Sertraline - so many side effects.
Posted , 2 users are following.
Only 2 weeks into taking Sertraline, but are the side effects worthwhile?
If I take my 50mg dose in the morning I get light headed, if I take it at night I wake up completely exhausted. I am also experiencing a lot of hypnic jerks that start prior to sleep and just as I am dropping off, seems to be quite violent jumps at times and I feel a real sense of foreboding - what is this. Other side effects- burning sensation in my hands, numbness and tingling, can't relax, dry mouth, toggle between absolutely zero appetite and constant cravings. Not sure if it is related but I feel like I am swallowing more. Due to the current situation it is not easy to communicate with my doctor in a timely manner so it is difficult to know what to expect. Have previously tried duloxetine and mirtazapine, but they too had undesirable results. Not sure whether to hang it out with sertraline or just knock it on the head as coping with these medications whilst trying to work and being a single parent is proving to be very difficult to manage. Any thoughts/comments would be appreciated, it feels like a bit of a lonely road at times.
1 like, 3 replies
anne30266 andrew98258
Edited
Andrew,
I have been on this medication for a month today. I started at a much lower dose but am now on a 50 mg dose. I have had all the side effects in the books, some much worse than others, and the only thing that kept me going was this forum and others like it. My anxiety went overboard, i got very scary, intrusive thoughts, my mind was constantly racing , dry mouth, low appetite, mild headaches, I had to switch from taking it in the evening to morning due to not being able to sleep more than 3-4 hours/night etc. However, after 2-3 weeks, I started seeing some improvements: my sleep got better, I feel more relaxed, I still get intrusive thoughts but less intense, I feel can manage better my anxiety. I am not fully back to normal but I dare to believe I am on the right track. What helped me to go through this hell was guided mindful meditation (apps), yoga, progressive muscle relaxation etc. I am now working on learning some strategies that i could use if I have intense intrusive thoughts and panic attacks (these go hand in hand for me).
My advice, hang in there, and please know we are here to support you.
andrew98258 anne30266
Edited
Thank You for your reply Anne,
perhaps I will take a leaf out of your book and invest some time and effort in some meditation relief. I guess I am a little sceptical to such things but reading around it does appear to have some positive influences. Good luck on your sertraline journey and I hope you make it to the other side.
anne30266 andrew98258
Edited
I was a little skeptical at first too when it comes to meditation as although I had practiced it in the past, I could not see how it helps with panic attacks and OCD related symptoms. But once I started practicing it again and noticed not only the improvements related to my sleep but how I could use some of the skills and techniques learned during meditation sessions in my daily anxiety struggles, I really recommend it to other people struggling with anxiety and depression. All you need is just a phone app (there are lots available) and go from there. If it does not work for you, at least you know you tried. All the best!