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Swapping tablets from fluoxetine to sertraline HELP!!

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Bethleanne
Bethleanne

Hello, I'm very new to this but have been searching the web high and low for some comfort and finally found this ! 

Well I have very bad anxiety and depression and OCD and have been on fluroxtine for around 2 years and slowly within these past few weeks my anxiety and depression is coming back, long story short the GP put me has advised me to go on sertraline 25mg but some diazepam for when I come off my fluoxetine because in need a week off all Meds before I take my new ones only problem is even the thought of coming off anything has got my anxiety through the roof ! I can't settle I can't sit down and watch telly I literally have to were myself out so I can sleep on the night time, reading all the posts about sirtralene and all it's horrible side effects I don't think I would mentally be able to cope with them I panick over everything help what do I do ??????? 

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • emma_28291
    emma_28291 Bethleanne

    Posted

    Hey! 😊

    This is all normal for you to be feeling like that I know it's awful but just try to remember this is only temporary whilst your body it adjusting. 

    I have been on 50mg sertraline since August now and the first week or two we're terrible and scary I'm not going to lie,  It was scary for me because I had never taken anything like this before and I didn't know what was happening to my body to make me feel worse than before! I also came on here for reassurance when I first started them. I nearly gave up on them but I pushed through them couple of weeks and things do get better, October now and I'm actually feeling great within myself! Honestly feeling like a new me! So don't give in!!! The only reason I realised we read all the bad stuff is because there's no need to post on here when everything is good right? I know how your feeling and I know many more people will be able to relate to you too right now, I was surprised how quickly I got a respond when I posted on here.. after I was reading post from years ago I thought I was the only one going through it, soon realised I wasn't and how common this actually is.

    I hope I have given you some reassurance, it won't feel like it for you right now, but things will improve, it's one of them things you just need to give it time! 

    Take care 😊 x 

    • Bethleanne
      Bethleanne emma_28291

      Posted

      Hi Emma! 

      Thankyou for replying smile 

      Are you able to function properly on sertraline like go to work ect ? 

      Will it really last 2 weeks 😫 

      Did your doctor say this was going to happen to you ?

      I'm really considering just carrying on with my fluroxtine and dealing with all my problems because I dont think I will be able to handle to side effects they once upped my dose to 2 fluroxtine a day and I was bed bond for 2 days not been able to eat or hold anything down and that's really scared me I don't handle these situations well and I just think to myself everyone must be stronger willed then me sad 

    • emma_28291
      emma_28291 Bethleanne

      Posted

      I was signed off work I wouldn't of been able to work, well out of the two weeks there was only really a couple of REALLY bads days where I couldn't even get out of bed, I was dizzy, loss of appetite, anxiety got so bad, worse than I have ever had before which was scary!  but after that each day got better, I had a couple of really good days and thought great! Then I had a bit of a dip again for about a week and I had this headache for about a week, not a headache but more like a band around my head; hard to explain..but then recently things are really looking up 😊

      So the doctor originally signed me off for two weeks whilst I started them and made another appointment then she signed me off for 4 weeks, on my next appointment she signed me off another 4 weeks and now I'm finally feeling things are changing, so I'm spending the rest of my time off just getting focused again really. Everyone handles these situations differently, if I was talking to you back in August I would of sounded like a different person! It's an awful process because when you take medication you just expect it to get to work and not make you feel worse than before. You should be proud of yourself for speaking up in the first place, wish I had some some years ago now, I'm only 22 but I'm finally starting to look forward to the future, remember if you do start sertraline, just give it time! keep us updated! 😊

  • Clem_clem
    Clem_clem Bethleanne

    Posted

    Hi Bethleanne I was on fluoxetine for 13yrs and suddenly they stopped working. Then I was put on Mirtazapine for about 2mths but they didn't work for me. Dr didn't wean me off the fluoxetine he just moved me on to a new on?. Now I'm taking 50mg of sertraline and I'm on day 5. Side effects are awful but I contacted my and said that I feel rotten. Her reply was try and hang it out. My side effects atm are. Keep getting a burning sensation up on my shoulders it feel like I have a hot water on my shoulders. Got a horrible taste in my mouth and can't face food atm. And this morning feeling sick and very sensitive to smells?. I keep reading on here that side effects will pass. I wish I was in day ten or something. I hope you feel better soon.

    • Bethleanne
      Bethleanne Clem_clem

      Posted

      Hi clem clem

      Yes fluroxtine have let me down now they worked wonders but not anymore, they tried to up my dose to 2 tablets a day but I was bed bound for 2 days not been able to drink or eat so they obviously diddint agree with me having two, yeah my doctor said I should alternate my fluroxtine every other day for a week then a whole week off tablets then start my sertraline. But prescribed my diazepam for the week of no medication, I'm really worried about the side effects I will have in just considering sticking to my Fluroxtine and winging it. Can I ask what is your anxiety like what happens to you ect ? 

      Iv never met anyone else who has it and nobody really understand me at all so quite alone on this one. 

      Thanks beth 

    • Clem_clem
      Clem_clem Bethleanne

      Posted

      Hi ya since I written my statement my dr has take me of these now and said she wasnt sure what's going on. I gone back to Mirtazapine 30mg 1 at night for a wk then 15mg for another then I'm seeing Dr again but I think she has a plan. Because I was on these but Wasn't weaned off.

  • Clem_clem
    Clem_clem Bethleanne

    Posted

    I have bad depression it's got to the point that everyday living is a struggle. I cried my eyes out and didn't know what to do.. I phoned the doctor said what's happened and that was it really. Here I am taking these tablets. I feel sick at the moment and have mo energy. I'm off work atm to.

    • Clem_clem
      Clem_clem

      Posted

      Oh I'm on 50mg too.

    • Bethleanne
      Bethleanne Clem_clem

      Posted

      I'm off work for 2 weeks now but don't know if I should go back to keep myself occupied from over thinking, Iv had private messages of people saying that they have had no side effects at all of sertraline and I should give it a go so maby you might be unfortunately the unlucky one hope you feel better soon ! 😪

    • Clem_clem
      Clem_clem Bethleanne

      Posted

      Yes very unlucky. If you think your ready to go back to work go for it. But make sure you are ready.
    • Loopylou2k7
      Loopylou2k7 Bethleanne

      Posted

      Hiya, just to help in anway i can. I didnt have any side effects going on to the sertraline. But when i came off them at 200mg the doctors took me straight off them and put me onto 15mg of mitazapine thats when all hell broke. I came off them in may and still have terrible withdrawals symtoms. Going on them im sure you will be fine give it at least 4/6 weeks to settle in your system but if you ever come of them taper slow and as slow as possible x
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