3 weeks in Side effects

Posted , 6 users are following.

I'm 3 weeks in taking 50mg sertraline and have had side effects from the very first one. I was prescribed these as I suffer from anxiety and was only sleeping two or three hours each night. The main side effects are severe diarrhoea, no appetite, lethargy, hot sweats, dry mouth. Having time off work is not an option right now but I am so drained. I have lost almost two stone in the last three weeks.

I saw my doctor last week and he didn't seem concerned about my side effects, however I am!

How long are these side effects likely to last? I don't want to stop taking the drug as my anxiety had reduced quite a bit. But are these side effects worth it?

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • Posted

    Ii am now into my third week of taking 25mg setraline and felt fine in my first week but in the second had 2 separate occasions of feeling like I was collapsing and ended up in A&E on both occasions. I wake up sometimes in the early hours of the morning feeling awful, cold,nauseous and pain in head and neck. Dr said if it is helping my condition maybe I can try to continue. I am not taking it for anxiety but for another condition. Not sure if I should persist with it?
  • Posted

    Hi I hope this helps - Ive been on Sertraline for about 18 months now.I have tried many other drugs before this but find Sertraline quite effective for me.For about the first 8 weeks I had the same side affects as you and heart burn too.I decided to persist with it and Im glad now that I did.

    If its making you feel sooo unwell and you are still trying to go to work maybe its time to try something that works better for you.Hope you get sorted .Good luck

  • Posted

    Hi, I have been on 50mg Sertraline now for 7 weeks, I was put on them for anxiety and depression. My anxiety decreased straight away however I could not sleep at all for 4 weeks and then this improved dramatically and I now get around 6 hours a night. I also had dizziness, nausea this improved after 2 weeks and the dry mouth continues.. I am also suffering chronic fatigue and hope this will improve as I am unable to work, I only have about one hours worth of energy a day.

    I have tried other medications in the past and have not been able to tolerate them however everybody is different and only you can decide if you can hang on in there.

    Hope what ever you do shows improvement soon.

  • Posted

    I had an upset tummy when I started to take it so gp advised to take tablets before going to bed and that stopped the sickness and upset tummy

    I'm glad I persevered as my anxiety levels dropped enabling me to join in social activities and seek cbt treatments.

  • Posted

    Hi Tony, Julie has just reminded me that I started taking tablets at night and as my sleep was affected I gradually moved them down the day 2 hourly so I ended up taking them in the morning in the hope it improved my sleep. I took zoplicone until the side effects of the Setraline wore off as it did not improve straight away however it may work for you.
  • Posted

    I started off taking them in the mornings but was suffering straight away, doctor advised that I took them before bed. There was an improvement for a couple of days but now I'm back to square one
  • Posted

    My psychiatrist said that Sertraline is a stimulant so Must be taken in the morning???
  • Posted

    I persevered with sertraline for 26 days - but basically I think it's a filthy poison for me. My anxiety (which I took it for) just got worse and worse. I had an upset stomach all the time, dry mouth, sweats. But by far the worse was the massively increased anxiety - I swear I have never experienced anything like it. There were several times when I just wanted to walk in front of a passing car, just to make it all stop.

    I improved a bit for about 5 days, but then quickly slid back to feeling WORSE than before I started taking it. This week at work, I had to fight back tears, and the urge to just run out was nearly overwhelming, my anxiety was that bad.

    Went back to my GP, and was transfered to amitriptyline. Within 3 hours of taking just 30mg I felt a different person. I had a great night's sleep, and didn't wake with that awful churning and shaking hands, and feelings of dread which the horrible sertraline had caused (never had them until I started taking it).

    Basically, I went to my GP with quite mild anxiety - and was given something that nearly cost me my sanity.

  • Posted

    We r all different, in the past I never got on with fluoxetine made me feel dreadful
  • Posted

    Just wanted to add, I have been on amitriptyline now for 4 days and oh my God the difference is absolutely astounding. I am ME again, 100% normal. I'm calm, happy, energised and content. I'm sleeping beautifully, about 8 hours a night and waking up feeling refreshed and ready to face the day.

    Last night I enjoyed a meal out with friends. I had to drive to a strange town, find a parking space, find the restaurant. All things which would have been IMPOSSIBLE for me to do, only 5 days ago.

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