I know theres a general 6-8 week side effect rule with SSRI's. I took Fluoxetine 20mg for 4 weeks which was prescribed for some anxiety and panic attacks. (started 5 weeks ago). The first week was fine, but week two onwards, I was a complete wreck, waking up in the morning crippled with anxiety, crying, depressed. This went on day after day. Completely paralyzed with anxiety, crying most of the day with severe anxiety. After 4 weeks on Fluoxetine, my doctor moved me to Sertraline 50mg, with 1 days gap of no meds in between. (which is now 1 week ago)
I've been on the Sertraline 7 days now, and i'm still a complete, unbearable mess. Nothing has changed. Yesterday, the doctor suggested I go up to 100mg, but i'm worried this will make me EVEN worse!
Does the 6-8 weeks time span start from scratch again, when you switch or can I take into account the 4 weeks I took Fluoxetine for as well, as I moved from one SSRI to another?
(I took 150mg of sertraline between 2013 and stopped last September with no issues, and don't remember these side effects when starting at that time so thought taking it again, I would be fine).