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Sertraline don't be scared it works with the right dosage.

Posted , 81 users are following.

ilda1982
ilda1982

Hi all, for nearly 3yrs I was on sertraline, at the beginning it was awful. Dizziness, lack of interest, mood swings tired loss of appetite throwing up headaches and so on. I started at 25mg till we found the right dosage for me and that was 150mg. At this stage I was ok no anxiety, no panic attacks no fear no suicidal thoughts none of what I felt before. All of that was gone. I was me again. I felt good. When I started I was 58kg went down to 42kg had to wear kids cloths. Once I found the right dosage and started feeling good again I had everything back including my weight. Last year because I was feeling good I decided to stop it. My Gp told me it was too soon but I heard so much about the tablets I just wanted to stop them.

After a few wks I realised was to soon and asked my Gp to put me back on them. So I'm back on them and this time I went up very quickly. I started straight at 50mg then 100 then 150 and back to 200mg. I promise you it's worth going through all this side effects because after you will feel good again. This is my positive story to all of you. I really really hope it works for all of you as it did for me. Any questions please ask I will answer. Best of luck to all of you stay strong fight don't give up your friend ILDA xxx

29 likes, 230 replies

230 Replies

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  • lisa66689
    lisa66689 ilda1982

    Posted

    Hi

    Was on 10mg seroxat couldnt take anymore as too sedative. Just trying Sertraline 50mg ...taking sertraline for 3 days then 5mg seroxat on 4th day. Have tried so many times to come off Seroxat and failed. Am on meds for agoraphobia & panic. So on day 6 ..my anxiety has increased which is really putting me off sertraline...should I reduce to 25mg whilst I'm trying to taper off Seroxat ?

    Also has anyone had any good results with sertraline & agrophbia ?

    Thanks

  • debra34304
    debra34304 ilda1982

    Posted

    HI ilda how long you go off it for? And how long did it take to kick back in x
  • patrice37461
    patrice37461 ilda1982

    Posted

    I just started on 25 mg 2 weeks ago, for chronic hot flashes, and the ensuing depression that set in after dealing w these debilitating hf for years. I don't feel that much difference, though the hf have decreased, I still have this feeling of slight anxiety and impatience. I'm wondering if I should increase to 50 mg on my own.

    • victoria98049
      victoria98049 patrice37461

      Posted

      Hi Patrice

      25mg is not a therapeutic dose. It’s a starting dose and most people get relief in the 100-150mg space. Some do @ 50mg but with antidepressants, patience is needed. Speak to your doctor about increasing to 50mg. You will then need to give it about 2-4 weeks to see how you respond to that dose. If you are not experiencing much relief, then it can be increased again. Usually after a couple of weeks at 100 - 150mg, you can tell if this medication is for you. As for me I experienced some relief a few days at 150mg and have been fully functional although still not 100% and it’s been over 5 months since I started sertraline. I started at 25mg and felt much worse at that dose.  It’s definitely gotten better though although as I said, this didn’t start happening until I was on 150mg and this was about 3 months later. Hang in there - you will need to build your patience but you can definitely do it. 

  • linda42340
    linda42340 ilda1982

    Posted

    Hi ilda, I’m on 150 mg sertraline at together minute but still low mood and sickness feeling shaking etc been on it 12 weeks now. If I get upped to 200mg is it like starting from beginning again. Cant take much more!
    • victoria98049
      victoria98049 linda42340

      Posted

      If you have been on 150mg for 12 weeks and still not well then you may well need to think of changing meds. I was on 150mg for a while too and it didn’t really work, was better but not quite myself fully. Doc upped it to 200mg - I tried it for about 7-8 weeks, felt like a zombie, was incredibly tired. My psychiatrist did say that if 150mg didn’t work then it’s unlikely sertraline would be for me. Most people will get significant relief being on 150mg for that long (if the drug is right for your illness). I decided to wean off sertraline and surprisingly I’m doing much better at 100mg, not still 100% but my reasons for not weaning fully are because I’m still breastfeeding and sertraline is probably the safest during breastfeeding. Talk to your doctor - people can share experiences but a trained professional knows best. All the best, you will get there with patience and time x 
    • victoria98049
      victoria98049 linda42340

      Posted

      Oh I barely noticed side effects going up to 200mg, just more tired after a while but no horrific side effects 
  • KTRoxy6973
    KTRoxy6973 ilda1982

    Posted

    Hi guys, 

    In the midst of looking up what I could on Zoloft I came across this site and joined immediately. My daughter is 15 years old and going through some major emotional junk. She was first prescribed lamotrigine just a few weeks ago, at the lowest dose and things actually became worse. Much more anxiety, severe depression. He psychiatrist advised she stop immediately. She did and about a week later (today) was prescribed Zoloft again in the lowest dose. I am trying to hang in there, but also get as much information as I can to help her feel better as soon as possible .She stopped eating about 2 weeks ago, I can get her to eat only the bare minimum every single day with a lot of pressure and fighting. I cannot even send her to school for the final weeks of her sophomore year meaning she will now fail all of her classes. The last few times she did attend, she called me frantically to go and get her in full blown panic mode. She is going through a break up from her first real boyfriend on top of anxiety issues. She has been diagnosed with OCD so far, and her medication is solely provided for a mood stabilizer so far., but what can I expect with this medication? She is to take half a pill daily for a week and then a full dose of the lowest dosage (she has not arrived home yet with her prescription medication so I don't know the actual dosage yet) but based on what I am reading and what her psychiatrist says, the medication is slow acting? I'm scared and I just want her feeling better. ;(

  • debra34304
    debra34304 ilda1982

    Posted

    Hi ilda how long was it when you felt like ureself again after going back on sertraline x
  • nicole68893
    nicole68893 ilda1982

    Posted

    hi ilda i have currently been on sertaline 50mg for 5 weeks going on to my 6th week i am currently feeling more down then up lately. racing thoughts and a feeling of no control. shall i ask my doctor to up my dose? xx
    • victoria98049
      victoria98049 nicole68893

      Posted

      I thought I’d reply as I’m much better now and ILDA might not be following this post anymore. In my experience, Sertraline is a very very very slow acting drug... recovery can take months. For me I took it for 6 months going all the way to 200mg then coming back down to about 100mg as 200mg was too much for me. I was definitely better but not fully and still had some crappy days. But I was able to go back to work and function (and even forget my challenges for a few hours) whilst at work. However I got fed up of the very slow action and switched to venlafaxine at the beginning of May. It has been a lifesaver. I literally got back to my normal self in abt 2 weeks and I am back to my normal way of thinking plus I have loads of energy and have had no side effects either. Work with your doctor, my doctor advised me to switch from sertraline when he thought I won’t get any further benefit from it although I was reluctant due to breastfeeding. When I finally did, I can tell you I didn’t regret it. At 50mg I would say you probably need to increase your dose to 100mg (then wait about 4 weeks onnthis dose). If nothing then go up to 150mg (and wait another 4 weeks). If nothing at 150mg then a change of medication is probably needed. Hope that helps.... you will get there... you just need patience (which is hard but required). All the best 
    • nicole68893
      nicole68893 victoria98049

      Posted

      thank you so much Victoria for replying i will see how i get on and speak with my doctor x
  • bebe20421
    bebe20421 ilda1982

    Posted

    It’s so helpful to hear other people are going through the same things. I was on ceterzine after a major depressive disorder and anxiety a year after my daughter was born. I had previously been on fluoxitine for 20 years.(I am in my mid 30s). I have been on sertriline 100mg for one week. I am really struggling with anxiety and my heart racing uncontrollably. It’s the weekend and I can’t see my doctor. Any thoughts anyone? 
    • victoria98049
      victoria98049 bebe20421

      Posted

      Sorry to hear you are struggling Bebe. Sounds like it might be side effects from being on 100mg for 1 week. This illness requires so much strength and perseverance.... I don’t have any practical advice as such but i wanted to reassure you that it passes. Just continue to work with your doctor and one day, you will see light at the end of this dark tunnel. All the best x 
    • bebe20421
      bebe20421

      Posted

      Thank you so much for replying Victoria. I have had some temazapam which has helped marginally. I am not feeling suicidal, but I am just so so sick of this on going struggle. I feel like I get on top of one thing and something else comes and slams me. It’s hard to see that light at the end of the tunnel

    • victoria98049
      victoria98049 bebe20421

      Posted

      I know it’s very hard. For me it was almost impossible. I became psychotic after having my child last year and i did not recognise myself. I thought I had gone crazy. I totally understand. People told me there would be light but after months of struggling, I was certain this was the new me. Let’s just say they were right but it took many many months to get there...... not weeks like others were saying. I guess the severity of your symptoms also affects how quickly you are able to recover. Life is worth it, hang in there xx 
    • bebe20421
      bebe20421 victoria98049

      Posted

      I too was very unwell when my daughter was one. It took me at least 1.5years with medication and councilling to feel normal. Then out of the blue a month ago it started again even though I was on medication. Then they swapped my meds and I have felt even worse! I am hanging in there, but I feel like I have been through this struggle before. So much harder to hide things from a nearly 4 year old. I just walk around smiling and nothing is a problem, when I am falling apart inside. Thanks for your support. I do know this will pass. Eventually! 
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