1. Community
  2. Mental health
  3. Sertraline

Needing a little reassurance

Posted , 7 users are following.

Clo12345
Clo12345

I have been taking Sertraline for a month now. Im on 50mg but my doctor speaks about soon highering my dose. Before taking these i felt like i was able to cope as i have had depression for years and found my own ways to live. After a difficult time i spoke to my doctor and sertraline was introduced to me. This is the first anti-depressant i have had. I have never felt so bad in my life. I have had stomach and muscle cramps in my legs and arms, headaches, dizziness, nausea, tired, no appetite the lot! But the worst out of it all is i am soooooooo anxious. I would never say i have experienced anxiety before but i genuinely believe since taking these tablets i am completely loosing myself. I can’t even walk down the street anymore without having a panick attack and needing to go back home. I have never been like this! Has anyone ever had the same? Does anyone who have anxiety have any tips or ways to cope? I literally feel drained, completely drained! 

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • brenda53218
    brenda53218 Clo12345

    Posted

    Hi Clo, been there done that. This med will cause alot of different side effects. Don't worry its just part of the way this med works. It is a slow acting drug. So it can take up to 8 weeks to feel the affects. It does get better. I also started on 50 and i am now on 100, and i feel really good. There will be days that are bad but the good days out weighed the bad. I was given ativan for the hard times when i first started this med. I am so thankful that i was put on this med. This was my first time on antidepressants and like you was really nervous about it but now its all different. It will get better.

    • Clo12345
      Clo12345 brenda53218

      Posted

      Thank you for replying Brenda! I appreciate tge reassurance so much. I don’t think many people around me understand so it’s comforting knowing there is people out there who do! I have made an appointment for tomorrow to speak to my doctr about the side effects i have been getting because it’s really getting too hard to cope with everyday life, especially having panick attacks. 

      How are you now? 

    • brenda53218
      brenda53218 Clo12345

      Posted

      I am 95% better than before the meds. Believe me life is good now. Yes let doctor know about everything you are going through. The panic attacks are scary, i would also have them bad when i started these meds. Now i only get a twinge and i tell myself its in my head.it does get better.
  • Giggity
    Giggity Clo12345

    Posted

    50 and 75 were the worst for me. I'm on 150 now and I feel great. You really need to follow the program and you will get relief. Don't delay increasing your dose.

    • Clo12345
      Clo12345 Giggity

      Posted

      Really? I definitely think i need to either increase or stop taking these asap, my doctor keeps telling me to keep going through the side effects but it’s so tough! 

      How are you now on them? 

    • joe41529
      joe41529 Clo12345

      Posted

      Hi Clo, I think your still to early to tell if you need to increase or not, I’ve been on 50mg since I’ve started a month and a half back and they work great for me, in fact lots of people have been on 50 mgs for a long time and they are doing great. I don’t plan to increase any time soon, and I had all the same start up side effects you had believe me. In fact since it takes at least 6-8 weeks to get the full effect from this medicine my dr told me that increasing before that time makes little sence because you’ll never know if the 50 mg will work for you. Hang in there and I promise this gets better! 
    • ntina41517
      ntina41517 joe41529

      Posted

      Hi Joe,

      May I ask you if you were able to work after a week and if you could sleep?

      Thank you

    • joe41529
      joe41529 ntina41517

      Posted

      Hi Ntina, I pretty much had to force myself to get up and get to work, mornings in the first week were very hard for me but I found things got better as the day went on, and as far as my sleep goes I’m still struggling with that one. I’m pretty sure I haven’t had a full night sleep in weeks. Probably getting somewhere between 3 to 5 hours a night. 
    • ntina41517
      ntina41517 joe41529

      Posted

      Hi Joe

      Didn't thank you for your reply.

      I am due back to work next week after a week off and I am already stressing out. I have xanax on which I might have to rely until sertraline kicks in. 

      I have a big problem with not sleeping unfortunately.

      If you have any positive comments as  the days have passe pls share

  • anna17409
    anna17409 Clo12345

    Posted

    Hi

    Since you managed your depression and anxiety before you could have tried to work through it without going in for medication. I rue the day i started on sertraline(5years ago on 50 mg). Its supposed to be the least harmless of antidepressants. Last year i wanted to wean myself off it but had so much withdrawal symptoms, much like what you described, that i had to go back on it again with the same 50 mg. I do feel a lot better and sertraline has always suited me well. But i will have to be on it lifelong i guess because i dont have the guts to deal with withdrawal again. Usually it takes about 2 months for the effects to kick in. So hang in there.

    • Clo12345
      Clo12345 anna17409

      Posted

      The fact i have managed for many years with depression and it’s only now i am on medication then imposes i wasn’t able to cope in my own way as before. If i could just try to cope i would have. 

      Thanks for your reply! Great to hear others experiences

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.