Sertaline Increase

Posted , 4 users are following.

Hi. 

I went to the Dr's suffering with what I thought was a heart problem. Turns out it was anxiety. Suffered with panic attacks and depression all my life, but this was something completely different.

Racing/thumping heart, hot and cold sweats/ dizziness, shaking. 

About 3 months ago I was put on Sertraline (50mg), took around 4/5 weeks to actually make a difference. I saw some improvements but I still wasn't feeling 100%. I was then put up to 100mg, which was about a week ago, and I feel like I've taken massive steps backwards, going back to how I felt before the medication began to work.

Not sure whether I should go back to the Dr's and explain this, or carry on taking them?

Any help would be fantastic.

Thank you.

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi Hannah. I've had similar experience. I have anixety and depression. Ive been on 50mg for nearly six weeks and I didnt feel any better, my heart would be racing every morning. My dose has now gone up to 100mg and this is my second day. I was scared to go up a dose but my doctor said give it two weeks. It will take a while for your body to get used to the higher dose. Hang in there!

    • Posted

      Thank you so much for your response.

      I just feel awful all the time again since the dr upped the dose.

      Just constantly feel like my body is going to throw itself backwards, if that makes any sense. 

      Such a strange feeling. Always feel like my hearts in the back of my throat.

      I guess I'll just have to keep up with it. And hope it works!

    • Posted

      I know how you feel, it's awful. What symptoms are you having?. My mood is low today but anixety not to bad. I guess we have to take it one day at a time but we will get there.

    • Posted

      There's a few. Lightheaded, dizziness, heart feels like it's missing a beat, or beating too hard or fast, struggle staying asleep. And many more really, depending on the kind of day I'm having.

      What about you?

  • Posted

    Oh no wonder your feeling fed up!, it's hard dealing with all those symptoms. I'm struggling to stay asleep and I wake really early and just can't get back off to sleep. The odd headache and awful fatigue, mood is up and down and anxiety is up and down too. I Hope your feeling better really soon. It won't be to long I'm sure. X

    • Posted

      I've suffered with depression and panic attacks all my life. But this is just another extreme. Like nothing I've ever felt before. I don't panic as such, not had a panic attack for about a year now. But I'm told that anxiety and panic attacks are very different things.

      I have nothing to be anxious about, my life is very settled and normal. It just came on suddenly! X

  • Posted

    Hello Hannah

    well from my experience I wouldn't go back because they will only put you on a higher dose it takes longer than 4 to 5 weeks to really get into your system anyway. It is up to you though. I am only going by what I have been through. I wish I had never heard of Sertraline and I had stayed on Citalopram. Hope you soon feel better.

    • Posted

      Thanks for your reply. I was feeling slightly better on the 50mg, I was a bit up and down but felt ok. And I was on that for about 3 months.

      Since I have been taking the 100mg, I've gone back to square one.

      I didn't know if that was normal or not. Or the dosage was too high.

  • Posted

     Hey Hannah  I totally can relate I was wondering why you went from 50 to 100 and didn't try a smaller increments increase I'm currently on 62 1/2 and I'm trying to decide if I need to go up to 75 or not I tried it for a couple days and I didn't really like how I felt so I drop myself back down but my doctor thinks I should be up to 75 still figuring out what I should do to I do think it's helped me however I just still have good and bad days too!

    I do think every titration up takes a while to adjust too. That's annoying......

    • Posted

      Thanks for your reply.

      I was never offered a smaller jump up, he just put it straight up to 100mg. 

      I guess it's just like starting it from the beginning all over again, with the side effects and what not. 

      I just wasn't expecting it as he never mentioned this would happen. 

      It's very frustrating especially when it comes from nowhere and you think your life is going down the right path for once! Hope you feel better soon!

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