I'd love someone to talk to around sertraline (lustral). I am on day ten and 3 days on 100mg after switching from venlafaxine 300mg. I am finding my anxiety is still the same and so is my mood. I don't know if it's the side effects that has made it worse. My doc told me that is takes 10-14 days to start working I questioned this and said is it not 6-8weeks and he said no. He's a lovely man just kind meh passive. It worries me that he gave me that time frame on the meds.
I am also on
Mirap 45mg
Olanzapine 10mg (to relax me)
Pregablin 200mg
I hope to get better on sertraline and then come off the pregablin and lower the olanzapine.
All these meds for severe anxiety and depression. Anyway how long did it take for you to see any difference on sertraline and what we're the first signs? I'm anxious about everyone and everything. I cry alot and I'm a 32 year old man!. I attend therapy cbt also and have done 3 sessions. It's simple but so so difficult.
Hi Ger it took definately 4/5 weeks for me to see any improvement and i too didnt think it would work but reading everybodys experiences and length of time they were right! I am by no means 100% but i am so much better than i was .The shaking , jaw grinding and awful headaches have all stopped too . Stick it out Ger as it will b worth it . I never thought i would say that when i first started taking it but this forum was a life saver and people told me to ha g in there and i'm glad i did! x
Not sure how much I can help but I do have a positive story. Thats quite a cocktail of drugs you are on! I'm no Doctor but I know from my own experience the more drugs you take the more unpredictable it is to weed out what is actually happening. I was on 50MG of Sertraline and it took 10 days for the really bad side effects to clear. Then a few more weeks, about 4, for me to feel more positive. The big change came when I was put on 10MG of Beta blockers [By a new doctor, very good] and overnight I relaxed totally and began another 2/3 weeks of totally coming back to myself. Now I'm nearly off them completely. Another week or so and I'll be there. I weighed up the drugs vrs the remaining side effects and I though sod this, I'm getting off them. I havent felt this happy or able to cope in such a long time. I personally took a risk. Deep down, even though I was on the Sertraline I felt something had changed in my head so I came off as quick as I could. I have the beta blockers in my rucksack when I go out plus some Lorazapam just in case but so far so good. Im back running and trying to loose some of the weight I gained while I was on them. My advice, keep with it. It does takes a month or two before you feel the full benifit. Hope that helps... B
It takes much more time than what your doc said, for most anyway. I'm almost at 9 weeks and still not myself. I have no side effects now but the anxiety is still here but I'm pushing on because a lot of members are saying 8-12 weeks.
Hi Sharon, was it 6-7 weeks before any benefit or for full benefit from the med? I ask because I am coming up on 9 weeks and I want so bad to wake up and feel like me again.
I wonder why he gave me that time frame. He is suppose to be one of the best psych docs here in ireland. He said that I have to go back next week to increase to 150 mg. Mornings are impossible for me. I'm anxious about everyone and everything it's hard to describe or explain
I'm coming into my 2nd week of 50mg lustral, started taking 2x50mg a day a week ago. Not feeling any better at all, feeling pretty much back to square one to be honest. I was on Effexor 225mg and came off that as I just felt stuck but I wasn't panicking on it (regret going off it because all I've been doing since starting lustral is panicking) doctor gave me more Xanax today and told me there was nothing more she can do for me and referred me to the psychiatrist urgently. My anxiety is crippling me, I honestly feel like I'm back to square one, I need someone to tell me to stick lustral out because I've read reviews and everyone's saying stick it out it'll be worth it but my anxiety literally has me bed ridden. I can't leave my house let alone my room without panicking. Some words of advice would be great guys! Ger I'm from Dublin btw!
You're feeling all the normal side effects of sertraline. It will pass with time, for each individual the time varies. It's good that you're going to see a psychiatrist, so maybe you can also learn some techniques to practice. Don't give up on it until you have given the meds ample time to adjust. It does work and I'm sure you'll have many on this forum to give you the encouragement you need to get through. Post on this forum as many times as you need to, that's what we are all here for, to get and give reassurance when it's needed. Don't give up!!
Thanks Vanessa I really appreciate that! I just feel like I'm struggling through these first few weeks waiting for them to kick in. It's just disheartening when your doctor says 'there's nothing more I can do, I'm urgently referring you to a psychiatrist' I'm taking Xanax in the meantime and I've already become reliant on them hopefully the psychiatrist will help me out of that too!
You should get more satisfaction out of the psychiatrist than your GP. Yes, it is very disheartening when your doctor says that to you. Keep positive thoughts in your mind, get out and exercise, do what you have to do to get through these next few weeks.
Holy crap jack I'm the exact same as you. Everything you said I'm the same. I'm even from Dublin! I switched from Effexor to lustral too. The first 2-3 weeks are suppose to be the toughest util the side effects pass.
Yeah I'm just tryin to stick through it cos I've read a lot of people saying that it is worth sticking it out, I just hope theyre right cos this is actual hell!!
I know jack I'm the same the anxiety is too much to deal with. It's hell alright. Ive to go to my psych this week he wants to up mine to 150 mg. I'll be into my third week. The fact meds take so long is horrible.
I know. I feel like I'm never going to be better. I'm only into my 2nd week now and I've become reliant on Xanax. Something I didn't want to happen again. And the fact my GP has basically given up on me I'm like okay where do I go now?! Have heard nothing about the psych appointment. I don't want to be left to deal with this alone and that's what's happening.
Do xanax work for you? I think I may need a benzos to help me as I am not leaving my room. If you feel you can't cope go to a&e or your local psych hospital. I've been on hospital twice.
If you go to a and e you will see a psych doc straight away. They will also make a follow up appointment at your local clinic for a psych doc. It's a lot quicker than your gp's way.
hopefully the psychiatrist will help me out of that too!