Posted , 7 users are following.
2 weeks on 25mg, 12 weeks on 50mg. Did have some good days around the 8/9 week mark but gradually getting worse and have a job to get through each day. Guess l cut back to 25mg for a while. Wondering if anyone has any experience of that dose helping at all.
0 likes, 14 replies
We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.
louise24797 c53732
Posted
Sorry to hear you're having a rough time. You do need to give each dose increase 12-16 weeks and as you've had some good days on 50mg I'd say to hang on if you can for a few more weeks.
I was on 25mg and have recently increased to 37.5mg. I'm on week 11 and a lot of the side effects have gone and anxiety has improved. Sleep is still rubbish and I keep getting occassional upset stomach.
I'm waiting a few more weeks on 37.5mg before seeing if I need to move up.
It is a long and brutal journey but if you've seen improvements I'd suggest sticking with it if you can. xx
c53732 louise24797
Posted
Thanks Louise. My days at the moment are such that l can hardly get out of bed and nausea overwhelms me. l am speaking to my doctor tomorrow. l am hoping that if l alternate 50/25 daily l may improve in which case l will think about staying on the lower dose. l am reluctant to stop but am not having any life at the moment. My first 2 weeks on 25 were ok. l am using 10mg phenergan to help with sleep. Hope the 37.5 dose works for you. xx
louise24797 c53732
Posted
Tough days indeed, sounds awful. Probably worth dropping down and see how you feel. It's a real battle with these side effects, but I read on other forums that bad side effects can lead to better results. Hang in there.
GodsServant c53732
Edited
Hi, I spoke to you before, but this med takes 3-4 months to help with OCD/anxiety and 5-6 months to help with depression. You may want to give it another month and if you don't feel better, then you may want to increase your dose to 75mg. It seems to me that by cutting back, you were reducing the maintenance level in your system so you're all over the place because the med is currently not leveled in your system.
As for the job, you may need to take some time off. I was working during my last attack and it took so much out of me. I finally went to HR and said I needed some time off due to my panic attacks. If you want your health info to be private, you should try to get a doc's note and bring it to work to take some time off. For medical reasons. That is, if financially you could afford to take some time off. Being at a job is so stressful when you are going through the throes of this illness. Take care.
c53732 GodsServant
Posted
Thanks for the input and thoughts. l will have a chat to my doctor tomorrow. Stay safe.
BulldozerMcr c53732
Edited
Doctors dont have a clue! Ive listened to Godservant and it seems she was right. I am on 17th week and only just now getting better. 13-16th week was terrible, anxiety, depression, felt ill, it was terrible. Dont mess with your dose, it will only make the whole thing longer. Be patient, you are nearly there now, give it a few more weeks!
c53732 BulldozerMcr
Posted
Thanks for this reply. l have thought a lot about what to do, l have had the same problem in the past with different antidepressants and it would appear that my system struggles to cope. l am at a stage where l don't have a life and the sertraline is making me worse.
BulldozerMcr c53732
Edited
Past weeks was same for me. Sertraline made me feeling much worse. Tomorrow is the end of the 17th week on 100mg for me and yesterday I was close to my oldself again finally. What did your doc say please?
c53732 BulldozerMcr
Posted
Glad you are feeling better. My doctor (who knows me very well) has given me instructions on how to come off sertraline. l have had similar problems in the past with anti depressants, any upping of dose has caused me problems and l have needed to stop. l am elderly. l am continuing with my EFT, that has helped in the past and l am hoping that as l have only been taking it for 14 weeks the withdrawal side effects won't be too bad.
BulldozerMcr c53732
Posted
After 14 weeks no need to worry from withdrawal side effects I think but it will take such a ling time until you come off and find another med which helps. Believe me it is worth it to wait a few more weeks. I needed 4 months on 1 dose to feel consistently better. Still not my old self but much better.
c53732 BulldozerMcr
Edited
Thanks for advice.Thought I'd update you. Already down to 25mg dose and just had my best 2 days for a while. Working very hard on EFT with telephone therapist.
BulldozerMcr c53732
Posted
Glad you are better! Also wish you the best of luck with finding a better medication for you!
mary95550 c53732
Posted
Hi I'm so sorry your having an awful time it very difficult to make a decision when your struggling It really took 3 months every time i went up on the dosage of sertraline So maybe if you could be patient a little longer on the 50 mg it will eventually start working I understand your struggles because i went through exactly the same Now i have been on 150 mg for more than two years and i have been feeling good One thing you could do also is look into and i mentioned this to some else is to try some Omega 3 fish oil im on 1000mg I'm not a doctor but if you google it with sertraline or any antidepressant their have been lots of stats where it has helped people So maybe worth a try Hope this helps and just remember you are never alone xox
c53732 mary95550
Posted
Thanks for replying. You will see my reply to BulldozerMcr.