I've been prescribed sertraline for persistent anxiety but am so nervous about starting
Posted , 6 users are following.
Hi
I've been battling anxiety on and off for years however things escalated 2 years ago after the birth of my son. I've tried so many things to help myself and some days I do feel better but then I'll have a couple of weeks of feeling good and then the anxiety creeps back in and I go back to square one with it. I've been trying to avoid going on medication for it but last week I just thought to myself that enough is enough and I'm sick and tired of feeling so stressed and low everyday. He prescribed me to start on 50mg sertraline and see how I go. Part of me wants to try them as I would love to start feeling normal again, I can't carry on like this forever. But there are two things that concern me. The first is that I'm scared of the side effects and coping with feeling even worse than I do now. The second is that I would like to start trying for another baby at the end of 2017. I'm 35 already so can't leave it too much longer. The doctor suggested I go on the sertraline for 6 - 9 months and then start to taper off but I'm also so scared that by going on the medication in the first place it's just going to make it harder for me down the track if you know what I mean. Does anyone have any advice please?! Thanks very much.
1 like, 40 replies
joanne59913 natasha87436
Posted
I really want to give you some advice,but would like to know,do you know you can get cognetive behavioural therapy instead of going on any antidepressants.
what makes you anxious,
natasha87436 joanne59913
Posted
Hi Joanne, my GP sent me to see a psychologist but the sessions were so expensive and she felt that she couldn't really do anything to help me until I was on medication as my anxiety is so bad.
joanne59913 natasha87436
Posted
Idont know where to start to tell you of my history with anti d,s
I started as a young girl suffering from anxiety,nightmares.feelings of pure fear that my mum and dad were going to die,it was horrendous,i have always been a nervous person and therefore got bullied at school which only made my situation worse,having time off,crying all the time,not wanting to go to school.
Anyway my mum took me to see a counsellor at the age of 12,all through my life i have suffered with my nerves,i finally ended up on anti depressants about 15 years ago,and have had the lot in all doses,but dont be alarmed the worst one is sertraline,i still felt depressed on them so my doctors was messing about with the doses,made me worse,so im into my 7th week now,having gone cold turkey with no antidepressants at all in 15 years.
I can honestly say sertraline is the devil of all of them in terms of withdrawal.i just wanted them out my body asap.you should withdraw slowly,and not stop completely.
I have had all the sympotms from withdrawal going and coped very well but the one and worst symptom is itching of the skin and i am still suffering now almost 7 weeks in,omg i have not slept had to go on a strong antihistimine,it is calming down now thankgod. i feel great emotionally because i am doing this cbt , a way to train the brain to think positively,
My advise to you is if the doctor had told you all the side effects going on or off this drug you would not take it,my doctor never and i feel so angry because i have done a lot of research into sertraline and its effects and there is no way ever i would have touched them had i know the effects of them.
How long have you been on them,I would stop them seriously and really think about cbt especially if your planning on another baby