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Sertraline up and down- me again!

Posted , 4 users are following.

caron11455
caron11455

Hey guys,

Thought I would update on my progress with Sertraline and ask for some advice again!

So I started about 7 weeks ago on 50mg then doc upped it to 100mg on 21 Apr so I am into my 5th week of 100mg. Around 2 weeks after I started 100mg I began to feel so much better and had 2weeks of feeling so good! Even managed to wake up last Saturday with no nausea or anything! However 2 things have happened and the last few days have been bad again....

1. I picked up my repeat prescription last week and then brand name is different on my 100mg tablets... before they were Ranbaxy and now they are Lupin- could these have a bad effect on me do you think?

2. Having not had a drink for 3 weeks I decided to at the weekend as we have come away for a few days. I drank a lot on Saturday then a few on Sunday. I thought as I was feeling 'better' I could try alcohol again but It seems since doing that I've gone downhill again too since that!

I guess I am just asking if people have had ups and downs on Sertraline with it seeming to working and then having not so good weeks? And has anyone had any experiences of the Lupin brand?

I'm thinking the tablets must be helping because of how I felt last week etc but not sure if I should up again

Xx

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • laura36585
    laura36585 caron11455

    Posted

    Hi Caron.   For me alcohol and sertraline aren’t a great combo, it makes me feel so anxious the next day it’s just not worth it so I don’t drink at all but perhaps for you it would be wise to limit your alcohol, you will need to experiment to see if a couple of drinks is ok for you.   From experience when brands of meds change, well I guess it just depends on how sensitive you are to it, I have had brand changes that haven’t bothered me and I have had some that definitely made me feel more anxious for a week or so till I got used to them, it’s essentially the same drug just a different manufacturer but for us sensitives it can be a pain in the ass.  
    • caron11455
      caron11455 laura36585

      Posted

      Thanks Laura, I know not drinking is the best thing for me - although I enjoy it at the time the days following are just not worth it.

      Makes sense what you say about the brands, I guess the body needs a little time to adjust again! 

      I think it's just that fear of when you are feeling 'good' something will upset the apple cart... then you get anxious about that anyway so the vicious circle starts! 

      The way I felt last week and the week before with Sertraline is the best I have felt in months so I hope I can get back to that xx

    • laura36585
      laura36585 caron11455

      Posted

      Caron it sounds like you are really making good progress which is fantastic yay!  It’s hard because alcohol is such a big part of being social and relaxing so it sucks that it needs to take a back seat while you recover but I suppose it’s a small price to pay for inner peace, that’s what I tell myself lol. X
  • maureen78375
    maureen78375 caron11455

    Posted

    Hi I've been on setraline for 3yrs and im still up and down with them. I have only just managed to keep in my job. Today i just couldn't face it and put my wee girl to school came home and sat and cried. So I've just been in bed now all day. I am someone who is always on the go,never enough hrs for me. I even ended my relationship with a great guy due to anxiety. I hate being alone. I didnt drink for good bit after being diagnosed. It made me feel horrendous the following day. And i hated myself for it. But now i have a drink but know when to stop so i feel ok the next day. I still enjoy occasionall drink. So still if you can have few then do it but try not to overdo it. Not worth it. I've been ok with different brands. Im 47 yr old female and starting to feel like i have no life or energy.

  • caron11455
    caron11455

    Posted

    Thanks for the replies guys. I think I just need to accept feeling 100% all of the time is pretty unachievable- I mean even people who don't have any anxiety/depression etc don't feel great all of the time!! 

    I just get so frustrated that I felt so good and now this week it's like back to square one and then question if the tablets are working! But I guess they must be to make me improve to the way I was last week. Hopefully after a week or so of no booze and getting used to the new brand of tablets (if they are upsetting things) I will even out again.

    • laura36585
      laura36585 caron11455

      Posted

      I ordered my repeat prescription today so probably will be in the same boat as you with a different brand, oh well, just need to get on with it I suppose and yeh you are totally right, nobody feels on top of the world every day so I think we need to take the rough with the smoothe and just appreciate the good days.  X
  • caron11455
    caron11455

    Posted

    Maureen - also meant to say do you exercise at all? That seems to help me 

    Xx

    • maureen78375
      maureen78375 caron11455

      Posted

      Hi Karen i was doing lots of exercise last yr that helped now have lot bother with legs so not doing anything apart from bit walking. I think me trying to hold down my 3 day job is always making me more anxiuos x
  • gayle65630
    gayle65630 caron11455

    Posted

    Hi Caron,

    How long did it take you to start feeling good again? I have had this with a brand change from Ranbaxy to Accord, and I was switched back to Ranbaxy but after 5 days I still feel awful with heightened anxiety, upset tummy etc x

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