Sertraline

Hi there, I have been where you are, and still there. I started 26 days ago on 50mg sertraline, then went to 100mg after 3 days and then prescribed to 150mg after a further 3 days. So I have been on 150mg for the past 20days, nearly 3 weeks. Everythime my doc uped my dose my side effects got worse, and you are quiet right the heightened anxiety is the worst, and also have been curled up in a ball, neither sleeping or wanting to get up. So yes I feel for what you going through, its not easy. Sorry about the relapse, happened to me while I was trying to come off my meds. So, tomorrow I visit my phyciatrist again, and will ask him just how long does it take to start feeling better, I mean its been 3 weeks now. But from what I have read it takes anything up to 6 weeks to be back on track. To answer your question is there anything you can do, yes, when you see your doc tell him about the anxiety and ask for a tranquilizer to get you through this rough patch. I take one three times a day, takes the edge off for alittle while and then wamo the anxiety is back, and the overwhelming feeling of crapiness. The mornings are the worst, I cant seem to want to get out of bed. Either way, the doctor has to do something tomorrow, I cant suffer like this day in day out, and I am sorry that I cant motivate you as I dont really know when this medication should start working. Best advise is just stick to what you have been given, try and stay active, eat well, try and excercise, dont crawl into a ball, it will only make you feel worse. How are you sleeping, as sertraline is known to cause insomnia initially. I so also ask for a sleeping tablet. Wow what doesnt it give one, night sweats, nausea, upset stomach, tremmers, tightning of the jaw, my word. So just dig deep, hold in there, I have heard it has helped many people, thats what gets me through knowing one day I will feel better, it just has to pass, and it will. Rob

Rhys I have been posting on another discussion about coming off sertraline.

I was suffering the same just like you the doctor just increased my dose to 50mg a day but I was still getting worse, I was getting just 2 hours of sleep a night, dizzy spells, sitting on my own crying my blood pressure was increasing and ended up being signed off work for a month. All these and more are common side effects

After being on them for 10 weeks I decided to come off, that was 4 weeks ago.

I have now reduced to 25 mg every other day and feel so much better. It was the best decision I have ever made and expect to be completely off within 4 weeks. I regret ever taking them in the first place and wish I had just had counselling to get me through.

I am sure these tablets are beneficial to some but they just made me worse and who knows where I would be now had I not started reducing.

Good luck and hopefully things will improve.

Hello, I'm so glad to read these discussions.. I want to know how you all feel, do you wish you had just NOT started taking this med? And maybe so counseling? I am battling depression now...sick pit in my stomach and sad all time...want to cry....all time, this is NOT the real me...I battled cancer last year...and should be the happiest girl in world, because I beat it and in remission now...I am isolating myself from..world...feel as I have no friends...but I do...and I could have more...so What is wrong with me??/ I tried to take lexapro..made me feel like you are describing..feel horrible and curled up in ball and just wanted to sleep... so now dr prescribed sertraline...and I'm afraid to take it...I don't want feel like that again...so don't know which is worse...depression...or this....

will you let me know...should I try it and feel crappy...for weeks, or just keep faith that I will get through this.

thanks....good luck to you,,also...!

Hi All, I am a firm believer in medication for clinical depression, we cannot just snap or pray out of it, it is a chemical embalace that makes us feel so terrible. The trick here is to get on the right medication, and sometimes one has to go through hell on certain meds that dont work for them but work for others.

I was doing very well on a combination of Seroquel and Luvox for 2 years, and stupidly came off them. Then the crash! Boy the worste episode of depression I have ever experienced. The Doctor put me on high dosage of Sertraline (150mg) for almost 4 weeks.

Nothing improved, couldnt get out of bed, anxiety, couldnt get out the house, didnt want to talk to anyone, in a terrible deep state.

So I saw my Doctor today, and he has taken me off Sertraline and put me back on 300mg Seroquel (very expensive) and 200mg Luvox. So I am back to step one. Lesson well learnt : dont stop your meds, and if they are working dont try and change them for a cheeper alternative. In summary, Sertraline didnt work for me, and boy did I give it a good go, but having said that many many people do very well on it. So bln15, my advise is take your meds, but if nothing happens after 3 -4 weeks go back and give your doctor a detailed account, remember he is there to help you. Good Luck, Rob

thanks Rob...good luck to you, also...

Hey Rob

how are you today? I saw my doctor and he has taken me off Sertraline and put me back on citalopram which has helped in the past, but I know the next 8 or so weeks are going to be a bumpy ride I did the same as you rob just came of my meds when I was feeling fine need to take it seriously this time round.

Are there no positives to this medication?

I have been prescribed them today, and after reading things on the internet im thinking I should probably have saved my money and binned the prescription...

Hey Tracy,

Sertraline was unbearable for me but saying that everyone reacts to different medication in different ways citalopram which I am back today helped me loads in the past, should of stayed on it. I believe Sertraline has helped more people than it hasn't helped, people who come to the forums are having a bad experience like me, all the people are getting on well with it don't tend do unless it's to help others.

Hi Rhys,

I was on citalopram for about 3 years when both my parents passed away. I was suffering terrible depression and loneliness.

I came off it as it left me devoid of any emotion at all. I needed to grieve and I couldn't.

I've always suffered anxiety and unfortunately i'm having a bout of it now. My GP did offer citalopram but I declined... Now im wishing id said yes.

She did give me Lorazepam as well.

Thanks for your prompt reply.

Hi All,

Was prescribed Setraline and only took it for just over a week due to the worst anxiety I have ever experienced. I had no side effects after coming off it but now (a month later) I am back to feeling like I did when I was taking them. The Dr tells me that it can't be side effects after only a week but I am not so sure. Anyone else had problems after such a short time? I have to fly to NZ in 2 days and the way I am at the moment I will not make it onto that plane! Thanks Hayley

Hi Haley, what you are describing is quiet common. You are going through a rebound bout of anxiety. Setraline is well known to give some users terrible anxiety as a side effect, and going of the tablet could trigger a bout of anxiety. So best is to get onto a tranquilizer and an alternative to Setraline as soon as possible.

Been on Setraline for five days and can honestly say they have been the worst in my life. From the first day I took 50mg I became sick , diarrhoea, headache dry mouth and dizziness. I have had anxiety for 4 months and never stayed in bed or lay all day on the couch but now its all I seem to do all day. Been trying to overcome these affects but the feeling is unbearable. After no food for 4 days and no appetite I decided to phone doctors. Told to stop medication over weekend and see how I feel. Also said she would review Setraline hoping to restart them next week NO WAY.