Sertraline - my 8 week story
Posted , 130 users are following.
Today is my 8th week on 50mg of Sertraline and unlike a lot of people once they start to feel better, I thought I'd try and give a little encouragement to help you hang in there as it REALLY is worth it. I also struggles to find many people on this 'start up' dose for any length of time so this might help you...
So after the fourth week I felt CRAP. No improvements and just this feeling of helplessness and worthlessness. I would break down at the smallest thing and felt incredibley insecure and unsure of myself.
I kept reading these online forums of people who started feeling better between weeks 4 to 6 and wondered if it was ever going to happen for me...
It literally wasn't until the beginning of the 8th week that I started turning a corner and the anxiousness started to fade and I found myself able to concentrate on something other anylising than how I was feeling. Tasks that I used to enjoy have become worthwhile again and I can honestly say I'm 85% back to my old self.
Right, now side effects: I have been feeling very tired, had lose stools until recently and my sex drive has tailed off somewhat and am having some difficulty orgasming although sex is good but just less often. I also seem hungry ALL the time but I'm fairly active so no weight gain...YET!
So to sum up, this drug takes AGES to work and you'll dispair and find yourself reading all sorts of forums and chats as to the timescales involved, but in my opinion it really is worth continuing for up to 8/9 weeks before increasing the dose or looking for alternative mediction.
I hope you start to feel the benefits soon and I'm happy to chat with anyone with any questions...
Take care,
Rich.
26 likes, 273 replies
bethany75249 richard30560
Posted
This really gives me hope. I'm on week 4 at 100mg and still have physical anxiety symptoms. (Pit in throat, trying to deep breathe...). I keep asking if this is the right Rx, but I'd regret stopping if it truly just needed more time. Hoping for week 8
PaulMar bethany75249
Posted
Hi Bethany - I get this burning sensation in my chest and throat. It's from breathing too fast or hard and it doesn't go away until I'm relaxed. This week my doctor will prescribe Gabapantin for the aanxiety so I can got off of the diazepam. I think that the benzos have made me worse and dealing from withdrawal. Stay away from Benzos.
I'm now on week 8 on 150mg. I had 5 pretty good days. That hasn't happened in over a year. So it seems from what Ive read, the magic number is 8 to 12 weeks.
robbieann4 richard30560
Posted
THANK YOU!!!! I was just about to quit taking this when I stumbled across your post. I was on 20 mg if Prozac and my doctor just switched me over to 50 mg of Zoloft about 45 days ago. I felt better almost right away but the last 10 days I have felt like crap! Hibernating in my house, very depressed, really sleepy, dizzy, equilibrium off, trouble falling asleep, just ahhhhhhhhhh!!! I've missed a whole week of work. I called my pharmacist today and got the date I filled this Rx and it was exactly 45 days ago today. Your post has given me hope. I'm going to hang in there...god this sucks...but thank you!
laura04675 richard30560
Posted
Hi
Thank you for posting this, im so glad I came across this chat. I'm on week 2 of sertraline, restarting it after stopping it suddenly in march as I was in agony with pleurisy and needed to take tramadol. Apparently they conflict. I'm also taking topiramate for headaches.
My consultant suggested I restart them as I'd been feeling really low after stopping the painkillers but now I'm feeling absolutely terrible, probably on a par with how I was at my worst nearly a year ago 😞
I'd lost my parents in quick succession and was struggling with intense work pressure and stress.
After reading all of your replies I'm really hoping that this is just the tablets getting back into my system and I'm not going back to where I've been as it's been such a tough journey to get this far!
I feel so numb, have no energy and no interest in anything at all, I had improved from that. I'm also so tired all the time.
I hope you are all doing ok!
L x
scottyH richard30560
Posted
Hi Richard. Wondering how you are doing? I'm a 45 yr old male. Hit out of no where with some severe anxiety. Had been drinking a fair amount but cut that out to near nothing and yr later was still having symptoms. Palpitations, dizzy derealization.
On week 7. Starting to get some relief, but still some dizziness and insomnia occasionally. Dry lethargic and some lack of drive. On 50mg. 1-2 weeks of some sexual dysfunction but now back to normal there. Very little appetite and losin some
Wt as I'm a gym junkie.
Hope all is well with u.
beverly_79124 richard30560
Posted
Hi Rich,
Thankyou Thankyou Thankyou!!
I have literally just started 50mg yesterday and already feel symptomatic. So i'm taking on board that it is worse before better and am prepared (ish) for that and have a little bit of experience having been on Citilopram last year.
My question is did anyone have to have time of work adjusting? I'm currently on self certificate because the GP mentioned nothing about time off. My work is in a Path Lab and very much attention to detail with regards to patient details etc..
Coupled with the fact that i've spent weeks now in a panic i'm going to do a huge error anyway; will concentration levels be impaired?
Im thinking of phoning my Manager and telling her the symptoms. She is brilliant btw and has said don't come back until you feel well enough. Then phoning the GP for an appointment Monday to ask for a certificate. But i won't do it until ive read other peoples input because its not something i take lightly.
Thankyou for any advice
Bev
tom03008 beverly_79124
Posted
Hi
I've been on sertraline for 2 weeks now and I've had to take time off work as I can't face going back yet, anxiety hit me for six, I was on citalopram for 6 years but then out of the blue I had a massive breakdown. Hopefully to see light at the end of the tunnel soon
beverly_79124 tom03008
Posted
Hi Tom,
Thankyou for your reply so quickly. I've had a couple of weeks recently where you wake up in the morning and from that minute till it's time to leave for work all I can describe is sheer raw panic. I went in Tuesday morning and had a total meltdown. It all came out and my manager even phoned the gp for me. I did tell her Monday my thoughts were suicidal. Bit worried about these potential symptoms I have to say
Bev
beverly_79124 tom03008
Posted
I'd also like to wish you a clear mind of no expectation and of just being at a speed that suits you. Hope the light is at the end of a very short tunnel
tom03008 beverly_79124
Posted
It is worrying as I had a few of them, it's horrible. I'm just hating thinking everyone looking at me knowning there is something wrong, then have an attack and then be sick... biggest fear being sick in public 😞
beverly_79124 tom03008
Posted
Yep....not pretty. Gp can prescribe anti sickness tablets though. Or ginger is an excellent natural cure, in any form.
Excruciating paranoia. Those that love you and care about you are all that matter. Strangers don't know you and do you know what? Everyone has issues!
Now you tell me that lol
jane51805 beverly_79124
Posted
Hi Beverley,
I have just posted a reply to Rich however; I have just read your post.
I have been unable to work for nearly 8 weeks and I'm self employed, so not ideal at all.
I can't face leaving the house most days and have panic attacks when I'm due to leave and from the moment I wake up, panicking about leaving the house.
The panic attacks and anxiety are/is that bad I cancel everything, so I can stay at home in my bedroom, where I feel safe.
This is completely alien to me, having been a very confident, outgoing and social person all my life.
Recent events finding out my partner was leading a complete double life for over 2 years (I was actually the "other" woman) and leaving me to deal with a miscarriage alone a couple of months prior to me finding out his lies in July, have totally broken me.
I'm struggling to take the next step forward, I know I need to, but I can't. So today after 7.5 weeks on 50mg of Sertraline my doctor upped my dose to 100mg, which I start tomorrow.
natalie_05271 richard30560
Posted
Hi I know this is old but need some friendly support!! I've been on sertraline 50mg for 5 1/2 weeks now for anxiety and nocturnal anxiety probably caused by menopause? Went on holiday and had a great week with lots of sleep but on returning my anxiety (quivering)and no sleep has returned! think it got set off by association of the bad month I've had in my home on returning from holiday ! Feeling very disheartened!! Looks like I need to keep going but it's hard!! 😕 x
jane51805 richard30560
Posted
Hi Rich,
I appreciate this is an old post but I'm wondering how you're doing?
I found your post very helpful.
I visited the doctors today after 7.5 weeks on 50mg of Sertraline. Today the doctor upped my dose to 100mg which I start tomorrow.
I am struggling to take the next step forward and this is why my dose was increased.
I have really positive days where I don't cry but still cannot leave the house and feel very panicky, then I have about 4-5 days in a row where I'm so emotional and cry all the time.
Week 7 on Sertraline, which I'm at now, has been horrible and I've cried every day, had panic attacks and just wanted to stay in my bedroom as that's where I feel safe. But week 5 and week 6 I didn't cry.
So tomorrow I will start on the increased dose of 100mg which I'm shocked about, but I have to take the doctors advice.
She believes I'm expecting too much too soon.
I have always been very strong and confident but I found out early July that my partner was leading a complete double life for the duration of our relationship, over 2 years, and I was actually the "other" woman. My whole life has changed and I'm now questioning myself as I've always been such a good judge of character, and I've never suffered fools. This has totally broken me.
Any comments on this would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Jane
rebekah73979 jane51805
Posted
Hi Jane
Was wondering how you are feeling now? Reading your post was interesting as I'm currently on sertraline 50mg for just over 7 weeks and had a terrible panic attack last night at my work Christmas party and had to leave. Been on sertraline twice before but don't remember feeling this bad. Was off work first two weeks but after that was functioning fairly normally but weeks 5 and 6 had a couple of bad episodes. Then week 7 been ok all week then had the worse night ever. Cannot believe how terrible I have felt and just not sure what to do. I think maybe I have pushed myself too much and thought I was over the worst of it. Was having CBT which was cut short after 4 sessions as I was feeling back to normal. Since then it's gone downhill and I feel back to square one today. I just want to feel better.