Last year I medicated myself with 0.5mg of clonazepam daily for anxiety and insomnia. About 3 months later I discovered that it was not the correct way to improve and decided to reduce my dose in a 4 month period. At the end of December 2017 I was off clonazepam, but started to have withdrawal symptoms (anxiety, insomnia, suicidal thoughts, uneasiness) I decided to seek for help with a psychiatrist. He puts me on 0.5mg of clonazepam twice a day and gave me 25mg sertraline for a week and then updose to 50mg. I have been feeling a strange and different kind of anxiety, tremors, uneasiness, anxiety and irritability even at 1.0mg of clonazepam daily... I have somnolence also. Doctor told me that this is temporary (about 2 weeks and then it will subside and sertraline will take effect. Is that true? Is it possible that sertraline is causing more problems and is not the right med for me? Do I have to be patient and pass this tough adaptation phase?
any input is appreciated. Thanks!! I am desperate.
10 days on sertraline. My anxiety has increased..is this normal?
Question posted by luisito38 on 29 Jan 2018
Last updated on 19 February 2018
Answers
I have been taking Zoloft for 5 years now for my anxiety/depression. I remember vividly how bad I was and how desperately I wanted to get better. I think I had every side effect at first including the anxiety getting worse before it got better. It took close to 8 weeks for Zoloft to start working at the therapeutic dose of 50mg. Once the Zoloft kicked in and my body adjusted, it was a life saver for me! Try to hang in there! My Dr also prescribed clonizapam as well .5mg 2x day (until the Zoloft started helping me) but I only took it when I really felt I needed it. Still keep it on hand to this day though just in case. So to answer your question, you do have to be patient and that’s not what anyone wants to hear when they are desparate to just feel normal again. I was ready to throw in the towel but I’m so thankful I stuck with it. Take care and God Bless!!!
Thanks a lot Silva2007... Your words are appreciated. I am two weeks into sertraline now and I slowly feel better. I have still low energy and lack of motivation, but I think this is getting better very slowly each day.
I am glad to hear you are on your way to recovery! It can be a slow process and you may (at this point in time) still have ebbs and flows but, as time passes, you’ll have more good days than bad.
Thanks. Yes there are bad days, and sometimes I think I will be forever sick. Mornings are the worst part of the day for me it is so hard to get out of the bed, and I wake up with a sensation of insecurity, anxiety and lack of motivation. I am now 16 days on the sertraline. Maybe it is too early to feel the effect right?
Yes, being on the Zoloft for 16 days is not enough time for the medication to start working on the therapeutic level. It takes weeks for your body to adjust to it and to feel the full effects of it. Most SSRI’s are like this and as I said before, it’s not easy to hear that when you want that immediate relief so I completely understand. As for feeling your worst in the mornings, that is also normal and will improve. Generally speaking, everyone’s dopamine levels in the brain are lower upon waking up. In your case (and was mine) the anxiety/depression makes it feel 2 or 3 fold! You can get through this. I don’t know if you have faith in God or not but prayer definitely helped me!
Thanks again Silva, definitely I believe in God, He is my main support thru this. And I pray all day.
I am trying to be as patient as I can. I know this will improve with His help and the medication. I have been leaving my house more frequently, and that is a good symptom for me. In the past month I was almost confined.
It’s good that you’re pushing yourself to get out and do things-definitely important in your recovery! For me exercising helped a lot in burning off the anxiety. If you have access to a treadmill or can just take a brisk walk outside for 45-60 min.
Yes!! I have an elliptical bike, but I have been so tired that I have not used it for 3 months, but definitely I am going to restart on exercise.
Good for you! Just stay the course! You will get better!
I am at 21 days now on zoloft (8 days on 25mg and 13 days on 50mg) and I have insomnia problems. All day I have no motivation, apathy and depression. The worst part is the insomnia. Do insomnia improves as the med kicks in?
If memory serves, I think I had the insomnia too, but at that time, as long as I wasn’t having the severe anxiety I didn’t care if I couldn’t sleep (pretty bad I know). Again, all these side effects are from the Zoloft and your body trying to adjust to it. It’s extremely frustrating and disheartening the first several weeks you’re on it. Once your body makes the adjustment and the Zoloft starts to be therapeutic you’ll notice a feeling of normalcy coming back! It wouldn’t hurt to ask your Dr to prescribe something in the interim to help relax you and fall asleep.
Ok, thanks a lot! Today I talked with my psychiatrist and he told me to take clonazepam at night (0.8mg) to cope with insomnia..
That sounds like a plan. You can also try natural sleep supplements as well; melatonin, l-theanine to name a few. I never had luck with melatonin (that’s just me) but l-theanine helped relax me enough to fall asleep.
Just checking in to see how you’re doing?
hanks a lot. My doctor switched me to duloxetine 30mg and I am feeling much better now. I am on my 5th day on duloxetine. It seems sertraline it was not my med.
I’m glad to hear you’re feeling better! Also glad that you found a medication that seems to be working. Best of luck and blessings to you!!!
Thanks a lot! hope you are ok too!! have a nice day
Related topics
anxiety, benzodiazepine withdrawal, insomnia, clonazepam, sertraline, dosage
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