 tomorrow and can totally empathise with you. my ocd and intrusive thoughts have made me so much worse after starting sertraline, i obsess about everything and like previously mentioned in the post it is the worst things possible that could happen or i could feel that comes into my head and it really is awful. partner of 6 years i completely love when the thoughts come bad it makes me think i dont love him and i do, little things i obsess over its awful! didn't think like this before the tablets 😦 i hope it gets better for us!!
Hampton18 Jane859
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Hi Jane its so bad as you feel alone and no one can she how crippling it is. What dose are you taking i'm going up to 100. I'm praying time and the meds work. Never had it this bad. Always here to talk. One day at a time I guess, so sad we live like this. It will pass I hope
One23 Hampton18
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Hi Hampton
Its ok to feel down, as you switch meds..there will be highs and lows..then more good days fewer bad days...Many anti d makes us feel worse, so much worse better it starts to work. Anti d inhibits the reuptake of the chemicals needed for us to feel well again. Reason is to trick our body in thinking 'hey we are very lacking in serotonin for eg, and then more serotonin is made available. when there is enough to lift your mood, you will naturally start to feel the effect. so while it is gathering force, do tell us how you feel and let us help you through this time.
I had postnatal ocd and yes it was horrible..thoughts of harming the baby etc. It was constantly going through in my head, unbearable. Took months for meds to work and i began to have more days when I can feel relief and not burdened by the thoughts. I had bad days too and my psy was always very kind and that made a huge difference.
My son had his first therapy consultation via video today. He was understandably jittery and very anxious and I reassured him, it is ok to be foggy. The therapist is here to help him and it is a good thing that he understands how he actually is to find a way tailored to my son. He did not have to pretend, just be himself. I am happy to say my son is happy with the therapist and is continuing. He has a few good moments during the evening but also low mood and feeling of guilt and shame intermixed. It is early days but I see it as a good sign. Eversince my recovery from ocd , I learnt to or rather try to see the positive in things. Will keep you posted and thanks for caring Hampton. I know you are recovering too..as you can put your suffering in words.This is a big win! Do continue messaging as every little helps!
Gotta sleep now...
Jane859 Hampton18
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im currently only on 25mg i started on 50mg but side effects were far too severe. i might need to up to 50mg soon but i wanted to see if 25mg would work first as im scared of side effects returning. anxiety and ocd is high in this moment and time with whats going on in the world so not sure if its me or this situation thats effecting me hope ur okay!
Hampton18 Jane859
Posted
Yeah thats what people say to me but we are so caught up in our heads we cant see anything else its so frustrating. Just want my head to stop. Hope you are well one day at a time or even one hour
GodsServant Hampton18
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Hi Hampton, I've been there, where you are at right now. I promise you - this too shall pass and it will all get better. I think 100mg is usually a good maintenance dosage and I, like you, had OCD intrusive thoughts 24/7 such that I couldn't function. And right now I am fine, hardly an OCD thought, unless I get really stressed and tired. So hang in there. Oh, yes, it takes about 3-4 months to help with OCD/anxiety first and longer for depression. I happen to have both.
Take care. I know it's hard during this time, but try to eat well, get plenty of rest and sleep, and a bit of exercise if you can.
Hampton18 GodsServant
Posted
Thank you so much my mind obsesses about the strangest things is this normal? I keep thinking its me but I was never this bad at all before the meds! I am going up to 100 Friday
GodsServant Hampton18
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YES! That's what OCD is. You are aware it is completely irrational but you can't stop obsessing about it and your mind goes in circles and it drives you mad, so this is completely normal. It is an illness. Think of it as a brain cell that is like a mistake and it couldn't stop firing the same route over and over. It's like a short circuit.
Sometimes sert will make you seem more anxious and then it gets better. Here are some other tips that would help: do NOT take any caffeine; try to eat healthy, comfort foods, get enough rest and sleep, and some exercise, like a walk or something strenuous - it will help reduce the anxieties.
Hampton18 GodsServant
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Thank you I am taking one day at a time hoping I recover its so scary I have had this before but it always comes back different and I wasn't aware it was ocd
Jane859 Hampton18
Posted
hi Hampton,
how are u now? i was the same i always associated OCD with cleaning! it really is awful, ive not been good lately and reading over the forum to calm myself down. hope ur ok