So I have been on sertraline 50 mg for years.. I have a history of OCD.. I noticed a relapse coming and 5 weeks ago increased my dosage to 150 mg .. I still feel bad... Should I change meds??? Some days I feel ok and today I feel so depressed... Any advice??
I'm in the same situation. On 100 mg for 7 years, relapsed, now on 150 for almost 6 weeks. I'm told by many on this forum that the meds are working but we have to go through all the ups and downs before we are ourselves again. Yesterday I was so sad, cried just about all day and felt so discouraged. Someone shared their knowledge with me and I did feel a bit better. Keep in touch with me, we are about at the same duration and same dose. We can help each other through this. I would say hang in there, I'm going to until the 8-10 week mark and if I'm not seeing a huge difference, then I will consider switching.
Thanks so much. It's so frustrating, I have cried and had suicidal ideation.. I would never but it scares me.. This really sucks.. Yes let's stay in touch. I hope it helps you soon
I have suicidal ideation as well, it seems anxiety brings on our scariest thoughts. We will come out of this smiling😀
How are you doing today? I was wondering if you have trouble sleeping? I havent had a good nights rest in a while. Hoping this kicks in soon...
I'm having a not so good day. Saturday was great, yesterday was ok and today I feel like crap. My sleep cycle is screwed up also. If I'm lucky on a good night, I get about 5 hours and that's not enough for me to function properly the next day. I really need this to start working good as well, some days I feel so broken😔
Oh I sure hope that it gets better too. For both of us. Do you have OCD?
I've been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder with intrusive thoughts. I think I will all of a sudden lose my mind and hurt someone. It's the scariest thing I've ever been through but then again, every mental illness is
vanessa i am actually in a intensive outpatient program for ocd and anxiety disorders. I also have intrusive thoughts. It is scarey. But one of the things they teach us.. is ERP. Exposure and response prevention. It is helpful, maybe you could look it up. Its a effective treatment, but I just need my medicaiton to kick in for a extra kick. This is so tough... I know what you mean
I will definitely look it up, anything that can help. I have my first appointment tomorrow with my psychiatrist and I will certainly bring it up to him. Thanks
hey all, i just thought i would let u know (because it is good therapy to talk and know about other people in a similar situation as you), that 3 months ago i had extreme anxiety and suicidal thoughts also, with intense negative thinking. it really REALLY tough and felt like it would never end. i absolutely hated waking up, just knowing i had yet another day to suffer through. i couldnt stand the world, everyone in it, myself (you get the idea!)
i'm 38 years old and it is without doubt the most worst i have ever felt in my life. ever.
luckily after around 3 months of being on setraline (50mg for 2 weeks and then 100mg), all of the problems i mentioned above have gone, and i am back to living again, and am starting a new job soon (part-time) which i am really looking forward to (meeting new people and having fun, im gonna go with a good attitude and just enjoy it)
as someone who was, 3 months ago, totally messed up and living in hell every second of the day, to now back to feeling good with all of the problems above vanished, i hope that will let others know who are reading this suffering similar problems; you can and will get better, once you find the right med and dose for you, and then add a little time (may take up to 12 weeks, but others will get better sooner)
so look forward to that day. it WILL come
Sparrow01, I don't know if you realize it but you have helped me through some tough days by posting in my discussions. I appreciate everything you have to say, you are so encouraging. I thank you so much for sharing your experience with us.
Thanks for that encouraging words. I do feel like this is the worst I have felt. I can't wait to feel the relief!! Thanks so much!!
hey vanessa and maria, thanks for your replies, it's a pleasure to chat. it's saddening when there are people here who are doing so badly and you really want to help them because you know what it feels like; how bad it feels, and how bad it gets (so i have kind of stuck around here lately, even though i feel i am past the bad time now and moving forward and feeling ok)
i think it's really great isn't it that there's the internet and forums to help people, and to have the chance to get things off your chest and share thoughts, stories, etc (and you can be anonymous if you are a private person or embarassed and so on)
anyway, better get some sleep now!
-- ps. and let's say... if any of us feel like crap tomorrow, let's pretend we don't, and instead, find things to do, instead of getting stuck inside our heads and assuming the worst. and then... let's see what happens next? 
... nite!
Hi sparrow, maria and vanessa,
Thank you all for posting on here, it certainly helps a lot to know others have been through this. I was on 25mg for around 10 years as 'maintenance dose' foolishly stopped in January, relapsed big time, hav e been taking 50mg again for last 3 months , have had a couple of good days, a few ok days, but felt awful today and yesterday, with all thoughts you have mentioned. Since it has now been 3 months, very worried that still feeling sh*te on a regular basis. Obviously need to go back to dr. soon if this doesn't get any better, but how do I get to see a phsychiatrist - think this may help?!
Thanks
Sarah
hi sarah,
now that you have taken 50mg for 3 months, are you now getting no remaining side effects when taking 50mg?
if you are not experiencing any side effects, i would go up to 100mg to see if that helps you (personally speaking, 100mg is the dose i need in order for sertraline to work for me. 100mg is still classed as a normal/average dose. it's not classed as a high dose).
perhaps then if 100mg does not help you after 4 weeks, you could go to see your doctor again to discuss possible switching to something else? keep us posted ok
Hi Maria,
How are you today? I just got back from my psychiatrist and he has suggested adding a very small dose of abilify to my sertraline. I suggested I wait 2 more weeks to see if I improve. I also just got diagnosed with OCD to accompany my generalized anxiety disorder.
Not feeling so good today.. For OCD it's not uncommon to add a med like ability to help the original antidepressant out.. Usually a low dose. OCD is no fun.. Just remind yourself that any intrusive thoughts are OCD not you.. Even if it feels real.. They are false messages from our OCD brain. I am also giving Zoloft a few more weeks, I am seeing my general doctor tomorrow. I feel like I need something more. I am just really depressed.. I hope we start feeling some relief soon.. Thanks for reaching out, it feels not so alone😀
I'm sorry you are having a bad day, mine wasn't the greatest either but we have to carry on. In a few weeks, this will all be behind us and we can go back to normal life. Hang in there.
Maria, are you getting any relief yet?