Sertraline - My 4week Update
Posted , 10 users are following.
Hello All... This is just a quick update into my journey so far and my 1st month on sertraline... Its not the best yet, but Im still hanging in there and hoping im gradually getting passed the worst... (fingers crossed)
I was initially prescribed this med for anxiety
So Im 4weeks in... (Day28)
my dosage has been as follows
1st week - 25mg
2nd week - 37.5mg
3rd week+ - 50mg
My side effects at various points have been... Dull headaches, hot flushes, sweating, hands shaking, jittery feeling, irritated, annoyed, low depressive moods, emotional & upset, withdrawn, quiet & Isolated, lack of motivation & interest
tierd, lack of energy as well as my usual normal range of anxiety symptoms on top
Positives have been brief moments of feeling... relaxed, calmer, less negative, more interactive, sociable, present, less anxious, more rational thinking...
Since I started this medication I have been logging my daily dosages & experiences and Ive just reviewed back and worked out overall how my 1st month has panned out in total...
23 Days - Feeling either Negative, Depressive, Low, Irritated, Sad, unmotivated etc
5 Days - Feeling either more hopeful, calmer, relaxed, social, focused, present and getting that glimmer of hope the med seems to be starting to work.
Im currently in another “depressive” stage at the moment and looking back at those results, Ive found it quite disheartening to say the least... I do however want to try and stick it out... but those odds have made me think... is this actually working?? Or should I look into other options?? (Review next week)
Curious to know if any others are experiencing WAY more negative days in comparison to there positive??
And if it seems like I should continue with this med at my next review?? Am I passed the worst?? Or would I be jumping ship too early if I stopped/ changed??
All responses greatly appreciated 🌹
4 likes, 67 replies
ashleyrocks910 UK-Rose
Posted
Day 5: Very Bad day
Anxiety 10/10 (pacing the house ALL day, sitting have me a panic attack)
Tingling arm sensations
Constant panic attacks
No appetite
Dry mouth
Have to pee a lot
Diaherra constantly
Dizzy after taking dose
Waking up with panic attacks
Panic before falling asleep
Morning anxiety through the roof
Not able to engage my mind in anything other than obsessing about how horrible I felt.
Day 6: Very Bad day
Day 7: Very Bad anxiety
Day 8: okay day, very anxious
Day 9: okay day, very anxious
Day 10: okay day, very anxious
Day 11: Bad
Day 12: good but very anxious
Day 13: started okay, then bad.
Day 14: started bad, then okay.
Day 15: good but anxious
Day 16: VERY BAD super depressed nonstop crying.
Day 17: okay
Day 18: okay, then bad (PMS)
Day 19: okay
Day 20: okay but then sad and anxious
Day 21: okay/good
Day 22: good/bad anxiety
Day 23: okay/bad anxiety (period started)
Day 24: better/ but not good
Day 25: better/ more normal, still anxious
Day 26: better
Anxiety: 5.6/10
Appetite returning
Diaherra but less
Anxiety before bed, but less
Morning anxiety, but lessens in a couple hours
Able to focus on somethings for an hours time
Some bouts of sadness, but not as bad a previously.
I know this isn’t very detailed, but I didn’t want to bore you with writing out my entire journal. Hope this helps someone. I am hoping to start seeing more good/better days than bad very soon.
UK-Rose ashleyrocks910
Posted
Thanks so much for your comment ashley, I think posts like these, (with a day by day breakdown) are so much more helpful... they certainly benefit me and Im positive they will benefit others too.
I just noticed one of your side effects is peeing more, Iv also noticed this since starting sertraline but initially put it down to just coincidence as I hadnt seen it posted or commented about anywhere??
Glad to know now its just a side effect and Im not the only one lol Great to see your days are improving, hopefully I won’t be too far behind 🌹
ashleyrocks910 UK-Rose
Posted
UK-Rose ashleyrocks910
Posted
maria19434 UK-Rose
Posted
It's highlighted here for me the PMS. If I did my log it would be more or less the same, especially the non stop crying part.
UK-Rose maria19434
Posted
What we have to go threw just to feel normal... lol, hopefully be worth it in the end 🌹
saltuffin UK-Rose
Posted
Today will be day 5, I am experiencing increased anxiety and nervousness .....especially in the mornings. I take 25mg dose in the evening as advised by my gp.......to lessen the side effects....i find that when I take the tablet I'm fine and not drowsy....more awake if anything! My side effects all happen in the morning when I wake up after finally getting to sleep!! I have a fuzzy, almost hangover like feeling with extremely high levels of anxiety....i know I have to persevere with this and am willing to do so but I was wondering if anyone had any advice as to changing it to the morning?? Would this make me feel better in the mornings?? Thanks in advance.....x
UK-Rose saltuffin
Posted
Hello Saltuffin,
I find its really down to personal preference and trial and error with these meds, I personally started my journey with a morning dose (10am) and have continued this way threwout, for me I dont think its made any difference to my side effects?? They tend to last all day... for several days tbh 😕 (But I havnt suffered with any insomnia issues, so maybe it has its benefits??)
But you can always ask the doctor for diazepam / Xanax to help take the edge of the increased anxiety while your going threw the initial start up period.
So sorry I couldn’t be more helpful, maybe someone else has experienced / benefited from a time swap that will be able to share more insight.
Good Luck 🌹
saltuffin UK-Rose
Posted
Thank you very much....i am going to persevere until my follow up appointment. I'm going bowling tonight which could be a massive challenge for me 🙈 I am so terrified and anxious about having a panic attack I almost feel like cancelling it xx
UK-Rose saltuffin
Posted
One word of advice... which really helps me alot.
Dont ever worry about worry, as you’ll be giving yourself a double hit of stress & adrenaline. I know this is WAY more easier said than done, but if you can just manage to focus & tell yourself... If I have a panic attack, I have a panic attack... it wont be nice, it certainly wont be plesant... but one things for sure... it will pass.
Teach your anxiety that your not going to run away from it, but reprogram it to a different outcome, as the old saying goes, face the fear and do it anyway 🌹
saltuffin UK-Rose
Posted
Thank you for the advice.....i know all these things I'm just trying to work on it all as panic attacks are a new thing for me. I'm trying to keep myself occupied doing household tasks until I get myself ready to brave It! Must fight the fear......it would help if I knew what the fear was......ahhhh vicious circle xx
ashleyrocks910 UK-Rose
Posted
UK-Rose ashleyrocks910
Posted
Hello ashley, thanks for checking up on me... sorry to hear your having a tough day, heres to hoping its very much short lived!!
I seem to have been up and down all over the weekend, its been abit of a weird one??
After coming threw the low mood I started off with, I had a couple of upbeat days (Thurs/ Fri) nothing spectacular, but able to get up and do whats got to be done and be more interactive and concentrate on the present moment etc, then Saturday I woke up feeling so emotional, like I could just cry and wallow in self pity, was a strange turn around seeing as I felt pretty upbeat the night before. Then today has just been flat... no real up, but no real down either??
Ive got my 2nd review with the doctor tomorrow aswell, I do feel the med has helped with my anxiety, (quite alot actually) but these up and down depressive moods are a real bummer?? So unsure weather it will be a case of upping the med, giving it abit more time or changing?? I don’t know?? 😕
(Almost 3wks at 50mg / almost 5wks total)
These good days better be worth it...!! lol
ashleyrocks910 UK-Rose
Posted
saltuffin UK-Rose
Posted
I managed bowling and had a few drinks, yesterday (Day 6) was horrendous...hot/cold sweats, panic attacks, feeling of fear, thought I was dying, racing heart, dizzy, sick.....🙈😷🤢 today is much the same any advice from anyone xx
ashleyrocks910 saltuffin
Posted
ashleyrocks910 saltuffin
Posted
UK-Rose saltuffin
Posted
Fantastic advice by ashley with regards to the alcohol, take it easy till your more settled in your routine... its a long road, but were all this together
saltuffin UK-Rose
Posted
Today is not a good day.......had to ring in sick for work again (really don't want to loose my job) I couldn't even take my little girl to nursery. I keep dry heaving, can't stand food or drink, dizzy, fuzzy head, crying, can't stand up and don't feel like I'm even in my own body. Have rang the doctors this morning to see if there is anything he can suggest......i really can't carry on this way it's making me crazy and housebound. 😣😨😩🙈🙁😭😷🤢
saltuffin ashleyrocks910
Posted
Thank you.....and trust me I'm in no rush to drink alcohol whilst taking these not if it makes you feel the way I did Saturday. I nearly rang an ambulance I was that ill.....dont want to be wasting people's time especially doctor's etc.... just can't carry on this way with these effects it's having on me. It's literally ruining my life 😭
UK-Rose saltuffin
Posted
So sorry to hear your having such a bad time and it doesn’t seem to be working out, it can get pretty brutal starting up 🙁
I just looked back at the “Day by Day Journal” ashley posted and seems your pretty simaler in side effects to your first few days.
Did the doctor suggest any diazepam / Xanax??