Sertraline confusion
Posted , 8 users are following.
Hi. I've been on citalipram for years but it s stopped working for some reason. I developed awful anxiety (crying constantly and feelings of dread). My GP persuaded me to change over to sertraline 50 m after battling for many weeks. I'm a tablet phobe! The changeover was brutal. I didn't think my anxiety could get any worse ... but it did. At this point the Sertraline made me feel sick and gave me indigestion.
After two weeks I was still really anxious all day but especially on the mornings, waking up in a cold sweat and with dread. I rang my GP who told me to take 100mg. After being on this dose for 1 week I started to have the most chronic diarrhoea. It would wake me twice in the night and I would have to go up to ten times in the day. My tum was so sore as was the ache in the bottom of my back. I rang the GP again who said carry on, it will settle down. My anxiety I must say had started to improve but I felt so physically ill.
After 5 weeks of this and so much weight loss as my appetite was zero I went back to my GP who advised me to half the dose. I have done this for the last two weeks and the diarrhoea has halved to 3 to 4 times in the morning. However the sickness has come back with awful headaches and a feeling of walking like I'm drunk and dizziness. GP said this is due to the diarrhoea and being weak. I'm not so sure. Is it withdrawal side effects or still side effects of Sertraline. Anyway one been told to persevere for 3 more weeks as halving the dose as helped stop the diarrhoea by half and my anxiety is better.
Anyone else experienced any of this? Did it get better? Did you have to swap to another anti D. I really want this to work as u don't want to have to swap again with the possible brutal start up side effects and crossover. The sensible part of me just things this Sertraline is not for me and it's never going to settle.
Did it settle for anyone else after giving it a fair go of about 8 weeks?
0 likes, 69 replies
claire33434 jane42137
Posted
jane42137 claire33434
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Well that's reassuring for us both. Try to hold onto his words whilst you're feeling rough. It should get better but it'll take time I guess.
claire33434 jane42137
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Wish I had the option of just letting it ride and going to bed for a few days. Just send my partner out for some complan as I can't eat but feel so weak! X
jane42137 claire33434
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I tried complan but it's the texture of milk shake, I couldn't stomach it. I find thin soups to be easier to swallow. You might like the complain though.
Best wishes
claire33434 jane42137
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Seeing the GP at 4pm today x
jane42137 claire33434
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sara8798 jane42137
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Hi Ladies, hope you don't mind me joining your discussion. I am tapering off citalopram currently as the doctor believes it is making my liver enzymes high (found during blood test). He wants me to go on sertraline once the bloods have hopefully returned to normal. My anxiety is currently through the roof as you are also describing, finding it hard to function, no appetite, constant fear and sick feeling, it is just awful. I fear going on the sertraline because of the side effects but know I need something as I just can't live like this. Have you noticed any positive effects to your anxiety by being on the sertraline? X
jane42137 sara8798
Posted
Dear Sara, hi, don't mind you joining in at all.
You poor thing. You've got my sympathy as I know exactly how you're feeling and it is so very scary. I'm not going to lie, the changeover was very hard. However, my anxiety has got better after about 4 weeks on sertraline(I know this sounds like an eternity). Unfortunately for me I'm still suffering physical side effects but not everyone does.
Dig deep love, it's hard and seems endless. Get support from family and friends where you can and take it one day at a time. Drink loads if you can't eat and be kind to yourself. Try not to 'Google' every feelingand forum (as I did), they can scare you to death. Xx
sara8798 jane42137
Posted
Thanks for your reply Jane.... how did you know about the googling!! 😄 It seems we think we may find some reassurance out there somewhere, but never do, only more anxiety! I started with mine 8 years ago and was on citalopram for that time but due to my wedding in August was feeling fine so decided (with my doctor) to come off them. Was fine what with all the wedding planning and excitement and then as soon as it had come and gone my anxiety came back with a passion, worse than I ever remember. It's been 7 weeks now, and if my husband tells me once more to "go out for a walk, take your mind off it" I might just scream!! I know he means well, but unless you have been through it you really have no idea, I wish it was that simple! X
jane42137 sara8798
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Oh my goodness, if walking cured it. I'd have walked to Austalia by now!!! 😂
I've googled for hours, all I do is panic at the horror stories. You've struggled for 7 weeks without and medication? I bet you're stronger than you give yourself credit for. Did your Doc give you a little bit of diazepam to help you through? I'm a tablet phobe and really didn't want to take them but I did when I needed to. They're not addictive in the very short term. It's just a suggestion to help you through X
sara8798 jane42137
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Oh gosh no, I went back on the citalopram 7 weeks ago when it started again, 10mg for 2 weeks and then increased to 20mg for 3 weeks, although I still felt awful by week 5 the evenings were becoming bearable but due to my liver enzymes being raised in a blood test he lowered my dose back down to 10mg far a week and now I'm on week 2 of 10mg every other day, am to stop them completely on Monday ready for a blood test the Monday after. I was on diazepam but found it just didn't take the edge off for me so am now on lorazepam when needed, which I feel works a little better for me. Just feel so weak taking it and like I'm giving in, the whole addiction thing worries me too 😞 Are you managing to work at the moment? X
jane42137 sara8798
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I said exactly the same to my GP. ' I shouldn't need these, I should be stronger'. She was so cross with me and said if I had diabetes I wouldn't refuse insulin and to stop struggling. She's right.
I've been really struggling, I've given my job up, it was really stressful. My hubby has been cooking for himself and my daughter, I can't stomach food or the smell of it. I've lost a lot of weight.
Like you, I just want me back and my life🙄, it's been a rough road. It's nice to 'speak' on here to people that understand X
claire33434 sara8798
Posted
Hi Sarah.
I myself was on citalopram 20mg for 4 & 1/2 years, I remember starting them and it was hell on earth! I did get better eventually and have been great for 4 years. Anyway after a tummy bug and having a panic attack my anxiety came back full force and after 2 weeks my gp thought they had maybe stopped working so went on to sertraline. I was only tapered off citalopram for 10 days (1 every other day and a 25mg sertraline in between)
Anyway the first week seemed to go ok (ish) then bam!! I felt like I was losing the plot. This lasted 2 days, although I think some of it was down to me "googling" and hanging on every emotion and feeling and I think a lot of it was due to withdrawal from the citalopram rather than going on to the sertraline.
After a 10day taper I stopped the citalopram and just had the sertraline. Everybody reacts to ssri's in different ways. I went up to 50mg after 2 weeks but it didn't agree with my stomach and I'm still suffering so dropped back down to 25mg after 3 days (that was last night) my anxiety is heightened but I think a lot of that is due to my negative thinking and being scared of everything!! The sertraline has helped with my panic attacks but I'm still very anxious.
I hope they work for you as I know how debilitating anxiety can be, especially going on to a new med. if you ever need support or just want to chat feel free to private message me on here. It's sometimes helpful being in contact with people who know what your going through.
Sending love your way
Claire x
jane42137 claire33434
Posted
Hi
How is everyone feeling. I think I'm going to have to come off sertraline. I've been hanging on for 9 weeks hoping and being told by my GP that the side effects would settle with this half dose. They haven't. I'm so scared and incredibly disappointed to have to go back to square one with another anti depressant. The scariest thing is that my GP really doesn't know what to pout me on next. He even suggested going back to citalopram!!!! (They took me off this because they said it wasn't working). He doesn't fill me with any confidence and he freely admits he hasn't got the answers. I truly feel lost atm and don't know what to do.
I don't feel strong enough to swap over again, the crossover was brutal, I was told to half my citalopram for 4 days and then start the sertraline. I'm sure that's not the way to do (I've discovered after I did it) it after being on citalopram for years.
Is anyone else's GP any better and offering anymore advice and reassurance than mine? I've lost confidence in mine.
Best wishes everyone. What a struggle this is. X
sara8798 jane42137
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Hi Jane, my GP is very good to be fair but I do sometimes feel very anxious that he doesn't really have the answers and what to do. Have you ever been referred for CBT therapy (cognitive behavioural therapy)? My GP referred me and I am having sessions every week to week and a half. Not sure if it's helping at all but may be worth a try? Xx
sara8798 claire33434
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Thank you Claire, it's so good to know there are people out there who understand what you are going through and can offer advice and support using their own experience. I'm finding the anxiety such a battle and so worried it will never go away, I'm trying to not rely on the thought that the medication will help, incase it doesn't, but at the moment that's the only thing that's keeping me going. My panic attacks seem to have increased since I've been decreasing on the citalopram, did you find this?
Sara xx
jane42137 sara8798
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Are you able to function well at work and at home?
The days seem so endless X
sara8798 jane42137
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Sorry to hear about your job Jane, I was signed off for 3 weeks and am just about managing to do mornings now, my doctor gave me a note to say I should drop to part time for a few weeks. I know what you mean about the food and appetite. I've lost 2 stone in 7 weeks now, the thought of food makes me panic, I haven't hoovered for weeks, just have no motivation at all. Such a struggle isn't it. X
jane42137 sara8798
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Wow Sara, you have my total respect being able to go in to work given how you're feeling. That's beyond brave.
I've lost two stone too.
All the best, I really understand what you're struggling with xx
sara8798 jane42137
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The waiting lists are just ridiculous! I would go back and let your gp know your really struggling and see if he can get the appointment brought forward at all. It's a real struggle to get out of bed in the morning and force myself to get in the car and go to work. I start retching as soon as I get up and feel so anxious but no clue what about! I get through the morning somehow, the anxiety will come at me in floods and I can get what I need to done but the feeling of fear never goes away. X
sara8798 jane42137
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jane42137 sara8798
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Hia, the GP has said to give it 3 more weeks to see if the side effects settle down but to get in touch before if I want to throw the towel in before that. That's all well and good but he has no clue what to do if I do want to give in.
I know that feeling well, the absolute dread and fear about 20 seconds after your eyes open in the morning. I don't know what I'm scared of either. Just everything, I worry about worrying.
You're doing so well Sara to manage to go to work. You should be sonorous of yourself and give yourself a lot of credit for that.