Day 9, anxiety is out of control--need to hear from those who be gotten through!
Posted , 6 users are following.
Hey all,
I am on day 9 of sertraline. Like so many others I'm having some pretty awful side effects. The worst, without doubt, is the anxiety/panic. I don't think I've actually had a panic attack but the fear and anxiety of having one is almost constant. I have had some good days, maybe 3 or 4. But for the most part-- I've been panicky.
To make matters worse, I'm 35 weeks pregnant. Please do not worry about this, my doctor is fully behind me being on medication as there is no chance of birth defects this late and to be honest, it's just necessary.
I'm also prescribed to .25 Xanax-- which I am taking to sleep and also when I can't handle the anxiety anymore. I
I really want to hear from people who have come out the other side of this tunnel. I am nervous that I'm on the verge of a breakdown and I just can't breakdown. I also have a 16 month old.
PLEASE- reach out to me. I need it! And I'm truely suffering. Thanks everyone!
0 likes, 14 replies
michelle71710 sarah93637
Posted
Hi Sarah, sorry your having a rough time of time. I've been on sertaline now for 21days, 6days 25mg and 15days 50mg I've had terrible side effects, nausea, insomnia, dry mouth, tingling, to name a few plus I've had heightened anxiety and low mood which has been terrible as that's what I'm on them for but you need to stay strong and continue, it's a struggle I know but it's a slow acting drug and can take upto 6-8weeks to fully get into your system and start working. My dr told me it would get worse before it got better. I was on sertaline a few years ago for GAD and panic attacks and it helped me so much and I came off them, I do worry myself that as it's more anxiety and depression this time that it won't work but I have to try and stay positive and get through each day as it comes. I have 2 children too so know it can be hard, luckily my parents are supportive and help out. Do you have support around you? Did the dr give you anything to help with any side effects? I got beta blockers as I was getting palpitations and knotted stomach and they helped when I needed them, I also got anti sickness tablets which made me sleepy but did help. Your not alone, this forum has been a life saver for me as people are so understanding and there is so much support out there as we know exactly what each one of us are going through. Stay positive, stay strong and if you need to chat I'm here xx
sarah93637 michelle71710
Posted
Thank you Michelle. I really appreciate hearing from someone who is there. I have only been prescribed the Xanax. Bc of my pregnancy they are very heistant to give me medication. I am not sure beta blockers are okay for me...
So, is it the general consensus that it will take 6-8 weeks to feel better? I am also doing cognitive behavioral therapy. I am not complaining-- just wondering if that's what I should be expecting? Obviously with the impending birth, I'm a little more preoccupied with feeling better than I otherwise would be...
Also, I'm only on 25 mgs. Doctor thinks it's best to try to stay at that dose IF possible. I DO not want to rock the boat, but most people seem to be on 50? Obviously I'll talk to my doc-- but is 25 a therapeutic dose?
Thank you again!
Samrock sarah93637
Posted
Hey Sarah!
You sound like me about a week ago! And yes, you can get through this! It is so much harder than I ever thought it would be, so don't feel alone in thinking it's just you who experiences these side effects. Thousands of people have felt how you feel and it's about perseverence to see it through.
I had about 8 days of constantly high anxiety going from 25mg to 50mg. I had been on 25mg for about 3 weeks, 50mg for 10 days and I'm now on my third day of 75mg. I've noticed that going from 50mg to 75mg had a good effect of removing the constant anxiety. I just feel it when the situation calls for it now.
25mg is not considered a theraputic dose, but a dose that's used moreso for weaning you onto the drug. For example, another SSRI called Lexapro, the basic dose is 10mg. The equivalent of that in Sertraline is 100mg. (I was on Lexapro first and didn't have much effect).
What I've noticed is that those who are having a lot of bad reactions and doesn't seem to give in, it's often a case that the dose is too low. It could also be that the drug hasn't been aclimatized into your system yet, and the theory is that your synapses, detecting a surge of serotonin (Sertraline) shuts down serotonin production all together as a fail-safe, making you feel worse before you feel better. (It's just a theory, but one that makes sense to me).
I would give the 25mg just a few more days, perhaps at the 2 week mark, and if you're still feeling awful, up the dose. Worse case scenario, you can always drop back down to a lower dose.
If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask
sarah93637 Samrock
Posted
Thank you Samrock!
Did you have the same side effects moving from 25-50? I'm so scared to "rock the boat"... but I'm starting to think the same thing at the 2 week mark! Just want to know what's coming...
sarah93637 Samrock
Posted
michelle71710 sarah93637
Posted
No problem Sarah. Everyone is different but they say it's around the 6-8weeks that the full effect of the drug will work. When I went from 25mg to 50mg I got worse side effects but when I was on 25mg I was ok for about 3/4days but I was only on 25mg for 6days. Some people are lucky and don't experience worse side effects when they go up dose but everyone is different. I'm due to see my dr on Wednesday and I think she'll want to increase me to 100mg but I might try 75mg first. I would speak to your dr first before upping your dose it might make you feel better but if not you can always go back down again. Side effects usually last about 1-2weeks xx
GodsServant Samrock
Posted
Hey Sam, it seems that you're doing a lot better! Going from 50mg to 75mg was easier than going from 25mg to 50mg, and going from 75mg to 100mg is even easier. I usually skip the 50mg to 75mg dose altogether.
Thanks for sharing this theory, very interesting. Kinda makes sense now that I think about it. Because the drug prevents the re-uptake of serontonin, there'd be more serotonin floating around so then the body would naturally reduce its production, at least for awhile, until our brain quickly uses up the serotonin. Interesting theory.
Samrock GodsServant
Posted
Hey GS
I'm doing a little bit better, though still not out of the woods yet! There's more to the theory, but I didn't want to ramble on too much. The synapse (connection between brain cells) has something called "Autoreceptors" which detect a rise in serotonin levels. The theory is that when it notices a push/rise in the serotonin, it cuts off all production, thus lowering your serotonin initially (When you feel awful).
So the daily constant intake of the med, is meant to wear down the resistance that the autoreceptors have, to eventually just give up and allow the med to do it's job completely.
Funnily enough, tonight I got naucious out of the blue and almost cold-like symptoms (though I hope it's not an actual cold, I recently just got over one!)
Samrock sarah93637
Posted
Hey Sarah,
I'm doing a bit better, thank you for asking. It's definitely a case of realizing that patience is a virtue and to realize that how you're feeling is a cause of the med, and not what you're genuinely feeling.
Initially, I got a placebo effect on 25mg for the first week, feeling really good, then all of a sudden I noticed that my mood started to drop quite considerably. Typically what I hear most, is the symptoms, once they level out, re-activate again for each increase in dose you have.
Having said that, it seems that the side effects are not as potent in the higher dose range, mostly because by that stage, your body would have had longer to acclimatize to the drug, so it's a much less shock to the system.
tim31651 sarah93637
Posted
I am experiencing the same high anxiety at 50mg, day 5. The general consensus seems to be that we have go through rough times before it gets better. Hang in there you are not alone. By the way, my son has been on sertraline for 8 years and it works great for his depression.
sarah93637 tim31651
Posted
tim31651 sarah93637
Posted
I started at 50 and will go up to 100 soon. It is hard to know if my anxiety is impacted by the med or the sertraline hasn't started addressing the original problem.
lauren_21564 sarah93637
Posted
Hi Sarah. Your side effects are absolutely normal. As awful as they are, they have to happen. Just like Sam pointed out, your body temporarily shuts down its own production of serotonin once you start taking the medication. Your brain assumes you have enough in your system as it detects the extra from the med. The tricky part is that your body cannot uet use all the extra serotonin. Your body and brain actually create new receptors in order to handle the surge from the medication. This is the part that takes time and this mechanism is why you feel so awful initially. Day 9 is still pretty early. You are right in the thick of it. It should let up soon! I am also expectin . Though only 9 weeks right now. I am currently increasing my dose as I don't think the 50mg is cutting in during the hormone changes. Did you have trouble during the whole pregnancy or just towards the end? Message me anytime!
sarah93637 lauren_21564
Posted
Hey Lauren,
Congrats! I think I have been battling depression for a while but not addressing it. As for the panic, that started at 33 weeks. I was quite calm the rest of the pregnancy. Not sure if it's the crazy hormone surge or if it's just the stress of realizing I'm about to be a mom to a newborn and a 17 month old...
Also, I'm a trial attorney and work 40+ a week. So, my therapist thinks it's probably a combo of my "extremely stressful lifestyle."
Is this your first??? Congrats again, very exciting time!