Will Sertraline it get worse before it gets better?

Posted , 7 users are following.

I have been on serra line for 4 weeks as of this upcoming Wednesday.

My NP started me on 12.5mg/day. A week later I went up to 25mg/day. Now, I'm at 50mg/a day for 5 days now.

I have General Anxiety Disorder and am now starting the healing process for sexual trauma that happened to me 15 years ago. It has reached the surface with full blown emotions. It feels unbearache sometimes, but everyone around me tells me to stick it out with Sertraline and give it a chance to kick in.

I felt depersonalization--disconnection from my surroundings and questioning if I'm real, etc. I got it with extreme strest and worry, around issues with my son.

I am inearly stages of therapy with CBT and support groups. I've had bad crippling anxiety before but this is the worst it has ever been as I crawl through my days.

There are times I lose faith in Sertraline, but a lot of people back it up and it just takes patience and understanding that it will take time to kick in....

** With all due reapect, please don't reply if you have negative things to say about my story or the medication. Any respectful replies are appreciated.

Thank you.

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • Posted

    **Sorry for the bad spelling, my phone likes autocorrect when it doesn't need to

    rolleyes

    • Posted

      Hi Racquel, stick with the sertraline. It took nearly 8 weeks for it to kick in properly for me. But once it does you do start to feel much more human again.

      Good luck with all your treatment. X

    • Posted

      Thank you, Destine. I will. It sucks a lot of the time. My depression. Got worse because I question the point of everything. However, there are mini moments of when I do feel short joy with something--maybe because I'm relaxed at that moment.... thanks to Xanax! I would be lost without it when I really need it. Oh and I use essential oil, Lavender to help with calmness and then sleep.

  • Posted

    Hi racquel,

    I have been taking this for 11 months, 

    my mood swings were awful, however did make me really sleepy for the first few weeks............

    i feel more human again some days are still bad but I believe they are good, 

     

    • Posted

      Shelly, I feel there is a period during the day when I feel more depressed, even though I'm overall anxious/depressed. I just feel a heavier layer of it. I take Xanax to chill me out. It helps me savor the moment when anxiety is increasing.

      I can't wait to feel like a human again. Sometimes I feel like I'm clinically insane and stuck.

  • Posted

    Definitely say give it time, I,ve been on them nearly 5 weeks , first 2 on 50 mg then nearly 3 weeks on 100mg and I am feeling more calmer and doing things I couldn't do a couple of weeks ago, still get anxiety waves but nothing like it was , so there definitely working , good luck xxx
    • Posted

      Tracy, I'll be on week 4 total on Wednesday. However, I've been on 50mg for only a week this coming Thursday. I can't wait for me to be able to emotionally sort things out more calmly with less anxiety and the depression will fade.

      Lexapro worked for me, but I wanted to try Zoloft with the recommendation of my NP. I've also been told, too, that it takes awhile for Zoloft to kick in.

    • Posted

      Yes I've heard it takes a while but I am starting to see light at the end of the tunnel!! Don't get me wrong I do have periods of anxiety and panic but I'm able to push through it if u know what I mean, I just use a mantra face the fear and do it anyway lol, not always easy but it seems to be helping, good luck xxx
  • Posted

    I have General anxiety and panic disorder. I remember when I thought the medicine would never work. For me, I couldn't feel a real difference till I got to 150mg. It was very hard to get to though. I needed Ativan to get past "the hump". Every time I went up in dosage, my symptoms would get worse and I would have to wait it out for 8-10 days. When I finally got to the right dosage, everything was much better. Do not forget to take it. That will make symptoms worse too. Walks, essential oils and relaxing music really helped me. Yoga helped me learn how to breathe slowly through the anxiety attacks. It will all be okay and everything WILL get better. :-)
  • Posted

    When I started on sertraline 3 years ago I most certainly got worse before getting better.

    I was initially on 50mg for about 2 weeks before going back to the doctors because it wasn't working. This carried on and everyone I spoke to said you must find your "therapeutic dose". I didn't really start feeling better until I hit 150mg a day. This was about 5 months after my diagnosis.

    So cliché but give yourself time. Once you reach your dose you will begin to feel different. If not there are many other options. Don't give up.

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