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Help.. Too scared to take setraline

Posted , 5 users are following.

verity19452
verity19452

I'm new to this site, .. I was prescribed 50mg a week ago but been too scared to take them.. I've always been a worrier, especially about health, had a few panic attacks but recently I feel like I'm light headed all the time, feel nervous around people.. Had to deal with someone having a seizure at work and it frightened the life out of me, since then my anxiety has heightened, I feel particularly nervous, but also wondering whether I can try and shrug this feeling off and not need to take any meds. I'm scared of the side effects, thoughts etc and definitely don't want to be on these for longer than 6 months of I decide to take them, but the stories to come off them is also worrying.. I am generally a strong person and feel I can beat this without meds but I know that I will always have my usual worries like what ifs etc as I have always been like this.. Sorry for the long message!! Is it really worth it?

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  • amber54889
    amber54889 verity19452

    Posted

    Verity, I had somewhat mild symptoms, a little milder than yours perhaps but similar, and after a lot of thought decided that it would be helpful to me neurochemically to allow the physical to balance out, and to just aid what I was already doing to "beat it" on my own.  I am doing a lot of my own accord - exercise, meditation, talking with others, etc..., and see myself as pretty strong and scrappy alsosmile.  I have been on for three weeks and the medication is just having a calming affect - my thoughts are calmer, and I can feel my body is balancing out.  For me, it has been a good decision.
    • verity19452
      verity19452 amber54889

      Posted

      Thanks amber for your reply, can I ask how much you are taking as thinking of only taking half of the 50mg tablet, I just want the edge taken off as I feel I can cope without taking them but I don't want to get worse on them and suddenly I'm on 150mg..
  • DYSLEXIC
    DYSLEXIC verity19452

    Posted

    you have to make the dissission yourself , if your doc thinks you need the med then only you can make your mind up to take it. side effects are there, there is no such thing has a free lunch . and you can get worse before better. ME  i take the chance every time its what i do simple
  • lynn09369
    lynn09369 verity19452

    Posted

    hi Verity

    I am new the site too like you I was worried about the side effects too, but I do feel more happier and more like my old self,so i am going to give them ago the doctor told me that its going to be trial and error to find the right meds to suit me.

    I know its not nice seeing someone have seizure, my son has epilepsy and it still scares me. I have tried to shrug it off but it only got worse, try and give them ago,if they dont suit you, you can always try something else.I hope that i have been of help.

    • verity19452
      verity19452 lynn09369

      Posted

      Thanks Lynn, have you started taking yours yet, I might try on a trial basis.. But really only want to take 25mg..
  • natalie2608
    natalie2608 verity19452

    Posted

    Pluck up he courage to take them Verity! I was like u exactly and also have health anxiety. Been on them since October and Hoping to wean off this year once I have discussed with doctor. X
    • verity19452
      verity19452 natalie2608

      Posted

      I know it's just so hard, I'm suppose to be going out and helping a friend move house tomorrow, don't want to be stuck at home.. Back to work Monday although with all the dude effects I want to be well enough to go back to work, took a week off this week.. There's always something coming up and want to be able to do these things and not have heightened anxiety whilst I get used to them
    • natalie2608
      natalie2608 verity19452

      Posted

      I won't lie to u the side effects are not great and I was prescribed diazapam for first 2 weeks as they make anxiety feelings worse which is a bit of a home really! I hate taking tablets with a passion but they def helped and was only for 2 weeks. I couldnt eat much and lived on complan for a bit! Gradually I began to feel better and after nearly having to postpone my wedding I got married on 28 feb! I took 25g for 2 days and then just thought sod it, I'll go

      For the 50g so I did. Doc wanted me to increase to 100 just Before xmas but I compromised on 75mg and there I have been since then. I started to do more exercise and have aromatherapy massages and shiatsu and all of that together make a difference.x

    • verity19452
      verity19452 natalie2608

      Posted

      Thanks Natalie, I know it's not going to be an easy ride, and willing to accept the side effects, but I really don't want to be on these tablets and be far worse than I ever was.. It's good to hear they've been working for you, really appreciate you replying
    • natalie2608
      natalie2608 verity19452

      Posted

      It's not easy and people on here helped me too and kept me going. When I said I didn't feel better they encourage me not to give up and I didn't. My sleep was affected badly too and I never thought I would sleep properly again. But I do, fine. Few weird dreams but nothing I can't cope with. Once the initial effects wear off u just go about your daily stuff and the rest will come. U will count the days and then the weeks and then you will suddenly realise actually feel ok. For me, the evenings got better first and work helped me and staying away from Google def helped too! I also do CBT counselling. I didn't want to take medication but it kind of got to the point where I had to do something. See it as a means to an end, it won't be for ever, and you're just fixing yourself and its only temporary x
    • verity19452
      verity19452 natalie2608

      Posted

      Thanks so much, the thing that I really want help for is this light headiness that I've had for 4 months, I get really nervous at work around people and the school run because of this feeling, which I kerp being told is anxiety, just worried that these tablets cause dizziness this will make me feel even worse.. This is what I want a means to an end, a temporary fix.. Were you scared that you might go crazy on them as some other posts I've read really put me off
    • natalie2608
      natalie2608 verity19452

      Posted

      I thought I coukdnt feel any worse than I had done so I may as well give it a go. All sorts of things went through my head, lots of horrible thoughts but I had to ignore them. Don't be put off, but you do need to try and be patient and that's coming from me, the most impatient person in the world! I didn't feel dizzy but I did feel spaced out and a bit out of it but I tried to get a bit of fresh air each day. I was off work for 2 weeks and barely got out of bed as I felt so awful and spending all day looking up symptoms etc. I also had a small op for a uterine polyp in this time which didn't help with my anxiety at all! I had good support from my husband too, he was brilliant. Do u have any support ? x
    • verity19452
      verity19452 natalie2608

      Posted

      Yes I have the support of my husband but he doesn't know what to say to me as doesn't quite understand.. I'm off for 2 weeks over the Easter hols so if it really is going to be a rough ride then I might wait till then.. Although I have 2 kids under 10, I really don't want to be housebound.. I really don't know what to do, I keep telling myself I don't need them and I will get through this with CBT just waiting for appointment!
    • natalie2608
      natalie2608 verity19452

      Posted

      It might be an idea to wait until holidays, do u work full time? Even if u get side effects you won't be housebound but still try and do things. I was the same trying to do it without and then my doc said it was time to try as I was literally at the doc every day and if I want there I was calling them. Don't get me wrong, I still have thiughts and fears etc but they don't control me and I can do what I want to do. It took me ages after collecting the tablets to start taking them but then I thiught I want to get better and this has got to be worth a try x
  • DYSLEXIC
    DYSLEXIC verity19452

    Posted

    you may not get any major side effect, 25mg in not going to register really its just to introduce the med to your system  . YOUdont need to wait for CTB ,there are online free courses that cover the hole course better than an NHS course say with 20 people sat in a room. I did this course it was 1 hour for 6 weeks 3 off us finished it all the otherS dropped out . To be honest i only went for the crack, i learned nothing , O I DID FIGHT AND FLIGHT  it started with cave men , they used to loose the bowels movment so the could run faster from a wild animal,  I KID YOU NOT,  You either stopped and fought or , crapped yourself and ran , flight or flght
    • verity19452
      verity19452 DYSLEXIC

      Posted

      Hi thanks for the info re CBT, I'm on the waiting list but could be a while as I am 101 on the list.. Took my first 25mg today, had a headache before I took it and still have it so don't think it can react that quickly.. Thanks for spending the time to reply x
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