Zoloft - Depression And Anxiety Are Worse. Do I Need To Give It More Time?

[sddorsey22]

Hi. I was on fluoxetine at 20 mg for about 9 years. I had some anxiety and depression increase when I started it, but not too bad. I remember it took 2 months to work. I recently had a major life change that made me depressed, so I decided to go up to 40 mg. I went back to 20 mg after 10 days. I went to the emergency room twice during that time. My depression and anxiety were much worse. Then I got switched to sertraline. Well, it has the same effect. My depression and anxiety (I mainly have depression) are the same as on the increased fluoxetine dose. I decided to stick it out anyway. I really want to feel better. I've been on 25 mg for 2 weeks, 50 mg for 2 weeks, and 75 mg for 10 days. So far I feel the same increased depression and anxiety. Do I have to wait 6-8 weeks on the 75 mg dose to see if it will work? I have been given benzos for anxiety, but they don't do anything for the depression. If anything, my depression feels worse after taking them. I need some reassurance that the sertraline can still work for me and that I have to give it more time because of the increase in dosage.

 

Thanks!

Sarah

[Crockotoco]

I myself have been increasing. Been taking sertraline for couple of years now. I noticed each time I increase I always struggle feel worse. Id give it good few more weeks then Start to feel better. Hang in there, I'll pray for you

[sddorsey22]

Thank you both so much for the reassurance. I need a lot of hope right now. Sometimes I feel like I'm going to lose it. I'm so glad that these forums exist.

[hopeful16]

I'm in the exact same place. Went up to 75 mg, and feel much worse. I keep telling myself, "It's the zoloft, it's the zoloft." Felt better on 50, but I still had breakthrough depression and anxiety. It will get better, right?

Hi, Sarah...didn't realize it was you. You responded to my post earlier. We'll get through this, I promise.

[MidAgeDad]

Hello everyone. It has been quite a while since I have been on this wonderful Website.

Instead of creating a NEW Post(should I?), I thought I would just add to this since it's precisely where I am at.

First of all, I must admit that I already know(?) that for me, whenever starting an AD(3/4 times in last 20 years?), the 1st month...even TWO are brutal!

That being said, this is the first time trying Zoloft since about a 1 year timeframe that started in Fall-98'.

I do remember the early weeks feeling WORSE than the original reasons why I began taking it!

But now after all of these years, here I am in that awful/lonely/hopeless place yet again.

I started on 25mg Daily of Zoloft for about a week and now have been at 50mg for about 2 weeks.

Feeling HORRIBLE. Much worse than prior to starting! And sleep disturbances that are all over the map.

Obviously, I am desperately looking for some reassurance during this transition(?) period, but was also curious if after all of these years, has any new research-evidence come out about this whole 'Feeling worse before Better' syndrome?

Thank you in advance for any insights or comforting thoughts!

[Nightjar]

On 4/19/2020 at 2:16 PM, MidAgeDad said:

Obviously, I am desperately looking for some reassurance during this transition(?) period, but was also curious if after all of these years, has any new research-evidence come out about this whole 'Feeling worse before Better' syndrome?

Hi MidAgeDad,

I've just been scouring this page to try to decide whether to go ahead with the sertraline.. Lots of evidence of sleep disturbance here which is precisely my current problem and the main reason I am considering anti depressants

It doesn't seem like such a good option for me considering this. How did you get on with it after this? Did things improve for you on this med? 

[MidAgeDad]

Hi Nightjar,

I totally understand your apprehension! I certainly am not in any position to suggest or advise...

For me? Back in 97' at 35? y/o...I had gotten to a point where I guess I was unable to break out of the extreme downward spiral. It was only my closest friend that suggested that I should seek out some medication. I never considered that as an option until then. That being said...sure, I totally agree that there was/are potential (short term?) downsides to many AntiDepressants in a variety of ways and it is definitely not a 'perfect science'. But I can only vouch for myself that the alternatives were no longer going to workout. And yes, some modifications were needed...and that is where a highly qualified PDoc is extremely important. 

Please keep me/us posted on how things transpire. Everyone here are extremely supportive. 

[Nightjar]

5 hours ago, MidAgeDad said:

But I can only vouch for myself that the alternatives were no longer going to workout. And yes, some modifications were needed...and that is where a highly qualified PDoc is extremely important. 

Ah, so you stuck with the sertraline and things improved? 

Unfortunately, for me I don't have a highly qualified pdoc, just a gp on the phone who may or may not lose patience with my 'quibbling' about dose and type of antidepressant. 

I wasn't reassured enough by the conversation that I got the best antidepressant for me and was prescribed a dose much higher than I was happy with. These things are important and I get the impression that there wont be much patience if/when I try to address this especially in this current pandemic

I'm not even sure I will be able to access him again in the short term. I got through yesterday as an emergency. 

[MidAgeDad]

I only briefly took Zoloft well over 20 years ago. My PDoc...in my opinion was way ahead of his time(he died in 07') and decided that SSRI's might not be for me, so that's when I started with Effexor(SSNRI).

As you know, everyone's brain chemistry can be slightly different. If I can suggest anything to you, it would be to find a good PDoc. GP's think they can do it, but there is way too much to know and understand in this Field. And as you said, Patience is a HUGE factor.

That being said, although everyone is different as I said, Zoloft is a very good AD.

[Nightjar]

1 hour ago, MidAgeDad said:

I only briefly took Zoloft well over 20 years ago. My PDoc...in my opinion was way ahead of his time(he died in 07') and decided that SSRI's might not be for me, so that's when I started with Effexor(SSNRI).

As you know, everyone's brain chemistry can be slightly different. If I can suggest anything to you, it would be to find a good PDoc. GP's think they can do it, but there is way too much to know and understand in this Field. And as you said, Patience is a HUGE factor.

That being said, although everyone is different as I said, Zoloft is a very good AD.

Thanks middleagedad, that's really helpful

[MidAgeDad]

Hi Nightjar,

How are things going? Have you started with the Sertraline?

FYI...I totally forgot that I had taken a small dose for a few weeks last year until I just read my Post above!

It was brief because I had just weaned completely off of Effexor via a more 'Holistic' PDoc and March/April 2020 was like a Perfect Storm for me(as I'm sure MANY people!)...so to help take the 'edge' off, I was first prescribed a small dose of Fluoxetine and then Sertraline. I didn't react too well to either...which for me is more about my own brain chemistry. SSRI's have never seemed to work too well. At least compared to Effexor(SSNRI).