Week 15 on Sertraline and feeling Sooooo Much Better!
Posted , 7 users are following.
This has been a very hard process for me. I was prescribed 50 mg Sertraline for Panic Disorder, starting with 6,25 mg dose. I have had many side effects, but I refused to give up. The worst side effects for me were the Intrusive Thoughts and Increased Anxiety. (I had many physical side effects as well. These were "annoying," but manageable compared to the increase in anxiety.)
I feel like "myself" again. I can hardly believe it. Has anyone else with extreme panic disorder experienced a similar dramatic outcome? I am praying that this feeling of well-being is here to stay.
1 like, 13 replies
avril23791 Neelie44567
Posted
That was also my experience
Neelie44567 avril23791
Posted
Thanks for your reply. Did you continue to feel better? I am curious as to others experiences in their recovery processes. Again, thank-you.
nicky_09303 Neelie44567
Posted
Thats great news so glad its working for you. i am on my 2 week and i take it for anxiety and i can see improvements too, I am having less anxious thoughts repetitive thoughts and feel calmer. Hope like u it lasts.
Neelie44567
Posted
Hi, You are very lucky to have responded to the Sertraline so quickly. My process took a lot longer, with many ups and downs. This site helped me to know that, even though it takes a while, the medicine DOES work in time. It's hard to be patient when suffering so terribly with anxiety. Thanks for your reply!
samantha41589 Neelie44567
Posted
Hi Neelie,
I've been on Sertraline for 7 weeks now, and 150mgs for the last 8 days, for severe anxiety. Last week I was feeling great, with no anxiety...basically back to normal, but this week I've gone downhill again and my anxiety is back. I also have an upset stomach and feel nauseous, much as I did when starting Sertraline.
You mentioned you'd had ups and downs and I was wondering if you experienced anything like this? I'm hoping its just the increased dose causing side effects before it settles down but its so disconcerting when I had been feeling so good and I'm now worried its not going to work for me.
Would really appreciate hearing more about your experience.
Thanks
Sam x
Neelie44567 samantha41589
Posted
Hello samantha41589, Yes, every time I increased my dose of Sertraline I experienced intrusive thoughts, increased anxiety, nausea, diarrhea, dry mouth, really bad headaches (which only lasted a few hours each time I got one), sleep disturbances, and feeling shaky/dizzy. These would gradually diminish over a few weeks, and would begin again when I increased my dose. Also, I did not begin to feel better until 12 weeks, compared to many who feel a little better around 7-8 weeks. I am now in week 16 and I feel much better, though not 100%. I am waiting a few weeks before I make any changes, to see if 50 mg is the right dosage for me. Patience is very hard for people like me with anxiety--but since I take Sertraline, I have to learn it.
It sounds like Sertraline is already working for you. Just let it settle for at least 10 says after a dose increase (14 days is better). I'm sending positive thoughts and prayers to you.
samantha41589 Neelie44567
Posted
Thanks Neelie, thats good to know.
Hopefully the increased dose will settle down soon and I'll start feeling better.
Thank you for your encouragement and I hope you soon get back to being 100%. Bear in mind that from what I've learned, 50mgs is a very low dose so dont be disheartened if you do need to increase to feel back to normal.
Keep me posted on your progress and I wish you well!
Sam x
karin88115 Neelie44567
Posted
hi. yes I was put on sertraline for severe panic disorder. I was hospitalized 3 times. I was started on 100mg which was just crazy so the side effects were horrendeous.
But i stuck it out with the help of valium occasionally and by 12/13 weeks i finally felt like i was getting somewhere and havent had a panic attack since.
I found that 50mg worked better for me. I was having dizzy spells very frequently on higher doses but they disappeared on 50mg
Glad its working for you too. Panic attacks are so scary and uncontrollable
Neelie44567
Posted
Hi karin88115, Thanks for your response. It seems that patients with severe anxiety do well at about 50 mg of Sertraline, whereas patients with severe depression respond better to 100 mg and above. I am so praying that I maintain or improve in the future.
I am amazed that you hung on starting at so high a dose and having Panic Disorder, as I experienced horrendous anxiety increase at 12.5 mg. It has been a very challenging 15 weeks, but I am grateful to God that I made it. I'm happy for you, too, and pray for all who suffer with these illnesses.
andrew83432 Neelie44567
Posted
hi neelie, glad your doing so well, im starting week 6 on 50mg although not fully well the improvement iv made as been great hopefully the improvement keeps coming
Neelie44567
Posted
Hello Andrew83432, It is great that you feel improvement on week 6. It took me much longer. It was dramatic, though. I still feel better, as though I've reached some kind of "plateau" above the anxiety. It's really quite remarkable--how a chemical imbalance can cause such misery and terror.
I am sending positive wishes for your continued improvement as well. God bless.
andrew83432 Neelie44567
Posted
it is, iv been the same as you really struggled with intrusive thoughts , give me a broken bone anyday than this ilness , onwards and upwards
feroso78 Neelie44567
Posted
Yes, I feel the same that you, I´m taking impramine, duloxetine, and Sertraline. When Sertraline was added to mi Tx, Sertraline ,makes the difference, I feel very good, I love this drug,