HI I am a newbie and suffer with anxiety/depression

Posted , 6 users are following.

Since taking sertraline Ive been suffering with the mosst horrendous hand tremors and jelly legs. Its wearing me out and making my depression worse. Has anyone experienced tremors with sertraline? Any feedback would be greatly accepted.

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6 Replies

  • Posted

    How long have you been on tablets Lynne?  I did have shakey hands and bit cloudy legs but bot subsided at around 6 weeks.   
  • Posted

    Lynne,

    Initial shaking, yes.  Maybe they started you with too much, my doc said 100mg is "therapeutic dose" but that was too much to quickly get to (I've heard of people starting at 12.5 for anxiety, depression may need more. )   How long have you been on how much?

    I thought ssri's are good for digging out of the hole of no energy to do anything depression.  But wouldn't an energizer increase anxiety?  No, it stopped my panic attacks after a few weeks.  But yes, it did make me more shaky.  Hand tremors stopped quickly but  I still shake my foot more, as if more anxious, but I'm not.  Glad to sleep better and no panic.  I didn't have that bad depression but heard it's good for that. 

    Patrick

  • Posted

    Hi lynne, ive been on sertaline for over 4 yrs and it works really well for me.when I first started taking sertaline and when I have had my dose increased I experience hand tremors aswell.i dont know how long you have been on sertaline? I do know that the side effects calm down due to my own experience. I think the important part is to expect to get a bit worse before you get better(these meds are knowing to do that unfortunately).your bodies constantly trying to adapt to a new med, try and give it time.i know its hard, ive been there.good luck!
  • Posted

    This is likely an adverse reaction to the med. Antidepressants effect the nervous system and can cause Tardive Dysconisia. This condition often becomes permanent even after stopping the offending med. 

    Docotrs like to play this down as part of your nervous condition and anxiety. Do a search term on it and see what the literature says about it. It is NO fun when involuntarily muscle movements become obvious to everyone who sees you. In addition, it is almost unbearable to the person who is consntly shaking!

    Good luck!

  • Posted

    Hi lynne,

    I didnt get the shakes but I did suffer from tiredness and it made my jaw and face ache. If I was at home I used to sleep in the afternoon which helped. I found it better if I took it in the morning. Hope the effects start to wear off soon. Good luck xx

  • Posted

    I have been on sertraline for twelve weeks and still suffer lots of the side effects, although they are not as bad as they were early on. I still have the trembling hands which are worse first thing in the morning and improve later in the day. Those tremors sometimes effect my face or mouth to be precise. They are very uncomfortable and make you feel agitated all over. I would have problems even picking up a cup by the handle in the morning they were so bad. I don't know it the side effects will go. I'm hoping they will. Good luck.

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