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2 weeks on sertraline, can anybody help please?

Posted , 5 users are following.

joblond
joblond

Hi, I'm on day 16 of 25mg of sertraline. Will probably increase to 50 when i see dr on Wednesday as that is the plan. Anxiety was extreme to start with and I knew that it would probably be heightened due to side effects for first couple of weeks but it has been absolutely awful! I feel like I can't function. I panic about every tiny thing, just day to day stuff like getting in the shower and walking the dog etc! Physical side effects are making me desperate too! Constant pacing, feeling sick, struggling to eat, sweating from head to toe, struggling to breathe properly, even though I do breathing exercises. Can't stop worrying and the racing thoughts. Thing is I know lots of ways therapeutically to deal with this and I do and it helps, and I feel good if I get through the day ok. But the only real relief I get is when I'm asleep ( I take it a night otherwise I'm too tired in the day) but it just starts up again as soon as I wake. I thought I would be starting to feel a bit better now I've passed the 2 week mark but it's just as bad. Has anybody had any experience of this and it getting better once the dose gets increased?? I'm scared increasing it will just make the symptoms worse, so I'm anxious about that as well!! I knew 25 wouldn't be high enough it was just to ease it into my body?! Anybody that can help please? Thank you

0 likes, 16 replies

16 Replies

  • suzie02598
    suzie02598 joblond

    Posted

    Hey,

    Hang in there, I have been on sertraline for 2 months now and I didn't start to feel better until around 3 weeks, by 4/5 weeks I was feeling soooo much better. That was on 50mg.

    Don't give up Hun! X

    • joblond
      joblond suzie02598

      Posted

      Hi thank you! That's good to hear! Think I'm just making myself worse as well because I hit the "magical" 2 week mark and wasn't instantly better and I was panicking why not?? Just makes things worse! I'm definitely anxious about being anxious! Just going to grit my teeth and carry on 😃

  • Wilb
    Wilb joblond

    Posted

    All these darn antidepressants make us feel so crabby when we start them it is no wonder we quit before it has time to kick in! I am starting my 8 week on the generic for Lexapro, which I took for many years and then my symptoms returned, and I am a bit scared that it is not working like it should! I do feel somewhat better but not as good as I would like too! My advice would be to wait at lease 6 weeks and see if u have any improvement at all! They say 6 to 8 weeks and in some maybe longer which sucks! 
    • joblond
      joblond Wilb

      Posted

      Thanks your so right! I've tried so many and always been so sensitive to meds that sticking with them has been a nightmare! Going to see this through though as I'm positive it will help in the end! Thank you

  • weenett
    weenett joblond

    Posted

    Im the same as u if i cant tolerate 50 mg next wk im asking for mitrazpine next ment to b a lot gentler
    • joblond
      joblond weenett

      Posted

      Hi hope the 50mg does go ok for you. I'm counting on it for me too. Nightmare has to end sometime! I've tried mitazapine, one tablet made me sleep for about 3 days! I am pretty useless when it comes to meds though! Think I'm a dr's worst nightmare ha ha! Be good to hear how you get on with the 50mg

    • weenett
      weenett joblond

      Posted

      R u on 50 mg to how long have u been on it? Did u find mitraz worked for ur anxiety
    • joblond
      joblond weenett

      Posted

      No been on 25 for 16 days think I'm going up to 50 on Wednesday. I couldn't really tell you about the mirtazapine I only ever took the one tablet and because it knocked me out for nearly 3 days solid (I was quite ill at the time with an eating disorder as well so that might have had something to do with it!) they told me not to take anymore! How do u find sertraline?

    • weenett
      weenett joblond

      Posted

      I took it abt 7 yrs ago for anxiety and i think it worked then moved to citralopram which i never really got on with tbh great as a mild pain killer tho! Shocking for anxiety now back on sert for anxiety an depression a bit only been on it 3 days upping to 50 tomorrow c how that goes. What kind of eating disorder did u have? Im rapidly loosing weight with anxiety an thought mitraz would b good for hunger
    • joblond
      joblond weenett

      Posted

      Yeah I had a bad reaction to citalopram. Very strange. I had anorexia/bulimia. I think mirtazapine does increase your appetite, I've just always stayed away from it since that one time. I just couldn't wake up on it! But I hadn't been sleeping beforehand so that might be why! Have u had any side effects with the sertraline? Anxiety wise?

    • weenett
      weenett joblond

      Posted

      Yeah it makes me jittery i canna eat i get so anxious i need to b sick even tho nothings in my guts im losing weight rapidly and i was underweight to start with god i hate not being myself
    • joblond
      joblond weenett

      Posted

      Me too! Struggling to eat, wanting to be sick. Feel like my stomach is eating away at it's self. Can't stop pacing and needing reassurance over the tiniest things. I feel useless. I have read other things on here that says it gets better. I'm holding on to that!

    • weenett
      weenett joblond

      Posted

      If u can stick it out i believe it is my sister started them in june and was the same for 3 weeks then she started feeling better i just dont think i can face this for 3 weeks im on day 3 an struggling
  • Chick17418
    Chick17418 joblond

    Posted

    I've had the same side affects I was on 100mg but was getting anxiety so went back to the docs she uped my dosage to 150mg and my anxiety went through the roof. Mornings are horrendus!! today is the first day I actually feel better. I'm still not right, and who knows what I'll be like in the morning.

    • joblond
      joblond Chick17418

      Posted

      Mornings are worse for me too! It's unbearable. Do you take yours at night or in the morning? Did you start straight on 100 mg or build up to it. How long have you been taking it?

    • Chick17418
      Chick17418 joblond

      Posted

      I started on 50mg & went to 100mg after a few months that was fine then went down hill again now 150mg, it's probably a good three months in between. I take mine in the mornings, I think I've been taking it nearly a year. I was on Prozac for years and I might have the odd wobbly day but was much better on it. But they took me off it as they didn't like the concoction with my migraine meds, but I was fine!! I've lost all my confidence & seem to be very forgetful, it's obviously my state mind.

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