First week of sertraline, help!!

Posted , 7 users are following.

Hi everyone,

I'm on day 6 of sertraline 50mg and I am currently living a nightmare.

I've probably been suffering with anxiety for about a year now, although it was in my control; but rather than getting better I've been getting worse.

My issue has always been overthinking, and since starting this tablet it's been worse than it's ever been (I didn't think it was possible).

I cannot think about much else other than the side effects I'm experiencing. I keep screaming loudly if people even slightly make me jump. I'm in a long distance relationship and I'm driving to see my boyfriend tomorrow and I'm convinced he's going to break up with me. I can't stop banging on about how awful I feel from these side effects to my friends/family and I'm probably already driving them crazy. I haven't eaten anything in 6 days other than a bite of cheese and a yoghurt. I can barely sleep. My shakes are sometimes so bad I can't do things like drink a cup of tea, and I just feel like everything is ending and awful.

I've read that a lot of this is normal but I just feel so alone and wanted some help/advice. I feel so embarrassed at the state of me currently. I've heard it can take 6-8 weeks to fully work and that feels strange unbearably long.

I'm still working as I've recently been promoted and don't want to make a bad impression. I find it helps until I get towards the end of the day and then the anxiety gets bad and I make mistakes.

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi Penelope, I think the most difficult part of sertraline is getting along with yourself lol, first couple of weeks are the worst, you'll feel your getting worse, a lot will go on in your head, but believe me it will get better, I'm starting week 6, and the first 3 weeks were hell, I couldn't get out of my own way, week 4 doc started me on 100mg and everything changed for the better, and this forum was a big help there are a lot of people just like us dealing with the same issues and experiences so use us for support. Hope this was helpful, and continue working stay active it helps alot

    • Posted

      Thank you for replying Tim,

      How is your sleep now you're on week 6? And when did you feel as if the thoughts started to "calm down" as such.

      Also, my hands have become like a snake shedding its skin? My skin is peeling off and I haven't seen anyone writing about that anywhere. I keep slapping on moisturiser and it's still happening. I've never had that before in my life

      I will continue to talk to others. Thank you so much for your support.

    • Posted

      Hi Penelope, sleep hasn't been a problem because I was already on zolpidem, I haven't slept well in years so doc had already helped me there, my thoughts of dread, harm, never going to get better didn't start until week 2, but I started with 25mg, went to 50 on day 8, day 9 to 22 were rough I couldn't get out of my own way mentally, so at beginning of week 4 day 22 doc started me on 100mg, and gave me xanax to calm the thoughts, I know some others have used diazipam for same, trazadone works well for sleep too, the sleep was critical for me so talk to your GP for some help there, as for skin my hands and arms got very dry but never peeled, I also had dry mouth drink a lot of water, I cut out coffee and tea, to help with the jitters, I'm starting week 6 and my hands have been shaking all day, but I don't care cause I feel so much better. Sorry I got long winded, hope this helps. I put lotion on my hands and arms 2,3 times a day by the way lol, contact anytime wishing you well

  • Posted

    Hi

    I felt the same as you for the first 2 weeks.

    But it does get better day by day, I found day 10 I started to feel less

    anxious and then onwards it's been up hill. It's the best iv felt in months.

    I take mine at 8.30pm and any side effects I was getting most of them

    are when I'm at home not at work.

    My sleeping is now alot better too. Iv got my appite back, I can laugh

    again, I'm even singing along to music all which I havnt done for ages.

    There is light at the end of the tunnel,

    6-8 weeks is a guide line, and it's not bad upto those weeks it get better

    upto then and after.

    Try and sick with it,

    Good luck hope my reply helps

    • Posted

      Hi Julie,

      Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. Your support is greatly appreciated and it really has helped.

      I've been taking my medication in the morning as I find it doesn't effect my sleep as bad but I only had it once in the evening and was awake all night so it put me off and I didn't try it again. Would you recommend taking my dose at night instead?

      Thanks again

    • Posted

      Hi.

      Everyone is different. I had a few nights bad sleep at first but

      I sleep well now. I had sleepless nights before I started taking

      sertraline through anxiety.

      I just didn't want to feel poorly at work when I started taking it

      that's why I chose to take it in the evening.

  • Posted

    I felt the same and I had a new job so I was so nervous that I might be fired so I talked to my boss. Explained that I've got a medication coz I feel terrible and need time till it will work and he was so amazing.

  • Posted

    Hi

    I went through the same terrible start with sertraline

    List 1.5 stone in 3 weeks and didn't sleep more than 30 mins at time and each time I woke up I was in total anxiety panic

    It lasted about 3 weeks but I also had a few days with mertazapine which let me sleep probably for 2 nights. After those 2 nights I began to be able to rationalise more. Still went through another 3 weeks of crap but I started to have periods when I could cope and they got longer. 8 weeks on I am on 50 mg of sertraline and feel so much better I am trying to ween myself off it. ( maybe a very dumb thing to do I

    Anyway hang in there. If you can take time off work I would recommend it. You need time to reflect and let your brain repair. As much of the day to day pressures you can remove the more you can do this

    Better to be absent than your team see you crumble ?

    Your gp can write a sick note that doesn't say anxiety. Although these days your company should understand and support you. Remember they promoted you because you ate good and they rate you. They should invest in you long term. I am more engaged with my company longterm because they helped me

    Hang in. It does get better. For me remarkably quickly once I could see it. ( although I can still feel the adrenaline in me as I write it is controllabke)

  • Posted

    Hi Penelopespall, sorry your feeling so bad. I've been on sertaline for around 10weeks now and I never thought i would get through it. The side effects were awful and the heightened anxiety and intrusive thoughts were terrible but your not alone and you will get through it. Take one day at a time. I went to work too, I'm self employed so if didn't go then I wouldn't get paid but I don't know how I managed it but I think it helped having a routine. I had insomnia and loss of appetite too, ended up losing a stone but you will get there. This forum has really helped me over the last few months. Everyone is lovely and very helpful and it's nice to speak to people that are going though the same thing as people don't understand when they haven't been through it themselves xxx

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