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Sertraline and agoraphobia

Posted , 8 users are following.

Clare1972
Clare1972

Hi, 

I just wondered if there was anyone on here who has suffered or does suffer from agoraphobia and has had success with Sertraline?

I have been on Sertraline for about 3 months. I have just increased from 50mg to 75mg in the last week. 

Although I am getting out and about now, (I was practically housebound), I still don't feel that comfortable going further than a mile or so from my house. 

My anxiety has decreased but at the moment I am so tired all the time I can't be bothered to go out. I am not sure if this is from the increase in dose. I am seeing some benefits since starting it but the progress is so slow.

Thanks for reading. 

0 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • scott8888
    scott8888 Clare1972

    Posted

    Hi there 

    You say 50mgs was helping may i ask why you upped the dose 

    • Clare1972
      Clare1972 scott8888

      Posted

      Hi Scott, 

      The doctor advised me to go up, she thinks that as my anxiety was severe and I had agoraphobia, the lowest dose wasn't going to be enough. She has suggested 75mg to see how that goes. 50mg was OK but I still didn't want to drive or go out of my comfort zone. It seems that I don't feel that much difference on 75mg but maybe its too early to tell.

      Thanks. 

    • scott8888
      scott8888 Clare1972

      Posted

      Yes definitely to early for an increase to have any effect yet unfortunately. I had all this when i was on citlopram years ago, im on sertraline 50mgs and have been since i started 6 weeks ago. Tiredness from experience lasts anywere from 1 to 4 weeks for me on increase or start up. You have done the right thing with going up 25mgs at a time as alot of people think 100mgs is to much but everyones different. Maybe see what the next 2 weeks feel like then have a check with your doctor 
    • Guest
      Guest Clare1972

      Posted

      Hi Clare. I started taking 50mg Sertraline on Monday. After 1 week my GP has told me to increase it to 100mg there after. I too suffer from anxiety. I was on and off Fluoxetine for 10 years. I then changed to Citalopram for about 6 months, but was less effective then the Fluoxetine. My GP then prescribed Sertraline. Never had side effects from the other 2, but i must say my anxiety has increased after starting Sertraline. My GP also gave me 28, 2mg Diazepam tablets. Just taken 2 to deal with the increased anxiety. Maybe ask your GP about Diazepam? They will only give you a short course at a low dose, but is very effective for anxiety. wink
    • Clare1972
      Clare1972 sophie1982

      Posted

      Hi Sophie, 

      I feel much better now. Not tired at all and I am back out driving and my day to day angst has definitely got better. I am just upping to 100mg this week so hoping to see more positive changes soon.

      Are you on sertraline too?

      x

       

    • sophie1982
      sophie1982 Clare1972

      Posted

      Hi Claire so glad your doing well I'm on sertraline 75 mg been on it since christmas I started with 12.5 mg and upped each week the panic at home has gone but I just can't be bothered to go out I have no get up and go! Feel sleepy and get night sweats still when I so go out and I'm amongst lots of people I get hot and feel the panic coming thinking of going up to 100mg
    • Clare1972
      Clare1972 sophie1982

      Posted

      Hi Sophie, 

      I had all of those side affects and every single one of them has now disappeared before I started to increase to 100mg. I was so tired I was having day time sleeps and sleeping in until 10am most days. Sometimes it wasn't the anxiety that was keeping me indoors but I just couldn't be bothered to do anything or go anywhere but then it just went and the night sweats got less and I use to get like hot flushes too especially when I paniked, they went too.

      I hope you feel better soon. Message me if you need to talk.

      x

       

  • claire_53158
    claire_53158 Clare1972

    Posted

    Hi Claire, 

    Am 75mg upped from 50mg slowly does it. Takes its time to work.  It takes the edge off. Can't say I was agoraphobic. Tho perfer being indoors at home. I do venture further these days since being on Sertraline.So they do help. 

    Also I often feel tired. That not necessarily the Sertraline. percevere. 

    I have a review soon GP may up them to 100mg!!! Getting thedosage right is the key.

     All the best Claire 

  • julie1111
    julie1111 Clare1972

    Posted

    hi im on 50mg i also take 15mg mirtz at night the mirtz counter acts the side effects of sertraline, i found taking sertraline only i would feel tired all the time and didnt didnt sleep great on sertraline alone, mirtz helps with sleep. hope thats of some help.

    julie

  • Geraldinho
    Geraldinho Clare1972

    Posted

    Hi Clare, I was on Sertraline for 3 months and went up to 150mg for severe agoraphobia, GAD and panic disorder. I loved the feeling of happiness that Sertraline gave me and it helped a little but the side effects were too much. For the last 2 months the gp changed me to Effexor (Venlafaxine) an SRNI, and it has been amazing how much of a difference it has made to my agoraphobia and i'm still on a low dose (70mg). But every one is different, you have to keep trying. i'm also having CBT. sertraline does take a while to kick in. Venlafaxine much quicker.
  • Clare1972
    Clare1972

    Posted

    Hi, 

    Thanks for for all your replies. It's always reassuring to chat to people that have actually been on sertraline or are on it.

    I think maybe it will just take longer than I wanted to wait!

    x

  • brian1974
    brian1974 Clare1972

    Posted

    Hi Clare

    I have been on Sertraline at 50mg since January this year for agoraphobia, GAD and panic disorder. I had got to the stage over the past 8 years where I couldn’t face leaving the house on my own and then could only go to a few local places without having a panic attack and feeling faint with one of my family with me.

    I had avoided going to the doctors for all this time due to not being able to face being in a room with lots of people (doctors waiting room) and only went after having to go to hospital for a possible abnormal growth in my jaw with X-Rays and a CT scan (turned out to be a false alarm) and the panic I had while in the hospital waiting room and going there which was a 20 mile drive prompted me to make an appointment to see my GP who prescribed Sertraline for a month at 50mg to see how I got on.

    The first 2 weeks had lots of side effects but I was able to start to leave the house and go to local shops without feeling too uncomfortable and going for short walks with my families dogs at night (so I wouldn’t have to deal with meeting people I know in town and explaining why I hadn’t seen them outside for years) and gradually increasing the distance I was walking along with the dogs.

    By the third week of taking Sertraline I was able to go for short drives in my car alone and before I had to go back to see my doctor on the fourth week I managed a 40 mile round drive to go shopping. I felt very nervous but managed it and got home after without any panic attacks.

    After seeing my doctor he agreed to keep me on the same dose at 50mg for 18 months and things continued to improve and I started to go cycling again which I hadn’t done for about 10 years.

    The exercise seems to also help with my anxiety  and I am now going for much longer walks alone and have been building the cycling up to around 60 miles a week and up to 20 miles walking the dogs alone and also with friends and family.

    I now walk into town (approx. 1 mile) every day to get a newspaper just to force myself to get out and have contact with other people!

    I also took up photography again and carry a camera with me most of the time as it is a very good distraction if the panic feelings start to reappear when I am out. Looking through the camera seems to distract my mind away from the panic feelings.

    I have to see the doctor again in the new year to discuss coming off the tablets but after reading a lot of the posts on this and other forums I know that it can be a long process to come off them again but they have been a huge help for me.

    I hope you are able to keep going further away from home in time and stick with the tablets as they do seem to take a while to take full effect.

    • Clare1972
      Clare1972 brian1974

      Posted

      Hi Brian, 

      Thank you so much for your reply. This has really helped and reassured me. You sound like you have done really well and achieved some amazing results in the past few months.

      Thank you for taking the time to tell me of your experiences. I shall definitely refer back to your post if I become despondence again.

      Thanks again.

      x 

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