told to start sertraline
Posted , 6 users are following.
Hi I have been prescribed sertraline by the mental health team to help with myanxiety, depression, OCD etc. I am not very strong physically and I dont have any sort of appetite, and haven't for years, I don't sleep very well and I'm in a lot of pain, I have read some of the other posts and I'm very frightened of the possible side effects, is it as bad as I have heard, does everyone get the same problems?
Any help would be greatly appreciated
0 likes, 10 replies
Psyched_Out_Kim donna94399
Posted
There's typically side effects when starting, but not everyone get the same ones, and to the same degree. The absolute worst thing you can do is constantly read up on the possible side effects. That can get your mind thinking that you're going to have everything that's listed. Drug companies have to list every possible side effect, no matter how rare it is. Those of us with anxiety read that information, and immediately get scared and think the worst. Be kind to yourself by not looking at that info.
Once the med is fully in your system, your sleep and appetite may change for the better. At least give it a fair shot. If you don't like it or it's not right for you, you can always quit or try a different med.
Best of luck to you.
Chuck89 donna94399
Posted
Hi,
?Not everyone gets the same side-effects, but I would say that the majority of new users get diarreah / loose stool. Many get heightened anxiety, stomach aches and/or cramps. Some report headaches, while some tell of light-headedness and/or a brain fog. At the same time, there are folks who speak of no side effects at all (lucky them!).
?I tell you this not to scare you, but I do want to be honest about the journey you may be starting. For most, it seems, the onset be tough. My advice would be to start at a lower dose and work your way up. As another person who suffers from OCD (and anxiety), I will tell you that it's likely you will need a higher dose for therapeutic effect. I am fairly new in my journey....started at 100mg 17 days ago, then upped it to 200mg 4 days later. For me, the onset has been pretty challenging--however--I was also coming off of another AD at the same time, which makes the hill a bit steeper.
What dosage are you supposed to start on? Is there a strategy to increase your dosage? I would not recommend starting the way I did. 100mg to start is a bit of a jump, then 200mg 4 days later was no picnic!
?Chuck
Holly1974 Chuck89
Posted
you have gone in at a high dose !! In the UK most if not all people would usually be started on 50mg, and then they would be followed up to see how the patient is getting on at least every 2 weeks, if no response then clinician may decide to increase to 100mg. In UK, I know of very few GPs that would prescribe doses over 100mg without a directive from mental health team. I have both professional and personal experience in this area.
I have been on 150mg of sertraline, and I have recently dropped to 100mg, but did get increased somnolence for about a week, could barely keep my eyes open !, and stomach cramps etc for about a week which then abated....I have had increased tension and anxiety since dropping by dose down, but I knew to poss. expect this so just try and keep occupied which I always find helpful, as is Minful meditation.
I do not envy you the side effects I expect you are having to put up with whilst swapping over, and 200mg is a pretty high dose, not many people are prescribed doses that high. The average dose for sertraline used to be quoted as 77mg as I recall.
Good luck in your fight to get well.....If you haven't looked into Mindfulness courses and meditation I can thoroughly rec'd it, course ran by people like Breathworks in UK ( not the watered down version done by NHS) are the best way to go. Lots of info. online
Chuck89 Holly1974
Posted
Yes, my psychiatrist prescribed my dosages. I have been on ADs for 20 yrs, and generally he has been really good with the meds. I had been Effexor XR for most of that time, and had weaned myself down to 75mg from 300mg initially years ago, had been virtually symptom free for the last 4 yrs.
?Was in a near fatal car wreck last year, and had initially done ok. After months of struggling with internal injuries, I relapsed after leaving the hospital last August.
?Tried to add Brintellix to the Effexor XR, which didn't work. Then tried Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, which is more for depression than OCD & anxiety.
?Dropped Brintellix on June 13th, began Sertraline on the 14th. It has been quite a ride, and my OCD & anxiety have spiked, and seem to be gradually calming as I have slowly been able to get out and do more, but in small increments.
I am reading a good book right now by Dr. Jeffrey Schwarz out of California. The book is called, "You Are Not Your Brain" which addresses OCD & intrusive thinking. Dr. Schwarz is a Christian, and believes that the will and the brain, while closely linked have different functions. His research has actually shown evidence that their therapy methods physically change the structure of the brain. Very insightful and interesting.
donna94399 Holly1974
Posted
Hi, they will be starting me on 50mg's, I think my anxiety is getting the better of me, I also really dont feel well at the moment, my husband and son's want me to give them a go, I have been on prozac in the past for a long time but I came off them about 5 years ago, I have heard that the side effects are very similar, but I don't know...
Psyched_Out_Kim donna94399
Posted
I was on Zoloft in the past, and as the same as you, have been off of it for 5 years. It's now to the point that I may go back on the meds. I've asked my husband and daughter for their input, but they always reply with "I don't know", which makes my decision harder. It's great that your husband and son's have your back, and offer you their honest opinion.
Holly1974 Chuck89
Posted
Hi Chuck,
I'm not familiar with Brintellix, at least not by name in the UK, does it have a generic name ?
Anyhow, I am very familiar with Efexor through past experience, so I appreciate that you are on a pretty high dose. I hope you get some resolution to your problems.
I think it is wise to engage as much as possible with pcychological therapies such as Mindfulness, CBT etc.....if you can find something that works for you then great...
Good luck xx
donna94399 Psyched_Out_Kim
Posted
I am very lucky that my husband and sons understand how I feel, I wouldn't have got this far without their help, I just hope you get some backup, my family make me sit down with them and make me talk, even though its very hard sometimes, they are relentless and drag it all out of me, then we can make informed decisions together, well I say together, more like they make plans for me to follow, but without the pressure of having to make all the right decisions myself, but its still my choice, but they encourage me to take the right steps, I hope you have someone, whether it be your gp or mental health team to encourage you in the right way, good luck to you.
Holly1974 donna94399
Posted
Hi Donna,
If your mental health team feel that you would benefit from it then I agree with the others who have said don't read up too much on it, no one gets ''all'' the side effects, the most common side effects ar GI related, such as tummy cramps or nausea etc...because the receptors that sertraline and the other SSRI;s work on are found in the gut as well as the brain, Diff. people get varying degrees of side effects, and they are usually self limiting to the first few weeks. After you are on the correct dose for you, I am guessing your mental health team will follow you up with this, as some people do take higher doses than 50mg, varies one person to another, once on the correct dose you should start to see some benefits within 3/4 weeks....give yourself time to adjust and not have to fight the medication for this first month.....the only other time you ''may'' get side effects is coming off, but your mental health team can talk you through the dose tapering for this to avoid too many side effects when you get to that....obv. some way off for you....It's like anything in life, and indeed medicine, there are benefits and there are risks....I will tell you that all AD's trails show a high placebo response too.....so it's worth taking up any offers of CBT, talking therapies also, Mindfulness meditation also very good for many things inc'g anxiety.....I can rec'd Breathworks Mindfulness courses from personal experience ( see internet / books and CDs on Amazon or direct from them )...by Vidymala Burch - no harm in looking ....
Have a little faith and try to approach with a positive mindset, but cut yourself some slack too whilst your body adapts to the meds....
Pauljdme donna94399
Posted
Yo Donna it's not that bad, the fact that you see some unhappy write ups is due to the fact that those few that have problems with this med want advice, those who have had success with it you will not hear from and they are a huge majority. The side effects will pass in time. Be strong and don't go looking for problems or you will find some that are not really there if you know what I mean ?? Try to be strong and all the best..