How to swap time of day you take sertraline

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond. Yes I think that's what I'll do rather than double dose in 24 hours. Thank you for the second opinion. Got a doctor's call tomo to chat through side effects but don't want to go through another morning like the last week. Honestly don't remember side effects being this bad last time, I'm a wreck... 😕

I'm on day 9 of sertraline and the increased anxiety and lower mood have been hard work. sounds like we are in the same boat.

used to be on citalopram and the first time I took them had no side effects at all, second time round side effects were horrific!

I've seen that a lot with people on the second time round

have you tried a beta blocker to help with the shaking and fast heart rate? it wont help the negative thoughts but will really help the physical side of the anxiety

No I haven't, beta blocker could be a good option. Just woke from a nap and felt just as a bad as this morning, seems to be something about waking up and the rush of cortisol and adrenalin. My brain felt like it was on fire. Really scary.

I'm so sorry to hear you're in the same boat from this thread and the other one about your increased anxiety - it really helped me to know I'm not the only one going through this at the moment though.

it's difficult isnt it being so tired but unable to nap because of how you feel when you wake up. try to avoid them of you can until you start getting better. might help you sleep better in the evening too.

you definitely are not alone even though it may feel like it sometimes.

apart from feeling bad after your nap you feeling any better today? x

You're right, will try and avoid them - just so tempting when you feel this anxious to just switch off (used an antihistamine to make me feel drowsy!!) - sleep feels like the only respite.

Today has been a bad one. Boyfriend away and waking up alone didn't help with that feeling of dread and fear I think. How are you? You're on day 9 right? Getting gradually better or up and down? xx

it's horrible waking up alone when you feel so vulnerable. that feeling of dread is the worst. same here my partner works for the ambulance service so is never around in the mornings.

yeah I understand how sleep seems like the only respite you can get but not feeling like you can because of feeling horrific when waking up. that will pass when you start to feel better then you can nap as much as you like lol.

yeah day 9. very up and down. mainly down but it's still early days so I'm hoping things get a little easier soon.

it's hard to stay positive with the negative thoughts though.

the first couple of weeks are meant to be the hardest.

have you got anything that can help distract you or concentrate on while you're having a bad day?

help pass the time.

try and get out for a walk atleast once a day even if it's for 10 minutes. keep hydrated and eat if you can. don't want your energy levels to drop when you feel so terrible already. x

Well I'll have work tomo so that will definitely keep my distracted... 😕 Today the lack of distraction was probably a big issue so will be grateful for work but bit worried about how my physical symptoms will affect me. Hopefully morning dose tomo will make a difference.

Have barely been able to eat and know that's not helping nor is just lying in bed but it's so hard to do anything when you feel that dread all the time and these physical symptoms, it's all consuming but I think you're right keeping busy is key as well as adequate nutrition etc. Will make sure I make plenty of after work plans this week to keep me distracted and anchored and try and force myself to eat more.

Thank you so much for the help and support today, really hard to know what's good for myself right now so ideas from someone going through same thing have been a life saver.

Hope tomorrow is full of more ups than downs for you xx

keeping busy is important to give your mind a break from how hard everything is but rest is just as important too. it's good to do things that take you away from your comfort zone to help break that cycle of anxiety like work but dont push yourself too hard because what you are going through is not easy at all. and if you need to take some time off work or need to stay in bed their is no shame in that.

no one will understand how hard it is for you unless they are going through it themselves.

nothing worse than forcing yourself to eat when you feel like crap. even if its toast or something small like a biscuit or fruit it's better than nothing at all. if you manage to eat great, but if you dont, don't be too hard on yourself, you are trying and that's what's important.

I really hope work isnt too bad for you tomorrow, and it goes quickly for you.

but do let us know how you get on tomorrow.

no need to thank me, x all I can do is try and help because i know exactly what you are going through, and knowing you are not alone makes it a tiny bit easier x

it's only temporary, you will get better x

I really do hope this is temporary, for you too! Didn't wake up quite so bad but still pretty severe at 5.30. Heart and brain racing with catastrophic thoughts, nausea, shaking. Somehow managed to get myself on my commute. Just hope my brain works when I get into the office.

How are you today? x

hey, hows your day so far? really hope it's not too difficult being in work.

the shaking and feeling sick will pass once your side effects settle down.

it's still early days but well done for getting up and going because I can guess it wasn't easy.

let us know how you got on with work once you were there.

I'm the same today. realised yesterday wasnt too bad now that i feel like i do today, just trying to keep busy if i can x

my house has never looked tidier lol

Today wasn't good unfortunately, panic so severe when I got to work I ended up having to leave and go to a&e for treatment with diazepam as I felt like I was losing my mind and doc appointment not until tomorrow.

Expecting her to sign me off as I obviously can't work but kind if dreading time off with nothing to do whilst I'm feeling like this.

I just feel so hopeless and like this will never get better.

I'm glad to hear you had a good day yesterday and are managing to keep busy! Gives me hope xx

oh no! I'm so sorry today was so horrible for you.

you tried your best and you are trying to get better! that's the most important thing right now, you and your mental health,

so if you need time off work so be it because what you went through sounds so horrible and I really feel for you.

try your best not to worry about work for now if you can.

hopefully the doctor will give you some diazipam to help until the sertraline settles, they dont like to prescribe it because its addictive so maybe ask for a beta blocker if they dont., it wont make you feel like diazipam or stop the negative thoughts but will slow your heart rate down,stop the palpitations and stop any shaking. it's not addictive and it's safe so might be worth thinking about.

it will help you from panicking too much.

its worrying when you have time off and are stuck in your own head, so stay busy

even if its little things like tidying up, cleaning, going for walks, even something simple like fluffing a pillow can help even if it's for a matter of seconds.

it will be hard but the more you do it the easier it gets.

it's still really early days lovely so you have a lot of time for the tablets to kick in and start working for you. it's only day 8/9 for you and remember it gets worse before better so you are in the hard bit now. look forward to when it improves x

sorry for the essay

Yes i think I've had to admit I am not strong enough for work demands , I still need to somehow write a work handover tomorrow after I see my doctor than going to try my hardest not to worry about it but so concerned I'm jeopardizing my job by being this unwell 😕 Are you able to work or have you taken some time off/not working at the moment?

The a&e doc gave me diazepam and melatonin for sleep which has helped with the physical symptoms, I just feel a bit hungover now with the drama and intensity of it all. I can't wait to look back on this period of my life from somewhere brighter in the future and hanging onto that hope and belief that it will get brighter and that things will improve as you say.

Please don't apologise for the essay honestly I can't tell you how helpful your support has been, and I can't believe you are able to offer it whilst going through similar stuff yourself.

I know I am really bad at isolating myself when my mental health gets bad and this just shows that I need to reach out more for support because it's invaluable. Am going to try and see as many friends as poss when signed off and get out walking as you say, and yes cleaning! So therapeutic and I can't just lie around in bed as I think I'd get worse...

How are you feeling? Gradually better or up and down? xx

it's hard to not worry about your job but depending on where you live and work as long as the doctor keeps signing you off when you need it work wont be able to do anything about it and because it's your mental health they have to be careful about doing anything that will cause you more stress, so for now try not to worry about that you can deal with work a few weeks/months down the line. easier said than done I know x

I got fired about 4 months ago because of my mental health.......on mental health awareness week aswell.....I had to laugh.

they got me on a technicality so dont want you to worry about that yourself for now

it's horrible to see people suffer because I know how it feels so whatever I can do to help you I will because it is so horrible to feel the way you do and people are helping me too so we are all in this together!

it is easy to isolate yourself when feeling like you do and that's normal you need to take time out for yourself,too sometimes, but I think seeing your friends is a really good idea even if they come to you.

do you have family to reach out to aswell ? that's always good.

one day soon you will look back and be shocked at how much you have improved and wont believe it was you feeling like this. just have to keep going until that day comes. you will get better x

I've been up and down today. very anxious this morning and this afternoon but a little calmer this evening, not anywhere near where I want to be but it's a start I suppose.

I have my son tomorrow and as nervous as I am, because of how difficult things are I'm sure seeing his amazing face will keep me busy x

hope you sleep well tonight as you've had one heck of a day.