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Day 3 Sertraline for anxiety

Posted , 8 users are following.

dan4774
dan4774

Hi everyone, first of all quick thanks for using these forums I am new to head meds and reading your experiences has helped me to seak treatment, in the past deal with some of my anxiety attacks and realise I'm not alone. You have inspired me to start and now keep taking these tablets even though they have made me feel rubbish for the past 3 days. 

I went to the doctor 2 months ago to talk about my social anxieties and panic attacks which I think where originally set off due to a very stressfull summer, I'm 23 work full time and run my own business in the evenings. I spent last summer working in the week and travelling around the country every weekend, moved house, new job, no friends or family locally, the final straw came when my car broke down and I was left stranded. After this I became a bit of a nervous wreck for a little while, I forced myself to go to work but avoided leaving the house for any other reason. Even going to the shops has been a real problem.

The doctor perscribed me 2mg diazapam which helps when i'm stressed but doesn't seem to cure the social anxiety I get on a normal day. (My symptoms are feeling tension through my chest, arms, headache, racing heart and an urge to get out of immediate social situations.)

Before the summer I was pretty confident and happy so this just doesn't feel like me at all - guess i have just been working to hard anyway..

I went back to the doctors this week to have a chat and to try get some more diazapam, after chatting for a bit we decided to try Sertraline 50mg and I was also given more 2mg diazapam. 

I took the first sertraline at work in the morning and within half an hour I was having a bad time, feeling agitated, couldn't sit still or concentrate, sweaty hands, head ache, far increased anxiety than I had felt in a week. took a diazapam to calm myself down. however it seems to come and go and I actually burst out laughing a couple of times for no particualr reason duing the day. Had 3 hours sleep the first night, up thinking about stupid things.

2nd day (Yesterday) wasn't better, took the sertraline in the morning when i got up, ended up getting to work an hour late as I was feeling to naucious to drive. Increased anxiety + waves of other agitation, headaches all day. 4 hours sleep last night.

Today, took the tablet, was feeling ok, however I decided to write this article after just coming back from the post office without managing to post my parcels, I waited in the quewe then as I got to the front I had a panic attack and had to leave which is really anoying as I really needed to send them today for Christmas, I must have looked like a right idiot lol.

Anyway I'm going to keep going with them even though my anxiety and body tension is 50x worse because I really want to feel like me again and actually be able to take part in everyday normal situations.

Is anyone here currently taking these tablets for feelings of body tension? I hadn't had a panic attack like I had today for several weeks and I think its because of the sertraline, could anyone give me any advice on how to combat this while in the first stages of taking the tablets? 

Anyone in the same boat and might like to chat?

Thanks so much everyone, 

Dan

 

1 like, 25 replies

25 Replies

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  • DianaQ85
    DianaQ85 dan4774

    Posted

    Dan,

    I just started taking Sertraline 100mg on Tuesday. This is my very 1st time on any meds. My side effects have been feeling "off" jitters, clenched/tight jaw, dilated pupils, sweating palms, havent had much sleep, emotionless, and definately still getting my anxiety attacks throughout the day. I have been doing ALOT of research on this pill and i keep reading that for the 1st few weeks, anxiety/panic will worsen before it gets better. However, for me I seem to be a little more relaxed than usual, I dont get as annoyed quickly like I used to, my tolerance level before was zero to none before i started to get angry and annoyed, now i feel i can handle the situation a little better and think rationally. I dont know if its all in my mind or if its the sertraline already working in some mircle way...who knows...but according to everyone that speaks about sertraline its a wonderful pill after the side effects and 6 weeks into it. :0) hang in there!

    • dan4774
      dan4774 DianaQ85

      Posted

      Hi Diana,

      Thanks for your reply,

      After being knocked down hard by these tablets I decided they weren't right for me at this time. I still find the diazapam helps short term if you can get them.

      I'm suprised you started out on 100mg that seems more than most people would be perscribed from what I have been reading. 

      Although it seems like your definitely getting some sertraline effects you sound like you're coping alright and I really hope it works out for you, 

      keep strong,

      Dan

  • haz2476
    haz2476 dan4774

    Posted

    Hi Dan,

    Sorry to hear you're having a rough time. I'm also on day 3 of my Sertraline course after being switched from Citalopram and my anxiety is very high. I've felt faint, dizzy, jittery, all sorts since I began but it is early days! I had my worst attack in weeks after my first dose, thought I had serotonin syndrome! 

    It's good to hear from someone who's on exactly the same page as me. Are you using any coping techniques to help the anxiety? 

    Hope you're well,

    H.

    • dan4774
      dan4774 haz2476

      Posted

      Hi H,

      thanks for your message, this all sounds very familiar, I hope you are feeling better soon, if you feel sertraline is right for you keep strong.

      I actually decided to stop taking the tablets. For me personally the side effects were too unbearable, I was reduced to a nervous, nausious, confused, wreck after 4 days, much worse than I have ever been in my life... the headaches especially were the worst, I never want to go back there. 

      It took me the past week to get back to being a functioning member of society again but finding the diazapam helps when I get very anxious. 

      I'm on holiday until the 5th now so just going to take some time to catch up on some rest, not do to much and try to work things through. I still tend to avoid public areas and shops. For some reason the thing which seems to set off my panic attacks the worst is waiting in queues when in proximity to strangers, I feel a mounting tension as I get to the front... going to give some CBT a go in the new year as this has been recommended to me.

      short term for panic attacks I try to concentrate on my breathing and evacuate to a more comfortable location. Music helps, find a happy song.

      Hope you're doing alright.

      Dan

    • haz2476
      haz2476 dan4774

      Posted

      Hi Dan,

      I'm sorry to hear the side effects were so bad for you. I hope you find another medication that suits you properly.

      It's good news that you have a considerable amount of time to rest and recover. I myself start my first full-time job this coming Friday and I'm all kinds of nervous, I'm very worried about how I'm going to turn out. I've been employed the two years prior but left due to a move back home from university. I was meant to be doing some temp work starting Christmas Eve but had to go home because I had a panic attack as soon as I walked through the door. Trying to believe I'll have the control not to let that happen again.

      Speaking of public places, I actually managed to drag myself to Meadowhall today for some sales shopping! Was awful at first but I managed to control myself with, as you say, focusing on my breathing. I can understand the anxiety with queues.

      One thing that I've found helps me is to go through the basic psychology of the panic attack. Because it's an activation of the fight-flight system in the face of a life-threatening situation, a technique I've learned is to think to myself; 'There is no threat, I am safe, there is no aspect of my environment that could harm me'. Usually this ends up helping!

      All in all I managed to have a really good day today! Not noticing the side effects as much this evening though it's coming in waves. Gonna stick with it for another week and a half and see where I'm at.

      The CBT is meant to be extremely helpful! I've had short-term counselling recently but starting privately soon to get the help I need.

      Best wishes,

      H.

    • Digsby
      Digsby dan4774

      Posted

      Congratulations Dan on coming off this drug which had intolerable side effects without any benefits. Health professionals frown on "cold turkey" withdrawal but sometimes it's the right thing for your body (I've done it myself). Just started on Sert so fingers crossed ;-)

      You are not alone! The worst thing is the waiting for something positive to happen and the steeling yourself to try something new after a bad experience like yours. I'm confident that this forum (which I am fairly new to) will equip you with the knowledge & options you need to move forward and find some resolution.

      Happy to see that you are using the therapeutic power of music, which I think is underrated - it's been a life-save for me in the past few days!

      Take care & best wishes. Thank you for sharing your experiences.

      Digsby

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