Sertraline for 4 and half weeks
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hi all, like others, just looking for reassurance. Started taking generic Sertraline 4 and a half weeks ago. I started on half a 50mg tablet for a couple of days, then split it into small pieces 3 times a day for a couple of days to reduce the side effects. I worried I wasn't getting a therapeutic dose, so took a full 50mg tablet since then. 4 and a half weeks in I still feel anxious. I read somewhere that a higher dose can be effective sooner and then you can reduce the dose. Wondering whether to up the dose. Any help appreciated. Thanks.
0 likes, 31 replies
Potatoghost jGloucs
Posted
upping the dose will likely give you all your initial side effects again and when changing a dose you have to reset the clock for recovery.
I dont think increasing to a higher dose makes them work any faster. you will just be messing up all the hard work you've put in already.
jGloucs Potatoghost
Posted
Thanks Potatoghost,
would that be with even a small increase, like a quarter of a 50mg tablet. (12.5mg)?
Potatoghost jGloucs
Posted
I dont think you would feel much in the way of side effects at such a low dose but it definitely wont make them work any faster I'm afraid. ot will still take you how long its gonna take you as everybody is different.
its horrible when you just want to feel better sooner isn't it?
I'm afraid their is no shortcuts with these meds. patience patience and a whole lot more is the only thing you can do x
sue74917 jGloucs
Posted
Hi as potatoghost has said it will take as long as it takes. You will not know what your optimum dose is if you keep changing it and taking it 3 times a day is more then likely going to give you more side effects not less. This is not a one size fits all medication and there is no text book dose or recovery time, only guide lines. Having said that though, general rule of thumb is 2 to 4 weeks for side effects both mental and physical to decrease, 4 to 8 weeks to see some slight improvement, usually towards the late afternoon/ early evening, then after 12 weeks you should be seeing the most improvement, which will get better as time goes on, you may have blips along the way, you may feel you are going backwards but before you decide to increase you need to give the dose you are on time to work, a higher dose does not mean a quicker recovery they do not work like that, everyone is different, some recover on 25mgs, some have to take 200mgs, I myself have recovered on 50mgs, as hard as it you just have to wait, wait and then wait some more but I am sure you will get the result you want if you can do this
jGloucs
Posted
Potatoghost, yes, very frustrating.
Sue74917, thanks. I think I was just worried they might not work. Was hoping 4 and a half weeks would show more improvement.
Potatoghost jGloucs
Posted
some people do recover a lot in that amount of time but not many, they are the lucky ones. the first time I took citalopram it took me about a month and I felt great. second time around it took weeks and weeks to see any improvement at all.
be kind to yourself while you wait. drink plenty of water, stay away from caffeine and too much sugar. try to get out for a walk every day even if it's only for 20 minutes.
keep as busy as possible until you improve.
sue74917 jGloucs
Posted
reading through your original post again, you have in effect only been on 50 for just over 3 weeks, in another week or 2 you should start to see some improvement then you can judge if you need to increase or not, try not to get too impatient, I know that feeling of wanting to wake up and feel been there, done that, now lets move on but unfortunately, as we all learn, eventually, that is not going to happen, you are healing and this will take time so be kind to yourself
jGloucs sue74917
Posted
Thanks Sue, that's a good point. I really did mess about with the dose the first week. I think there have been some improvements but, you're right, you just want to feel back to normal. It can be so frustrating waiting. It has also limited what I do which adds to the frustration.
jGloucs
Posted
Thanks again. Do you think it was because you'd been on them before that it took longer? Yes, trying to keep busy.
Potatoghost jGloucs
Posted
I've heard people mention that and it has happened to them. I think it depends on how bad your anxiety and depression is really but in my case I think my body just got used to the citalopram. how are you feeling today?
is sert your first antidepressant?
jGloucs
Posted
Hi,
still feeling the same. I was on Sertraline a few years ago and I'm worried that's why they may not work as well. It's the only one I've been on. How are you?
Potatoghost jGloucs
Posted
so many people go back onto a previous Ad and are absolutely fine so try not to worry x it's hard not to when you feel like you do. I think the reason it didnt work for me was because I never came off it, it just stopped working and unluckily the increase didnt help .
4 weeks is still early days and from what I'm told 50mg is a pretty low therapeutic dose. I have to agree with sue about not increasing just yet until you give it more time.
honestly I feel like crap. it's only day 2 for me but the anxiety is super high x
jGloucs
Posted
So sorry to hear that, Potatoghost. I have so appreciated your responses. I hope you get encouragement from others. I hope having been on an ad it won't take you as long to feel the benefits of a new one.
I've heard some people are prescribed a tranquiliser to cope with the initial anxiety side effects.
Potatoghost jGloucs
Posted
that's ok no worries. I try to help as much as possible because knowing exactly what you are going through I know how horrible it really is.
I do have diazipam it helps my anxiety but lowers my mood so sometimes i feel more negative when taking it.
mornings are the worst so i take a beta blocker to stop the shakes and palpitations.how are you feeling today?
noticed any improvement yet even if its tiny ?
jGloucs
Posted
Hi, just seen your thread 'Sertraline success?'. I didn't realise tranquilisers could lower mood. The anxiety is awful. Betablockers sound like a good idea. I definitely think there is an improvement today. When I look back, I think improvements did start fairly quickly, but there is so much else going on, you don't notice it. I think there was a bit more improvement today. I have been forcing myself to go out on a bike ride when I can. Today I felt the forcing was less and I went to a different place.
When I was on them before, they did work. You may notice a difference when you look back, rather than feeling it in the moment, although of course we all want to feel better now. I think someone else said, they must be working for you to feel anxious. Horrible, I know, but it shows they're doing something! How's your appetite, sleep etc?
Potatoghost jGloucs
Posted
It's hard to tell if they do. i think that if you suffer depression too when you take the tranquilizers it helps the anxiety so you feel the depression more. or concentrate on that more. it seems to be common with a lot of people.
that's brilliant that you have noticed some improvements because it really is hard to tell. I'm glad you seem to be making progress. remember blips are normal so dont panick if you do drop a little. I've heard that myself that of it makes you more anxious at first it's a good thing. dunno how that works but I hope it's TRUE.
my sleep isn't great I'm back to having to take 20mg of amatriptalyn to help me sleep and still wake up early feeling crap and anxious.
I cant eat much either, when I do feel a little hungry I can only stomach a few mouthfuls and then feel sicky.
wbu? x