Feeling worse after increasing Sirtraline from 50 to 100 mg

Treatment and medication
1

I've now been on Sirtraline 50 for almost 4 weeks, I felt really quite good but still had mild anxiety, I increased to 100 mg two days ago and my mood now feels quite low, I'm tired and have a headache . . . wondering if this will get better as time goes on or whether to reduce back to 50 mg . . . anyone else experienced this?   Thanks

2

yes it will get better this is normal side effect when you have increased the dose I'm currently on 200mg myself stick with it side effects should pass in a few days   

3

Hey Susan, I increased from 50mg after 6weeks to 100mg on Monday. I think we're I the same boat. I feel numb and upset stomach. Really jittery as well.

4

when I used to do my increases it took about 6 - 8 weeks for the side effeccts to settle down. The anxiety would go from mild to bad then back down to mild again. Hope this helps.

5

I'm on my sixth day of 50mg sertraline, and some of the side effects are sweating and hot flushes which I have been having. My anxiety isn't so bad as it was but it flares up from time to time, I'm hoping in a few more weeks I will notice Sertraline benefits.

6

Hi Susan, why did you increase to 100mgs?   I was on 25mg for 6weeks then the Dr upped it to 50mg which I only took for a week and felt really bad so he told me to go back to 25mg for two weeks and was giving me a different tablet.   I found they had same side effects etc. one of them being hives(which I got in April through stress)and the other was I have IBS and these tablets aggravated that and I have been having terrible stomach pains which I had got under control until now.  I am coming off tablets and referred myself to the Psychological Wellbeing Service where they can help you with your anxiety, panic attacks etc. without having to take tablets.

7

Thank you - that's encouraging, I felt ok the first couple of days but this morning I feel as though I am wading through treacle and my mood is a little low - I'm just not sure whether to stick with the 100 for a few more days or put myself back down to 50 mg.

8

Hi Susan,my doctor put mine up the same but I went back and told him I need to drop back down I am unable to work while on the higher dose due to the very very tiredness sad

9

Hi Moonflea - we certainly sound as though we're in the same boat - how did you feel when you were taking 50 mg?   My mood was good but I was a little anxious around the edges, I chatted with my GP and the choice to increase to 100 mg was mine, I hoped it would get rid of some of the anxiety which it has, but I feel really quite numb, just as you have described . . . 

10

Thank you impycleyn - I didn't have any side effects when i started on 50 mg except for mild nausea occasionally - I don't have the nausea now, just the feeling of being a little over sedated!   It could be that I'm just having a slightly awkward day which would have happened anyway I guess?

11

Hi there . . . I have the sweats too but I'm getting used to them and can probably live with them for a while - I think this is the best med I've taken in terms of how well I felt until today - hope it works for you too

12

Hi Sheena - it was my choice to increase, my depression had lifted but I was still struggling a little with anxiety - I hope the Psychological side of things works out for you.

13

Cheers Sue, I do get tired also and even though my appetite is in the lean side, I still eat what's put in front of me. I just hope Sertraline is for me.

14

When I increased to 100 I felt worse, so I went back to 50 and still not feeling good. Coming off of them and taking gapabentin has made me feel better.

15

Hi Tonya - I'm on a low dose of Gabapentin too, it helps with my joint pain, I'm wondering if the combination of the two may be contributing to the tiredness, I was ok with only 50 mg, not sure whether to continue with the 100 mg tonight or reduce back to 50 mg

16

Thank you Donna . . . I'm feeling better as the day has gone on but it's almost bedtime when I take my next dose . . . are you ok now you have droppped back to 50 mg?

 

17

Gapabentin has helped me a lot. It relieves my restless legs and it does help me sleep. I didn't take my sertraline last night, but took 25mg the night before. Just after reducing I felt better. I have to say though God, prayer, and faith have been helping me to.

18

Hi Tonya - how wonderful to know that you too have faith in God, prayer and trust in his love is the mainstay in my life too.

GABA helps my restless legs too as well as helping reduce the pain in my arthritic knee - really pleased you feel better after reducing the Sert - I reduced mine back to 50 mg last evening and though the day hasn't really got started for me yet my head doesn't feel so heavy this morning xxx

19

Hi Susan, Last night I decided to skip the sertraline again and I feel better. I've been taking it for like 3 months and feeling crappy when I wake up. I decided if it's not helping yet I'm not taking them. I've given myself to God to take over and help me overcome my suffering, He is the only one getting me out of this fog. I feel I understand him now more then ever and that his unconditional love is working in me.

20

I'm sorry but it's not God that will have to suffer the side effect after taking such actions that this will bring