I was on citalopram 40mg for 7 years with no problems at all. They were great! Until I felt that they weren't working anymore. My GP did a direct switch from 40mg cit to 50mg sertraline. It has been absolute mental torture and a living hell! I've been taking it for 27 days now and not seeing an improvement. I see my GP again on Tuesday, (end of the packet) I'm just wondering if a dose increase would help or if I could go back onto citalopram? I'm really regretting this switch in meds my life has been on hold for what feels like forever! Any help please?!
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Lau575
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If you are feeling this badly on zoloft. I think you need to stop taking it.I can tell you the withdrawal from zoloft is pretty bad so I would suggest to withdraw while you still haven't had it in your system for very long. Is there a reason why the doctor couldn't increase your dosage of the citalopram ? if you have always responded well to it. Just a thought.
I was on the highest dose of citalopram so couldn’t increase it.
Sertraline is just awful 😢 I want to cry and I can’t. I wake up at stupid times, I’ve lost weight and the panic is just there as soon as I open my eyes.
The maximum dose of Sertraline is 200mg, so I am surprised that your doctor thought that 50mg was enough for you. Perhaps he is intending to increase your Sertraline to that maximum level eventually, but it would appear that you need it increased now.
I’m back there tomorrow. I just can’t deal with these side effects I know it gets worse before it gets better but this is unbelievable. It’s made me depressed. Maybe an increase will work im just scared it’s going to put me through the paces again.
I feel for you. I know what it's like to be on the wrong medication and feel awful and then try to get a doctor or anybody to care about listening to you. Zoloft is a tricky med. I know for some people it is a miracle drug but it seems to me you are just not responding well to it. We just have to wait and see what the doctor says.
Go to your GP as planned - Sertraline can have a rough intro I understand, but there is invariably a route to increased dosage and reportedly, improved health/feelings.
You might be suffering from citalopram withdrawal. Switching to a different medication within the SSRI family - so working on the same brain chemical - sounds theoretically like it would avoid withdrawal, and it does work for some, but not all.
Most GPs are not experts on these types of medications, but nonetheless it is better to follow their advice as they have access to advice that we don't. It would be very unwise to stop taking the sertraline suddenly without medical supervision. See how the appointment goes tomorrow.
I have been on 100mg sertraline for a little over 5 weeks. It was a direct switch from paroxetine, which stopped working for me after 17 years. The Sertraline was gradually increased every 10 days until I was at 100mg, so it's taken awhile. My PCP didn't do anything about the paroxetine, so eventually I found a psychiatrist who seemed more knowledgeable about these meds. She said the therapeutic dose is 100 to 200mg. I'm not well yet, but I do feel better. I think it's just going to take more time. It took me well over 8 weeks before the paroxetine worked. Good luck. Keep looking for help.
I have been on Zoloft for 10years and my dose was increased and it nearly destroyed me. I felt extremely dissociated, my chest was tight, dry mouth, couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep, constant diarrhea, heart rate and blood pressure through the roof. I tried to stick with it but then I had the “I don’t wanna be here” thoughts. My dr told me to stop taking the additional dose and gave me atarax and propanolol as needed 3 times a day to get me through this period. I finally found a psychiatrist to help with meds but in the mean time all we can do is wait. I took an increased dose of Zoloft for 5 days and it took 2 weeks to start feeling normal again. You’re not alone. Hang in there
Yes, every time the dose was increased, I did get side effects. They were uncomfortable but manageable and eventually went away. It's tough dealing with SSRIs until they start helping, but it's the best choice in the long run. Right now I'm still waiting for the day I feel normal again. Talk to your doctor, but keep going.
Just seen the doctor she said to go one more week as things are getting lighter in the evenings and today hasn’t been too bad. If I’m no better in a week she’s going to switch me to fluoxetine or escitslopram
At least your doctor has a plan. When I started sertraline I was advised to stay well hydrated. Apparently that helps. I know I feel better when I drink a lot. Good luck.
Hello! The only medication I started on was Zoloft and it was started at 25mg, awhile back they increased my Zoloft to 50 mgs and I take 150mg a day. This has been very helpful to me and I am noticing the benefits of it as well as the occasional Hydroxyzine. However, the intro to Zoloft was indeed bad you need a lot of patience! Hopefully you have time to ween yourself off of it so it doesn't effect you too bad. I hope you are able to get taken care of
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