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Suggest Treatment For Obsessive Thoughts After Having Zoloft For Anxiety
Question: Just wondering from time to time, I suffer from Panic Attacks, anxiety. I just started taking Zoloft 50 mg going on three weeks now. Symptoms of overthinking, obsessive thoughts are still coming and going. Do I need to up my dose to 100 mg She prescribed me 100 so I started low. Taking it at night, because of stomach upset.
This happens to me about every three to four years. It comes and goes. When I have a stretch of anxiety, I need the med again. Thank you.
This happens to me about every three to four years. It comes and goes. When I have a stretch of anxiety, I need the med again. Thank you.
Brief Answer:
Increase in dose is recommended.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I went through your query and can understand your concern.
Zoloft is sertraline which is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and an effective treatment option for anxiety and depression. Thee dose range is 50-200 mg. In your case, you have started with 50 mg/day, We generally observe a patient for around 2 weeks at a particular dose and then decide about hiking the dose.
You have already been on sertraline 50 mg/day for three weeks now. Since you are still having symptoms, it would definitely be recommended that dose be increased to 100 mg per day and if required can be increased further later on.
You have had anxiety in the past too. I am not sure how long did you take the medications in the past, but in general it is recommended that it should be continued for around one year after the symptoms resolve so as to prevent future recurrences and in case of multiple episodes, it should be continued even longer. Please do discuss regarding the same with your psychiatrist.
I do hope that I was able to answer your query. Please let me know if you have any further doubts.
Best wishes,
Dr. Sunil Gupta
Increase in dose is recommended.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I went through your query and can understand your concern.
Zoloft is sertraline which is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and an effective treatment option for anxiety and depression. Thee dose range is 50-200 mg. In your case, you have started with 50 mg/day, We generally observe a patient for around 2 weeks at a particular dose and then decide about hiking the dose.
You have already been on sertraline 50 mg/day for three weeks now. Since you are still having symptoms, it would definitely be recommended that dose be increased to 100 mg per day and if required can be increased further later on.
You have had anxiety in the past too. I am not sure how long did you take the medications in the past, but in general it is recommended that it should be continued for around one year after the symptoms resolve so as to prevent future recurrences and in case of multiple episodes, it should be continued even longer. Please do discuss regarding the same with your psychiatrist.
I do hope that I was able to answer your query. Please let me know if you have any further doubts.
Best wishes,
Dr. Sunil Gupta
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks I am going up to 100 as directed by my doctor. I was just concerned about obsessive thoughts seemed worse for a bit then got milder. For example if I read the side effects I worry they will do me that. Then worry on top of worry. Maybe increase dosage will help.
Brief Answer:
Yes, increase in dose would help.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for following up. I agree with you regarding increasing the dose.
Anxiety is a condition which generally gets worse if you think more about it. Its like a vicious cycle. Slight symptoms will give rise to anxiety which will worsen the symptoms which in turn will worsen the anxiety and the cycle will go on and on.
You symptoms will respond to the increase in dose of sertraline and I do hope that you recover real fast and get well soon.
Please feel free to ask me any further query that you may have. In case you have none, you can close the discussion and please do rate the answer.
Best wishes,
Dr. Sunil Gupta
Yes, increase in dose would help.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for following up. I agree with you regarding increasing the dose.
Anxiety is a condition which generally gets worse if you think more about it. Its like a vicious cycle. Slight symptoms will give rise to anxiety which will worsen the symptoms which in turn will worsen the anxiety and the cycle will go on and on.
You symptoms will respond to the increase in dose of sertraline and I do hope that you recover real fast and get well soon.
Please feel free to ask me any further query that you may have. In case you have none, you can close the discussion and please do rate the answer.
Best wishes,
Dr. Sunil Gupta
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you after taking 100 mg last night I'm a bit more tired. I guess that's normal I'll wait and see how this works.
Brief Answer:
Yes, it happens to some.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for following up and updating me. I really like your positive attitude. Its good that you see a positive side to everything.
It is very much possible to feel a bit more tired while initiating the drug or increasing the dose. And you are absolutely right in saying that its normal. As you said, you just have to wait for few days. Generally, this feeling goes off within some days and then you will start feeling better.
I wish that happens very soon for you. It will be nice to have an update regarding how you fare ahead. Please do let me know if I can be of any help ahead. I will be glad to help.
Best wishes,
Dr. Sunil Gupta
Yes, it happens to some.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for following up and updating me. I really like your positive attitude. Its good that you see a positive side to everything.
It is very much possible to feel a bit more tired while initiating the drug or increasing the dose. And you are absolutely right in saying that its normal. As you said, you just have to wait for few days. Generally, this feeling goes off within some days and then you will start feeling better.
I wish that happens very soon for you. It will be nice to have an update regarding how you fare ahead. Please do let me know if I can be of any help ahead. I will be glad to help.
Best wishes,
Dr. Sunil Gupta
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks. I may have more questions later
Brief Answer:
You are always welcome,
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks. You are most welcome to ask any query that you may have. It will be my privilege to help you with them.
Best wishes,
Dr. Sunil Gupta
You are always welcome,
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks. You are most welcome to ask any query that you may have. It will be my privilege to help you with them.
Best wishes,
Dr. Sunil Gupta
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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