Coming up to 8 weeks on sertraline
Posted , 4 users are following.
Hi everyone,
I am a few days away from 8 weeks on Sertraline. 4 weeks at 50 mg and 4 weeks at 100 mg. I am certainly feeling better to what I was but I still have some bad days which I think is normal. I'm hoping as time goes on I will only get better. I think the fact I am having good days and bad days is showing that the medication is having some effect. ( I hope) . The side effects of sertraline have been brutal for me. Intense anxiety (especially in the morning) , diarrhea, insomnia, vivid dreams. sweating, intrusive thoughts and just feeling like i'm in a dream. Can anyone relate to these symptoms? If anybody wants to ask me any questions about my journey so far please fire away I will help as much as I can. We are on this journey together! Also anyone who has been in my position and come out the other side I would love your support also.
0 likes, 6 replies
anne30266 robbie86846
Edited
I can totally relate to your experience, Robbie. i have been on it for almost 2 weeks and have experienced all the symptoms you listed. The only thing getting noticeably better is my sleep as i switched taking my sertraline in the morning instead of evening and do mindful meditation and /or progressive muscle relaxation every night before going to sleep. If i wake up at night, i start focusing on my breath, so i can keep the scary/intrusive thoughts away and it helps. During the day, while at work, i am not as anxious as i am at home, as I keep my mind busy with work related things,. I am thinking to start learning something new (like Spanish or anything to keep my kind busy while at home too). I am a very active and outdorsy person and spending time in the nature nay help too but, due to the med's side effects, the last couple of weeks i lost motivation to do that. When I get overwhelmed by anxiety or the other side effects, I start reading other people's experiences or reviews of this medication on different platforms, and it somehow helps me calm down. Hope this helps.
robbie86846 anne30266
Edited
Hi Anne,
Thank you for your reply! I take my sertraline in the evening as when I was taking it through the day I was a zombie not sure if that was just cause I had just started taking sertraline. Yeah I started meditating also! I use an app called "Calm" its brilliant and I would highly recommened it to anyone suffering. I also revert back to the forums when things get on top of me just for a little bit of positivity. I find work takes my mind off things a little also but running a business and having anxiety and these issues can be challenging. Also remember intrusive thoughts are just thoughts don't give them any meaning. Most people suffer with them but don't think anything of it and it just passes. Breathing techniques are essential! if you can control your breathing you can calm your body! 2 weeks is still early doors anne, stay on your toes for weeks 3-4-5-6 there will be some challenging moments but do everything your doing now and surround yourself with positive people. Remember nothing is that bad, our minds just make it it to be.
stacey25166 robbie86846
Posted
when did you start feeling better on 100 mg? I started out on 25 mg, then went to 50 mg (was on it for 3 months) and now im on 75 mg for about a week and a half and today has been a really bad day for me. My anxiety has manifested into some depression and now im feeling like this wont work for me which is making me feel really down 😦
robbie86846 stacey25166
Posted
I would say around the 6 week mark I noticed some better moments but still was having low points also. With you saying you have increased your dose to 75mg I would give it another couple weeks at that dose and see how you feel. Your body needs time to adjust to the dose increase which is common. Have you had any good spells at all? And remember to stay as positive as you can, everyday is a step closer to feeling yourself again! Do you meditate stacey? if not I would defo give it a try it calms you down through the dark moments. Also stay busy, i.e walking, running, reading, work anything you possibly can.
CH99 robbie86846
Posted
Hi Robbie, I have been on Sert 50mg for 6 weeks and I'm having good and bad days also...mainly bad. I do think the Sert has helped improve my physical anxiety symptoms but I'm really struggling with my emotions and mental symptoms, mainly worry / fear. I get so distressed by worries that my calm-self is able to easily dismiss as irrational, but when I am in an anxious state the worries and fears feel so real. When I feel good and am very aware of the fact that I feel 'normal' and that in itself also triggers my anxiety and then the whole cycle starts again. Feels never-ending at the moment, really scary. My mornings are bad too and they can dictate my day, especially if I am on my own and alone with my thoughts. It's strange how being fully distracted snaps me out of these feelings, and does give me a glimmer of hope that my normal self is still there somewhere. I don't know if my current dosage is working, or whether Sert is right for me. I have always had citalopram before, so Sert is very new to me.
robbie86846 CH99
Posted
Hi CH99,
I can certainly relate to your symptoms! They are pretty much the same as mine. Have you thought about a dose increase? That could be what you need. Also do you meditate? I would highly recommened it! I use a app called "Calm" its fantastic and works wonders. Exercise, clean eating and surrounding yourself with positive people is a must also. You should speak to your doctor about an increase to see what they think, sertraline can take a few month to take effect and you need to find a dose that works for you. I take 100mg currently and have been for 4 weeks now. I done my first 4 weeks on 50mg.