Sertraline. The side effects.

Posted , 6 users are following.

Hi there. I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on my situation and let me know if it gets any better 😔?

I have been diagnosed with anxiety and panic disorder. I suffer from panic attacks sometimes up to 6 times a day and my doctor has suggested I go onto sertraline starting at a dose of 25mg and increasing it over time.

The doctor told me to take it first thing in the morning and to take 10 mg of propanonol 3x a day to try and subdue the adrenaline.

I'm currently on day 3 and the side effects are horrible. Day 1 and 2 were ok. I feel very sick, I have a bad tummy, pins and needles in my neck and head and I feel extremely dizzy. Even when I lie down!! Is this normal and will it get better? Unfortunately the anxiety makes me fear the worst. It's a nightmare!!

I don't think I can cope with the dizziness more than anything. It's awful!

Any advice would be really welcome.

Thank you

0 likes, 35 replies

35 Replies

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  • Posted

    I'm also on day 3 lol I like the medication so far but it's really strong! The only time I had trouble with it is when I took it near my time to work, I wouldn't mix it with anything else or try to drink anything that will give you energy because I almost fainted while drinking a energy drink and on the medication! I take mine at night now so I can sleep through most of it, it makes me so tired even if I just woke up it will put me right back to sleep so now I just take it at night!

    • Posted

      Hey ange welcome to the sertraline roller coaster! How r u feeling on it?
    • Posted

      I actually really like the pills but I don't want to always be on them mainly because I like to workout and stay active so I'm trying not to take them everyday. I have a sedative HydrOYYzine, it helps with anxiety but during a attack it can take an hour to even kick in I asked to for these pills that act pretty fast and are very effective for me smile but i know if I don't take them regularly I will have to deal with the side effects everytime but understanding them helps forsure!

    • Posted

      I can't, I work full time and often visit the gym so taking them everyday will cause some problems for me but my does is only 25mg and my only real side effect is the crazy amount of sleep and trouble waking up from that sleep. I like them alit but if I take them everyday I would basically goto and sleep and have time for nothing else and I can't have that 😓

    • Posted

      So do u find they still work without constantly taking them?
    • Posted

      Well I have anxiety from a current legal situation which changed literally everything about my living situation and maybe some social anxiety so I take them when I feel down or anxious but mainly I use hydrOYYzine 50mg and I feel okay, I only asked for a stronger medication for times when the HydrOYYzine isn't working but I get that taking sertraline occasionally won't really change the way my mind works but it does help extremely during an attack!

  • Posted

    Yes these will all improve susie im on day 4 and all my se's subsided faster today

  • Posted

    Thanks for the kind words and the advice guys. I'll try to stay away from caffeinated drinks! The insomnia is quite bad - I dont seem to feel tired at all!

    • Posted

      I am on week 8, and the rough side effects lasted about 12 days. It gets better! Stay away from caffeine and take it at night. My doc said to take it before bed so I would sleep off the side effects. I usually started to feel better early afternoon. Try some melatonin or lavender to help you sleep.
    • Posted

      Ask doc for a sleep med there notorious for causing insomnia
    • Posted

      I keep trying to tell myself that it will get better. I just don't like being bed bound. I feel like I've got horrible flu Mixed with food poisoning! I'll see if taking it at night helps a little more. Thank you Annie

    • Posted

      I take mine in the morning my anxiety is horrendousmy worse than before I went on these meds, I've gone from 100 to 150mg. So to start taking them at night do I not take them tomorrow morning but evening instead??

    • Posted

      Apart from the increase in anxiety - I'm really sorry you have to cope with that.

      Do you have any other side effects?

    • Posted

      Sweating at night, feeling sick but not enough to be off my food, in fact it helps me to eat!! But the anxiety is horrific in fact I think I'm going to go back to 100mg as of tomoz. X

    • Posted

      Everyone I've spoken to has different initial side effects. I just want them to ware off now. I am on a tiny little dose and finding it silly hard which is embarrassing.

    • Posted

      25 mg may as well b 200mg when ur bodys adjusting dont be so hard on yourself i was on 25 mg to until today! Its the rollercoaster of emotion im finding embarrassing today i went from feeling high to crying on my couch to feeling almost normal now! My friend and boyfriend found me hillarious this morning not so funny when im crying on my sofa at 32! Lol dont b so hard on yourself
    • Posted

      Hey Suze. I'm on week 9 now and for me the first few weeks were rough but I stuck it out. My side effects were sweats, felt sick, dizzy, pins and needles in really strange places.. one being my backside.. which was rather odd, also pins and needles in feet, arms and face. Dry tingling throat and racing thoughts when trying to sleep hence not much sleep. I think that was the main ones but that is enough right! Anyway I stuck with them and what a difference. I still have bad moments and I post on here for reassurance as the help here is wonderful.

      Stick with them, keep busy and if you need a little help with the sleep etc, speak to your docs as I got diazipam and zoplicone.

      Good luck. X

    • Posted

      I understand what you're saying- I'll try not to be too hard on myself.

      I don't like the fact it's increased the anxiety. Makes me want to quit it and cope with how it was before. But ill keep pushing forward.

      I don't really have much of a support group so it's nice to speak to people who understand it x

    • Posted

      Thanks jay.

      Sounds like you had it pretty rough I'm really sorry. Pins and needles in your backside? That is very strange! And probably quite annoying.

      It's the dizziness that's getting to me with the increased anxiety. I hate panicking that I'm about to die every 3 hours!!

      I'll keep pushing through it though. And just by posting on here it's made me feel a little better. It would be nice if the side effects only lasted a day or two eh?

      Going into day 4 tomorrow and dreading it already but I won't quit!

      Thank you for your reply X

    • Posted

      I've been like this for 3 weeks yesterday was the first day I felt remotely normal, but today I'm back to square one again!! 😔

    • Posted

      Each time you increase your dose do you get all of the initial side effects all over again?😔 That must be so hard.

    • Posted

      I didn't from 50 - 100mg it's only this time. I hate them I want to come off them, no less should make you feel this bad!!

    • Posted

      its a shame they're making you feel so crappy! I hope things start to improve! Try not flautist them! I've heard so many good things. It's just the damn side effects that ruin the experience!!

    • Posted

      Lol well yes it has been a rocky road indeed.

      I tell you what I kept and still keep saying to myself " just let the meds to their work, my doc wouldn't have given me these if he/she didn't think they would help me"

      Try to think of tomorrow as another day of healing. Our little emotions are drained and need repaired along with our seratonine levels.

      I know for me and my own experience I was bringing alot of the panic on myself. Now I am able to drive again. I still have wobbles but working myself hard.

      Good luck sweetie

    • Posted

      Careful coming off of them, make sure you read the side effects for that as well. It will cause depression for awhile and if you don't inserts and why it's happening then it can cause suicidal or unusual behavior!

    • Posted

      Bloody heck they do sound horrific why are they even prescribed to us!! Great not only do I feel like crap if I come off them I might decide to end it all!!
    • Posted

      I think the doctor can tell you how to come off of them safely. So if you decide to make sure you do it with your doctors advice!

      Or stick on them! And hopefully reach the light at the end of the tunnel!!

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