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Sertraline 50mg & work

Posted , 4 users are following.

lesley20588
lesley20588

I had been experiencing anxiety & stress with my job eventually reaching the point where I felt so ill I resigned in Nov. I now realise that I should have seen my GP to seek help quite some time ago but just thought I could deal with it the usual way of "pushing myself & carrying on"! It didn't work & over the Christmas holidays I became very ill & was admitted to hospital with strydor. Whilst this itself was the most terrifying experience (could not breathe ended up in ICU) & I was very afraid I was actually going to die! Dramatic! Anyhow after I came out of hospital obviously very weak & had received a lot of medication, I then developed the most horrendous shaking, dizzyness, sickness & was literally bedridden & physically unable to walk. The doctor diagnosed me with PTSD & anxiety due the hospital incident & stress leading to it she then prescribed me a short course of diazepam. This seemed to work & as I'd managed to find a new job quite quickly who were also willing to postpone my start date I thought great, I can go forward. It hasn't quite worked like that, the doctor has now given me Sertraline 50mg with diazepam as back up (I haven't taken them but they are there if needed). I attempted my new job & lasted 3 days, my body feels like it has completely shut down again, I'm struggling to walk straight, have headaches & unable to eat. Unfortunately I had to resign. Losing my job (again) has made me feel worse, granted it was full time so it was pretty full on & it was too early after being ill. But I need to work, I've never not worked before also I need the money & I need to feel "normal " again. Sorry for rambling but basically at the moment the anixiety or side effects of the tablets have taken over & im back in bed feeling awful. I've never suffered with anxiety before & am afraid it's never going to end. How long have you experienced these ill feelings & has anyone managed to hold down a job successfully whilst starting this meds? The thing is I now have to look for & start a new job which is also terrifyingly scary whilst my body is fighting me & im waiting for the tabs to work. Any help, advice or your own experiences would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • Tezes
    Tezes lesley20588

    Posted

    These do take longer than most to start working for you than most, for some 2-3 months. Depends how long you've been on them but you can feel worse before you feel better. 

    Lit could be that you are very sensitive to sertraline and another med may work better for you. If you could manage without AD's even better. Could you ask your GP to refer you for CBT which works well for PSSD etc.

    ive been on sertraline for two years and have worked full time but not without massive struggles from the side effects for eg brain fog, lack of interest and motivation, exhaustion etc. I'm tapering off them now and hope I never have to take these kind of drugs again

    best wishes for your recovery

  • chad47956
    chad47956 lesley20588

    Posted

    hi lesley i too have ptsd and yes same as your self cannot work if your unable to work and no mo9ney ring the dwp ask what you can claim for it will seem like for ever waiting affter you filled in the forms for reply make every day on the forms a very bad day the worst the better you might get help Money!!!! you need to eat and pay bills ask your doc about CBT its not to bad when you are able to understand whats going on i had to see a mental heth team first becaues the reason i got ptsd i was a carer 2014... i was with a 82yo lady i was very close to her we both got hit by a white van man on the crossing!!!!! over 6bones broc she had internal bleeding any way dont be upset all that you do is inportant im on 150mgsertraline it helps a bit but need other meds on top things wont go away But you will learn to cope better in life with all the sh*t it throws at you Goodluck keep talking to your doc its inportant you need that .
  • JJ0604
    JJ0604 lesley20588

    Posted

    I was on Citalopram for 7 years when it stopped working effectively at the end of last year. Like you I thought if I push on to the holidays I'll be fine. Unfortunately I got to the holidays and fell apart. I've been on Sertraline for 3 weeks (had to taper off the citalopram) and the side effects are horrendous. I'm not back at work yet but am aiming for next Wednesday as I finally seem to have turned a corner. If you can, take some time out and let the meds work. It takes a few weeks and it sounds like you've had a rough time. It's hard and we're impatient but I'm sure we can get there. Take care xx
  • lesley20588
    lesley20588

    Posted

    Thank you for your replies. It just feels never ending at the moment. Especially as I resigned from my job, thru feeling so ill, so have no income coming in from myself. I have to find work soon as it's a dramatic cut in our income, even tho luckily hubby is working we aren't really able to cope too long on one wage. All his is adding extra stress & anxiety & I can't concentrate on anything. Thanks for listening x
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