5 days on Setraline for anxiety, not sure if I should stop.
Posted , 7 users are following.
Hey
So, I have struggled with anxiety all of my adult life and I have reciently come to a point where I needed a bit of extra help. I have always refused any medication, but after chatting with my doctor and really recognising the negative impact anxiety has had on my life, I decided to give Sertaline a try.
I have been taking 25 mg before I go to sleep. I have noticed that I have been feeling a bit fuzzy and a bit slower than usual. However, I have had an increase in anxiety and panic attacks. I have got to the point that Its a struggle to get out of the house and I have no motivatuon to get anything done.
This is coupled with the fact that I had planned to start a masters course this year, but even the simplest things seem very daunting atm. I had struggled with many of these feelings and thoughts over the last few months, but it seem that Setraline has made me feel even worse.
So, Is this normal? Should I stick with it as I am only 5 days in? Any advice would be fantastic.
0 likes, 13 replies
a-new-day will4009
Posted
hi, dont feel bad about taking medication. if you had a bad heart or back pain its ok to take medication for that, so there's no reason to let depression and anxiety be exempt from those rules. depression and anxiety sufferers blame themselves for their situation, that's the problem... even though you get people with a healthy lifestyle, eating well, exercising, working, family, kids, routine, sleeping well, and even those people may still get anxiety and depression. so it can affect anyone.. just like heart problems, back pain, and any other illness.
25 mg is a small dose so you should keep going longer on it and it should all settle in just fine soon, so give it more time ok (at least a few weeks). dont be afraid to try taking it in the morning instead of before bed, as you might you find that works out better for you
ger00232 a-new-day
Posted
will4009 a-new-day
Posted
Yeah, I just hope that it levels out soon and the side effects wear off. I really want this to work, there is a big world out there that i want to be apart of!
Lucy.1991 will4009
Posted
Totally normal
My doc told me it can get worse before it gets better, as your body is reacting to the medicine and getting used to it.
I am only just over 1 week in, but I am planning to stick it out. I have good and bad days, but the good days make the horrible side effects worth it. My sister is on this medication for 3 years and she told me the first month is awful but it gets better and it is worth holding out for it.
When do you next have check up with docs? Are you due to increase your dose to 50mg?
will4009 Lucy.1991
Posted
My doctor advised that I should take them for a week and see how I feel, and if I was doing ok up it to 50. But I am a bit worried about increasing the dose if i dont feel great on 25....
I tried to get into day to see her, but unfortunatley she is unwell. So... I am just kind of trying to figure it out atm!
jimmy16197 will4009
Posted
Hi will.
I started sertraline couple of weeks ago and lasted 8 days due to the side effects. It was the constant diahria that made my GP take me off them.
Hang in there, I've read plenty of success stories on here.
My GP has now put me on mirtazapine, currently on day 3, but just can't seem to get motivated. Take it at 8pm and in still zombiefied till 11am the next day.
I've made the decision to stop taking mirtazapine and try and conquer my anxiety problems with CBT.
Hope the sertraline works out for you.
Nementh will4009
Posted
Hi Will,
I started Sertraline 50mg 3 weeks ago for anxiety and panic attacks, and it made me worse for a good two weeks, and even now I get some bad and some ok days. 5 days into my medication I felt very similar and honestly I looked at the box of medication every morning with dread thinking "here we go again" and trying to make my mind up whether it is worth it. I've stuck with it as to be honest i've done this before and I knew it would help, it's just that it really can be tough for the first few weeks, but it does start getting easier! I'm not having a great day today, but the past few i've been ok, able to play guitar again and get out of the house, so it comes in swings and roundabouts! But last time I was on the same dose of sertraline (7 years ago) and it took a while but it really helped sort me out in the long run!
Stick with it, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and it gets brighter with time and patience
weenett Nementh
Posted
Nementh weenett
Posted
Yeah, the first week I was miserable, didn't leave the house, didn't want to talk to or face anyone, even phone calls I just couldn't be doing with. The only thing I had even a small amount of happiness in was petting my cats, and when they wandered off I couldn't help but think "fine, you don't get me either"....which in hindsight was pretty silly as they're cats!
It started to improve towards the end of the second week for me, and it helped that I kept doing things around the house like simple chores and trying to play the guitar...even though I had no motivation to do any of this. But it's getting better, slowly but surely
weenett Nementh
Posted
Nementh weenett
Posted
I think we've all thought that in the beginning! You'll be fine, give it time and patience, and if you do get particularly worried about your condition, there is the NHS 111 service which i've used a couple of times now and they've been good for me, or make an appointment with your doc and explain whats going on. Don't worry about seeing too much or anything like that, your health is more important and they know that too
a-new-day will4009
Posted
that's an ace attitude will, don;t worry you are gonna be just fine
no question about it.
hans82434 will4009
Posted
Mental issues are a beast to deal with aren't they? So hard to get out of our own heads. Stay busy and get exercise. When I was put on sertraline, after trying a multitude of other antidepressants that made me feel crazier than I really was, I spent alot of time trying to get my dose right. It takes time and unfortunately we have to deal with mental drama in the mean time. You got this and best of luck.