sertraline help

[Jamesh77]

hi I’ve just started on 50mg of Sertraline a day to help with my ocd thoughts have been all over the place I think I’m a actually feeling worse at the moment is that normal ? Any help would be great

[hypercat54]

Hi. Your dr should have told you that it is fairly usual to feel worse until the meds kick in properly which can take 4 weeks plus.

If the side effects aren't too bad then my advice is to persevere and be patient. I am on sertraline too and find it a good med.

[grids]

I changed over from citalopram to mirtazepine & Duloxetine as I needed the mirtazepine for pain and sleep. I didn't realise at the time but the duloxetine send me over the edge. After a month or so I couldn't even string a sentence together. This went on few more months before was my friend pointed out that the length of time I'd been feeling like that, tied in with when my prescription changed.After speaking to my GP I Managed to change back to citalopram (at half my usual dose) alongside mirtazepine and within a week I stated to feel like my. Normal self again..

Basically, it depends on how long ago you started the medication, if it's more than a month, I'd contact your GP and mention it, hopefully you'll get sorted soon, big hugs 🥰

[Jamesh77 in reply to grids]

Thanks it’s only been a week so guess il persevere with them fur now

[Klaus-sperger]

Yes, feeling and being worse does happen in a minority of people.There is a known list of side effects symptoms which sertraline can give you which are most unpleasant. Some change to another antidepressant which can stop these side effects and many find if they continue taking the drug then after a short while the side effects reduce and you feel better. This is the body getting used to the drug and adapting naturally.

I rarer people you can find your illness gets worse initially. I have anxiety, depression with psychosis which became much worse from taking sertraline and I went through periods of living hell, the worst time was about 2 weeks of utter misery where my whole illness got much worse. Awful.

The good news for me is that 1.the suffering went away every time and 2.i then gained fantastic benefits.

Joe

[Art64blue]

I started Sertraline 7 weeks ago and the side effects were very acute I suffer from anxiety and insomnia and both of these were accentuated when I began I started with 50mg then after 4 weeks my GP put it up to 75mg which gradually eased my symptoms. I am now on 100mg and I feel so much better. It feels like its taking ages to kick in at first and it's very gradual but I'd say keep going it will get better.

[Springvale23 in reply to Art64blue]

Like you I started on 50mg, moved up to 75after a month and after 6 months to 100mg. That is 3 weeks ago. I have had a real struggle with depression and anxiety since then. Haven’t left the house for 8 days. Hoping this will lift soon as others say it can take up to 4 weeks to adjust. This past few weeks have been my most difficult in years.

[Springvale23]

I increased to 100mg from 75mg 3 weeks ago and have really struggled with anxiety and depression , not wanting to leave the house. I am ashamed to say I haven’t washed or dressed for 5 days. This is the worst I have been in a long time. I changed to sertraline last year after being on venlafaxine for a long time. 7+ years. Hope you are coping with increase now.