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First week of Sertraline

Posted , 6 users are following.

caron11455
caron11455

Hi anyone else in their first week of Sertraline and feeling anxious? Xx

0 likes, 16 replies

16 Replies

  • jammyc1973
    jammyc1973 caron11455

    Posted

    Yes Caron. I'm on day 6 and am anxious, have insomnia, just starting eat something and diarrhea. Also have started to feel guilt and regret over and over in my mind like I have to tell people what bad things I've done. Got to keep telling myself it's not that bad and I'm a good person. This is the OCD stage I guess.

  • caron11455
    caron11455

    Posted

    Hi jammyc , gosh it's vile- I feel exactly the same! I'm on day 5 and have been in mirtazapine so am weaning off those at the same time as they weren't working. Have had anxiety for years which turned to OCD/intrusive thoughts and lost my Mum last year so think there's a bit of depression in there too.  The last few days the intrusive thoughts are so vivid! I too worry about being a bad person. And horrible images in my head! I just went to see the pharmacist and he said it's normal for anxiety symptoms to worsen and to wait two weeks! 

    • jammyc1973
      jammyc1973 caron11455

      Posted

      Yep these drugs certainly do mess with your mind. I mean everyone has intrusive silly thoughts but these ones we have are just crazy and we know we will never act them out. Also why do I want to admit to being with someone before I ever met my wife. She already knows this but why do I need to give her all the details? So much guilt.
  • PopWop
    PopWop caron11455

    Posted

    2 weeks sounds a long time when you're in the first s****y week.  It will pass, you will get bad days and better days.

  • caron11455
    caron11455

    Posted

    Thanks for your comments. I'm actually going to the docs tomorrow morning to check in on how she thinks I am doing.

    It's amazing how the mind can create such vivid and frightening thoughts - but I guess that's it , an anxious mind always makes us think of things which scare us the most!

  • john15630
    john15630 caron11455

    Posted

    Stick with it the side effects do fade and the nice thoughts come back
  • caron11455
    caron11455

    Posted

    Just been back to the docs and she said she's not changing anything and it's normal to feel anxious. She said to take the rest of the week off and hopefully next week things should level out! 

  • joanne19909
    joanne19909 caron11455

    Posted

    Yes first few weeks I have been on it 3 weeks now feel a bit better although anxiety I don't think totally dissappears

  • caron11455
    caron11455

    Posted

    Day 9 on Sertraline and whilst have a couple of good days today is a bad day,  currently in bed as facing the anxious thoughts is crippling! I also had a few drinks last night which I'm sure isn't helping! Now beating myself up for having a day in bed- is it really bad to do that?!

    I'm anxious about being unhappy in my life and questioning it. The mere fact I don't want to be unhappy and questioning 'what if I am unhappy' is proof that I'm not and it's anxiety playing tricks isn't it? 

    • PopWop
      PopWop caron11455

      Posted

      Day 8 was the worst for me so far, feel better now on day 17 but still not great.  It's a long process but most people on this forum say it will get better.

    • jem-x0x
      jem-x0x caron11455

      Posted

      Caron I’ve been on sertraline for about 8 weeks now . Started on 50 mg then up to 100 mg after 4 weeks. I’m only starting to see improvements now and I only stuck at it so long as people on here said it takes 6-8 weeks to kick in. I was so nauseated for two weeks,  I was practically bed bound for about a week with anxiety and nausea and I had six weeks off work . I’ve had bed days since but I’ve found if I could push myself to do even a little I usually feel a bit better . I felt bad / lazy but looking back I genuinely couldn’t help it . I’ve returned to work this week and I’m playing it by ear I’m no way back to my normal self yet but I’m out of the deepest depths of despair. Stick at it ! Xxx
  • caron11455
    caron11455

    Posted

    Thanks Pop Wop, hope you are having more good days than bad now!

    I'm up and showered now and unsurprisingly feel better for it! Just need to keep telling my OCD brain that these are just thoughts and I am happy in my life! (Well when I am anxiety free I am!) xx

  • caron11455
    caron11455

    Posted

    Now on day 13 of Sertraline and feel terrible. Got the anxious tummy and fluttering heart all the time, having to make myself sick to release it but it's just bile coming up. Literally had 2 hours sleep the last 2 nights as feel so anxious about how I am going to feel the next morning etc. Not sure I can go on like this! Have rung my doc and she is calling me back. Any positive words would be welcome....

    • PopWop
      PopWop caron11455

      Posted

      Can you ask for some mild sleeping tablets?  Also warm milk or hot chocolate helps me sleep.

      I expect you've already spoken to your doctor?  She's probably said to stick with it if possible, it takes a few weeks to kick in....

  • caron11455
    caron11455

    Posted

    Thanks again for your reply PopWop, yep she rang back and said it's still too early to change doses etc! 

    I have a warm milk every night and fill my room with lavender too smile

    She has given me some beta blockers though to help with the physical anxiety symptoms so I will probably take one shortly. Hope you have had a better day? Xx

    • PopWop
      PopWop caron11455

      Posted

      Hi Caron

      Things aren't going too well for me at the moment but I don't think that's sertraline at fault, it's just my personal trigger.

      I'm on beta blockers and I think they do help to a certain extent.

      Stick with it, remember 6-8 weeks is the norm for an effect.......

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