Week 5 at 50mg and today I’ve gone backwards

I went down to 50mg for maybe the last 6 months of those 2 years then tapered off pretty quickly but found coming off very easy so it was no worries, I was off sertraline a full year before I went back on it 32 days ago 

Hi Kate!

What was your side effects at 50mg?

Did you have dizziness, soace out feeling, etc?

I had loads but the worst ones for me were headache, increased anxiety, lack of appetite, drowsiness, crying all the time, restless legs and insomnia. They have all disappeared now apart from the headache (and brain zaps) which will be from me upping to 100mg but I am feeling much better!

Hi Kate,

I'm on day 19 of 50mg Sert for anxiety and intrusive thoughts. I got a few side effects the first week that have cleared ie headaches, stomach trouble and nausea but I still have a constant heightened anxiety which has been with me from day 1. It's worse than before I started, I never woke up with anxiety or after exercise prior to the medication. In the last 19 days I have either walked 7 miles a day or been out on my bike for 20+ miles and still the constant anxiety as soon as I stop. The GP also prescribed 14 tablets of zopiclone (7.5mg) which I've been cutting in half. I've tried several times now to sleep without them but I spend all night awake until I finally give in at 5am and pop a pill. I keep thinking, keep going until at least 6-8 weeks as per other peoples experiences but nearly 3 weeks in I still feel worse, never mind any improvement. Is this normal, Next GP appointment is in 9 days..........Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

Hey Kate,

When I was on sertraline the first time around I done 1 week on 50mg then increased to 100mg and within the month I felt better and the 100mg really sorted me out, I’ve decided to take the 100mg today as I believe it’s the right dose for me I just wanted to try do it this time around sticking to 50mg...

Hoping now that these 100s kick in with minimal side effects so fingers crossed, thanks for your feedback hopefully we’ll be back to ourselves again soon, keep me posted! 

I would just try my very best to last on the dose you’re on until your GP appointment in 9 days and if there’s no improvement by then I’d talk to your GP about increasing dose 

Hey well I am no expert so can only go off the experiences I’ve had with Sertraline. But I definitely felt worse both times for the first 3 weeks in terms of increased anxiety than I did before I started taking the medication. I have found both times that I have felt much better on 100mg but again this is just what works for me. 

I would agree with John and stick it out for the next 9 days and see if anything changes. I went to my doctors appointment last week and told him I had increased anxiety and was crying several times a day on 50mg and he suggested to up the dose to 100mg. Today, a week later, I have felt 80% back to myself with very little anxiety but just a minor headache. 

Anxiety is the worst, I hope you get some relief soon. 

Hi John,

I know what you mean, the first time round I was desperate to stay on 50mg so I had less to reduce from when coming off but it just didn’t give me the relief I needed. I have been on 100mg for just 6 days and have had a really good day today. Who knows if it will continue but it is definitely heading in the right direction. On upping the dose I just had a really bad headache for a couple of days, it didn’t affect my sleeping, appetite etc. again so hoping it won’t with you too!

Good to hear!

I woke up this morning and I felt a lot better than the past couple of days and took my second 100mg tablet, since then I feel a little bit more anxious spaced out and tired and I’m also sweating a lot more  but I’m sure it’s just my body adjusting to the change, I start a new career next Wednesday so I’m hoping the side effects will have gone and I’m feeling better by then! Hope your having another good day today! 

Hi john,

That’s great, congrats and good luck with your new job! I think by next Wednesday you will be fine. 

Have you thought about taking the tablet at night if it makes you spaced out and tired? I take mine at 9pm and I sleep well and wake up calm. It depends on how well you sleep some people find it gives them insomnia but I find it makes me tired. 

I’m feeling ok today, not as good as yesterday and have a bit of a headache but minimal anxiety!

Hello Kate 

im only starting my 2nd week of 50 and have lots of increased anxiety, no appetite & headache ....... but it does get better dear?? May I ask how long your side effects lasted? If I hold out it should get better ?? I really want Zoloft to work for me as I've heard great things about it for anxiety .... trying to stay hopeful  

one more question did you take anything extra at first to help w the extra anxiety feeling till the Zoloft started to work ? 

I appreciate ate all your insight dear  

Good to hear your anxiety is at bay! 

See with me I’m trying to stick with what I know because I’ve only ever taken sertraline in the morning, I think today more than anything I just feel abit strange which isn’t ideal but a nice break from the intense anxious feeling, hoping i just keep improving from here 

Unfortunately with sertraline you often feel worse before you feel better so just try ride the roller coaster until it balances out! I use Xanax as a crutch while I’m starting sertraline to help with the side effects then as soon as the sertraline works I don’t need the Xanax anymore, see if you can get a hold of some 

Also just to put your mind at ease sertraline has worked for me before and brought me back from the depths of hell back to completely normal life so it could do the same for you! 

It does definitely get better and this is completely normal. A lot of the side effects should disappear in the next week or so like the headache and the lack of appetite. The anxiety sometimes takes a bit longer but it will eventually. I’m the same as John I was prescribed diazepam to take when needed if it became absolutely unbearable. I ended up taking 4 tablets over the space of the first couple of weeks. Good news is you’ve probably got over the hardest part already! Good luck

How are you feeling today? Yesterday I had a very good day and today hasn’t been so bad not as good but still better, I think I’m going to try taking my tablet at night time even just while I’m getting used to it, I took my 100mg dose at 6am this morning, should I take another one before bed tonight or do I wait a full 24 hours and then wait till that night to take it do you know? The extreme fatigue I’m feeling is my only problem at the moment 

Hi John,

Glad to hear you’ve had a good day! I’ve just written a post actually which I did before I saw your reply, I also had a really good day a few days ago, the next two days not too bad but then today I’ve had a rough ride. It’s calmed down a bit now but I had bad anxiety. But it’s all to be expected! I think the fact we have both had a good day is a sign that we are heading in the right direction! 

In terms of changing the time you take your tablet, I would say taking another tonight would be better than waiting until tomorrow night. Could you take it as late as possible? Say midnight? I’m not entirely sure how people do it, I took it in the morning from day 1 when I was on Sertraline the first time and this time round I have taken it at night from day 1. I have found taking it at night I tend to sleep a lot of the side effects off and am not too tired in the day. 

Sorry to hear about your rough day, I’m sure it was just a blip which is to be expected this early on in the increase, are you feeling any better today??  I’m not too bad not so tired today but instead have a headache 😂 if it’s not one thing it’s another, quick question aswell, do you drink when your on sertraline? Last time I was drinking at least every weekend and found that if anything my hangovers the next day weren’t nearly as bad, but this time around I felt more anxious when hungover, probably because I was on 50mg instead of 100 which I think is neeeded, I haven’t really drank yet since increasing to the 100 

Hi John,

Unfortunately not I’ve had a few days now where my anxiety has flared up I’m on day 10 of the increase so I’m hoping this settles down in the next week or so, I’m sure it will. 

Glad to hear you’re doing ok! I know what you mean with the side effects day to day changing, they should pass soon though as the only one I have left is the increased anxiety. 

That’s weird I also found the same that my hangovers weren’t as bad on Sertraline last time! I was fine drinking and didn’t get any increased anxiety. However last time I didn’t drink until after the 8 week mark and this time I haven’t drank yet, I’m going to wait until the increased anxiety passes but then if it’s the same as last time I can drink as normal and it doesn’t affect me. Maybe wait till the dose increase for 100mg settles down and then you should be fine?

Sorry to hear your not feeling the best, what I will say though is the same thing happened to me I was feeling fine then it was day 13 I got some really bad days but once this passed then it was all up from there, if you actually look at my first ever post on this site 3 years ago you will see yourself 😂

Yeah it’s crazy how I didn’t get hangovers it’s something I really missed when I came off sert, I’m trying my best to stay away from alcohol until I’m balanced out on these 100s but it’s hard because all my friends and social circle are very fond of partying and drinking, I actually sat home yesterday while all my friends went to a festival, so I’m dying to get back to myself, hope your feeling better today x

Hi All,

 I thought I would update, day 26 and feeling a tad better the last few days. Calmer, less anxiety and far less intrusive thoughts which have been manageable when they have appeared. There's still some anxiety at times but less intense. Back to normal, certainly not but its early days. At least I feel like I'm heading in the right direction at the moment. I'm not expecting miracles and everyday to be great but the last few weeks have been a nightmare, getting worse before seeing any improvement seems obscene. I suppose that's what happens with some physical injuries after having an operation or chemo for cancer etc, there's plenty of treatments where you don't see the benefits straight away.

 I still wake with anxiety but have found 30-60 mins after taking my 50mg Sert tablet it goes. The half life for this drug is 22-36 hours so perhaps I am getting some sort of withdrawal effects just before my next dose. A slightly higher dose maybe required but id prefer to wait until the 8 week mark.

 I haven't touched a drop of alcohol since starting the meds, I never drink mid-week but I'm a binge drinker on Fri/Sat and have found in the past my anxiety increases ten fold the next day. I'm going to leave it well alone until I'm feeling 95%+ better and then give it another go. If it makes me feel worse then perhaps I have a decision to make, knock it on the head, keep to a few drinks or just not bother. Majorly annoying, it never used to bother me, I love a good drink with family/friends and winding down after a long week and I know people who drink far, far than me and cope perfectly fine. Its a drug at the end of the day and one my body might have grown to dislike.

I hope everyone is on the mend, constant anxiety is horrific. Gla.

I’ve had a look for your post but I can’t find it! I have had about 4 days now on a row of bad anxiety, I gave in and took a diazepam today because I just couldn’t be bothered battling it! Really hoping it doesn’t last too long. 

I know what you mean in terms of social drinking, it is tough. But since I started on Sertraline the first time I have massively reduced what I drink. I used to go out every weekend but nowadays I just find it makes me so much more anxious. I also cut out all caffeine and tried to get to the gym 3 times a week but still I had to come back on Sertraline! I did have 2 drinks last night and I was ok. Hopefully in a months time we will both be feeling much better!

I wouldn’t worry too much about it as I’m having a really good few days but I’m actually expecting to go back down hill around the 2 week mark the same as you because it happened to me on the 50s and happened on the 100s my first time around, but once that’s done I feel like you really start to balance out, your right to take your diazepam there’s nothing wrong with that while your waiting for your sert to kick in I’m allowing myself to take Xanax when needed till I’m fully better but haven’t needed it in a few days now, just try remind yourself this will pass! 

Thanks John, that is really reassuring. Make sure to keep letting me know how you’re getting on! Happy for you that you’ve had some good days!!

I’ve been getting on great the past couple of days, started my new job and I feel that even though it’s abit nerve wrecking because everything is new it’s good because I’m too busy trying to learn everything to focus on feeling bad, hope you’ve had some good days how are you? x