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My story after 6 weeks and a question for you all!

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jason78783
jason78783

Hello everyone. I thought I share my experience over the last six weeks that I’ve been on Sertraline (and also ask a question). I was prescribed Sertraline due to low mood, anxiety stress and mild panic attacks which resulted in me being signed off of work for four weeks.

I was initially prescribed 50mg a day – almost immediately I started to feel quite a lot of side-effects: a general “weird” feeling and being detached from what was going on around me (not sure how else to describe it), dizziness, headaches (severe at times) dry mouth, sleepy, agitation. Gradually over a two week period these side-effects began to ease but I noticed no improvement in my mental health. I spoke to my GP who advised I should have been prescribed 100mg a day so my dosage was increased. Almost immediately all of the side-effects returned and I felt I was back at square one – however, I stuck with it and six weeks on I’m feeling pretty good. It’s strange, I don’t feel “down”, I don’t feel “up” just on an even keel – I don’t seem to get emotional in situations where I usually would any more – it’s like the emotions have been “zeroed-out”.

I still get some of the side effects but not so severe – mainly dizziness and headaches.

However, one thing I’ve noticed over the last week is that my hands are trembling a lot – mainly in the morning after I wake (I take my medication in the late evening as I’ve found this works best for me). I just wondered whether anyone else has experienced this starting so long into their treatment.

Anyway my advice is – stick with it. It’s tough and you can feel you’re going backwards rather than forwards at times but it’s worth persevering. The only other advice I’d give is drink lots of water and avoid alcohol as it’s made me feel quite bad.  Thanks for taking the time to read this. Jason, UK.

1 like, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • ilda1982
    ilda1982 jason78783

    Posted

    Hi Jason basically I felt exactly the same when I first started. But I got loads better. Read my story. As for the question of trembling a lot I take propranolol 4/5 times a day, it helps a lot xxx best of luck
  • Pauljdme
    Pauljdme jason78783

    Posted

    Yo Jason, great to hear it works for you as it does with many others, the majority. Just one thing, you take it at night, sertraline is meant to be a simulant to be taken in the morning, do you not wake up a lot at night? But hey if it works for you then that's cool, all the best...
    • jason78783
      jason78783 Pauljdme

      Posted

      Hi there - great to here from you smile  .... I do wake up a lot but have always had trouble sleeping - trouble I had taking it in the morning is that I'd get the worst of the side-effects when I was at work. Maybe I should give it a try now I'm more used to the medication. Jason
  • iris46
    iris46 jason78783

    Posted

    Side effects do return when increasing dose, and your body needs to get used to the higher dose of chemical. If you read your leaflet with the tablets, it says that shaking is a common side effect. It will go away when your body adjusts to higher dose. Good luck
  • sue96031
    sue96031 jason78783

    Posted

    Hi jason

    I was on 50mg of sertraline i had few headaches not to many and i found i was getting anxious quite alot, went back to my phyc doc and she put me up to 100mg, i have only been on these for nearly 3 weeks and i can see a total change but i take mine 1st thing in the morning and i dont have any trembles but i do get hot start to sweat i hope this starts to go a very frustrating

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