Sertraline - My 4week Update

Treatment and medication
1

Hello All... This is just a quick update into my journey so far and my 1st month on sertraline... Its not the best yet, but Im still hanging in there and hoping im gradually getting passed the worst... (fingers crossed)

I was initially prescribed this med for anxiety  

So Im 4weeks in... (Day28)

my dosage has been as follows 

1st week - 25mg 

2nd week - 37.5mg

3rd week+ - 50mg

My side effects at various points have been... Dull headaches, hot flushes, sweating, hands shaking, jittery feeling, irritated, annoyed, low depressive moods, emotional & upset, withdrawn, quiet & Isolated, lack of motivation & interest

tierd, lack of energy as well as my usual normal range of anxiety symptoms on top  

Positives have been brief moments of feeling... relaxed, calmer, less negative, more interactive, sociable, present, less anxious, more rational thinking... 

Since I started this medication I have been logging my daily dosages & experiences and Ive just reviewed back and worked out overall how my 1st month has panned out in total... 

23 Days - Feeling either Negative, Depressive, Low, Irritated, Sad, unmotivated etc 

5 Days - Feeling either more hopeful, calmer, relaxed, social, focused, present and getting that glimmer of hope the med seems to be starting to work. 

Im currently in another “depressive” stage at the moment and looking back at those results, Ive found it quite disheartening to say the least... I do however want to try and stick it out... but those odds have made me think... is this actually working?? Or should I look into other options?? (Review next week)

Curious to know if any others are experiencing WAY more negative days in comparison to there positive?? 

And if it seems like I should continue with this med at my next review?? Am I passed the worst?? Or would  I be jumping ship too early if I stopped/ changed??

All responses greatly appreciated 🌹

2

Rose

Today is 4 weeks for me ...i have logged a bit differently...so geres how i did it.

I had 3 days with no anxiety. 7 days where i needed a .25 of xanax. My anxiety has been heightened daily. I am still afraid to drive out if fear of a panic attack while drivi g.

I have overall however, been more acvomplished at home, more present, less critical and am sleeping better.

I'm discouraged too, but hopeful i have 3 friends on Zoloft. 2 are on 100 mg, 1 on 150mg. I am in 50...i Want this to work sooo badly.

3

Perhaps give it more time since 50 mgs is considered the lowest therapeutic dose. For some people it can take 6 - 8 weeks at that dose before they notice any benefits. It's definitely a medication that takes its own sweet time. 💜

4

Hi Rose I am nearly 4 weeks in also at 50mg. The first 2 weeks were hell on earth to be honest and if it wasn't for the feedback on this forum I could have given up. The last couple of days I have felt a lift in my mood and a bit more motivated to see people and leave my house ~ the first 2 weeks I was barely able to leave my bed. I would also say hang in there a couple weeks longer at least to see if you get any more improvement. It can take 6-8 weeks for a marked change in symptoms. Kind regards

5

Hello Kmom, thanks for your response... glad to here from someone whos at the same point in there journey as me lol.

I think thats the problem when we have quiet a few rough days in row, it just really brings your confidence down in this med actually working, a few good days here and there really help to give you that boost to keep going... And this site is like a godsend for me on those bad days...!! lol

My previous “hopeful” days started 5days after my initial increase to 50mg but now Im back to feeling low and depressed again... (which was never really an issue before starting the med) just want to curl up and shut myself away - Im so fed up, Ive also noticed this week I am so tierd... and could sleep all day if given half the chance!! Thinking that may be to do with feeling so low...?? 

But I do want to push threw and for this med to work so badly, like

you... I also have friends on this medication at various doses who started in a worser situation than me, and there going about there daily lives now without all these mental issues causing problems... 

Apologies if this post seems abit low... these bloody meds are turning me into a right misery lol 😂

Heres hoping  our good days are just round the corner!! 🌹

6

Morning Kim, thanks for the response, hope your well and the sinus infection has cleared.

I just think im worrying abit about the doctor wanting me to change me to something else at my next review and having to start this all over again, as on the whole I don’t really have much positives in comparison to the negatives to report back... 😕

And I do really want this med to work... especially if that “aha” moment is just round the corner... 

And like you say, although its been a month,  technically Ive only been on the therapeutic level for 14days...??

I hope it passes again, I can tolerate these moods, but it is just so frustrating feeling so low... 😕 

7

Hello Maria, Thanks so much for you response... its appreciated, and glad to hear your seeing improvements 

Ive read so many posts about peoples anxiety increasing as there going threw, but that wasnt a real issue with me... its was there, and it was high, but at a level I was used to and able to tolerate.

But I haven’t read many posts of those who are experiencing the low mood and depression as a side effect so its good to hear of others who are experiencing or have gone threw the same, gives me hope to hang in there...

Since starting this journey my mood has been as low as 1/10 (which is where its been most of this week)

(10 =being high / 1 = low)

and only as high as 4/10...  in my more hopeful days, which helps, but isnt really good either?? 

If you don’t mind me asking, did you take 50mg from the get go?? And how did your  mood rate on scoring??

8

Hi Rose yes I started at 50mg 4 weeks ago today. I would say for the first 2 weeks my mood was as low as 1 or even 0! Week 3 I would say my mood lifted to 3 and as of today I would say I'm at 5 maybe even a sneaky 6 but I have been to a funeral.today which was sad as it easy brotbers best friend.... anyway. Onwards and upwards x

9

Thanks Maria, deepest sympathies... couldnt of been easy for you today 💕

And after reading your progress, Its really helped reassure me...

I was panicking that I was the only one feeling such low moods, but hopeful now that once I hit the 3week mark of 50mg theres a chance it will lift... 

Thanks again, will look out for your future progress 🌹

10

Went through my journal and took some notes on how my days have gone.  I am on day 27 @150mg (having recently lowered my dose to 100mg from 150mg,  the increasing back up after 3 mos)

Day 5: Very Bad day

Anxiety 10/10 (pacing the house ALL day,  sitting have me a panic attack)

Tingling arm sensations

Constant panic attacks

No appetite

Dry mouth

Have to pee a lot

Diaherra constantly

Dizzy after taking dose

Waking up with panic attacks

Panic before falling asleep

Morning anxiety through the roof

Not able to engage my mind in anything other than obsessing about how horrible I felt.

Day 6: Very Bad day

Day 7: Very Bad anxiety

Day 8:  okay day,  very anxious

Day 9: okay day,  very anxious

Day 10:  okay day, very anxious

Day 11:  Bad

Day 12:  good but very anxious

Day 13:  started okay, then bad.

Day 14:  started bad, then okay.

Day 15: good but anxious

Day 16: VERY BAD super depressed nonstop crying.

Day 17:  okay

Day 18:  okay, then bad (PMS)

Day 19: okay

Day 20:  okay but then sad and anxious

Day 21: okay/good

Day 22: good/bad anxiety

Day 23:  okay/bad anxiety (period started)

Day 24: better/ but not good

Day 25: better/ more normal,  still anxious

Day 26:  better

Anxiety: 5.6/10

Appetite returning

Diaherra but less

Anxiety before bed,  but less

Morning anxiety,  but lessens in a couple hours

Able to focus on somethings for an hours time

Some bouts of sadness,  but not as bad a previously.

I know this isn’t very detailed,  but I didn’t want to bore you with writing out my entire journal.  Hope this helps someone.  I am hoping to start seeing more good/better days than bad very soon.

11

It's highlighted here for me the PMS. If I did my log it would be more or less the same, especially the non stop crying part.

12

Yep, technically you've only been on the therapeutic dose for a very short time. That certainly needs time to settle in. From there, you and your doctor can decide if 50 mgs is enough, or if it needs to be higher. Patience is greatly needed when starting, and finding the right dose.

Not everyone gets an "aha" moment, but notice a difference when looking back. That's probably because Zoloft is so slow and steady, and not the kind that smacks ya hard and fast.

When you're tired, feeling low or both, try to nap or kick back and watch some shows that you enjoy. Just like any other illness, you're in the process of healing, and that can wear you out.

Be kind to yourself, get comfy, have some soup, and cuddle in to watch television. 💜

13

Thanks so much for your comment ashley, I think posts like these, (with a day by day breakdown) are so much more helpful... they certainly benefit me and Im positive they will benefit others too. 

I just noticed one of your side effects is peeing more, Iv also noticed this since starting sertraline but initially put it down to just coincidence as I hadnt seen it posted or commented about anywhere??

Glad to know now its just a side effect and Im not the only one lol Great to see your days are improving, hopefully I won’t be too far behind 🌹

14

Yeah,  at first I thought maybe I had a bladder infection,  but then I noticed that it was more often in the beginning of they day when my anxiety was at it’s worse.

15

Thanks Kim, always good advice... 

The low mood frustrated me so much today I forced myself to do some housework and laundry lol... (actually got quite alot done considering...) and it did help distract me and take edge off abit.

But definitely spending my evening curled up with a good movie... hopefully 2mrws a better day 🌹

16

Same... I assumed infection at first, but after that settled Its just become an overall general increase in toilet vists threw out the day, cant really seem to pin point it to anything??  And Ive just become used to it now. 

17

What we have to go threw just to feel normal... lol, hopefully be worth it in the end 🌹

18

This is my 3rd week on 50 and I haven’t left my bed either until yesterday. I would have given up too but for these posts. Thank you

19

It's good that these posts helped others like they helped me, especially in the first 2 weeks. The reassurance that how I was feeling was probably going to improve was crucial. Today is 4 weeks exactly at 50mg and I would say my mood is a 4 or 5 out of 10. I am still having trouble sleeping but that could be due to not being active during the day or getting any fresh air. That will be my next goal. Sending warm wishes and hope x

20

Today will be day 5, I am experiencing increased anxiety and nervousness .....especially in the mornings. I take 25mg dose in the evening as advised by my gp.......to lessen the side effects....i find that when I take the tablet I'm fine and not drowsy....more awake if anything! My side effects all happen in the morning when I wake up after finally getting to sleep!! I have a fuzzy, almost hangover like feeling with extremely high levels of anxiety....i know I have to persevere with this and am willing to do so but I was wondering if anyone had any advice as to changing it to the morning?? Would this make me feel better in the mornings?? Thanks in advance.....x