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Sertraline for 2 weeks! Help!

Posted , 3 users are following.

Clarkey118
Clarkey118

I have really bad health anxiety. First it was fear of fainting in public, then it was having a heart condition and then having a brain tumour. Funnily enough it was triggered by asking the doc for a check up as I fainted a year ago so I kind of brought it on myself.

2 weeks ago I was prescribed 10mg of Propanolol 1-3 times a day and 25mg of Sertraline a day, upping to 50mg after 7 days. The first week went by ok with the occasional drowsiness but 3-4 days in after doubling the dosage of sertraline I felt off. Slightly dizzy and woozy but not enough to stop me going about my day. There is this constant weird foggy feeling in my head that doesn't hurt but I know its kind of always there. I constantly feel slightly dizzy but it's not horrendous. I haven't had any nausea. I find myself mis-speaking a bit and mis-typing a bit more than usual as well. The other night I had a horrendous headache and panic attack but when I woke in the morning it was gone. Finally, 2 days ago I noticed by eye felt funny. Well not the eye itself but the lid under it felt a bit off and pulsed every so often. It feels ok now and my vision hasn't changed. I had an eye test last week and surely they would have said if something was wrong? 

I just wanted to know if I'm alone or not. Having health anxiety about a brain tumour and then side effects of medicine don't go hand in hand. I was perfectly healthy before all this and now I always having a sense of impending doom. To be honest throughout the day I am mostly fine and the anxiety is minimal but it spikes in the evening. Does any one else have health anxiety like me or experienced similar side effect of sertraline? I'm currently on day 8 after doubling the dosage, day 15 total.

2 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • frankie1217
    frankie1217 Clarkey118

    Posted

    Hey. I started on it because I'd hone in on my heart and think it wasn't beating and that'd cause me to start freaking out and in 1 case have a full blown panic attack.

    But the other stuff sounds like some side effects. I also got dangerously drowsy so I take my pill at night. Also went through a lack of appetite and restless legs while laying down. Sertraline can also cause a short period where you'll experience some heightened anxiety. Practice some breathing exercises and just remember you're very likely totally fine.

    • Clarkey118
      Clarkey118 frankie1217

      Posted

      Hey Frankie, that does me a bit at ease. I think after only being on 25mg for a week then doubling to 50mg 7 days later would make me feel quite off especially as Ive never been on medication before. Cant wait for it to be over until I feel myself again
    • frankie1217
      frankie1217 Clarkey118

      Posted

      I was totally fine on the 25 but once I upped to 50 was when the crappy side effects started showing up. 50 may end up still not being enough to really help with your anxiety as I was upped to 100 2 weeks ago now and honestly it's seemingly helped a lot. Keep us posted and try to stick it out tho! Hopefully you'll see some results once it kicks in.

  • leah18163
    leah18163 Clarkey118

    Posted

    I my self suffer with health anxiety an ur not alone, I constantly check my head an think some thing bad is going to happen! Today I’ve woken up with pulled trapeze muscle and in agony, it’s causin a lump on my forehead an pain in my neck chest an shoulder an back so went straight to the doctors.. I’m extremely lucky my doctor is good.. I just tell my self that things will get better an I won’t always feel like this.. I’m waiting to have cbt which is suppose to help.. I am also on 50mg sertraline but that was the dose I started on 
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