Feeling really awful starting sertraline- checking with others.

Stick at it holly. You can do it! After a week you'll start having good days here and there and then all the time. First two weeks suck but if you can get past it you'll feel so much better. I'm in week two and I'm having a bad day today after two good ones so I'm trying to stay super positive too.

I am just absolutely miserable. I had to take a Xanax this morning because I am just riddled with anxiety and feel so scared to continue. Wouldn't be so bad if itvwasnt hitting you in all aspects. The whole day yesterday was so bad and through the night even. I feel so wimpy that I can't even tolerate 25mg....

Keep at it holly. I'm on day 12 of 25mg. And today is a bad day for me. I feel very sick and have a bad headache and the anxiety is through the roof.

I keep telling myself that I'll have good days and bad. I've just had two really good days so this one - although it's scary won't put me off.

We just have to stay strong and keep going!

It will get better! X

Just keep going holly everyone tells me it gets better. Next week will be the start of week four for me.

Do you wake up in the middle of the night with panic or nightmares? Are you taking anything like a benzo to help you through? I hate to be such a pain but so feeling like giving up after yesterday and last night. Just hard to take that pill knowing how it is gonna make youvl feel!

You're not a pain at all. That why we write on this forum to help each other.

I do wake in the night with panic but it's getting better each day.

Last night I slept right the way through- still having vivid dreams but I'm sure they'll go in time as well

I take propranonol at the moment to get me through the anxiety. Doesn't seem to be touching it today though x

Have you been this ill starting up too. I have taken this med before and don't recall being so sick. I actually just got off of it about two months ago due to medical issue and trying to restart. Tried lexapro but felt it was making me extremely depressed.

hi suzie do u take your sertraline at night before bed? i take mine when i wake up instead of at night, as then i find im less likely to have the vivid dreams or sleep disturbances

I take mine with my breakfast a-new-day.

Dreams are still vivid mind.

i did used to seem to be over-dreaming at first with sertraline but for me it has settled down (i think for most people it will settle down also once you have been on sertraline for a while).  mind you, i have noticed even when i wasnt on antidepressants i tended to have a lot of dreams at night and remember them on waking.

but now i decided that, as long as the dreams are not really distressing or nightmares, it's no big deal really is it (and after looking around the internet for information, it's pretty clear that there is no health worry or reason to worry if you dream a bit more than others do)

How long have you been on sertraline now? What's your dose?

i cant remember exactly when i started it but i would say it has been about 3-4 months, at 100mg (but i started on 50mg for about 3-4 weeks).  i'm doing ok overall i would say.  i do feel a bit funny sometimes (i would describe it as feeling kind of a bit 'fragile' now and then, but i do feel better overall especially considering how i was 4 months ago, felt really terrible then, both mentally and physically, couldnt cope with anything).

Hi Lucy,

I hope you are doing well today. There are numerous side effects when starting sertraline which are not pleasant. I have ups and downs. I am still on 25mg and still experience nausea and vomiting. Sometimes my nausea is extremely bad and makes me vomit. Increased anxiety is also very common when starting this med especially if you are taking it for anxiety. Lots of GI issues are common and headaches. I think I have heard about an increase in urination as a possibility as well. These generally all subside as your body adjust. I need to increase my dose but was hoping some of my side effects would settle prior to doing so.

Thanks Holly!

It's a relief to know that we're all in the same situation. After every meal today I was throwing up!

Actually speaking about upping your dose, my doctor did say originally for me to do 25mg for a week then go up to 50mg. But if I did get heavy side effects to come back and see her before the week is up so I continue on 25mg for a couple more weeks. So perhaps it is worth discussing with your doc

Also, I thought this may be comforting. I spoke to my sister on the phone tonight and she is actually on sertraline 150mg for about 3 years (didn't know what meds she was taking before I talked to her!) it really helped calm me as she said she went through every side effect going, nausea, vomiting, heacache, spaced out, urinating more etc. She started at 50mg but it all cleared up within the first month.

Keep me updated how it is going for you. Fingers crossed it is the right one for both of us

Hi Lucy,

I have taken this med for many years and it worked great. I came off of it 2 months ago due to some medical issues. Long story. It is in some of my other posts. I tried Lexapro but it was making me extremely depressed. Decided to go back to Zoloft but it has been rough. I don't recall being this ill starting it a couple times in the past. Been feeling very low mood the past two days and very emotional. Many crying spells. Although my dog is very ill and I believe that is adding to it. Just not sure if I should increase my dose and get it over with. It just isn't pleasant as you usually get side effects again with a dose change.

Have you noticed increased anxiety?

Yeah I totally understand!! Doc said if side effects are just moderate it's best to get the change over and done with cause otherwise side effects will start again. So gonna give it a few days but if it is really heavy I will possibly wait one more week.

Surprisingly not really, I have felt way more calm and normal in that respect than before. The only thing that has given me anxiety has been the side effects - like scared I won't make it to the loo on time! But this is a normal fear for me, actually something I think my anxiety is based on. Perhaps it is similar for you, you are worried/anxious about the side effect and how that is impacting? I know even when I read the side effects on the packet I got very bad anxiety and delayed starting the meds for a week, so perhaps that plays a part for you too?

Yes. I agree. I am terrified of the side effects. I am not sure if all I am feeling is side effects now or due to my anxiety. Although I was very sick and nauseas yesterday evening and ended up vomiting. More like spitting up. It also gives me extreme anxiety when starting or increasing. Racing heart and jittery nervous that is terrible. I take Xanax to help with side effects when needed and sometimes they don't even help. Also took prescription nausea pills when it is real bad and they dont see to help to much either. Some days I can't hardly leave my bed I am in so much discomfort.....

I think it can be both- the side effects but then anxiety just exacerbates the symptoms. Day 5 for me now, but I feel miles better than I have past few days, I think it was just talking with my sister that has helped last night and knowing that it will all be OK  

One thing I've tried to do is go outside once a day, even when I'm feeling crap, I'll go for a 30 minute walk, get some air and sunshine. It kind of proves to myself how strong I am that I can still do this even when I feel like I do. 

I saw you said you had diarrhea too. I had this Day 2 & 3, bloated and lots of gas. Actually, some of the story behind my anxiety has been stomach issues ongoing for a year, that docs still haven't figured out, so here's some tips! Try some simple foods for the next few days (rice, nothing too rich), have a hit water bottle for sore stomach and spend some time in bed resting. I take immodium "for kids" 1mg each night before I go to bed as prescribed by docs, it is a low dose so it doesn't go to the other extreme. But I checked and immodium is fine with sertraline, so if you're in pain you can use that

When are you due to increase your dose? 

Well in just had my gallbladder removed about 1 month ago. That was all partvofvthis mess I am in with my meds. We thought at first it could be the sertraline. I had been on it for years though. I tried to increase my dose to 100mg as I wasnt feeling well but that went real bad. Next thing you know I was vomiting daily about 6 times a Day. Doc said go back down on dose and no improvement. Then said maybe we should stop the med to eliminate it being the cause. Did that. Still vomiting. Then went to see Gastro doc and had bunch of test. Hence ended up gallbladder. Inflamation and stones. Also reduced function. I have always been sertraline for anxiety so trying to restart it and has seemed terrible this time. Wishbi never stopped it but was in a predicament. Lost about 45 pounds over 4 months. I guess I could try the Imodium.

Oh my.. it sounds like we have been going through similar things the past few months. I've been having digestive issues for about a year, lost nearly a stone, they've done all sorts of tests and exams with a gastro specialist but haven't found out what it is. So they took me off my contraceptive pill, as they thought it could be that. In fact my symptoms didn't improve and other symptoms started to appear. So I know how you feel when you say you wish you'd never stopped something, even if for completely different reasons.. Now my docs think all my symptoms are linked to anxiety, which at first I thought no and then I can figure it out on my own, started seeing a therapist, but I have accepted I need this medicine even with all the little steps I have been taking as it got to a point where it was ruling my life.. 

Are you working or anything at the moment? Or do you have time off to take it slow? 

Hi Lucy,

I have been on leave from work for a few months. How about you? It has been a nightmare. What kind of digestive issues have you been having? So weird your story is very similar to mine. All I know is the vomiting got severe and I was very ill. I never even thought about it being gallbladder or something like that. I really assumed it was my sertraline as I had tried to increase the dose. Have they checked into your gallbladder? How are you doing on the sertraline?

I have had bouts of diarrhea/loose stools every couple of weeks for the past year, abdominal pains and gas. Because bowel cancer runs in my family they took it very seriously at first so did all sorts- colonoscopy, endoscopy, scans, xrays. Only thing that showed up was increased motility (hence my doctors thinking it is anxiety induced, as it's not food intolerance) I did read up on gallbladder though, and they do say post-removal you can develop diarrhea when you're in the recovery stage, so that could be playing a part for you! 

Luckily I work at a company that is very flexible, I'm a manager but I set my own hours and can work from home when needed so have managed to keep working. My doc has said to come back if I need to be signed off though when I'm adjusting to sertraline. 

Today has been a good day for me, apart from frequent need to urinate and a weird aching behind my ankles/back of my leg. But in general it is better, nausea/vomiting/diarrhea/horrible thoughts seems to be gone. I'm meant to up to 50mg on Wednesday though, I'm a bit scared of that, may pop back and see my doc on Tuesday about the frequent urination thing as that does give me anxiety mostly!! When are you due to up your dose? 

Sounds like you had different symptoms than me. I really had a lot of the classic gallbladder symptoms. Do you feel any other anxiety symptoms or just the stomach issue? I was to increase as soon as possible but was hoping the nausea and diarrhea would improve. I am really considering doing it any day now but am scared about side effects again.........

Yeah I have real obsessions about my health in general. It started with a kidney infection and so from that I'm always scared i will pee myself in public. So that's where my anxiety about urination comes from! And since I stopped my pill I've had a burning in the genital area that came and went every month. Again tests have been done but nothing found. I would have these thoughts that the docs were all missing something and I'd never have a normal life again. All this got to a point where I would avoid going out and meeting new people or taking decisions in my life as I would be scared of having accidents in public or doing something that made my health worse. I'm quite recently out of my first long term relationship (5 years) and some issues at work, everything seemed to come at the same time and i began having panic attacks.

Let me know how you are feeling tomorrow, I hope it will be a "good" day for you!

So sorry to hear that. Crazy the things our mind can do to use. The sertraline works great. It is just the start up side effects and being patient for it to work. Are you going to increase soon?

I'm meant to increase on Wednesday but actually I'm going to pay a visit to my doc tomorrow morning, see if I can stay on 25mg for a few more days. For all the "goodness" I had during daytime yesterday, I had a terrible night's sleep, lots of twitches and difficulty falling asleep. This morning too I am working at home but already have tummy ache and diarrhea. I actually look like I've lost weight too in the past week, although my scales say I'm the same, my clothes are hanging off me. How is today for you? 

Doing okay today so far. Not as anxious this morning waking up. Still having lots of diarrhea. It can be very up and down. Hang in there. Very common to have trouble sleeping and the twitchy jittery feeling. You trying anything to help you sleep? How is the appetite?

How is the nausea? Have you had any vomiting? Hopefully not and that is Great if you don't 😀

That's great! Glad to hear it has got a bit better despite diarrhea. No I'm not taking anything, actually with the sertraline I feel drawsy pretty soon after I take it, but it is just the twitchiness and "restless legs" as my sister describes it that keeps me tossing and turning. My appetite is low still, but it is like this since I've had my stomach issues, but making sure I try to keep 3 healthy meals a day. Nausea and vomiting seems to have gone away for the time being at least  

I had a bit of anxiousness today actually, my heart was really pounding and my breathing sped up, but managed to calm myself quicker than usual at least. I'll keep you updated with the docs tomorrow!

Thats great. Sounds like you are doing well. Yes keep me updated as to what doc says.....

Have a great rest of your day 😀

Hey Holly,

Hope your day has been good. Doc has advised me to stay on 25mg for next 2 weeks until our next appointment. Things have been a bit better today although I'm still tired, but mostly feel normal! How have you been today?

Today actually seems better so far. Yesterday was rough. Had really bad neck and shoulder tension and then late afternoon I felt really sad and anxious. Was anxious when I woke but actually feel pretty normal for the past couple hours... So then that would put you on 25mg for how long? Almost three weeks? Glad your day is going good!

That's great! Yeah I'll be on 25mg for three weeks then we'll assess the side effects see if we can up to 50. Although I was a bit gutted, kind of wanted to get side effects out of the way sooner than later, but doc said I did mention a lot of side effects she was a bit surprised, so best to be safe. I think actually though I'm really worn out, work is quite stressful at the moment so juggling that alongside side effects seems to have physically worn out my body, my legs feel like when you have done too much sport and not stretched out!!

Yes it makes you pretty achy sometimes and feeling run down. It is pretty common to have the side effects for a couple weeks..... Its good you have been able to work still!

Hows things now?? Im struggling a bit last few days

Sorry Weenet. It is so rough isn't it? I had my best day in awhile yesterday. Still on the 25mg. I had a lot of morning anxiety but my afternoons nd evening went pretty well. Minimal anxiety that I could cope with. Still have the diarrhea... But could be the gallbladder removal playing into that. My stomach seemed more settled yesterday and I wasn't emotional. I didn't cry at all! Lol. I usually cry at least once a day. How are you struggling? The emotions or sickness? It will get better. You are probably right in the middle of the dose increase adjustment to your body......

The emotianal effects its weird not knowing if im ment to feel this way or if its not working for me

You just feel down and want to cry or is it bad thoughts???? Lexapro made me feel really depressed and almost suicidal. It just didn't seem right to me. I was feeling like something wasnt right. That is why I ask...

Just really down n want to cry an have no energy or any interest in speaking to folk or merting them just now an thats not me normally i just want to crawl in bed an sleep till i feel better then i get panicky an think what if nothings going to work? I seem to have very little anxiety and had 2 pretty good days on sat an sun now im just blah! Do u think its part of the start up ive only been on 50 mg a wk

Absolutely part of the start up. No anxiety? That is great.... It is still early days you will have better days soon. I had a pretty darn good day yesterday. Today so far has been rough...... Very anxious. Kinda feel Like crying myself....so disappointing. I don't feel Like socializing either..... I am usually very social.

Me to im normslly like im board lets do this or lets do that now i cringe if the phone rings

R u off work just now how do u find coping at work if u arent? Is this the first time uve tried meds?

Me too. Mine just rang and I didn't answer it.

I have been off work. I had the gallbladder issue and everything has been a mess. I went off

Oops sent to soon. Went off Zoloft as they thought it may be my meds. Then tried to start Lexapro. Bad experience. Switched back to Zoloft but it has been a rough start up too....

Has this just started since ur gallbladder op? God i cant wait till i c some improvements must b due a good day soon!

No. I was sertraline for about the past 5 years. I have had anxiety my whole life. I have been on and off sertraline most of those years. Whenever I have tried to go med free I always end up needing to go back on them. In may I started feeling fatigued and was having a lot of neck and shoulder aching. I thought it was stress and maybe my Zoloft needed increased from 50mg. I did 75mg for about three weeks and then went to 100mg. Things went downhill. I started being nauseas constantly and started throwing up daily. Up to 5 or 6 times some days. Decreased back to the 50mg and my sickness didn't improve. Thought it may be the Zoloft so was advised to discontinue it. Well I did and still no improvement. Everyone then started telling me it probably wasn't med related. I went to Gastro doc and had a bunch of test done and it appeared it was gallbladder especially due to my symptoms. Had gallbladder removed. Tried to start lexapro which was bad and now back to sertraline. Just been a rough 4 to 5 months. Wish I never came off of it. Been horrible restarting. I just know I need meds. Not sure if all of what I feel is side effects for if my anxiety has gotten worse. I have been off the Zoloft probably about 2 months before restarting.......feeling really down right now..

Same as me i had been on an off sert for abt 6 yrs always came off did well for a while then bang not doing well was on cit for abt 2 yrs but never really felt well on it i got by coz i couldnt stand the se re starting sert but now im wondering if my anxietys much worse as the first time i started wasnt nearly as rough as this! R u in the uk?

I agree. Seems like this time has been So rough starting. I am still on 25mg but may as well just go up as I am struggling bad today. Yesterday I felt pretty good after the morning anxiety passed. This time I got so sick starting l. Severe nausea and vomiting which I don't recall any other of the times getting at the start. That seems to have died down just the past couple days. Today I feel anxious and depressed....oh what to do??? I am in the US. Arizona.

I upped to 50 mg abt a wk ago an have felt worse i am really depressed now i feel but im also due my period in next few days so im not sure if its thst? I def feel more depressed now than anxious have doc on tues and im not sure wat to do give up on sert n try something else or hope it kicks in?

Hey holly! Not sure if you check this anymore but I came across your post and I'm getting the same start up effects! My shoulders and neck feel tense, I have increased anxiety with no root cause, and I'm so jittery! How are you doing now? Did it pass?

Hi brianna60507, I too have come across this post and desperate to know if these start up effects pass and how long it takes. I am on day 12 and still no improvement and the anxiety and panic attacks are severe and scarey! The morning is the worst and I dread waking up each morning (around 3 am in a pool of sweat) to have to face it again! I read loads of these posts and forums for reassurance and lots of people say the first 2 weeks are the worst so I am hoping the end is in sight! I have a Drs appointment on Friday to check on my progress and it can't come quick enough! How long have you been taking it?

Hi Donna!

I know how you are feeling. I've gotten a few panic attacks and do sweat quite a bit as well! I feel really tired and like I've had 12 cups of coffee, and a little bit detached. I've heard too that it takes about 2 weeks. I'm only on day 4 so I am hoping it is still early as this is my 4th medication!!! I've been through the ringer so I have high hopes for Zoloft!!

Let me know how the Drs. appt goes! Maybe he will increase the dose or switch you!

Hugs,

~Brianna

Thanks Brianna, this is my 3rd medication ... I tried citalopram first and then mirtazapine which worked for a bit but then my depression returned although I have to say I never had anxiety and panic attacks like this on it! What dose are you on? I am on 50 mg. I am so fed up with feeling like this every day so do hope it's all going to be worth it. I spend any time I can reading everyone else's stories ... it helps knowing I am not suffering alone.

Hugs back

Donna

Ugh so sorry this is your third medication! It can be so discouraging!!! We need to hang in there! Yes I've been feeling the same panic attacks! I just got one! I'm on 25mg but my doc wants me to go up to 50 next week. It definitely helps to read others stories. Seems to be the only think helping these days!

Hi Brianna,

I hope you are having a better day. The side effects will pass but for me it took longer than the first two weeks. I believe It took 4 to 6 weeks for them to really start fading. Just remember that when you increase the dose you may get them again unfortunately. I am in a much better place than I was but still have anxiety on a daily basis. I tried to increase to 75mg but could not tolerate it at all. The side effects got much worse the longer I took the 75mg dose. Do you have any medication to help you calm the anxiety during this time? Such an awful illness. I wish you the very best and keep your chin up! It has been a very rough year and a half for me. I am seeing the light and feeling normal much more than I was. You will too but it takes time and lots of positive thinking when you can!

Hey holly how r u doing now? I am unfortunately having a relapse of anxiety and have upped my dose to 125mg sonon the roller coaster again!!