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

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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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  • crystal_90565
    crystal_90565 ilda1982

    Posted

    Finally went up from 25 mg to 59 mg and I am starting to feel upset stomach , vivid dreams , headaches , panic attacks , and some racing thoughts , I'm praying if I just stick with it that it will get better for me ! Does this subside and how long till it subsides ? I'm doing this to get better mentally for my two children and husband that need me .
    • ilda1982
      ilda1982 crystal_90565

      Posted

      Hi crystal sorry to take long time to reply but things on my side haven't been great but about you yes all of that is normal. What I agreed with my Gp was to go up as quick as possible to not feel that many side effects. What I have done was 50mg for 2 wks then went up to 75mg for another 2wks till I reach 100mg. As the dosage was still not good I went up to 125mg for 2wks and then 150mg after 2 wks I started feeling better so I was on it for a while till my Gp decided to try 200mg and God bless her I was fine. No side effects problems didn't bother me at all no more worries not feeling scared less stress. Even the copycat I had and used to upset me couldn't bother me anymore. I was finally happy. Be positive you will get there I promise you xxx
  • Hoover2112
    Hoover2112 ilda1982

    Posted

    Just looked to find some assurances as I have been on Sertraline for 3 weeks. Not feeling great - feelings of Apathy, Paranoia, short fuse..- just "not right" it has killed the anxiety which is good. Getting other side effects of wind, some aches and pains, Jaw clenching (which I had with citalopram and hate but it hasnt given me the back ache in bed I had wiht that) but hoping these all go with time. Only on 50mg and due to go back next week for a follow up with the GP. Was on Fluoxetine which i did like - felt great in terms of mood but it would not shift the knot in my stomach. Sleeping better just feel tired when I wake up but that goes once on the move. will stick with it but run my own business and it gets hard to motivate myself at the moment.
    • susan20486
      susan20486 Hoover2112

      Posted

      Hi Hoover,

      Look at my re;ly to Sue and you'll see that I also have had problems and was just cut to 50.  It isn't getting it for anxiety but taking the side effects away.  Supplementing with xanax.  Not sure yet if this is the drug for me.  I was on Paxil over 20 years and it just pooped out.  I'm wondering if she should have just raised the Paxil to 50 or 60.  We have to keep communicating with one another to help with these adjustments.  Sue

    • Hoover2112
      Hoover2112 susan20486

      Posted

      Thanks Sue. I am booked in for my follow up with the doc next week so will see. Just can't be bothered today so going home early. Dean
    • Amalie13
      Amalie13 susan20486

      Posted

      Hey Susan.  I know this is an old post, but I was curious how you ended up doing with Zoloft.  I was also on Paxil for 17 years....and it worked beautifully for my panic disorder, anxiety and OCD.  Than I reached age 50, and it stopped.  Was on a very low dose during the 17 years, except when I needed to increase it.  Then I would always return to the lower dose.  My gyn suggested Zoloft.....and weaned me off the Paxil, simiar to your experience.  Went from 50 Zoloft to 100 Zoloft.  Been at 100 for about three weeks, and I do not feel that great.  Have bad days, and some better days.  Did you end up staying on Zoloft?  Or increasing it to 200?  Thanks
  • ilda1982
    ilda1982

    Posted

    Hi everyone hope everyone is well. Sorry I've been away for a long time. I've been through a lot this past months and trying to put everything behind my back. I'll try my best to reply to all any questions or worries you have.

    Regards Ilda xxx

    • jennifer32534
      jennifer32534 ilda1982

      Posted

      Hi can anyone tell me im on setraline for 7years for anxiety i had a baby 6months ago horrible birth ended up in emergency section i was on 50mg till i had the baby and upped it gradually after having my baby im now on 150mg since feb but now and den im having few days where i feel down just low mood anyone experience this??
    • jennifer32534
      jennifer32534 ilda1982

      Posted

      Hi ilda just wondering i was on 150mg last year i decided to reduce it couple of months ago because i felt fine!last week or that started to feel down again so doctur upped my dose to 150 again wonder how long take to work
    • melissa66574
      melissa66574 jennifer32534

      Posted

      Hi jennifer

      Same thing happened to me

      I’m back on 200 for three weeks and I can’t tell If it’s working.

      How r u Doing?

    • matt39801
      matt39801 melissa66574

      Posted

      Hi all

      Please can I ask about Sertraline.

      I had a breakdown 6 months ago , work related. I was on Citalopran 25mg and started to see a difference, although the side effects were awful, 4 weeks ago I had a melt down and just couldn’t stop crying and thinking I didn’t want to be here !

      Seen the crisis team who put me on Sertraline, started in 50mg whilst the Citalopran left my system and have now been in 100mg for 2 weeks , side effects but no where near as bad as Citalopran.

      Still crying a lot , no energy or motivation, can’t leave the house without Diazipan and even then I’m just a passenger in the car !

      How long should I wait to see if this will work for me ? Anxiety is definitely lower but misery and helplessness is terrible.

      Any advice would be welcome as I used to be full of fun , out and about , busy job, now I have no job and don’t want to see people or do anything!

      Matt 

    • victoria98049
      victoria98049 matt39801

      Posted

      Hi Matt, I can definitely identify with the issues you raise - the misery and helplessness. I suffered from debilitating anxiety and later depression. It’s awful and my thoughts are with you. I have been on sertraline for about 12 weeks now and I have to say it’s been  a ROUGH ride putting it mildly. Lots of side effects although the side effects do pass. I think the only one I have left is yawning even though I’m not tired and insomnia. I started on 25mg for abt 10 days, 50mg for 3/4 weeks, 100mg for 5 weeks and now on 150mg. The frustrating part is up until when I went up to 150mg, I didn’t get any relief. I also was not ‘depressed’ before I started the medication but the sertraline seemed to induce a deep depression where I wondered if life was worth living like this. So I was just taking the tablets for 70-75 days or so wondering if it was doing anything. That’s a long time esp when you have severe anxiety. I have now been on 150mg for 2 weeks and I am starting to get some relief now although I can tell I still have a long way to go. Everyone that said sertraline is a slow working drug did not lie. It is VERY VERY slow drug but I intend on sticking with it as I am seeing little improvements everyday and I am definitely not in the horrific place I was 3 months ago. The only thing is this medication requires the patience of a saint to stick to. I’ve started having some good days recently although I still have bad days but they are not as low as they used to be. I guess the reason I am telling you my story is so that you know you need to be patient and give the medication time. It may not take as long for you but if it does, at least you know you are not alone. Don’t give up.... All the best!! 
    • matt39801
      matt39801 victoria98049

      Posted

      Hi Victoria 

      So nice of you to take the time to reply and tell your story so thank you for that.

      I’m so pleased you are starting to see some improvements, although we know it’s a long journey we also know that things will keep improving with bad days in between.

      I was fortunate to have an appointment with a psychiatrist on Thursday, I was referred as urgent as my husband rang our GP in desperation as my crying was totally manic and I felt I just couldn’t go on anymore, the Sertraline had brought my anxiety down a fair bit but had uncovered this crying and no hope , I was up to 100mg so it had shown improvement with the anxiety.

      The psychiatrist was fantastic and explained that I have anxiety and severe depression which I’d probably had for a couple of years but as I worked very long hours in a stressful job my mind was so busy I just didn’t realise just how low I had got , he has upped my Sertraline to 150mg for the next two weeks then up to 200mg he has also added a booster medication to take st night called Mirtazapine just 15mg but he says it will really help get me out of this state and improve, he said I WILL get better  and although I feel like pooh and know I’ve got side effects to come I have a bit of positively in my mind now , I know it’ll take time and it’s not going to be much fun but I believe I’ll get there eventually!

      I still can’t leave the house or see people, he said not to push myself to do these things he said I’ll know when I’m ready to try things although he did say to try and get out for a walk if I can.

      Shame it has taken so long to finally see a professional psychiatrist as it’s been 7 months since all this started but I am now under their care and will go back in 4 weeks but can call before that if I have any concerns, side effects, or just to talk, I’ll be looked after now by his assistant who is a psychiatric nurse and she’s lovely.

      Only two days into the extra 50mg and my tummy is upset , foggy head but hopefully shouldn’t last to long .

      Once I’m stable they will then decide if I need anymore counciling or maybe CBT but he said it would be no use to me at the moment as my head is all over the place !

      Let’s keep pushing on , we’ll get our life’s back !

      Matt 

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