7 days in and I don't know if I should stop.

Treatment and medication
1

Hi everyone, I was prescribed sertraline 25 mg for a week then 50 mg for panic and anxiety. I'm on day 7 on 25 mg and it has been absolute hell, especially the mornings. I wake up at around 5am in full panic with diarrhea and terrible nausea. It takes hours for me to calm down a bit but I never feel fine. This has been going on for the last 4 days (the first 3 were great, with no side effects) and I just find myself wondering if this med is for me or if I should stop it now before I suffer any more. I also can't talk to my psychiatrist because my appointment is in two weeks and she gave me no way to contact her.

I've read in this forum that people get heightened panic and anxiety for weeks and I just don't understand how they do it. Am I weaker than them? Or are my symptoms stronger? I don't know but I don't think I can take more than a week of this anymore. I'm losing weight and I'm already below a healthy weight, and I feel depressed even though I've always been a happy person.

I'm supposed to raise the dose to 50mg in two days but I don't think it's a good idea; 25mg shouldn't be making me feel this bad. Is it possible that 25mg is a therapeutic dose for me since I'm reacting so strongly to it? I'm also pretty small (5'2", 93lbs) and I have a fast metabolism, could that explain it?

If I do choose to stop before it gets any worse, will I get withdrawal symptoms if I've taken only 25mg for 7 days or can I just stop?

Thank you so much, this forum has helped me a lot and I really appreciate any responses.

2

Dear Andrea

I am sorry to hear about your experience on Sertraline. A lot of people get upset stomach on Sertraline and other symptoms. I was on it for 7 months, off it for 9 weeks and I am now back on it 25mg for 6 days because I had bad withdrawal symptoms. 

It sounds to me that this med may not be the best for you if the symptoms are that bad. People say it takes time to kick in but if your symptoms are that bad, then I don’t think increasing to 50mg is wise at this stage. Is there no way you can speak to a doctor about it?

Lynn

3

It really does get better. I’m so sorry you’re going through this. 

Do you have anything you take for anxiety? I had to take Ativan to get through the side effects. It can take a couple months to feel normal again. 

4

Thank you for your response. I agree with you, I'm trying to find a different psychiatrist while I wait for my appointment. I just don't know if I can take it anymore.

5

I have some klonopin but I don't know how much or how often I should take it. I'm scared I'll become addicted to it.

6

You can take it as needed. It would take a while to get addicted. It will help you a lot through the side effects. 

7

You need to stick it out. Things will get better. I was like you and wanted to give up and I'm very happy that I didn't. Heightened anxiety and depressive symptoms are totally normal until you get to a dosage that works for you. Don't give up. Keep increasing by 25mg every 2 weeks and I promise you will wake up one day and feel like a million bucks.