Sertraline help!

Hey Michelle, still getting anxiety but its only been 3 days on the 100mg x how are you doing hun? Hope you are well? Xx

Hi Hun, is it has bad as it was? You had anymore side effects from upping the dose? I went up to 75mg yesterday. Felt abit shaky and tingling but ok so far just hope I'm ok and don't get any side effects! Xxx

Nowhere near as bad and no panic attacks at all x just really tired. I didn't get any more side effects going to 75 for a week so its definitely better going up in smaller stages xx

That's fantastic Nicola. When do you see your dr again? How long did you say on 75mg for? Xxx

Thanks hun, i was in 75 for a week and didn really notice anymore side effects apart from being tired and a couple of headaches x i saw my Dr on Thursday xx

Hi, sorry not been feeling great so havent posted for a couple of days, nausea bad and anxiety still quite high. Anyone woken up with anxiety in night? Hope you and Michelle are ok. 

Hey Ann, I'm sorry to hear you haven't been well. And yes I've woken with high anxiety plwanty of times and even woke in a PA xx

Got out for a walk today, energy levels low. When you wake at night can you get back to sleep, I just lie and all the horrible feelings come back

That's good you went for a walk hun x and I take diazepam to sleep otherwise I have panic attacks so I totally understand bless you x do you have anything to help you sleep?

That's good then, how you finding 100mg so far? I see my dr again in 2.5weeks I feel ok so far, just tired, eyes feel more blurry and odd headaches xxx

Hi Ann, how you doing? You feeling any improvement? Xxx

It makes me really tired too and I have headaches as well but no anxiety really well not as bad as before xx

Yeah that's like me too, it doesn't feel as bad as it did thankfully just hope it stays that way. I'm glad your feeling better xxx

Hi, much the same again. Nausea till 4pm took anti nausea med and managed sandwich and a biscuit. Not bad sleep but still anxious.   I think the diazepam isnt helping as its too many meds but anxiety was too high without it. How are you and the others doing?  I see my consultant psych monday

Hi Ann, make sure you have a good chat with your consultant Monday and he will be able to help you x I'm doing a lot better on the 100 thank you for asking x

Hi Nicola, how are things? You feeling ok? Xxx

Hi Ann, sorry your not still feeling good. At least your seeing your psychiatrist on Monday. Let me know what he says. I upped my dose of Friday to 75mg and felt ok both Friday & Saturday but feeling abit low today but I know days like that will happen still xxx

Hi Michelle, I'm doing okay thank you for asking. No anxiety today and feel quite normal. That's 4 days on the 100 now x how are you feeling hun? Xx

That's great news Nicola, I'm so pleased for you. I've been on 75mg since Friday and felt ok last 2days, today feeling a little low again and just so tired xxx

Thanks hun xx My mood did that on 75 hun and I'm still really tired in the 100 but it need time to level out I suppose x are you going up to 100? Xx

Oh was it Hun, that's probably why then. Yes I'm going up to 100mg as that's what my doctor wanted me to go up too in the first place but I was too scared too. Think I may up it on Friday then been on 75mg for a week then. What do you think? Did you do a week? Xxx

Thats too bad your day today a bit low, you have made such good progress i suppose there will be up and down days, we are used to that happening. Hope by later in day you feel better. Does anyone else feel better at the latter part of a day?

Yes up & down days will happen. It's just not nice when you've had an ok day and go back again. How you feeling today? Yes I've felt better later on in the evenings 9 times out of 10 xx

Thanks for asking, not too bad, anxiety still a problem.  Strange, i feel better usually by teatime. Wonder if its the med leaving my system. When you say you are having a down day does that mean you end up in bed, or just feel not so good?

Hi Ann, hope your feeling ok? Just feel not so good, I can never just go to my bed as I've got the kids so sit on the sofa instead x

Hey Michelle I'm sorry you aren't feeling so good x is it anxiety? I know what you mean about having the kids around it makes it so much harder hope you're okay hun xx

Thanks Hun, yes a little bit but has calmed down a lot! Just thoughts and abit of a low mood and I'm just not motivated either and so tired so just a circle. How are you doing? Xxx

Glad you feel a bit better hun x I have really bad tiredness as well its just a side effect of the sert doing its thing so don't worry it means its working xx

Yeah it's just not nice is it?! Have you been managing to get out? Xxx

When this started around new year i was waking 4/5 times a night with anxiety and sometimes straight into a PA with adrenalin dump. I started on 3x 40mg propranalol betablockers a day and this quickly stopped the night panic attacks and now i wake maybe once or twice but get back to sleep ok. I take a betablocker as soon as i wake and so far have avoided waking straight into a PA. Hope this helps xx

Hi Julie, how you getting on? Xxx

Hi Ann, how you feeling today? Xxx

Thanks.  Difficult for me as i have never had a panic attack, only anxiety and depression so i guess thats why i havent been given propanolol. No adrenalin dumps, dont know what they are.  Still not sleeping well, feel like just in light sleep. Dr gave me 7.5 mirtazapine to help that.   Very depressed today, feel like cant go on like this

Hi Ann, so sorry to hear you are still having such a hard time. Hiw long have you been on Sertraline now? I did 8 days on 50, terrible anxiety, so halved it for a few days, but now i dont even get the relief in the evening, so my doc has agreed to day to go back to 50 but split it, 25 at night, 25 at lunch and ive started taking a 2mg diazepam most days to get me thru the worst of the anxiety. Betablockers are still preventing the worst of the panic attacks. Adrenalin dump is when youre so anxious your adrenal gland dumps adrenaline into your bloodstream which send HR up, fear up, puts you on high alert, its the flight or fight response. So thank god all that has stopped n im now desling with just anxiety and anxious thinking. The sert does increase this until your body gets used to it and eventually calms everything down, but im only on about day 11 so id imagine i got another week at 50 before things improve n may have to go higher still. At least now ive got the diaz it really helps to make me feel more normal! Ive even managed the supermarket a couple of times tho i do get anxious and unsteady legs! Today the doc has given me HRT patches as the root cause of anxiety is likely to be the fact that im now officially menopausal, so hopefully getting some hormones back will help balance things. Its a case of trial and error, adjusting doses, patience and accepting that it could take some time but we will get our lives back! Ive not posted much lately as ive stayed at parents 3 nights as i feel better knowing theres someone around, but im going to have to get used to being back home, otherwise its just giving into fear! Hope you are OK, be nice to hear where you are at now xx

Hi Michelle, ive had 3 nights at parents with no internet and not been getting email alerts. I wore a heart monitor for 3 days...no palpitations, then yesterday i had a cple when the monitor was off, hoping theyre just stress related as i did have a car up my rear on a winding country road at night!! Saw doc today, shes agreed for me to go back up to 50 Sert but split it night and lunch, plus i got diazepam to calm things down for a cple of weeks. Betablockers are still preventing full blown panic attacks so no adrenalin dumps thsnk hod and sleeping enough at night now. Doc has also given me HRT patches as its likely that root cause of anxiety is menopause. They dont call it the change for nothing lol but what a shocker, its wrecking my work, social life,mental wellbeing, amd ive read of women with same symptoms getting back to normal on hrt. How are you doing now Michelle? How long have you been on Sert now and are you having any good days yet? Looking forward to an update, big hugs hun xx

Hi Julie, no worries. How was it at your parents? Did you feel ok? When do you start 50mg again, that's a good idea to split the dose. Hope you get on ok x really so that's the cause of the anxiety, bloody hell I hope i don't have to go through this all again when I start so would hrt work better than do you think for you?

I'm not too bad. Upping to75mg on Friday. Friday & Saturday had good day, went out and felt 'normal' Sunday & Monday not too good, negative thoughts and low mood and today ok negative thoughts this morning and abit of anxiety but I'm ok. Very tired and still no motivation or energy. I'm upping to 100mg on Friday so I hope it helps and don't get any side effects xxx

Glad to hear youve had some good days. It must be the start of you turning the corner, just frustrating that its up and down. Yes its likely with me that its down to the menopause...no estrogen or progesterone means more cortisol stress hormone n not enough serotonin happy chemical! So we'll see how the HRt works but will keep on the sertraline for a while too. Thank god for the diazepam, soo calming! Shame its not a long term fix! Ive just started back on 50 split dose so hopefully it wont hit me do hard. I slept better at parents, palpitations have been scaring me wen alone, but now i need to get used to being back home and try not to panic if it happens! I hope you get more n more good days Michelle, are you taking diazepam to help? Xx

Thanks Julie. I'm glad your doing ok. How did you get on with the heart monitor? At least you were able to settle at your parents, will they come and visit you too? Let me know how you get on with your upped dose again, hopefully it'll be ok.

Yes I'm doing ok, I'm even dying my hair tonight too which I haven't done for ages!!

No haven't been given any diazepam, dr didn't want to give me any as she already give me anti sickness tablets plus beta blockers plus upping my dose so I've just be managing on my own xx

Hi Michelle, ive has more anxiety since upping to 50 even tho im splitting it morning and night...taken 3 diaz today but been particularly stressful as i went for a job interview! Pleased i did it but trying to shift this anxiety in my chest now. How are you? Are you starting to feel any better at times? How are you coping with wrk/relationship/kids? Hope you are getting support? Big hug to you xx

Oh and the heart monitor...sods law, wore it 3 days...no palps! Took it back, got palps tho not as severe. Maybe BBs are helping control things better or not letting adrenalin affect the heart...i asked doc if she thinks palps are just stress related, she just shrugged n said maybe! Hardly inspires me with confidence lol. Guess i'll just have to note when i get them and see her again if they get regular n insist on an echocardiogram when they look at the working of the heart with ultrasound. Just like to know its working normally?! Trying not to worry about that n just focus on sorting this anxiety now. Hope you're ok xx

Hi Julie, how's things? How you feeling now? Wow that's amazing you went to a job interview, you must be so proud of yourself that you got through it. Well done you!! Has your anxiety settled down abit now?

I'm ok, upped my dose to 75mg on Friday and both Friday and Saturday felt ok. Sunday and Monday not so great and Tuesday and today been ok but got abit anxious this evening and bit of a headache. I'm upping my dose to 100mg on Friday so fingers crossed will all go well with that. Yes I'm managing to go to work every day and sort kids out. Although my dads taken then a couple of mornings as I struggle to get up and get motivated so don't want kids to be late for school. We have separated at the moment not sure if we will get back together or not. He's coming up to see the kids first weekend in Feb so that will be first time see him since he left me on new year so abit worried about that too.

Well doctor didn't sound very helpful about your heart monitor, maybe ask the question when you go back and see what they say xxx

Hi Julie, how you doing today? Xxx

Hi Michelle, glad to hear youre starting to have some better days. Youre doing so well to keep working and sorting the kids. Must be hard without the help of your OH and its bound to be on your mind sbout how things will be when he's back. You must be a very strong person to deal with this all. Taking 50 now split in 2, its ok, i still wake up a bit anxious but i have been using the diaz to help calm that, especially yesterday to get to the interview! Im not to bothered whether i get offered the job, it was more about the challenge of getting thru an interview. Ive had chest discomfort today but chronic indigestion (ibs) so i try not to dwell on it...if doc was really concerned id have been called in for an echocardiogram. Plus its reassuring that BBs must be helping keep things steady. I stuck half a hrt patch on today in case it gives me migraine, so far so good, no migraine, will see in a few weeks if any improvement. Shame i cant just take diazepam lol. I dont know why not getting notifications on here do sorry if i dont respond straight away. Hope you gind your dose increase not too bothersome, take care xx

Hi Julie, I'm glad your doing ok. I've got abit of a headache at the moment so I'm putting it down to the increase. I'm managing ok, used to being on my own anyway as he works away so just getting trying to get through it and hoping that the meds will start to work soon.

When do you find out about the job, you must be pleased you went though. That's amazing did so well. How long have to got to split the dose for? Xxx

Hi Michelle, yes thats ine good thing that you are used to beung independent. Me too tho itd be nice to have someone around at times. Ive noticed im not so anxious since splitting 50, i still wake n have anxious thoughts but then try n get busy. Id feel normal if i could take 2 diaz a day but my docs being toght with them so im trying to save some for wen i go up to 75mg. I guess ill do a week on 50 split then increase. My doc hasnt advised, she'd have left me on 25, it was me that suggested increasing and splitting it. As far as i know from what everyone has said on here, its a case of no pain no gain on Sert, whereas she was more about decreasing the dose to lessen the side effects. Yes Im glad i made it to interview, even if i dont get the job it was good for me to face a challenge! Should hear end Feb but the job doesnt start til somewhere between april and june, which'd give me time to get this sert working! How are you doing now? Are you starting to feel less anxious day by day? Xx

Hi Julie, how are you getting on? You still feeling less anxious? Is the jelly legs eased now with you splitting the dose? You getting any side effects? I've been on 100mg for 4days and felt abit more anxious and very tired. I'm hoping it'll improve once higher dose gets into system. I see my dr a week on Wednesday so hopefully see some improvement by then xxx

Hi Michelle, you are doing so well, do you think you will stay on 100? Its my 7th day on 50 split. I take it at night and first thing, but still have anxious thoughts especially on waking. I know i can take a diaz to make ne feel loads calmer but my doc is not allowing me many so im trying to ration them! Im eating well n sleeping better, its just the niggling anxiety if i dont take a diaz. Im getting out to shops more, just quick visits when i need something, but i have to force myself still! Im thinking of trying 75 split for a week then 100. I cant see my doc for 5weeks so im just doing my own thing and seeing what everyones doing on here! Not very good is it lol. She was gonna take me off it due to initial side effects and increased anxiety but i knew you get worse before better so insisted on staying on it and upping again to 50 split. My jelly legs n dizzy head are gone on 50 split. Im still on BBs and have just started HRT patches, half a patch to start with cos of migraines. Gave me headache for a cple of days so will see how i go on them. Are you on BBs too or just the Sert? Do you have diaz as well? I hope you get thry the dose change quickly and things settle for you. Youre doing incredibly well juggling everything, work, kids, r/ship, this condition. Big hugs xx

Hi Julie, glad your doing ok on the split dose that's good news. 5weeks Is a long time to wait. Did she say anything about increasing your dose? Do what you feels right. May dr wanted me to go up to 100mg but I did 6days on 75mg first. Had a couple of ok days on that but since uppingvto 100mg not so good. Just feel sad and low and anxious but that could be to do with everything that's happening. I'm really tired too with the upped dose, I know it'll take a couple of weeks to start doing the job at 100mg. Yes will probably stay at 100ng, see my dr a week on Wednesday so see what she says. That's great your getting out and no jelly legs. No just on the sertaline, nothing else. She wouldn't give me diazepam but give me bb but don't use them only 2 at the beginning xxx