Should I switch!!

[Myzone]

Hi All,

When do you know it’s time to change ADs? I was on 50mg sertraline for 6 weeks 75mg for 2 weeks and been on 100mg for 6 days but I honestly don’t feel the side effects have ever gone. I am really lightheaded/drunk feeling, short of breath and feel so weak and drained. My anxiety has eased a little but the side effects are really effecting my life.

Can really help with this. I am in a similar position. 6 weeks into a dose increase of my ADs.

Noticed some improvement around 3 / 4 weeks but now things seem to have stalled.

Beginning to wonder if I am going to need to change or whether I should stick with it a bit longer.

*Can't

Sertraline is one of the more common anti-d's given out by GP's but it doesn't suit everyone.
If it's not working for you, ask your doctor to try you on something else.
I tried over a dozen different ones at alternative doses before finding one that suited.

@Snowshower its hard ain’t it, one part says give it longer because you’re scared to start over again and then there’s part that says I’m sick of feeling like this so it’s time to change.

@Myzone

Yes it is so hard.

I have had a pretty bad week last week. A few days of extremely low mood and then back to much higher levels of anxiety than I have bad for a few weeks. Today has been better though.

I am hoping the low mood was hormone related and that the increased anxiety was me panicking about the set back and my upcoming med review.

I am terrified of changing meds but was convincing myself the bad week meant it was going to be inevitable.

I'm also so disappointed as weeks 3 / 4 I saw good improvement and was convinced by week 6 I would be sooo much better.

This relapse has definitely hit me harder than the last few I've had, much more like my early episodes. Over the years I felt I had got better at managing them and in particular of not letting my fear of them take over me, but this episode has really shaken me again.

Like I say today has been a bit better so I am trying to convince myself I am still improving and getting better and last week was just a little bump on the road.

@Snowshower

i am also trying to convince myself I am getting better and that this medication is for me but what makes it harder is the side effects. They seem like they just make the anxiety worse. I never use to have morning anxiety until sertraline and now it’s a constant thing along with the lightheadedness. My mood seems to fluctuate too, some days I feel more positive and excited and then boom slapped back down and feel like what’s the point.

@Myzone I'm 6 weeks into sertraline too and feel much more ill than before I touched ADs. I've had several this year and haven't been able to tolerate them.
How did you get on OP? Did you stick with it or switch?
Hope things have improved for you over the last few weeks

@MynameisTuesday hi, I am tapering of sertraline as I couldn’t continue with the side effects. I am switching to citalopram next week as that is one that has previously worked for me. Since I’ve started decreasing I feel like my head is a little clearer. I am having a lot of panic attacks but because I’m able to think more I can see them as panic attacks and not heart attacks. I hope you improve soon. You can PM me anytime you want to chat

Thank you @Myzone Good luck with the citalopram. It's a good sign that your head is a little clearer. I can't take citalopram and Prozac 'pooped' out on me. I've tried a couple of others too.
How long did you stick with sertraline for?
Strange thing is, I was fine when I was on it a few years back. Had no issues other than the jaw grinding thing.
Thanks for the kind offer x

@MynameisTuesday why can’t you take citalopram? I have been on sertraline 11 weeks in total. The only thing I would say is try and stay on the same dose for 8-10 weeks, I do feel that’s what I might have done wrong but from the start sertraline didn’t feel right for me

@myzone I had it a few years ago and it caused bladder problems. Prozac was brilliant but just stopped working. I'm going to try for 8 weeks at 50 but it can't be right to feel this ill. I had a few more normal days last week when I though I'd turned a corner then things reverted back to the awful feeling of doom and irritability from dawn til dusk. Just awful.

@MynameisTuesday interesting you say that about the bladder problems because I had kidney stones 2 years ago whilst on citalopram. That’s what I didn’t like about sertraline so so so many up and downs

@myzone Yes, it's a rollercoaster, isn't it. Hope you stabilise quickly on the citalopram after such a turbulent time with the sertraline

@MynameisTuesday hope you do too. Here if you need someone to chat too

Thank you @Myzone

What time of day are you taking it? I was recommended to take it in the evening but it works much better for me if I take it in the morning. I would give it 3 months on your current dose before try something else.

Hi @20DigitCombination I take mine early in the morning but was thinking of switching to evening in the hope of sleeping through the awful side effects. What makes you say 3 months?

MynameisTuesday can I ask what you meant by the jaw grinding thing please? I'm in citalopram and find myself doing this constantly and I've never heard anyone mention it before. I'm currently on 40 mg but it hasn't stopped me having a bad episode this week. I hate it,, it's so debilitating.

Hello,
I am really suffering bad with anxiety depression and panick attacks. The physical and mental symptoms are unbearable I feel hot, sick, tight chest feel hopelessness and that I’m never going to get better. I’ve just started on 25mg sertraline last night but feel like I can’t carry on feeling this way for much longer as it’s killing me. Has anybody else been through this and can give me some tips on how I can turn my brain off x

@Mollyplop999 I had the jaw grinding for the first few weeks quite intensively but it seems to come and go now. . It's just like a tension in the jaw or grinding - I think it's quite common as a side effect (that hopefully goes) and there are certainly threads on mumsnet about it if you do a quick search. Hope it eases for you soon

@Lilly145 From memory, my first few days were similar as it builds up in your system. My pupils were dilated and I felt really awful and like I was on a different planet.. You can request meds from the doctor to help (propranolol and diazepam).
I've really struggled these past few months and have found some temporary relief in going for walks and guided meditations. It's so hard and I can completely relate to that feeling of never getting better.
Sertraline does take a while to work so, if you're lucky, you'll start to see some good effects in a couple of weeks.
Best wishes x

MynameisTuesday thank you I'll have look. It's very interesting as I'd never been aware of this side effect.

@Mollyplop999 How long have you been on it for?

@Myzone I said 3 months, as by that point, my worst side effects had gone and I was feeling a lot better. I also went up from 50 to 100mg.

Sorry that should have been to @MynameisTuesday