Medication

[Megz2020]

I’ve been on sertraline on and off for a number of years. I’m 25 and am now currently on 200mg daily and have been for around 1 year. I’m really struggling with my mental health right now and not sure what to do. Something inside me is telling me to reduce the sertraline. Any support/ advice welcome?

[Theloudone]

If your mental health doesn’t seem to be improving then maybe it’s time to try something else? Lower dose or different med? Just speaking from my experience, after two years on sertraline I switched to Wellbutrin. Quickly I was upped to the highest dose, and the depression got worse. I felt the black cloud of doom EVERY SECOND OF EVERY DAY. I’m on a lower dose of the same meds now and am feeling better.

Better, not “fixed”. There is no fix. There’s always going to be sadness- there’s always those anniversaries for me- death, trauma etc. So I guess my point is that I’m trying to figure out what is my goal with medication. Not to make my depression go away- but to find a balance of meds/side effects so that I can function healthy in life.

[Megz2020 in reply to Theloudone]

Yeah I think I deftness to speak to my doctor and look at making some changes. Thinking a decrease might make a bit of difference

[Theloudone in reply to Megz2020]

I hope you can find your balance! Best of luck friend

[Freesoul66]

What made u go to 200? Are u in therapy also? I’m at 150 but went in increments of 25mg. Now I feel a bit more stable but not 100% there yet.. therapy helps as I think u still have to get to the bottom of things. My anxiety is not fully resolved either. Going thru separation and moved out of common house. It’s been a rough long road and will be even longer........ maybe talk to your doc and maybe you don’t need 200mg. Go down in increments ta of 25 not more. Good luck! Lmk how u r doing. Xo

[Megz2020 in reply to Freesoul66]

So I went to 200 after I was signed off work for 3 months. Was just at a really low point , hated my job in a bad relationship that ended in a failed engagement but my life is definitely better in terms of circumstances but just have this heaviness feeling. I’ve done counselling before but it’s never felt natural. The biggest thing I feel all the time is tired.

[Freesoul66 in reply to Megz2020]

Meg, sorry to hear you are suffering... maybe check w your doc on adding on something or maybe reducing slowly and going on an SNRI instead?! It’s been such a rough year for all of us I feel... w the pandemic , isolation, etc. it has definitely put a lot of strain on me. That I know. There is heaviness in my heart too and on rainy days like these, it’s hard.... I have a lot of anxiety also. And I know sertraline is one of the better ones for anxiety. Yet, I still have to take a lorazepam to calm down on many days....I hope you can get to the bottom of your heaviness... I am working on things too. Keep writing if it makes you feel better. I’m here.

Xoxo