Sertraline (Zoloft) High Dose

[mp212121]

Hello,
I've been on Sertraline for over 10 years after being diagnosed with panic disorder and GAD.  I've had a couple relapses over the years and had to increase my dosage from 50 to 100 to 150.  My latest relapse was earlier this year, and my doctor has put me on 250 mg.  The doctor also says I have OCD to my surprise, but it must only be the "O" part because I don't have any compulsive rituals... I just obsess and worry about my health and well being a lot.

I've been on 250 for nearly six weeks now, and while I'm feeling much better anxietywise, I'm still feeling an uncomfortable tingling sensation side effect.  In the past, this always passed after a week or so and I really couldn't tell I was even on sertraline.  But now on 250 this side effect remains, granted it has gotten better than it was the first two weeks.  Another side effect I have now is clinching my jaw, which I've never had in the past.

My doctor tells me it's a negotiation... that you have to take the good with the bad, and he thinks the side effects may go away eventually.  I don't see him again until November.  I also have another appointment with a new doctor scheduled in November for a second opinion.

Is it possible I will get used to this dose eventually and go back to not noticing it?  Should I consider decreasing to 200 if the side effects remain bothersome?  I know my doctor wants me to endure the side effects if I get benefit out of this dose, but to be frank I'm not sure it's worth it if this tingling doesn't subside, and I'm having my doubts now that it's been six weeks.  Maybe it's all mind over matter?

I would love to decrease to 200 but I don't want to go through another relapse of anxiety/panic.

[mp212121]

So I finally spoke to my doctor yesterday.  He said to not decrease my dose yet.  He said it could take "months" for the side effects to go away.  He is not worried at all about the tingling feeling I have.  I told him usually the side effects go away after a couple weeks in the past when I've increased the med, but this time it's been six weeks and i'm still experiencing uncomfort.  He said it's because i'm on a high dose.  He said he's perscribed this medication many, many times, and he is not worried about the side effects not going away.  He suggested I try taking the med at night, or splitting the dosage between morning and night, maybe that might help.  He said the fact that I'm feeling better (less anxious) is the most important thing right now.

So it appears for the time being I will stay on 250.  I have a second opinion with another pdoc, but its not till November, so I will probably have to stick through it until then and hopefully the side effects will go away and i can start feeling "normal" again.

I will say, if it comes November and I'm not feeling back to how I've always felt on zoloft, I'm going to probably get off zoloft completely and try something else.  Maybe zoloft has just run its course with me.  But i'm going to keep giving it a chance and not give up on the plan yet.

[Emmie729]

Hi! What ended up happening?

[mp212121]

Thanks.  I've pretty much decided I'm going to decrease to 200 tomorrow.  It's been six weeks on 250 and I'm still feeling a steady uncomfortable tingling, and my jaw is still clinching, so it makes me think these side effects won't pass.

Hopefully I'll be fine on 200, but I'm afraid Zoloft has run it's course with me after 10 years.  My doctor seems to suggest Zoloft is my only option, but I'm not willing to accept feeling this way.  I'm able to go to work and visit with family, but I fear doing anything out of my comfort zone as it seems to always be a bad experience even when I'm doing something fun.  It never really used to be this way.  I know my confidence is down since having the relapse this year, but I feel like I'm drifting further away from the life I once had.

[dolphin8808]

I have been on Zoloft for 13 years and my dosages has varied in that time. Typically in a spike of Panic and health anxiety we will slowly up my dose (highest was 150). After though I get through my tough time (sometimes a few months) we slowly bring me back down. Right now I am on 50 mgs and that is perfect for me.  I choose not to stay at the higher dose due to side effects.

But you may also want to talk to your doc about switching your meds. If the Zoloft doesn't seem to be working like it should then maybe you can try another SSRI. My doc offered the switch to me as well but I declined, I am just too comfy with the Zoloft.

[drifter0213]

that's a tough call if that bothers you ask to go down