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Feelng crap

Posted , 5 users are following.

clare_sturdee
clare_sturdee

On day one of sertraline after being on citalopram for 6 weeks. I wanted something that wouldnt give me the side effects citalopram did but after taking it today i feel awful. Tightness in my throat and hot feeling going right through my body, really tired. I also had a panic attack. (Ive not had one for weeks)...does this ever end...i just want to get better and not constantly feel like a zombie. 😕

0 likes, 19 replies

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  • jay98357
    jay98357 clare_sturdee

    Posted

    Hi Claremont. Sorry to hear you are feeling crappie. I took citalopram and had to come off it as I had really bad side effects. For years after that I just tried to cope myself as best I could.

    6 weeks ago my anxiety was so bad that I was not able to concentrate, constant panic, not sleeping, losing weight etc etc. I went to the docs and she gave me 25 mgs of sertaline. I bloody hate pills but I knew I needed help . So I got home and put them in the cupboard until I was ready to take the which if was up to me never. Anyway my hubby came home from work and stood behind me while I took my first one.. He even checked my mouth to make sure I took it.

    So the first few weeks were really rocky. Felt sock, spaced, upset tummy but I stuck with them. I then put to 50mgs and 4 weeks into starting sertaline I can see a huge light at the end. I'm calm etc but I do have moments where I can feel the panic is just sitting waiting for its invitation. I do think for me it's a habit.. I'm so used to having my panic that I feel lost.. strange I know.

    It gets bether, I promise. Try not to think too much of the side effects. It's just your body getting used to a new tablet however if you feel really bad contact your doc.

    This site is great and has really helped me on the road to "normality" whatever that is ??

    Keep us posted and stay strong

    • jay98357
      jay98357

      Posted

      Clare sorry bloody text lol
    • jay98357
      jay98357

      Posted

      And sick not sock fgs.. Hope that makes you laugh. Lol
    • clare_sturdee
      clare_sturdee jay98357

      Posted

      Hi...thanks for your reply! I was ok up until about an hour ago. Ny hearts beating faster than normal but i dont know if thats to do with the tablets or the anxiety or if ive a load of adrenaline still running through my body. I think i need to try and relax tonight and tell myself its just the tablets. Did you have heightened symptoms such as fast heartbeat and anxiety?
    • jay98357
      jay98357 clare_sturdee

      Posted

      Hiya. That is good advice you gave yourself there... relax and tell yourself.. Your doc gave you these to get better. We are strong people who just need to turn our volume down

      Yes I was very aware of my heart. But it wasn't palpitations it was more like I was really aware of the beats. It could be the tablet that is caming your body but not your mind.

      Relax and stay away from caffeine and grapefruit.

      I'm just going to soak in the bath and watch a movie with my kids. Try distract yourself. I did that the first few weeks..

    • clare_sturdee
      clare_sturdee jay98357

      Posted

      Awwww that sounds nice chilling out with your kiddies. I am more aware about my heart rate and im always checking my pulse. Think that sends me into a panic aswell. I just hope these ones work out for me. I really dont want to go back to square one x
    • jay98357
      jay98357 clare_sturdee

      Posted

      They will sweetie but you have to do some work aswell. Try telling yourself they will work even if you don't believe it. Trick your anxiety.. It tricks us all the time. Are you taking anything else. I took 2mgs of diazipam when I first started to help with my side effects.

      These tablets take a while to work. I believe anything between 4 to 8 weeks. I can honestly say I'm feeling better now than in years.

      Try to stop checking your pulse as you are still alive and won't have a heart attack or a stroke but remember if you are really worried call your gp

      I'm really sensitive to any meds and I'm totally fine

    • clare_sturdee
      clare_sturdee jay98357

      Posted

      I was on Citalopram up until wednesday past. Took one every other day for a few days before taking the sertaline. So because they are in the same SSRI range i thought i wouldnt have any further side affects as i was on the citalopram for 6 weeks. Ive an appointment with the nurse on Monday. So i will see what she says. Did the diazapam make you feel more relaxed? I havent been told about taking anything else with the sertaline. Xx
    • jay98357
      jay98357 clare_sturdee

      Posted

      Diazipam really helped me through the start. I do think if it wasn't for them and the support from my hubby I would have given up. BIt now 4/5 weeks in I'm so glad I stuck with the horrid side effects.

    • clare_sturdee
      clare_sturdee jay98357

      Posted

      Awwww im so glad that you are getting better hun. I really hope you continue to thrive. Thanks for all your help xx
    • jay98357
      jay98357

      Posted

      Also some people on here say rescue remedy helps along with camomile tea. There are loads of options.
  • Honey_Badger
    Honey_Badger clare_sturdee

    Posted

    As others have said, stick with it. I found it unpleasant to get up to therapeutic dose (100mg or over) but after a couoke of months I got there and did feel better. Antideps are different for everybody. You will get the side effects, it's how long you can cope with them before you try something else. I found sertraline to be a hard one to crack as felt irritable, sick, headaches for several weeks, but taking 25mg doses and only upping the dose when I felt 'OK' was the way to do it. I had Citalopram for ages and was fine with it, Prozac literally made me nuts after 48 hours, so all are different. It does get better. Small doses and try not to worry. Mindfulness techniques and keeping routine and doing stuff will help. God luck!

    • a-new-day
      a-new-day Honey_Badger

      Posted

      i agree with this, i tried mirtazapine for a month which everyone says is a great ssri but it was hell for me, i felt awful and i had really intense restless legs syndrome

      then i switched to escitalopram and was on that for 4-5 months (started slow and then up to 20mg) ... but it wouldnt get rid of my anxiety (but for others, it works great)...

      anyway so next i switched to sertraline.. 50mg for a couple of weeks until i felt that the side effects were easing and i could go up to 100mg.   and 100mg of sertraline is where i am at now, it took me 5 weeks at 100mg to feel better (so much better, i can cope with life again, and look forward to starting a new job soon. no morning anxiety now, which i was getting on escitalopram)

      other changes:  no more fizzy drinks.  i only drink water or ribena now.  i take a calcium and magnesium food supplement.  i eat at least one banana a day. i eat one small can of sardines (in spring water) a day, which contains 2400mg EPA and 700mg EPA .. and last but not least, i have 2 weetabix a day (with semi-skimmed milk), as they are loaded with goodness smile

      anyway so : sertraline is very good for many people, but for many people you have to give it time, perhaps 4-8 weeks (start at 50mg for a few weeks, and then you can move up to 100mg if your side effects are not too high... and if they are, stay on 50mg for a few more weeks until your side effects ease)   ---  just try to keep busy/occupied while you wait for it to work, because.. depression/anxiety loves boredom!

    • a-new-day
      a-new-day

      Posted

      correction from my text above:  2400mg EPA and 700mg DHA

      (you can have a read on the internet about how great EPA is for depression, anxiety, and it has a whole host of other benefits)   note: in clinical trials though, it was found that it may take 8-12 weeks to get going, so u have to be patient

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