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HELP 4 weeks on Sertraline

Posted , 8 users are following.

natalie2608
natalie2608

Hi I have health anxiety and about 6 weeks ago it completely spiralled out of control. I had blood tests and scans and they found a polyp in my uterus and I had to have an op on Monday to have it removed and luckily all ok. 4 weeks ago I was put on sertraline and first couple of weeks horrible and barely got out of bed which is so unlike me as I also work full time and have a 5 year old. I was really hoping the tablets would start to work at least a bit after 4 weeks, I know they are not a magic cure but I still have a bit of a fuzzy head and a knot of anxiety most of the time. Doc won't Increase me yet and to be honest I don't want to if I can help it. The other main thing is my sleep, I can get to sleep but I wake up after about 3/4 hours sweating and can't get back to sleep which is making it worse Beause I worry about that. I have lost a stone in 5 weeks as I couldn't eat , I am forcing food down as I am desperate to feel better. I also feel numb like can't cry if that makes sense. Please tell me this will get better as I am so scared I won't feel better x

0 likes, 42 replies

42 Replies

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  • rooney1022
    rooney1022 natalie2608

    Posted

    Hi Natalie i was like you same thinking that i am having a heart atack,scary to go outside almost one year ago. Now i forget how it was . Do not worry i had bad moments even 4-5 months after being on sertraline but you will be ok. When you feel horrible try to listen relax music lay down learn breathing technices ,self talking try on internet you will find nice stuff 
  • natalie2608
    natalie2608

    Posted

    Went to doc today and she said am doing better we back at work even tho am struggling a bit at least I am there.  Yesterday wasnt too bad but tonihht I feel white anxious snd a bit sicky, is that normal on the 5th week? She said  to come back in another 2 weeks and see how I feel. She said 100mg is more therapeutic dose but I am so scared of more side effects and when I asked about 75mg she said shouldn't do that as don't knke yuhre getting right dose. 
  • natalie2608
    natalie2608

    Posted

    I haven't drank hardly any water today, could they be why I feel bit worse?
  • luan16258
    luan16258 natalie2608

    Posted

    I started taking lustral/sertraline around the same time as Natalie. I got used to the 50mg and was feeling okay. I upped it last Thursday to 100mg and I've been extremely horrid since then. Feel sick, diarrhoea, anxious. Just awful. How long will this last for?? Do I stick with it?
    • scott8888
      scott8888 luan16258

      Posted

      I dont think some doctors care about others well being. Only the patient knows how they feel and doctors should listen to them. Personally if you was ok on 50mgs but wanted more of a level head then it should be upped small and slowly as 50mgs increase maybe to much and people often come off the drug thinking it doesnt work. I did the same a few years ago on cilotapram but that was my doctors fault for pushing a higher dose when i was already doing well on a smaller dose. Plus one dose should be stuck to for the whole 8 weeks to get the benifit of the drug as 4 or 5 weeks isnt enough time for sertraline to do its job. Im on 50mgs and have been for 8 weeks and its been fantastic this last week so it does take time. Upto 7 weeks the tablet didnt do one thing for me at all so give it time it will work and you will not have the unpleasent increase side effects when in fact it was all pointless suffering.

      Good luck to you both

  • natalie2608
    natalie2608

    Posted

    Did you still feel a bit spacey and anxious on 5/6 weeks then scott? I am funcutioming now but struggling. my doc yetersay said theraputic dose was 100-150 but to see how I go on 50 for next 2 weeks. She worried me and now i am thinking 50 wont be enough but when i asked about going to 75 if I had to she said she wouldnt reccommend becuase i wouldnt know I was getting exactly the right dose as they dont make 25mg tablets in UK? I think going to 100 will be scary and horrible as Luan is finding out now too.
  • natalie2608
    natalie2608

    Posted

    she also said that once it is in your system, side effects shouldnt be as bad but I dont believe that x
    • scott8888
      scott8888 natalie2608

      Posted

      At 5 or 6 weeks i didnt work one bit and was still anxious and feeling rubbish but i did see a few good days and thought i was ok then rubbish again up untill 7 weeks i started to feel rather good amd found myself wanting to go out more and not panic at all. Yes i was still in a dream like world still at 5 weeks thats normal. I still get it now when im over tired or eat the wrong foods but it doesnt bother me at all. 

      These sertraline will work for you if you give your time to 8 weeks on one dose. Then you can splitt the tablet to 75mgs if you want more from it. 50mgs normally helps alot of people and i now belive that at upto 7 weeks i was thinking these tablets are rubbish but i gave it time and there really good.

  • scott8888
    scott8888 natalie2608

    Posted

    I will put it into another term.

    My wife is 10 days over due with our baby girl and shes getting fed up and feeling rubbish as shes wishing the time away so she can see our daughter. 9 months is a long time to be pregnant but its the same for us to feel anxiety so all im trying to say is things take time and will not happen untill your body wants it to. 7 weeks felt like 9 months for me as i was getting out of bed feeling like a zombie and hating myself as all i wanted is to feel normal. I soon stopped thinking about it and just got out of bed and was happy without me knowing the tablets was working. You dont feel high or anything you just start feeling normal 

  • natalie2608
    natalie2608

    Posted

    thank you scott - I am trying to do things on a dail basis now like going to work and trying to eat but it all feels like so much hard work  - congratulations on your baby -
    • scott8888
      scott8888 natalie2608

      Posted

      Thankyou.

      No problem i had 7 weeks off work as i couldnt bring myself to be around people and now all i want to do is be around people and have a laugh. 

  • natalie2608
    natalie2608

    Posted

    of course I have started eating a bit bgetter now but panicking I am not putting any weight on and this is mmeans something bad but trying not to!
  • natalie2608
    natalie2608

    Posted

    sorry for questions but even tho I am manageing to eat a bit Im not enjoying it as I used to love food - is this normal at this stage too?
    • scott8888
      scott8888 natalie2608

      Posted

      Yes im still not 100% on my foods but its getting better. I craved sugar and coffee but im trying to cut back on them. Ive levelld out now and probably lost around half a stone since these tablets in all 
  • natalie2608
    natalie2608

    Posted

    and what foods do you have to avoid? I have this constant little burping thing going on which I asked doctor about as I am worried about it being something bad, even when I drink water, this was happening before tablets but i wondered if anyone else has this ? I dont have heartburn or anything like that so cant be acid
    • scott8888
      scott8888 natalie2608

      Posted

      Hahaha sorry for laughing but exact the same as me i burp all day everyday but actually its getting better. It was a mixture of anxiety as you worry and stress out and swollow air without knowing and its drinks like coffee or fizzy pop or foods that my stomach doesnt like. Potatoes, oinions, chocolate, sweets, cakes, biscuits ect all the rubbish things. What helped me was camomile tea and pepermint tea while cutting back on those foods and drinks 
    • natalie2608
      natalie2608 scott8888

      Posted

      i know it sound ssilly but did yours come on recenelty then as mine been about 2 months - I dont have fizzy drinks any more but even happens with water - do u get that too?  i looked into chamomile tea but read got to be careful with things like that on these bloody tablets.....?
    • natalie2608
      natalie2608

      Posted

      I sometimes even get it when not eating!
    • scott8888
      scott8888 natalie2608

      Posted

      Yeah water causes me acid reflux very wierd and my burping was horrendous for about 8 months when i was starting to feel horrible from anxiety. Camomile tea is actually a really good thing to drink i have around 4 cups a day and help me alot dont read to much into things as camomile is very good even on these tablets. My doctor told me to not eat cheese as apparently is bad for anxiety but i just laughed that off as i love cheese
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