Been taking sertraline 50mg for a week for anxiety.. Waking up with panic attacks.. Help!

So sorry to hear about what a hard time you are having. First off the zoloft will increase anxiety but will eventually stop. I know doesn't make sense, it's supposed to help with anxiety not increase it, but that's how it works. It is a very slow acting med. I had most of the side affects as you . As to the menopause, yes it doesn't help at all , your body is going through alot and now add extra anxiety and you have a hurricane brewing inside you. What dose are you on? I started on 50 now on 100. Give this med time. Usually takes 6 to 8 weeks, some people show improvement sooner. I hope this helped some.

Hi, unfortunately these are all side effects of the sertraline, in fact in my first two weeks I had most of the ones you do. It took my side effects roughly 2-3 weeks to start getting a lot better. Also it takes about 6-8 weeks to get working in your System. Hang in there Good luck and God bless

Hi Maggie,

Sorry you are struggling of late.

While I’m not a Doc, given what I experienced, I believe some of your panic may be somewhat associated with menopause. I also had the best heart calming results when I started regularly/everyday, taking a very low dose of a beta blocker.  I mean, the heart palps set off my anxiety and anxiety set off my SVT. Good grief.

I’m at the end of menopause, I’m 60, but still fighting a bit of sleeping issues and sweats, as did my Mum. My 50s were a nightmare, these meds would have been a godsend.

So, I started Sertraline in June, I’m at 50 ml and also started a beta blocker in August, but different one to what you are taking.

I’ve gone to battle with panic and heart palps for YEARS, in and out of ERs, only wish I had started one or both when the one set of menopause began.  

My screaming tinnitus started early June, before I took Sertraline. I’m a jaw clencher. I blame the TMJ or massive amount of antibiotics I took late in May. 

Good news is after a few weeks of Sertraline the panic let up and at over 12 wks in, the panic is very low to gone. 

I found that when my anxiety was high the tinnitus screamed. When calm, it’s still there but a bit quieter. The beta blocker really works. I take Metoprolol, 12.5 ml. daily.

I too felt sickish when I started both meds, took weeks to feel normal, but once there, life is magic again! Honestly it is!!

Try to calm yourself with long walks or doing things with friends/family. I find the distraction greatly helped and made me realize my focus on my anxiety only made it way worse. I also see a counselor to discuss panic and health issues. She has helped especially with calming and breathing exercises.

Re sleeping....from years of constant cortisol and adrenaline highs from the anxiety, I struggeled with very little sleep. Just makes EVERYTHING worse and greatly sets off heart palps/SVT. I found once my body calmed and cortisol lowered, my sleep came back and made everything better.  Though both meds hinder sleep so every few nights I struggle a bit, still way better than it used to be. 

So listen, hang in there and have faith that many of us have struggeled with your symptoms and it does get way better. If your meds don’t kick in, go back to your Doc for an adjustment.

Let us know how you are progressing. 

Best luck. - x kat