Sertraline Anxiety High Psych Recc.

So far the nurse asst. asked me if I wanted to go back to 100mg because the psychiatrist told me to or because I wanted to. Hopefully the NP listened to the doctor that called her. She also asked me if I could work outside the home so I'm not constantly thinking. That is not how anxiety works. Wish me luck

I couldn't handle my initial 25 and had to buzz down to 12.5 for 2 weeks, then up to 25 for another 2 weeks. Bumping up to 50 made me nuts, so I settled in at 37.5. Not sure what the rationale is for the giant sudden jumps except to think that by getting you up high sooner, you'll get the benefits of the higher dosage sooner. (?) I couldn't handle the side effects of the jumps and my doctor didn't disagree with me on what I did. Stay strong about what you feel will work for you. Getting acclimated is clearly harder for some than for others.

So long story short the CNP was mad. She told me that she just seen me 2 days ago and didn't understand because I was doing well (although I told her I wasnt and about the obsessive thoughts) and that I didn't tell them I had a psychiatrist appointment (I did) and that she GUESSES she going to leave me at 100mg (she tried saying I wasnt taking the 150 yet but I have for 2 days) and "I guess we're going to put you on propanolol" because that's what the psych recommended. So I'll be on that 3x a day. Its a BP med but I guess it helps sort of like klonopin but safer/not addictive. Then she asked when I was going back with them and what I wanted to do and I told her the psych told me that if I had any issues that I was I call her and she is to call the psych. She also told me I need to go outside more. These people clearly don't know how anxiety works. I'm not miserable because I want to be! Ugh. Frustrated but thankful the psychiatrist helped me even if it made her mad. She is not trained in this, he is. She needs to realize that.

Well done for being strong, I hate it when they don't know what they are talking about , for me it was a NP that got me ill in the first place. I'm so upset about it.

Yeah I wasn't having these issues until I went to see her. I'm so mad and miserable. Hoping this propanolol will help soon

Good for you for standing your ground! Lots of us are suffering out here due to ill-advised medical recommendations. I'm glad you're in better-qualified hands. 

I will say this though, being outside (on a good weather day) has helped me. I'm down-stepping off the sert, and it's been tough, but we went skiing recently, and I didn't want to go - I didn't want to be cold, or do all that work schlepping stuff and packing, blah blah blah. But it was sheer heaven for 2 days. Maybe if you go do something that requires you be distracted by it, that you enjoy and need to be engaged or engrossed in? Find  a supportive friend that will drag you out, just for a walk around park? - baby steps - it might get you past the hard parts. And you'd be amazed how supportive our friends and loved ones can really be when you tell them what you're doing to try to help yourself and ask for a little help from them.  

Big hugs to you! Hang in there!!! 

Thank you! I have been trying to get out a bit more and I know that I need to. It's so cold here though! haha. I'm hoping for some warmer weather soon though.

Me too! I have PCOS and it will make my insulin levels too high. When that happens, I get very anxious. My doctor knows this and didn't tell me it was high both times he did blood work last year even though I complained about anxiety. I ended up seeing the NP and she put me on zoloft. It madeven everything so much worse that I was basically agoraphobia. I only tooknow 12.5 for a week and stopped taking it. It took me almost a year to start to feel normal again. It was awful. Please go with your gut. You know what's right for you and what clearly isn't working. Good luck!

Yeah this is ridiculous. I'm at 3 weeks of 100mg tomorrow and 4 weeks all together and I'm miserable. I'm close to giving up because this medicine has made everything so much worse than its ever been.

I'm so sorry to hear that. I've done some research on this drug and I really feel like it's one of the worst out there. Maybe you should see if another medication would be better for you.

I agree with Jenny - and coming off this stuff is worse than going on. Perhaps the doctor could put you on something different before you're on a big dose for a substantial amount of time? It's supposed to make you feel better, but for me, the side effects were just too much....

I'm really thinking about it. I'm just hitting 3 weeks so I want to they another week but I'm unsure. I've spent my entire day in bed again and I'm down almost 10 pounds. All the reviews say the turning point should be right around the corner. Thanks guys <3 the support is nice. so drained. the="" support="" is="" nice.="" so="">

Hi you have replied to my posts a few times and wanted to let you know how I've got on, the proponol 40mg really got me through the last few days I've never felt so low and spending days in bed like you just crying wishing it was night time and another day. Today I ventured out I started to feel slightly normal the thoughts and anxiety were still there but before I knew it I had shopped rang the car garage and hoovered the house, I would NEVER have said I would be doing that 5 days ago now by no means am I cured and tnrw may be another bad day but after 3 weeks of sheer hell on these tablets maybe just maybe their working, just wanted to give you a little bit of hope like you my weight has dropped deanatically 14 pounds in 3 weeks which is crazy I'm never hungry on these tablets yet the anxiety doesn't help. Fingers crossed for you, I know the other tablets which worked well for me were citrapl am I think they were called if you really think Sertraline aren't working for you xx

Thanks Alicat! I'm on 10mg 3x a day and they are helping a bit. I asked my NP if I could up them and they said no but if they don't work soon I'm going to tell the psychiatrist. I am so depressed and I'm not a depressed person. We are out and about now and I'm a little anxious but mainly just not happy. I am looking at older people wondering why they aren't freaking out about dying. That is horrid. I'm trying for one more week because that'll be 4 weeks and then I'm giving up. My initial issue which was feeling depersonalization has went away! It went away after 25mg so this really isn't worth it.

So, curious - why can't you just stay at 25?

Hope you're feeling a little better - awful how this stuff plays with your head! Hang in there!

Defo ask them about upping it I was on 10mg and it didn't help at all. The 40mg did though but yes it's not worth it if you feel this bad I went way down to such a dark place I never thought I would reach the thoughts were unbearable in fact they still are yet I guess a little easier to deal with today I will stick it out for a week like you then go back doctors don't feel guilty about thinking like that

Well the 25 wasn't working, I was still pretty anxious so the NP told me to go straight to 100 and that's when all this started. I'm so lost because I'm at 3 weeks on the 100 so idk if I should stick it out or move down.

I asked my doctor if I could and they said no that it'll take awhile to work. The anxiety has went away and the prop has helped that. But now I'm just mentally miserable. I've never been depressed in my life and my son died in front of me.

Oh dear that's awful I am so sorry. 50mg could be a better bet going straight from 25 to 100 sounds crazy, I am on 50mg mine was severe anxiety coupled with obsessive thoughts and like I said it does seem to have improved albeit only today, maybe 50mg would not have a severe effect but enough help for what you need. It might be better to ask now rather than later as then you will have the weird dizziness you get when you reduce if you leave it longer?

Yeah that's what I've been thinking. What's insane is when I told her about these weird obsessive thoughts she told me it was just me and put me up to 150! She was so mad I went behind her back and the psychiatrist proved I was right. I'm not sure if I sound push through or drop down because I don't want to drop and then need too go back up to 100. Tomorrow is 3 weeks since I started 100mg so I'm like right at that point. UGH I am so frustrated lol

I'd definitely take it up with the doctor. If the drug meets your needs at 25, I don't think you want/need all that extra stuff in your body - and please believe me when I tell you, getting OFF this stuff is AWFUL - the higher the dose and longer you're on it, the harder it is. Plus, this drug becomes less effective over time, so they have to bump you up. In the medical establishment, you're your own best advocate, so stick to your guns. I didn't let them bully me into more than I could handle - please don't give in without a good sound explanation - especially if you feel as awful as you're saying. Hugs to you! We're all put here pulling for you! (c:

Thank you! I have been debating all day if I'm going to try for another week or drop to 50. Still unsure at this point. My NP is so unreliable at this point but I've gotta go through her until my psychiatrist appointment in April. I'm told 100-150 is the therapeutic dose for anxiety. So... it's all in the air right now.

Ok, so I forgot to take my miniscule dose of 6.5 yesterday and today and when i realized it this afternoon, I was really hoping my body wouldn't miss it -- no such luck - back to the pinpricks and itching, especially with some chocolate )c: GRRRRRRRR. So I'll go take the miniscule amount now, but will skip tomorrow and sub a StJW and see if it's enough..... I hate this. GRRRRrrrrrrrrrr.....

Be careful with the StJW, I've read that it can interact with the sertraline.

Thank you - yes, I've read the same with fears of Seratonin Syndrome, so I did some research on subbing one for the other, and I don't think it will be a problem - I think this taper has my body screaming for seratonin to be honest. But I have to start small with anything anyway because I've found myself to be super-sensitive to these kinds of meds/chemicals. I can't even shake 6.5mgs of the sert, which has me aggravated. One StJW and a 1/2 dose of benedryl and the itching and skin pricks are less, but I'm not risking more that that before bed.

You need to eat, Brillo! I lost of bunch of weigh initially on the sert, and I was dizzy and lightheaded. I read that plenty of B-vits (derived thorugh food being better) are very helpful, so I ate plain Greek yogurt with lots of blueberries for breakfast and it helped with the gross nauseous feeling. Being productive and trying to cross things off the lists made me feel better too, but honestly it was hard to get off my duff to do them - the sert made me very sleepy and lazy (which didn't really help cuz I felt MORE depressed than when I started on it...).

I will post how this all goes - I at least feel like I'm more in control again. Thank you all for the honest help - I was having a miserable time trying to do this on my own - I'm not so scared of what I'm dealing with anymore either. Hugs to all of us--

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