upping sertraline dose from 50mg to 100mg

[mandie]

Hi

I started sertraline a couple of months ago and 2 weeks ago the dr suggested i increased from 50mg to 100mg.

I cant bring myself to do it, im scared incase i get loads of symptoms from upping them and just feel worse.

Its so pathetic coz i probably wouldnt feel any worse than i do now :weep:

Has anyone else upped their dose and just felt better for it?

thanks

love mandie

[mandie]

Has nobody increased their meds then?

mandie x

[Dahlia]

Hi Mandie

I was on Sertraline for a few years - and I went from 50 to 100mg without physically feeling any different. It did work better for my anxiety at 100mg.

I am going to increase my Effexor dosage soon - and even though I had no problems with increasing Sertraline, I'm still a bit worried!

Good luck with it!

Dahlia x

[mandie]

Thank you for your reply Dahlia

love mandie x

[lesleyB]

Hi ,I have gone from 50 to 100mg and feel much better. I have been on them for 2 years and went back down to 50 but did'nt feel so good, so am back on 100mg and I am fine. The only thing I do have is when I am walking the dogs I keep imagining 1 of them getting run over or something bad happening to my grandchildren, but generally I feel fine.
Good luck
Lesleyb:hugs:

[mandie]

Thank you Lesley.

I still not been brave enought to up the dose.

Maybe tomorrow

love mandie x

[wombat]

Hi,
I was on 200mgs not that long ago the only side effects i had were insomnia,feeling restless but it was the same when i was on 50mgs and didn't go any worse when i was on 200mgs (that doesn't mean you will though).
My psychiatrist said that it's a common side effect with the SSRI's.The same things happened with everyone that i've tried previously.
I have now been put on Lofepramine which helps me to sleep.Everybody reacts different to medication and what doesn't work for one person doesn't mean it won't work for them.

Good luck with them though and give them a try. I think side effects occur when you initially start them so i think you'll be ok.

Wombat.

[mandie]

Thanks Wombat

I have taken them for 2 days now and i have noticed i feel more anxious, but hopefully this will pass

love mandie x

[caroline wood]

i have taken sertraline for over a year now. i was first on 50mg and then upped to 100mg. i have previously been on 8 different medications and this is by far the best. my panic attacks have subsided but the anxiety is still there on a dailt basis but is subsiding. very very slowly.

[KK77]

I upped my dose from 25 to 50mg recently and the worst side effect I've found is fatigue and tiredness. Tried taking it at night but this gave me insomnia so reverted to taking it in the morning. The night sweats have also been a problem but as they say - no pain, no gain! Everything comes at a price unfortunately. I just hope that with time the side effects will subside...

Good luck to you guys too.

[mandie]

Hi

i have been getting terrible night sweats while on these meds.

i must start taking them in the morning because i take them at nite and have terrible insomnia

love mandie x

[WICKED123]

I've just started 100mg today and I feel a little sick and dizzy but I suppose it's just my body getting used to the new tablets.

[Milaena]

My Sertraline was changed to 100 MG three weeks ago after taking 50 mg for four years. I see a slight difference, not quite as "on edge". But I have noticed that I am still awake at ,midnight, when I normally go to bed at 10-11. Doc says it will be six weeks util I see a noticable difference. She is trying to wean me off Lorazepam, which I have also been taking for four years. Milaena

[jackie26]

i am on my 3rd week on increased dose of 100mg and i think things are slowly getting better. i had a few days of heightened anxiety and headaches but that seems to be settling now. i have also starting taken them in the morning instead of at night and i am starting to sleep better again. i don't like having to take meds but will persevere as taking a little tablet is nothing comparered to the misery of terrible panic attacks and anxiety.:)

[Alli 66]

Hi, i am new on here, just want a bit of advice, i have been suffering anxiety and panic attacks for a number of years, i have tried to manage without medication, but have had to admit defeat, my gp has prescribed me 100mg of setraline, i havent been able to take them yet, it seems such a high dose and the side affects sound awful. has anyone else started on 100mg and if so how was it? many thanks.... Alli

[unspoken]

Hi,

It is normal to be prescribed 50mg to start with and then build up. The side effects do sound awful all written down together but remember that at most, you will get 1 or 2 of them. It's like seeing the menu at a restaurant, there's an awful lot of food if you get everything, but only 1 or 2 is manageable. (sorry if that analogy is rubbish, it just came into my exhausted brain). I found it took a while, 6-8 weeks, for me to feel the full effect of the antidepressants at 50mg. I have been on them over 3 months now and have just increased to 100mg. The side effects I got were vivid dreams, teeth clenching at night at first and some insomnia and early waking. Nothing I couldn't deal with though, really.

100mg does seem a lot to start taking at once. I'd recommend starting on a lower dose for a week or so to get used to the effects of the medication and then increase after that.

Sertraline has helped me, I have got my energy back and I am more able to cope with everyday life and the difficult situations that arise without panicking or slipping into very low moods.

[Alli 66]

Hi unspoken, thank you so much for replying, i still as yet havent plucked up the courage to start the meds, do you think taking half a day for a week or so might be a good idea? also what time of day do you take yours? thanks. Alli

[unspoken]

Hi, I take mine first thing in the morning. I have to take other meds first thing and it helps because it is the most routine thing I do.

Yes you can start off taking half a day if you want to, then gradually increase. Take as little as you feel comfortable with and then increase. The positive effects take a while to be felt so it doesn't really matter if you start out on a lower dose. Don't be too alert for side effects when you've started taking them because as anyone with anxiety will probably know, if you worry about feeling sick, you will feel sick, etc.

[kevbros]

Hi Mandie
I have just had my dosage increased to 150mg, daily. I have been on 100mg for a month. I too am nervous, and wish you well. I will keep you informed of my outcomes. (and side effects).... Best wishes.:)

[Tinkrebel]

Hi, I started taking 50mg in the morning but still had problems, so the doctor advised me to take another 50mg at night. This seems to work ok for me and I had increased side effects for only a few days.

[GeorgeJungle]

I have wound my dose of Sertraline (called Lustral here in the UK) up and down over the years 25/50/100/150 and have some experience of this. I have been on 50mg for about 3 years and decided to wind it down to 25mg (half tablet) before deciding to increase it up to 50mg again.

25>50mg I experience fatigue and tiredness, which usually abates after about 2 weeks. The anti-anxiety effects I experience after about 3 days and feel better, but sleep really heavy and need to sleep during the day for about 2 hrs. I usually just drink more coffee. I decided to increase my dose about 3 days before going on holiday for 1 week.

I always take my meds at 6pm each day.

If I had not been on meds for a while eg starting back on them after a couple of years, then I experience extreme fatigue for about 10 days. I would say that going straight on to 50mg is a bad idea, try 25mg until stable (about 3 weeks) then step up to 50mg, total time 6 weeks. IMHO this is the best way to do it.

[vetran32]

Hi my Names Karl ive been currently been taking sertraline 50mg for 12 days hoping they make me feel alot better keeping my fingers crossed. Had a few side affects to begin with upset tummy,spaced out,heightened anxiety, but hoping this will get better the only thing i havent had is the sexual dysfunction your meant to get had it on seroxat before has anyone else been lucky also???:blush:

---------- Post added at 12:35 ---------- Previous post was at 12:34 ----------

was on seroxat 13 years of and on previously :ohmy:

[cathycrumble]

Hi vetran I am suffering a bit with the side effects which are feeling sick loss of appitite and high anxiety.

I have been on them 11 days now started on 50 but upped to 100 on saturday. still feel sick and dont want to do anything but sitt and watch tv but I have been like this since i started to become anxious.

Do you feel they are working for you?

I am pleased your labido is still working I am just not in the mood since starting them, But that is so positive.

Cathy xx

[LAURA48]

Hi Cathy - perhaps at this stage 100mg is too strong and making your more anxious. The doctor gave me 100mg and I have been breaking in half and will do that for 2 weeks - until I feel ready to up - have not felt too bad today - took puppy out for a walk but I am taking a small amount of Lorazepam with really helps - shame your doc won't give you something similiar.

Hope you are ok too Karl

Just one day at a time I guess and not think too far ahead - luv Laura:hugs:

[cathycrumble]

Well I was on 50 for 8 days and it was on the thursday that the high anxiety kicked in and the bad sickness and I was only on 50 then. So because of this I upped it to 100. The sickness wears off after I have eaten somthing.

Good that you have been out I just cant get my motivation but thats been since I became ill. I am hoping it will come back once these kick in.

Let me know how you get on? The first 5 days I felt great.

Cathy xx

[LAURA48]

Will do Cathy - not expecting miracles! x

[vetran32]

Hi Laura hope your feeling better i have a little bit today but not getting my hopes up to much yet here if you need a chat and anyone else on here keep you posted with my progress how im getting on :bighug1:

[ems73]

I've just upped mine to 100mg.
Feel a bit spaced out which is interesting as at work and trying to be normal. Feel sick as well. Anxiety not too bad today, going back to doctors in a week's time so going to do 100mg for a week until then. Then in total I will have been on for 6 weeks (5 weeks on 50mg, 1 week on 100mg) surely that's enough time to tell if it's going to work for me.
So far it's really helped with depression but anxiety still there. Couple of times I've feel real relief but then anxiety creeps back in. Difficult to know if it's side effects or just my anxiety.

[cathycrumble]

Good look emm I am like you just wishing for it to work.

I been on it 11 days 3 days on a 100.

Cathy xx

[ems73]

Fingers crossed.... please god it works !! I've heard good things from some people so let's hope.

[cathycrumble]

Yes I have so they got to do something.

Do you still have Side effects. mine are high anxiety headach sickness loss of appitite but i dont have much of an appitite with this anxiety I have. I also want my motivation to come back. and be happy again. and get rid of my fears. lol

Cathy xx

[ems73]

I've had headache, stomach ache, sickness (not actual vomiting, more dry retching in the morning and general nausea), loss of appetite (bit of weight loss - yay!),
I have to say I've had more side effects on this than on Citalopram. Prozac was very bad for side effects though.
At the moment still have sickness and stomach ache.

Off work for the rest of the week which will be a challenge as I'm always better at work, fingers crossed I'll be ok and able to enjoy my time off. Right now not feeling too anxious :)

[rebeccacooperman]

I have increased my dose of sertraline twice, on each occasion I experienced side effects for about a week, itching, spots on my back, tiredness ect. all very superficial. Overall my thought process is returning to something more normal.

[emma jo]

hi i have been on sertraline for just over 8 weeks i think its slowly starting to help but i am on 150 mgs a day and thats the highest they said i can go . i upped it from 100 to 150 this sunday just gone . i started on 12.5 mgs at first becuse i was worried about side effects then went to 25 then to 50 then 75 mgs then 100 mgs then 150mgs i still think i got a long way to go but i think its helping a bit i have good days and bad days and good moments of the day and bad moments . as far as side effects go i have noticed every time i upped dose for a few days maybe a week i feel tired dry mouth a tiny bit sick but that passes after first day and latley when i went to 100 mgs got bad windy pains for a few days then it passes . the only side effects that stuck around were vivid dreams everynight and restless when sleeping somtimes which i dont like and a bit tired . the side efffects are ok apart from that ,

[Nuttylass]

Hi guys,
I'm new to this site and found it due to having really bad anxiety and panic attacks over the last couple of weeks. I couldn't cope any longer so took myself off to my GP last night who has upped my sertaline dosage from 50mg to 100mg. Feeling very weird today, lightheaded, jelly legs and a bit of anxiety as well. I'm sure this is common with upping any dosage of tablets. How are other people feeling after increasing their dosages? I know it's only day 1 for me and I'm hoping to feel better soon:yesyes:
Nuttylass

[iBloke]

Hi Nuttylass
I have taken 50mg of sertraline for over 10 years for health anxiety. Things got a lot worse recently so my doc has increased it 100mg. I'm 25 days in and so far my experiences have all been negative. Sweating, heartburn, stomach cramps, back cramps, shakiness, anxiety to name a few. The worst thing is that the side effects, if that's what they are, fuel my health anxiety. It's a vicious circle!
So far I haven't noticed any positive changes but I'm keeping going in the hope that something will kick-in soon.

[clare_201086]

i will jump aboard this forum 2weeks at 50mg of sertraline 3 days at 100mg, definately gettin less anxiety, slowely but surely, keep us posted guys x

[pollynewsome]

Doubt this post getting read anymore but i started at 25mg for 2 weeks, 50mg for 5 weeks, then 75mg for 17 days.. felt so rubbish dropped back to 50mg still feel rubbish 4 days at 50m grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr