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Hi,

I'm a newbie, just started on Setraline, (25mg) day 5 and yes I have all the usual side effects, headache, increased anxiety, lack of sleep, cold chills, just feeling like crap! I was due to increase to 50 on Monday, however, I have spoken with my doctor this afternoon and he said I should stay on 25mg and not increase due to these side effects. Has anyone else stayed on 25mg and has it worked for you.

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi Lisa,

    I feel for you, the first couple of weeks are the hardest! You will see on here that the odd person will get some relief on 25mg but this is typically listed as a children’s dose. The minimum dose usually that will work for adults is 50mg, but 100mg or 150mg seem to be the most common therapeutic doses. You should work with your doctor to see what would be best for you and your situation. If it was me, I would want to increase quickly to 50mg or you may be dragging the side effects out. But listen to your body and do what you feel is best. I had all the side effects you’ve listed above and they do pass. Good luck x

  • Posted

    I had the same things on 25mg and after 2 weeks was better. Then my doctor upped me to 50mg and it’s been 4 weeks of hell so far. It’s like each week I develop a new side effect that’s worse then before.  Am seriously thinking of going back to 25mg but the doctor says I need to give 50mg more time.
    • Posted

      Hi antony,

      I would really advise if you can keep pushing through on 50mg it’s better than going back down because you will almost definitely need to increase again at some point if you do. Of course listen to your doctor and your body but I found my symptoms absolutely unbearable when I upped to 50mg but if you push through it it’s worth it. Good luck x

  • Posted

    Hi Lisa, I've been o 25mg for 17 days now, some of the side effects have subsided while others have shown up, I do get energy when I take it then it levels off and I'm good but in the mornings it seems that's the time I struggle the most with groggyness and so.e anxiety still, I just saw the doc earlier this week and she is keeping me at the 25 but I am thinking I should go see her again because I am all jittery, so if this is another side effect that will pass then ok but if this is going to keep going Idk... Trying to stick with it... my main thing is with the anxiety not really depression although I really want to just feel somewhat normal. I do talk with a counselor and been doing lots of reading to keep me focused on something more positive and I go for walks. I eat every 3 hrs a snack of some sort and I just roll with it but there are times that I just want it to stop so I can just be. It's frustrating but I do feel it working. So far coworkers and friends that have used it said to give it time so I am constantly talking to them and they tell me yep, your ok, just another symptom that will subside in no time... I do take half of a 25mg hydroxyzine at night to help take the edge off and sleep just wake up so freaki g groggy. I start my day at 5:30am. It's an adjustment and a little hard to do with a 4 yr old but my hubby is of great help. I do see that he is worried and wants me to be better and I he goes fishing for a bit to take his edge off. It's just not easy but I do know I'll make it it's just finding what is the best time to take the meds , changing some eating habits, and slowing down a bit. I've been experiencing this for over a year and my body has been telling me since to chill but the docs said I have vertigo....needless to say, 2 weeks ago I finally had my first ever anxiety attack. The first few days were awful and I missed work and all, I finally returned to work this week and it was helpful to talk to everyone and it was an eye opener when they expressed they too have anxiety issues and that it's an adjustment, I'll pull through and it's about fining a balance in the meds too along with therapy and changing the way we think about things and just how not to. Right now I'm jittery gonna eat a nice sandwich to then take my sertraline and get moving. I hope the groggyness and jitters reside soon cause it's annoying. Other than that I've managing.

    • Posted

      I’m glad you are managing, I have decided to come off them, it’s not worth going through this, I felt sooooo much better before going on them. I’m going to try and be med free for a while.  Just waiting for the meds to leave my system now. Good luck to you x 
  • Posted

    Hi I have had anxiety in and off for a number of years. I take sertaline 50 mg. I was signed off work two weeks ago as I had a panic attack. I’m due to go back on Wednesday. Since I’ve been signed off my anxiety has been so much worse. I’d really like to go back but panicking my anxiety may cause me to avoid it.  I’ve been practicing mindfulness but just can’t concentrate on anything other than how anxious I feel. Any advice please. Also there is a book people are taking about. Can anyone send me the link
    • Posted

      I'm doing ok for the most part, I started to go for a nice long walk and that seems to be helping with the jitterness but we shall see. The doc only wanted me on for 3 months so we shall see about that too. As far as concentrating, the walks help and been reading a daily devotional, bible, and anything else that gets my attention. Last night I actually sat through a whole movie comedy of course and it was nice. I just can't stand the waves while my body adjusts to this med but I do feel it doing some good. My intentions is to let it help me while I change my eating and doing some activities to help lift the anxiety. My anxiety unfortunately comes from work so working changing that as I am not sacrificing my health for my work.

    • Posted

      Hi Jo

      You sound like you are taking positive steps to help yourself. I have been taking the dog out for a walk, I feel all wobbly at first but that passes after about 10 mins. My job can be stressful at time but I done a university course for my job which was extremely stressful and my anxiety returned. For me, being off work gives me more time to be anxious about my anxiety! Thanks for replying

    • Posted

      Sorry Lisa

      Not really sure how to work this site and realised I’ve posted my own problem on your page. I hope you’re feeling better. I’ve been on sertraline for a few years now. I remember the first couple of weeks commencing treatment increasing my anxiety but this soon settled down. For me what helps is getting out, walking or going the shops. It seems really hard to do but it really does help 

    • Posted

      No problem, hope you got on well with Setraline, it was obviously not for me! Hopefully it shouldn't be too long before it is out of my system

  • Posted

    Hi Lisa, hope your doing ok. Wanted to provide an update. so it was time for my menstrual and I was incredibly painful for some reason. Did some digging online and found out that this is rare but can happen on this med. my menstrual is so heavy I feel so fatigued and holy moly I was like what is going on. I went to my Dr. and she wanted to increase my dosage I explained to her that I don't feel like myself and that I can't concentrate on anything, not to mention I went from getting good sleep to not ...she actually told me that it wasn't the med it was me. I was not happy with that at all, i felt so disappointed. So a few of my coworkers have been doing natural alternatives to calm nerves and so I purchased some they have B vitamins and herbs that naturally have a calming effect. I am taking to a therapist which helps. my Dr. told me to not take it one day, taker it the next and I could stop. I am only on 25 mg and it's only been 3 weeks so I should be fine. I am on day 2 without it, I feel so much better, i feel like myself, I actually was enjoying myself and my appetite returned. I was able to eat without forcing myself. so with that being said I am going to see a holistic Dr so that I can take the right nutrients and continue with the therapist for a little longer. I'm excited about the new Dr and on the phone she even said it's possible I may be experiencing fluxes in my hormones entering into early premenopausal, I am 38. my mom finally told me that yes she started early as well as my grandmother and aunts so...hmmm , gonna get checked out and see how this goes. so far though I feel better still a little jittery but I am thinking it's the meds leaving my body so I am keeping myself focused on other things and finally enjoying listening to my 80s music, lol. for whatever reason I everything was irritating me she on the med.

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