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New to sertraline

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Rileyjpn2010
Rileyjpn2010

Hi I'm new and in need of advice. I have suffered with anxiety and depression for many years it comes and goes a couple of times a year (my gp calls it seasonal depression)

I have a wonderful family and great job bit recently the anxiety started again and I have feelings of emptiness and like I could just turn my back on everything.

So went to docs and he offered me sertraline 50mg ( I usually been given escitalopram). I started taking half a tablet at night it's been a week now I'm.barely sleeping and head feels fuzzy and clouded, and today I've felt really down and unmotivated.

If this is how I feel on half a tablet I'm scared to take the full 50mg

Any advice would greatly help

Thanks

1 like, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • tracey11164
    tracey11164 Rileyjpn2010

    Posted

    Hi I have been on 100mgs for over 10 yrs but 3 wks ago anxiety came bk bad so I'm now on day 12 of 150 hoping the side effects ease soon got a really fuzzy dizzy head and higher anxiety but been told should all settle in 4 wks
  • sarahkitikat
    sarahkitikat Rileyjpn2010

    Posted

    Hi!!

    I was in the same situation, amazing husband, great job, nothing to complain about. Yet I was always depressed and my anxiety was keeping me from living normally. In April my doctor put me on 50mg of sertraline a day. I started taking a 50mg right away and I was feeling the same way at first: fuzzy head, speaking really fast, blurry vision etc. This lasted about a week and a half.  You might still feel anxious or depressed, maybe worse than before, but it takes a good month or two to get the full effect of the medecine. Don't panic, just push through it. After two months I started feeling like myself again, I've been really happy since. I am also seeing a counselor, with her help and the medicine combined it helped me getting back on track, on the right mindset to enjoy life. I saw my doctor last week and I told him that I wanted to start weaning off the medecine because I feel like it brought me the help I needed, and I think that I should be able to handle life on my own now smile 

    If you start taking it, do not stop without talking to your doctor. If you take it a few days and just stop you could damage your serotonin receptors and feel even worse than before.

    Just be patient, it worked very well for me and I truly believe that if you do it propoerly it could really help you.

    Oh and if you have trouble sleeping because of, take it in the morning, always at the same time. I had the same issue and taking it in the morning helped immensely.

    Good luck smile

    • Rileyjpn2010
      Rileyjpn2010 sarahkitikat

      Posted

      Thanks for quick reply. I have lots of CBT over the years and it was because of this I can recognise the signs before anything gets to bad.

      I have trouble sleeping anyway and have done for several years.

      My gp told me sertraline would help with sleeping that why I agreed to try it rather than escitalopram.

      Do you think I should switch to the full dose of 50mg and take it in the morning

      Thanks

    • tracey11164
      tracey11164 Rileyjpn2010

      Posted

      I take 100 in morning and 50 at night when I took whole lot in the morning I felt more anxious I am on sleeping tablets at the mo cause can't sleep much
    • sarahkitikat
      sarahkitikat Rileyjpn2010

      Posted

      I would, it didn't really bother me. But if you're scared you can take 25mg for a week or two and then up the dosage to 50mg. That way your brain will be used to it already and the side effects will be probably less noticeable. 
  • Rileyjpn2010
    Rileyjpn2010

    Posted

    Thank you everyone for the fast replies I will update on my progress

    Thanks

    • sarahkitikat
      sarahkitikat Rileyjpn2010

      Posted

      Please do!! Everyone reacts differently, give it two full months and if nothing changed then maybe that medicine isn't for you (never stop taking it cold turkey!!)
    • tracey11164
      tracey11164 Rileyjpn2010

      Posted

      Morning how u doing now I'm on day 14 of increase now feel slightly better but still anxious and got a fuzzy head x
  • tracey11164
    tracey11164 Rileyjpn2010

    Posted

    Morning how u feeling I have been up since 3 am with anxiety driving me mad want it to go away now on day 13 of increase
  • tracey11164
    tracey11164 Rileyjpn2010

    Posted

    Hi how u doing I'm on day 16 now can feel a slight improvement in anxiety
    • sarahkitikat
      sarahkitikat tracey11164

      Posted

      it's going to take a little while before you start feeling yourself and happy. Give it 2 months and you will notice a huge difference.
    • Rileyjpn2010
      Rileyjpn2010 sarahkitikat

      Posted

      Hi after 6 months I have come off the sertraline as it was just leaving me emotionless and numb.

      I am now 10 days into 10mg of fluoxetine and so far so good

      How are you

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