Sertraline, 25 mg has has terrible side effects going on week 8. why?

Posted by caseycare @caseycare, Apr 9 12:56pm

I have anxiety and mild depression. My dr. Prescribed Sertraline 25 mg. I have had the worst side effects on now on my 8th week and the side effects have not subsided. My Dr. put me on Ativan to help with the getting adjusted. Being that I’m on week 8 I think this medication Sertraline is not going to work. I need to ween off the 25 mg of Sertraline asap. I need help and can I stay on the Ativan to help with the weaning off the Sertraline? Please help me learn the weaning process and time needed?

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Thank goodness I came across this thread-discussion about Zoloft. I was recently started at low dose, 12.5 mg which seemed ok for about 1-2 weeks until the Dr had me go up to 25mg, which I did not do. I only went up a half of a half.....I believe in slowwwww progression. That increase by 6 mg made me crazy...all I wanted to do was to sleep....in fact could not sleep but just couldn't keep my eyes open. No more for me! I think it is the classification that Zoloft, prozac etc are under that is the issue...they are SSRI's (serotonin-re-uptakes) that causes the uncomfortable side-effects. So the answer might be a medication that is classified as an SSNRI or Wellbutrin which works in an entirely different way that the SSRI's and SSNRI's

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@kndaustin71

Thank goodness I came across this thread-discussion about Zoloft. I was recently started at low dose, 12.5 mg which seemed ok for about 1-2 weeks until the Dr had me go up to 25mg, which I did not do. I only went up a half of a half.....I believe in slowwwww progression. That increase by 6 mg made me crazy...all I wanted to do was to sleep....in fact could not sleep but just couldn't keep my eyes open. No more for me! I think it is the classification that Zoloft, prozac etc are under that is the issue...they are SSRI's (serotonin-re-uptakes) that causes the uncomfortable side-effects. So the answer might be a medication that is classified as an SSNRI or Wellbutrin which works in an entirely different way that the SSRI's and SSNRI's

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I had terrible time finding an antidepressant. Migraines, severe fatigue, hunger in the extreme.

so SSRIs were out.
Tried a few SNRIs were the ticket. Still had to find the one. Venlafaxene (Effexor) was great for me. On over max dose, but it's been fine for me for 18 years.

I do, take a complement of other meds, but that's just me.

If you really want to know which is "better" for you;you go to GENOMIND and have your DNA, via your mouth. (A cheek swab).

They'll bring the bill down to around ($300)
If your insurance won't pay or whatever. Just tell them you cannot afford it. They will work with you.

God bless

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@christine5

I had terrible time finding an antidepressant. Migraines, severe fatigue, hunger in the extreme.

so SSRIs were out.
Tried a few SNRIs were the ticket. Still had to find the one. Venlafaxene (Effexor) was great for me. On over max dose, but it's been fine for me for 18 years.

I do, take a complement of other meds, but that's just me.

If you really want to know which is "better" for you;you go to GENOMIND and have your DNA, via your mouth. (A cheek swab).

They'll bring the bill down to around ($300)
If your insurance won't pay or whatever. Just tell them you cannot afford it. They will work with you.

God bless

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How amazing to find someone like me. The Genomind made complete sense of why certain meds had no effect or side effects it’ll analyse your receptors and show exact matches. If only that had been in existence before so many years of hell.
After initially on above normal dose I’m now daily well on 1/3 of that. NO side-effects, but never try lowering suddenly within 2 days depression hits hard. I’ve heard so many bad things about the inability to come off and sometimes it scares me am I dependent on it. But it’s got me back to normal. At long last Genomind could scientifically show why this works for me. There’s been some Sertraline added to prevent ultra high doses but as soon as any migraines appear signifying excess 5 HT that is lowered. My illness came on 48yrs ago after encephalitis with epilepsy controlled. So I regard them as making up for what my brain can’t produce,

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@fiona57

How amazing to find someone like me. The Genomind made complete sense of why certain meds had no effect or side effects it’ll analyse your receptors and show exact matches. If only that had been in existence before so many years of hell.
After initially on above normal dose I’m now daily well on 1/3 of that. NO side-effects, but never try lowering suddenly within 2 days depression hits hard. I’ve heard so many bad things about the inability to come off and sometimes it scares me am I dependent on it. But it’s got me back to normal. At long last Genomind could scientifically show why this works for me. There’s been some Sertraline added to prevent ultra high doses but as soon as any migraines appear signifying excess 5 HT that is lowered. My illness came on 48yrs ago after encephalitis with epilepsy controlled. So I regard them as making up for what my brain can’t produce,

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I just throw an idea out there to any other UK NHS patients. Surely a lot of time and money trying umpteen drugs could be saved if NHS had a deal with Genomind.
In the US I don’t know how the price versus drug trials on patients could work.s

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I am so sorry that everyone has had difficulty with the Zoloft but on the other hand am glad to know that I am not the only one I started with 1/2 of a 25 mg tablet and did well for a week. It appears that 12.5 mg of Zoloft is all that I am going to be able to handle. My psychiatrist does not like Ativan/Xanax- "they are dangerous." All drugs are dangerous! The patronizing comments of giving it a chance is not cutting it. Why if one's quality of life is so much better taking small doses of Ativan and/or Xanax improved tremendously continue with that treatment plan. Some people can't tolerate the SSRI's or SSRNI's. Treatment plans should be individualized and if Zoloft is not tolerated then it should be discontinued.

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I couldn’t agree more!

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