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Just started sertraline.... what should I expect??

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cookierunner
cookierunner

Hi everyone, I've just been put on a low (25mg loading dose increasing steadily week by week) but progressive dose of sertraline to help cope with my GAD (progessively worse since losing family over 2 years ago) and panick attacks (currently on day 4). I also have mild depression which is being treated with CBT. I just wanted to find out other peoples experiences on the drug and how they've coped with the side effects. I worried that the 'Fuzzy' head I'm currently experiencing will effect my work (I'm a 3rd year student on my last placement). I'm also struggling to sleep (not unusual for me) and have lost my appetite (very unusual for me). Does this drug help? Is there the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel? It took a lot for me to get help so I'd like to know i did the right thing. Thanks in advance

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • TeresaScott
    TeresaScott cookierunner

    Posted

    Please be careful and only take this drug as long as you think that you need to. It can be helpful to get you through a hard time. My doctor put me on it indefinetly (12 years now). As side effect after side effect emerged, my doctor has been unsympathetic and unhelpful and has even suggested that the side effects are a sign of depression and that I need to increase my dose. After alot of research, i am confident that I am experiencing side effects of the drug. IBS, foggy head, inablilty to concentrate, lack of motivation, Acid Reflux, etc, etc. I am getting a new doctor and am just hoping and praying that if I can ever get off of this drug, that the side effects might someday go away. It can be a very difficult drug to withdraw from, as I am discovering. please. I urge you to do your research on this drug before diving in. A book that I have found to be very helpful is Prozac Backlash by Joseph GlenMullen. Good luck to you.
    • cookierunner
      cookierunner TeresaScott

      Posted

      I'm sorry to hear youre having such a bad time of it and i hope you get it all sorted.

      Hopefully i wont be on it too long

      I'll bear this advice in mind as i continue my treatment

      Thanks

      and i hope youre getting better

  • colin878
    colin878 cookierunner

    Posted

    Hi cookierunner..like the name!

    I would avoid increasing week by week,my advice to you is stick at 25mg for four weeks & see how you get on. The higher the increase in dosage the worse the side affects become,and unfortunately the harder it becomes to withdraw from it. I started on 50mg in January for anxiety/depression & all I can say is the side affects to begin with were nearly unbearable,but i rode the storm & gradually things got better-I like you also attended CBT & I would say it helped me more than the drug. Unfortunately some side affects have stayed throughout,head buzzing,ringing in ears,sexual side affects,crazy dreams,disrupted sleep & constant tiredness to name a few.im 27,fit & healthy etc so i shouldn't be absolutely burst all day everyday! After some research & a pretty heated discussion with a doctor about this I am now tapering off...slowly-very slowly & the withdrawal symptoms are just as bad.im now level at 25mg & plan to stop in 3-4 weeks to try & avoid having any long term side affects,which after research is very common.

    I'm not trying to scare you or change your direction but I would be careful. I have found regular exercise,fresh air,socialising,healthy eating,vitamins & Omega oils,helping others & of course talking to help guide me through a tough time...i was not in a good place in my mind in January & it also took a lot of courage to ask for help(something I have very rarely needed in my life) the turning point for me was seeking help so I sincerely hope it is for you too,just try not to rely on the drug to much,see it as a crutch-it's there to help for a short period of time & the higher the dose you go the longer you will be on it. Best of luck to you

    Colin

    • cookierunner
      cookierunner colin878

      Posted

      Hi Colin,

      I'll keep all this in mind next time I see my doctor.

      I hope only to be on it a short time to help with my anxiety so hopefully I won't get too reliant.

      It's nice to have such honest advice :-)

      Hope your doing okay now

      P.s glad you like the name

    • wendy64499
      wendy64499 cookierunner

      Posted

      Hi

      I understand the side effects from this drug are different for everyone. Some people suffer lots as you will have read on here but I wanted to share my experience so far. Like you I have recently started taking it ( 50mg) I am on wk 3. My doctor has told me that he would expect me to be on it a min of 6months.

      So far my side effects have been mild, felt sick for the first three days, fuzzy head for about 4 days and an upset tummy. Now the only one I seem to be left with is to do with sex. I have also started to feel a little better, it is small things like I have slept through the night twice. The knot in my tummy seems to be less and I am not bursting into tears at the slightest thing. So, for me they are starting to work with little side effects. 

      Hope this gives you some hope, we are all different and will react differently but I hope they work for you.

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