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VERY reluctant and anxious about starting Sertraline

Posted , 5 users are following.

Kazzy95
Kazzy95

I've suffered from anxiety for 6 years and insomnia for 4, but since leavng for uni last year, both have worsened. I'm at the point where I throw up repeatedly all night on sundays because I'm scared to go into my lectures. Nothing bad has ever happened in my lectures and my tutors are really nice, so I don't know what this is. I also struggle to go out with my friends after having a panic attack in a club before Christmas. The doctor prescribed me 50mg Sertraline and I've had it in my drawer for 3 weeks unopened. Just very worried about all the possible side effects as I have previously self harmed. Would appreciate some advice/stories of your experiences 

2 likes, 16 replies

16 Replies

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  • natalie16973
    natalie16973 Kazzy95

    Posted

    I was the same, was scared to take it for weeks then just thought I had nothing to lose. I want to start living my life again not just struggle and worry my days away. I'm only on week 2 so it's not got any better for me yet but I would def give it a try, if it's not for you, you can try something different. I would maybe take half a tablet for the first week, that is what my doctor advices me to do. Hope you feel better soon xxx
    • Kazzy95
      Kazzy95 natalie16973

      Posted

      Thank you so much. I'm going to start myself on a quarter of a tablet tonight as I've read that taking it in the night can help you cope better with any possible side effects that come along. Will let you know how I get on! smile
    • clarkio
      clarkio Kazzy95

      Posted

      All the best Kazzy.  The odd thing about anxiety is when you're in it it's so all encompassing, but when you feel better it feels like a million miles away.

      Don't expect anything instantaneuous but here's hoping in 3 weeks or so you feel a lot better.

    • natalie16973
      natalie16973 Kazzy95

      Posted

      Yeah quarter a tablet is a good idea. I've heard loads of benefits with sertraline, it's meant to just take a few weeks to start working so try stick with it. Good luck, keep in touch xx
  • clarkio
    clarkio Kazzy95

    Posted

    Hi, I strated sertraline last November.  Like you I suffer from anxiety and had been paticularly bad for a year and a bit.  I also was incredibly worried about starting Sertraline as had a bad reaction to Citalopram earlier in the year (another SSRI).

    I started the sertraline on 12.5mg i.e. a quarter of a tablet, then after a few weeks went to half a tablet and so on till after 7-8 weeks was taking a whle 50mg tablet.

    I had some side effects but they were more physical than mental.  Side effects I had were headache, bit of feeling sick, upset stomach, some tiredness and some err... gentlemans problems.  These have all subsided now apart from the gentlemans problems.  The headache and nausea subsided quite quickly for me (a week or so).  The first week or two did feel a little strange at times but nothing i couldn't handle.

    Since then the only side effects am still suffering from are a bit of insomia and a bit of forgetfullness (although that could just be my age).

    None of the above were severe enough to make me want to stop the tablets.

    Right now the good news.  Sertraline has defintely helped my anxiety.  I wouldn't say I'm fixed as can still feel my heart pounding at times, but the all encompasing feeling of never being able to relax has defintely lifted.  I would say now any remaining anxiety symptoms are just physical (i.e. the heart pounding) and my mood is definetly better.  Am currently working slowly up to 100mg to try and clear out this anxiety for good.

    You clearly have suffered for a long time and it is having a detrimental effect on your life, so whilst it is natural in your situation to be nervous about starting Sertraline is living the life you are now a viable alternative.  I would say summon up your bravery and start on a low dose (quarter of a pill maybe).  Try and not worry overly about it and try not to perceive every slight side effect as a calamity.

    Be brave and give it a go, I personally noticed a difference within 3-4 weeks.

    HTH

    • Blu02
      Blu02 clarkio

      Posted

      Nice post clarkio and I agree with you about starting Sertraline in small doses.

      I've been taking it since early December (50mg) and the side effect were not good, wish I'd started off on smaller doses but after about 5 weeks things started to improve and after 8 weeks I felt really good!

      Kazzy, it's well worth it if you can get your life back, you just need to persevere for a while.

      All the best and please let us know how you get on..

    • Kazzy95
      Kazzy95 clarkio

      Posted

      This post has helped me more than you can imagine. I'm really glad there are online communities like this where I can be completely open without fear of judgement. I think I'll start on a quarter of the 50mg dose like you've recommended. I've told my housemates, one of whom is currently on Citalopram, so they can look out for any changes in my behaviour or mood. I suffer from really bad stomach cramps, nausea, sweating and restlessness already with my anxiety, so fingers crossed the pills don't tip me over the edge physically. Thanks so much Clarkio, and good luck carrying on your journey, please keep me updated! 
    • Kazzy95
      Kazzy95 Blu02

      Posted

      Yeah I've heard that the side effects can be really awful for the first few weeks. It's good that I know this so I don't have thoughts about it never getting better! I definitely need my life back, because I dont recognise the person I am anymore and it's so upsetting. Thank you so much and I will keep you updated, let me know how you get on too! 
    • Digsby
      Digsby Kazzy95

      Posted

      Hi Kazzy,

      It was a good idea to tell your housemate about your decision. I hope you can mutually support one another. Do you have any confidential resources for support via your university? The main thing is that you are not alone in what you're going through. Keep positive & stay in touch.

      All the best, Digsby x

    • Kazzy95
      Kazzy95 Digsby

      Posted

      My doctor gave me some leaflets for counselling services at uni, but the waiting list is just too long, so I'm looking at my other options for now. Will keep you updated! Thank you so much Digsby! x
    • clarkio
      clarkio Kazzy95

      Posted

      Hi Kazzy, how are you getting on?  Did you take the quarter of a pill like you said.  If so then it's been a couple of days so far, how is it going?
    • Kazzy95
      Kazzy95 clarkio

      Posted

      Hey Clarkio, I decided to try a full 50mg one day to see how my body reacted to it, and other than dry heaving for a few hours, I was fine. I'm now on my 7th day of 50mg and have found that I'm getting very anxious in situations I would usually be comfortable in. Walking to my corner shop is now a task that makes me sweat and shake just thinking about it. The more my hands start sweating, the more aware I am of my own anxiety and it just gets so much worse. I don't know if this is going to get any better but I hope it does cause I really don't feel like myself 
    • Digsby
      Digsby Kazzy95

      Posted

      Hi Kazzy,

      You are being very brave but it does take a while for the medication to get into your system so you may have to ride out the side effects if you can bear them. Have you ever had any counselling/therapy for your anxiety? It sounds as if it is crippling you at the moment. I'm taking Sert for chronic depression so my anxiety is linked to that rather than panic attacks but I think most people on this forum will be able to relate to the anxiety you are feeling. Set yourself small goals but don't beat yourself up if you can't achieve them straight away. Do you have the support of your friends? Let someone close to you know what you are feeling so they can maybe help you get to the shops or to a lecture while you are getting through this phase of your illness. It will not last forever, so don't worry. Try to re-discover things that you enjoy doing and that relax you. Don't put yourself under too much pressure. Believe in yourself and you will get to where you want to be :-)

      Good luck & keep us posted on how you get on & if you need support.

      Digsby xx

    • clarkio
      clarkio Kazzy95

      Posted

      Hi Kazzy, it was very brave of you to try going to 50mg so quickly.  As Digsby says below it can take a while (most people reckon 3-4 weeks) for the Sertraline to start having an effect.  If you are determined to stick with the 50mg you could always go to your GP and see if they would be able to prescribe a short (week) course of Valium to take the edge off the anxiety when it gets too bad.  My GP prescribed me some 2mg Valium but I only ended up using 2 of them.

      Sorry for the late reply have been away.  Hopefully things may have settled a bit more for you by now.  As Digsby says try not to beat yourself up over feeling anxiety, it may be this paticular Anti depressant is not for you but you do have to give it about 6 weeks really if you can before making that call.

      Wishing you all the best, let us know how you are getting on.

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