Sertraline side effects - reassurance please
Posted , 8 users are following.
Hi, I've been taking Sertraline for about 5 and a half weeks, but today is 4 weeks at 50mg (I started on 25mg). I suffer with depression and anxiety and had switched from Mirtazapine as I found the drowsiness too much to deal with. I've been on Citalopram in the past, but several years ago. I'm male and in my late 30s.
The side effects of Sertraline have been really tough, in particular the major increase in anxiety, racing thoughts and jitteryness (for want of a better word) and a kind of feeling of dread/uneasiness. I also have had real difficulty sleeping, headaches (maybe due to jaw clenching), lack of appetite, short periods of derealization, and frequent diarrhoea (to the point I've lost weight).
At the beginning of last week things started to settle, the anxiety was fading, I stopped having periods where I felt I was losing my mind, my stomach settled, I could eat well and my depression felt like it was easing. I was still feeling tense and getting headaches, but in general I felt like things were improving.
However, since Sunday evening the anxiety and diarrhoea returned and I've been struggling again with racing thoughts and the feeling of dread/uneasiness (with no specific reason), some short periods of derealization again, and I've been a lot more tearful. I feel much worse in the mornings and things tend to ease by early evening. I think I feel slightly better today than yesterday, but not as good as last week.
I did see a doctor on Monday as I had a review booked, but since I've just moved and haven't been able to fully register at a surgery yet, I saw a locum and he wasn't much help. He said he'd never heard of Sertraline causing any anxiety and the drug should only take 10-14 days to settle. I'm fairly certain he's wrong on both counts, but what he said has worried me.
I'm just seeking some reassurance that I should continue with the Sertraline and that things should settle again. Has anyone else had their side effects improve and then come back? Can I expect these side effects to fade again? Did anyone else find it took more than 4 weeks at a given dose for side effects to improve?
I'm really struggling at times so any replies and advice would be very much appreciated. Just some reassurance would be nice. I just want to feel better soon! Thanks for 'listening' 
2 likes, 25 replies
weenett Dom05879
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Dom05879 weenett
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Unfortunately it didn't do much for my anxiety. It didn't make it worse during the start up phase though. It will probably help with weight gain as it makes you really crave carbs. The intense sugar cravings seemed to pass for me after a few weeks, but some people report having them the whole time.
a-new-day Dom05879
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the positive i had from it was, it got rid of my depression really quickly.. literally in a few days! that was a great relief
it was a shame though that (for me anyway... perhaps others are more lucky..) it didnt get rid of anxiety. i might have stuck it out longer, but i suffer from RLS (restless legs syndrome), and mirtazapine made my RLS so much worse (unbearable), so i switched to sertraline, which has been a slower road (8-12 weeks to work) but has successfully worked on both my depression and anxiety, and has not worsened my RLS.
Dom05879 a-new-day
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It acted very quickly on my depression too, but like you I was still struggling with anxiety. I didn'tr realise how badly Sertraline was going to exacerbate my anxiety at first, but I'm very glad to hear it's worked for your anxiety and that gives me hope that I just need to stick at it a bit longer and things will settle.
weenett Dom05879
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Dom05879 weenett
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Yes, I've heard of some people doing this. It would probably be a good combination as the mirtazapine would aid sleep too, but I guess you'd also have 2 sets of side effects to contend with.
ger00232 Dom05879
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weenett ger00232
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Dom05879 ger00232
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