sertraline hell

Posted , 5 users are following.

Day 8 of sertraline.

I hate it.

Waking up with a wave of sadness, a knot in my tummy. Just feeling so so sad.

I'm shaky and full of anxiety.

I know Im sad due to a break up, I'm struggling to cope with 2 children.

the thought of going out is awful.

Will I ever feel better. Should I stop meds. I'm on 100mg

2 likes, 18 replies

18 Replies

  • Posted

    hello katie, sorry to hear you are at that difficult early stage of getting well again (and you certainly will get well again)

    did you not start out on sertraline at 50mg first for at least 2-4 weeks?  100mg could be a little high if you have started out on that dose

    it sounds like your side effects are very troublesome; could you take 50mg a day instead until you get used to that (and the side effects ease down); then you could increase to 100mg after that if necessary

    try not to worry ok because it is early days in your recovery but you are on the right track and absolutely will improve, even though it does not feel like that at the moment

    • Posted

      If I take 50mg will that slow my treatment down.

      I can't take much more, can't be bothered to get dressed today.

      How long will this take?

    • Posted

      My advice would be to try and stick to the 100 mg the recommended time frame is around 6 to 8 weeks I know it's  nightmare but will be worth it in the end i'm currently on 200mg myself so I know how you feel . you can do it be strong 

    • Posted

      hi, sorry about the delay replying, how are you doing, are your side effects a little less troublesome now, even just a bit?

      keep us posted here on how you are doing, i know you said 'how long will this take' but it does vary a lot between different people.   keep going ok

    • Posted

      I feel like I'm going mad. The mornings are the hardest I just want to cry.

      The anxiety is so much worse than ever before.

      I feel so sad

      I'm on day 12 100mg

    • Posted

      hey, i know how it feels especially that morning anxiety which like you i also really found troublesome 

      keep reminding yourself that you are on the road to recovery and are on the right track, because you are, and soon your anxiety and depression will be defeated by the sertraline, it's only a matter of time ok (you WILL come out on top)

    • Posted

      I just wish I could get over the heartbreak and my ex husband. I'm feeling really lonely

    • Posted

      hey it's good you have your children there so you have family and company around you

      do you go out each day, even for a short walk?

    • Posted

      Have not been out for past two days. Mainly due to weather
    • Posted

      im guessing u are in the uk then!  smile

      (if so, i hear the weather gets good again tomorrow, but dont quote me on that rolleyes)

    • Posted

      Hi LFCste please could you give me little bit more info on your story please been on sertraline nearly 3 month now with upping my dose 3 weeks ago to 150mg with no effect whatsoever just awfully bad intrusive thoughts ocd worse than ever with massively heightened anxiety and depression should I go back to docs to go up to 200mg !!!!
    • Posted

      Hi Anglio113 sorry for late reply I started sertraline in Jan was on 50mg for 5months than onto 100mg for a month than up to 150mg for a month now I'm on 200mg was like hell for the first 5 or 6 months everything was running through my mind and most not good at all to say the least but the one thing and most important to me was that in the end I did lean that I was in control and nothing bad was going to happen to me I knew all the bad things where all in my head you have to believe and trust in the doctors when thay say nothing is wrong with you heart etc you know what I mean I then you CAN take back control one example is I used to get the shortness of breath and the more I paid attention to it the worse it got so now I  don't pay it any attention and it doesn't bother me anymore I I'm the one in control now so for most part I can live my life without anxiety and panic attack now where I was in Jan I have come a long way I coundent go out nothing had to have Er indoors with me all the time thought my life was over but its far from it the only thing now I have to deal with is like when you do something fast and your head goes funny that what I have been like from the start I have been told this is a side effect to the tablets and will subside in time so in all you have to believe in the doctors believe in yourself and believe you will get better because we all will in time hope this helps in some way 

      take care 

  • Posted

    Hi Katie,

    You WILL get better.

    My advice would be 3-4 weeks on 50mg then up it if neccessary. 100mgs is quite a lot to start off with...

    It took me 9 weeks to feel ok then I have a crap week and now this week I feel ok again.

    Stick with it and let me know how you're feeling.

    Rich.

    • Posted

      I want the empty feeling of dread to go. I dread waking up in the mornings
    • Posted

      like richard, i also took around 10 weeks to get better (although everyone is different so some people might feel better before 10 weeks)

      katie try to keep in mind that you will certainly feel better soon, so on those crappy mornings you are having or whenever u are feeling like crap, try not to focus on it (i know that's difficult), but keep reminding yourself that you feel rough inside because the sertraline is working away on you to tackle your depression and anxiety, and it will settle eventually so you can go back to enjoying things again in no time, and the morning anxiety will certainly disappear

      as for going back down to 50mg, you could try if you wish, although i would have suggested 50mg when you started (day 1), for 2 weeks, before moving up to 100mg.  but now you are already almost 2 weeks into your treatment, so i'm thinking perhaps just stay on 100mg now. (if you are still not sure what to do about your dose, perhaps go and speak to your doctor for further adivce).

    • Posted

      Katie I know that feeling so well - have been on sertraline for 5 weeks now (started on 50, now on 100). It is the worst - I would wake up thinking I want to die. I couldn't even cry, and all the unshed tears felt like knots in my stomach. The good news is - it will pass. It took 4 weeks for me, but I'm hoping it's gone for good now. Stick with it, and be good to yourself - you've been through a lot. You will get better - hold on to that. 

    • Posted

      Thank you. I'm day 19

      I had a good day yesterday anxiety was manageable and felt quite upbeat.

      Today however is a total opposite, I feel so low and like you, I can't cry.

      Is all this normal ?

      Katie xx

    • Posted

      Katie, exactly the same has happened to me - I'd have a good day and think I'd turned the corner, then the black hole would swallow me again the next day. As time goes on, though, I'm finding that the lows are less deep - and hoping that things will begin to even out. I've been on 100mg for about 5 weeks now. If there's no significant improvement in another month, I will ask to be switched to something else - at least I will have given it a fair chance. Good luck - sending hugs. 

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