Help week 3 setraline

Posted , 7 users are following.

I have been taking sertraline for 3 weeks. One week at 25mg and 2 weeks at 50. Last few days I have felt awful. Diziness, headache and bad anxiety. Do I peservere or do I stop x

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  • Posted

    Hi Sharon,

    I wanted to stop at around 3 weeks but on the advice from this forum I decided to stick it out and it was worth it. It does get better.

    I am 10 weeks now and just increased to 75mg last week. It's a slow process but you will feel good again.

    Stay strong ? xxxx

  • Posted

    Hi Sharon,

    Those are common side effects during the initial treatment and I know how difficult it is to endure them!  This forum helped me to see so many others experiencing the same thing so hang in there!

    I was the same.  I started on 25mg and stayed there for 10 days then increased to 50mg my gosh it was awful!!! Surging adrenalin, couldn’t sleep, terrible headache, even nausea.  I started to feel a bit better at about 4 weeks then at 5 weeks since I was still having anxiety and sleep issue, feeling better  but not where I wanted to be yet so GP increased to 75mg.  I’m now 10 days on 75 and anxiety is almost nil.  Sleeping better too (also take 10mg amitriptyline).

    I take the sertraline in the morning.

    You’ll get better just give it time- at least 5-6 weeks to start feeling better then your doctor will adjust the dose dependent on how you’re feeling smile

    Take care 

  • Posted

    Try and stick it out. Those are all side effects and they'll subside. The first few weeks are hell as your adjusting to it unfortunately.

  • Posted

    Hi Sharon 

    I’m so glad I’ve found this site and this post, I’m only on day three and I’m just starting to get side affects, dry mouth, feeling nausea, dizzy and tired, and my arms feel funny can’t explain it. 

    How long did the initial side affects last? i’m on 50mg 

    feel shocking sad 

    • Posted

      Hi Sarah. I was fine for first 2 weeks of 50 mg but think that was because I changed fr citalopram. Guess now they are completely out of my system and I need to let the sertraline build up x I feel your pain but please don't give up just come to these forums and read peoples positive stories x here if you need to chat

    • Posted

      Hi Sarah. For me it was about 2 weeks of misery. Some people adjust quicker but 2 weeks is the average according to my CNP.
    • Posted

      Hi Sharon 

      Thanks And will do, I’ve never experienced side affects before with tablets so I was worried lol

      thanks 

    • Posted

      It’s taken me back really never had any side affects before with tablets so feeling sorry for my self lol

      Thanks 

    • Posted

      Hi Sarah,

      I remember day 3 well. It was my worst day. It’s when I came on this site. Really agitated, anxious, headache, no appetite etc. I stayed in bed the whole day. It got better the second week. I am on my 3rd week now and my dosage has been put up to 100mg so I’ve had a couple of bad days again, but I have seen that given time to work there is improvements. Keep your doctor in touch with how you feel but it gets better. Keep strong!

    • Posted

      That’s exactly where I am now in bed lol

      dry mouth and nausea..... feels like morning sickness times 100 yuk!

      is it best to take it at night I wonder ?

    • Posted

      Hi Sarah. I take mine early evening about 5pm. I was in bed most of yesterday just feel drained! Suppose it doesn't help that I went out in the snow and have give myself a stinking cold. How you feeling today? X

    • Posted

      Feeling pretty rough ,  I might try that taking it at 5pm instead . 

      hard when you’ve got a 4 year old who’s bored to tears lol

      hopefully get better soon 

      x

    • Posted

      Fingers crossed both my gp and occupational health doctor told me to expect to get worse before better I just want my life back x
    • Posted

      Hopefully with get through it, tends to be the first 4 hours after taking it that it’s bad for me. 

      I’m defo thinking of taking it before I go to bed, maybe 8ish. 

    • Posted

      I think there are advantages and disadvantages to any time you take it. My doctor said if I took it at night I might have trouble sleeping. So I take mine first thing in the morning with a lot of water. I haven’t felt too sick with them. But again, like I’m everything unfortunately, everyone seems to react slightly differently. You need to just work out what’s best for you. I just hate not sleeping at night so didn’t want to chance making that harder. 

      Hope you’re day has been ok. 

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