Question about increased dose and some good cheer needed please!

[BustyDeLaGhetto]

I've benn on Sertaline 50mg for the last 24 days for PND and Panic Disorder and other than a few great days last week am still feeling anxious, low, panic stricken and generally foggy. On Sunday I increased the dose to 100mg on GPs advice and am back to how I was feeling in first week of taking them - jittery, teeth clenching etc. Uck.

How soon will the increased dose start working ? I'm starting to worry about it as since I started taking ADs I've felt as though I can't manage DD with the levels of anxiety I've been having so DP has had to take time off work - the only problem is that its unpaid, so we've no money coming in, and very little savings. Rent is due next week and while we can afford it this month I've no idea if we will be able to next month unless the Sertaline kicks in soon. No family nearby and all my friends work so DP is all I've got.

Its fine for this week and maybe next, but worried will keep feeling like this till I find the correct dose and/or meds. Am sticking close to home so travel is out the question.

Please someone give me a kick up the arse and tell me to keep taking the pills. I am desperate to know that they will work!

Hello! I've just posted today (above) about coming off Lamotrigine and Sertraline so I know my situation is kind of opposite to yours but I just wanted to say that YES keep taking the pills and it WILL get better eventually. I know exactly how you feel as I was very sensitive to the medication and as soon as I started it (only 25mg to begin with), I think I had most of the symptoms but especially headaches, nausea, dizziness, anxiety etc and it's the pits... I really do sympathise. I remember being at work looking at my computer screen and my eyes darting about all over the place....I then increased gradually to 200mg, which felt fine. I can't remember exactly how long it took to settle down but maybe a month? So if you're similar to me then you should be feeling a bit better within a couple of weeks. I know that feels like ages now but long term hopefully this will be the best thing for you.

I can also sympathise with the not having family around thing as mine all live abroad. And you can't just leave your child with friends (however nice they are) as it's not the same as having family support. How old is your DD? Is it possible to maybe pay for some childcare for a couple of weeks or would that be more that what your DP earns? Do you have any close friends with babies/young children that maybe you could be around just for support, even if you just sit round at theirs whilst your husband works? Not ideal but maybe an idea.....although I do understand that you probably don't want to be around anybody when you feel this bad. Looking after a child when you feel so awful really isn't fun.

I can understand PND completely and although I don't have PD, I have experienced panic attacks, which are awful so I feel for you having the 2 conditions. I have Bipolar 2 disorder (diagnosed after the PND) and I'm coming off the meds in order to try for another baby. I'm getting some of the withdrawals from Sertraline at the moment and it isn't much fun :( PLEASE don't just stop them as I once ran out and couldn't get more for 3 days and I felt like a wreck - I actually felt like a drug addict desperate for my fix. I've never been so desperate to take some pills. Coming off completely is ten times worse than the side effects of going on.

I hope you can find a solution to the work issue but I really do think that things will settle down by the time your next month's rent is due.

Wishing you all the best....