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Sertraline / Zoloft - after 3 months symptoms seem to have returned

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DizzyRum
DizzyRum

Hi, this is my first post here, the forum has helped my so much on my journey with anxiety/depression. Thank you to all who contribute.

I have always tried to deal with my symptoms through self-care, meditation etc, but reached a point where I felt I needed something more and turned to my GP to address the anxiety symptoms and low mood, she prescribed my 50MG of Sertraline / Zoloft and I have been on them for three months.

I didn't have any real side effects when I started taking the medication and after 4-6 weeks I can honestly say that my anxiety symptoms had pretty much vanished and my mood was much better. I log my mood and anxiety daily and for the first time in a long time it all looked very positive and it was consistently good.

Last month the brand of medication was switched, I have been on the new brand for a month and everything has been fine until recently...

I went on a 2 week holiday and there was an 8 hour time difference, so I decided that instead of taking the tablet at 6:30am like I do in the UK each day, I would instead take them at 2:30pm in the afternoon while overseas, as this tied in with the same time (6:30am) in the UK, I thought this was the sensible approach, but I am not sure if it has worked.

I got back from holiday a week ago and I was fine over the weekend and I went back to taking the medication at 6:30am UK time. Then when I got back to work on Monday morning - BANG, the old anxiety and low mood were back, it was like a bolt out of the blue, I was catastrophising and thinking worst case scenarios again and I have been in a funk all this week - argh!

I feel at a bit of a loss, my hope is that it will settle down and the time change has caused disruption, has anyone else had any similar experiences or any wisdom to share on this?

Or, maybe it is just a case of the holiday blues!

Thanks.

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • ian90586
    ian90586 DizzyRum

    Posted

    Hi, it's probably a combination of both the brand change and taking it in the afternoon on holiday. Even though you're taking it at the same time as if you were still at home,your daytime routine in relation to when you take the tablet has changed,especially sleep time. More importantly,I would blame the brand change in my own experience. Watch Dr. Tracey Marks's video on YT entitled Generic medicines - Are they as good as the Brand for a detailed explanation why.

    • ian90586
      ian90586

      Posted

      Similar thing happens between different generic company pills as between the brand and generics. ie. different fillers,releasing agents and the difference in tolerance companies are allowed in manufacturing their pills.

    • DizzyRum
      DizzyRum ian90586

      Posted

      Hi Ian, thanks for the reply, I think you are probably right.

      The negative symptoms have settled a bit in the last couple of days, however, my anxiety is elevated for sure. I suppose the question is whether I stick with the new brand or return back to the original?

      I have emailed my Dr and asked whether I should look at increasing from 50mg to 100mg.

      Very frustrating!

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