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My Sertraline Story!!

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dani32
dani32

Hi im a 32 year old female. Im married with 2 children. About 12 weeks ago I started to get awfulanxiety, I was stressing about the least little thing and turning small things into massive over the top things. I started doing breathing exercises and taking herbal remedies, reading books and going onto websites. Nothing seemed to work and about 6 weeks ago I couldn't take the way I felt anymore and felt like I wasn't coping with normal everyday situations like the school run and seeing my friends and even watching a film with my husband. I have never suffered with anything like this before and that in itself is very scary, I felt out of control with my thoughts, I wasn't sleeping or eating.

I went to see my GP who prescribed me 50mg of Sertraline, I was also given 10 days worth of diazepam (2mg). After a few days of deciding if I should take them I went for it, I had the most awful side affects, sickness, diarrhea, headaches, night sweats, shakes. I couldn't even get out of bed for a couple of days. I was having panic attacks and Insomnia.

After a week or so the side affects eased off and I was able to cope again although I was still left with the awful anxiety. After 2 weeks I started to feel 50% better and then into week 3,4,5 I seemed to go downhill with my anxiety again but I stuck with the Sertraline as the doc said it could take 6-8 weeks to see the benefit.

The last few days I've started to feel 90% my old self again. I think this drug seems to take a while to work but i'm glad I've stuck with it as I feel like i'm getting my old life back again. I really hope this is a helpful and positive story if you are just starting out on Sertraline, I know I have a long way to go but I feel with the help of this med I can get my life back on track.

Reading all the positive stories on this forum has helped me a great deal. Im also lucky to have great family and friends I can talk to.

52 likes, 461 replies

461 Replies

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  • jabake1
    jabake1 dani32

    Posted

    Just finished my first week on Sertraline 25mg.  The last four days have been terrible. Like other posts, mornings are the worst. I wake up felling extremely anxious and nervous. The morning delclines from there. I have not been able to go to work and have no interest in driving or being out of the house. For the month prior to taking Sertraline, i was on Xanax .25mg three times a day. This seemed to help for the first week but then the effectiveness seemed to decrease. When switched to Sertraline, I was told that i could take Xanax if i felt the anxiety building. I do but it does not seem to help. I do have some diazapam that seems to settle me down better. My side effects have included increased anxiety, nausea, complete loss of appetite, light headedness, minor suicidal thoughts and some of the strange aches in the arms and legs that others have discussed.

    Every morning i consider whether this is the right medication for me. This post has helped me realize that what i am feeling is normal. Meeting with the Dr later today to discuss other options for controling the anxiety.

    • rstep04
      rstep04 jabake1

      Posted

      I am on day 2 sertraline 25mg tried several tho in the past 4 months just fed up with this anxiety it seems to be getting worse by the day with dizziness and weak limbs can't leave the house going on 50mg in 5 days time just don't want to be laid up like this all over xmas this is rubbish I have a few diazapam but doc won't prescribe any more is there anything that has helped you manage the anxiety
    • ings24
      ings24 jabake1

      Posted

      I've been experiencing that lack of desire to do anything or leave the house. It's got worse I think on sertraline. 
  • cloe46559
    cloe46559 dani32

    Edited

    IV just taken my 8th tablet was feeling fine over the weekend thought I was over the worse but the last to days the nausea and shaking has come back don't know what to make of this any advice please? 
    • scott8888
      scott8888 cloe46559

      Posted

      That is normal dont worry, my first week wasnt bad at all then i felt rubbish after that. Few more weeks and they will get less and less
    • cloe46559
      cloe46559 scott8888

      Edited

      Having a real bad day today. Feel really nausea and got the shakes also feels as tho my throat it closing in like it's tight. I spent the morning in the toilet bringing up some sort of bile acidy stuff. When did your side effects go? Don't know how long I can do this for. Took my 9th one today
    • ings24
      ings24 cloe46559

      Posted

      i have told my story below in the feed but just wanted to say that tightness thing is awful. I have a hiatus hernia and take medication for acid control and that constant nasal drip made it worse then I had a constant lump like feeling somewhere in my throat it was so uncomfortable I had to up my medication for the acid reflux. After a week or so it got better. I have masses of side effects from this drug but that one has gone now I'm glad to say. Hope you are feeling better now.
  • karen24623
    karen24623 dani32

    Posted

    Hi Dani

    thank you for sharing your story , you have given some positives to think about , I went to see my doctor last week due to severe depression , I am returning next week and considering this drug as he recommended either Sertraline or Citipapram . I have the odd anxiety/panic attack but it's the depression that's the worst.hoping the Sertraline can help me to enjoy life again . 

    Karen

  • melissa81901
    melissa81901 dani32

    Posted

    Is it possible to have a severe reaction after one dose?  I have general anxiety and have had it for most of my adult life.  My new doctor decided I should be on Sertraline and gave me 100 mg doseage to be cut in half the first week.  I took one dose.  Several hours after taking the dose I went into the most massive panic attack I have ever had.  I could not be still, I had to pace, I couldn't slow my breathing even though I was using my techniques, and when I did sit my legs would shake uncontrollably.  This went on for 6 hours.  I couldn't eat although I was hungry.  I felt like I would vomit everything.  I went to the ER after two hours of this attack but they were so busy they could not get to me by the time it started to subside and I ended up just leaving.  Is this possible after only one day?  I feel a lot better as I am nearing my second doseage time (that I will not be taking).  
    • rstep04
      rstep04 melissa81901

      Posted

      Maybe you should be starting on a 25mg dose if it's prescribed for panic disorders that's the normal dose then upto 50mg after 1 week
    • rstep04
      rstep04 melissa81901

      Posted

      I'm on 50mg for 1 week I've had severe panic dizziness weak limbs severe headaches but been on a few AD in the past few months and I think this is the norm but u know ur body and u know if it feels wrong
    • melissa81901
      melissa81901 rstep04

      Posted

      I feel like I can't function.  The ER told me not to take the Zoloft any longer as it seemed to have caused a huge issue with me and gave me valium.  But I can't take valium all the time, I have to function as a mother.  I just want to cry and give up.
  • susan87364
    susan87364 dani32

    Posted

    I must admit, after reading your post, it did make me feel a little bit better. I am suffering anxiety and panicking terribly. I am crying all the time. Not had very good year with 1 thing after another. Went to docs. She put me on 50ml Sertraline. I took these for 3 weeks and still felt the same. She has increased the dose to 100ml. I have been taking these for 5 days and must admit I still feel terrible. Nervy, anxious, crying. She has given me 5ml diazapam to take aswell if I feel the side effects are too bad. The mornings are probably worse when I first get up. I dread what the day is gong to be like. I have 2 children. A son 9 and a daughter 2. My daughter is going through the terrible 2's which doesn't help. I am so upset that this has happened just before xmas. I so much want to enjoy xmas with my partner and children. Another problem is lack of appetite. I'm finding it hard to eat. I'm only skinny anyway so can't afford to lose any weight. Going to docs tmrw to ask about this. I would do anything to feel my normal self again. Please tell me these side effects will pass and how much longer do I have to wait?? xxxx
    • natalie99981
      natalie99981 susan87364

      Posted

      Susan I feel for you we wish these drugs were instant but unfortunately they take ages to kick in. I have been on them twice in my life and both times they have got me back to 100 percent ..

      It took me about 6 weeks this time to see improvement but I have just gone 8 weeks 4 weeks on 50 and 4 weeks on 75 !!! I still have a few days not feeling a million bucks but I have had huge stresses that wouldn't help lol ... I am definitely a million times better than 8 weeks ago.

      You will get there just make sure you know that smile

    • susan87364
      susan87364 natalie99981

      Posted

      Thank you so much Natalie for your reply. I know I have to be patient. It just worries me that it's xmas time and the Sertraline are not going to kick in for weeks yet. I am still having to take the diazapam with them but don't really like doing this. It's the sleep deprivation and loss of appetite thats worrying me aswell. Going to speak to my doc tmrw about this. How long do you think it will take these 100ml to start working for me? I've already had nearly 4 weeks of 50ml. Just want to get back to normal xxx
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