Just startted setraline

Jools2 and Odudui - from my own (short) recent experience with Sert, what you are experiencing are pretty typical side-effects. I got started on 50mg/day about two weeks ago, and within 4 days I was feeling so terrible - completely without any energy or strength, constipated, no appetite, nauseous - that I could barely get out of bed. I gave them up on the 5th day (and then got put on beta-blockers for atrial fibrillation, which caused almost identical side-effects!).

I read a lot about Sert, and one thing I can say is that it seems you have gone to a high dose very quickly. I think a lot of people get started on a half-pill 25mg/day for a week or two, then build it up if necessary over weeks or month from there. The other main thing is that it is a long-term solution - everyone says that it does not usually really kick-in in terms of helping anxiety or depression until after some weeks or a month or so.

So whether you think it is worth suffering the side-effects - which everyone says DO pass in time - really depends on whether you see yourself needing Sert for the long-term or not. For me, it was not the right solution, and was making me MORE anxious and and incapacitated than the original depression/anxiety. But for a good friend of mine who has suffered life-long problems, it has made an enormous long-term improvement in his life.

thanks brewster for the post. i have gone bk down to the 50g and feel much better today, fingers crossed im on the up! i think 100 g was too much for me and will see my gp next week. talking long term on sert is not what i want. its my sleep that has been the problem due to anxiety. as soon as i have my sleep sorted i hope to wean myself of it. its my sleep or lack of it that has been distressing esp when iwork full time which seemed to make my anxiety worse. hope u find a good solution soon x

Jools2 - I had a similar problem - for about 3 months, had woken every night between 2 and 3, and not been able to get back to sleep til maybe 6ish for an hour or two, lying there worrying and having palpitations. Due to life events, I was definitely very anxious and getting increasingly depressed - with the growing exhaustion making things worse. Hence my doctor trying me on Sertraline.

But then when I went back for a check up after the first week, he found that the underlying problem seemed to be physical - atrial fibrillation, causing the palpitations, which in turn was making the existing anxiety worse as well as the insomnia etc etc. Hence the beta-blockers - which I am glad to say are doing the job, and the side-effects are starting to diminish after 5 days - and I've actually managed to sleep straight through til 6am a couple of times already.

Good luck to you too!

just a little update. since swapping from night time to mornings taking sertraline my sleep the last 2 nights have been better. i am taking a sleeping tablet too but last week they didnt seem to be working well and now taking sertraline in the mornings i had a good few hrs without waking. on friday my gp told me to increase my dosage from 50 g to 100g but felt dreadfull so i have gone bk down to 50g yday and today and not having much sideeffects like i was last week. my question today is..... do you have to increase the dose for it to work better? i still have like a foggy head too....will this go in time?

thanks jools2 x

i was put on sertraline due to anxiety which resulted in my sleep been bad.

I was put on sert for depression caused by anxiety. I'm obsessive. I have been on for 31/2 months. The past 8 weeks on 125 mg. The anxiety is basically gone unless I drink coffee. I'm sleeping well, but very fatigued after I take the med in the morning. One day I will feel good and the next depressed and teary. I've stuck with it, as everyone says they feel better in time. Some people it takes longer. I'm very impatient and tend to be hard on myself which I have to get over as it's counter productive. I spend too much time alone, too much time to think and get frustrated. You're fortunate you're working, although i don't know how you do it. Most people have to take time off during the first month. Start ups are not fun and every time you increase a dosage the side effects reappear as before!

As I said i was obsessive and the more sleep I lost the more obsessive I became. The sert has helped both. I increased mine in increments of 25 mg. I have a sensitivity to drugs, obviously as I'm still having symptoms at 14 1/2 weeks. It's an emotional roller coaster. They say at 6 months your levels balance!

I know how frustrating this can be. If you have further questions please post.

gracey1 - thanks for the post.

well feeling all heady again, been out today trying to get on with things but just dont feel like me at all on this drug. so decided to stop it and hope my sleep is ok and manage my anxiety other ways. question..

.. can i just stop after 2 weeks of 50g x

I'm not in the medical profession, but I'd think you should taper down 25 mg at a time. If you stop cold turkey you'll probably experience side effects. Can you call your pharmacy and ask the proper way to taper down? Are your tabs in 25 mg?

50g x

thanks for the post x

They are 50 mg. In that case I'd probably try 50 every second day, but ask your pharmist or call your Dr. I am very sensitive to drugs, so I went up[ 25 mg at a time.

Hi,

Well after taking 2 tablets and feeling like I was in a living nightmare, I have stopped taking sertraline and its been 4 days since I took my last one!

For me (and reading on here most others too!) it's horrendous!!

I felt like killing myself if I'm honest. I am going back to the DR tomorrow to air my concerns over this medication.

PLEASE CAN ANYONE TAKING THIS MAKE SURE YOU HAVE FULL SUPPORT FROM YOUR FAMILY & FRIENDS - ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN TO LOOK AFTER!!!! Without my family around to help me with my baby and tell me everything was going to be ok I really don't know if I would be here writing this now.

I was prescribed this medication for sickness!!!! How ridiculous is that??

I just want to make sure people are not alone when they are using this medication, I am frightened for how people are feeling

I don't want to frighten anyone and I know some will benefit from this medication but having gone thought its side effects (only briefly if I took 2) I'm worried for others.

I still feel sick but for me personally anything is better than how these tablets made me feel.

Xxxxxx

lucy222

thanks for the post. hope u r ok. ive stopped taking them too.horrendous x

Can anyone help me?

My dad has been taking setraline for nearly 6 weeks now, he is anxious all the time and is having paranoid thoughts - he says that everyone is out to get him. He won't leave the house or answer the phone. He is now starting to get worried whenever I leave the house, I'm off work this week, but have to go back Monday. He has really bad panic attacks and I don't know how to help him. He's on 100mg and has been for about 3 weeks, but he started on 50mg. He has also been complaining of a really bad back and is talking about not eating. Is this the medication, or something else. I don't know what to do.

Can anyone help me?

My dad has been taking setraline for nearly 6 weeks now, he is anxious all the time and is having paranoid thoughts - he says that everyone is out to get him. He won't leave the house or answer the phone. He is now starting to get worried whenever I leave the house, I'm off work this week, but have to go back Monday. He has really bad panic attacks and I don't know how to help him. He's on 100mg and has been for about 3 weeks, but he started on 50mg. He has also been complaining of a really bad back and is talking about not eating. Is this the medication, or something else. I don't know what to do.

Anxiety, loss of appetite, nausea, jaw clenching muscle soreness are all side effects of the med. I didn't have paranoia so can't speak to that! I've been on it 4 months, 8 1/2 weeks on 125 mg. I still experience anxiety, nausea and a stiff neck!

You may want to get in touch with his Dr. regarding the paranoia. Hope this helps.