When will it stop?

I'm trialling sertraline as I was on propranolol 80mg a day on and off for 10 years. I had to take daily so not sure why you are as and when. My as and when drug was diazepam. The thing with propranolol and diazepam is they just help with the symptoms and don't actually help the brain, which is the main problem we all have. Hence being in sertraline. Sertraline is a leveller which eventually will retrain the brain apparently. ...so my Dr tells me. I've been on it for 4 weeks and had on and off side effects. My head aches started yesterday. Awful. But I'm sticking it out as I'll try anything not to go through another 10 years of panic attacks. He wants me on sertraline for a min of 2 years and hopefully after this time and with the psychotherapy I should be panic free. Fingers crossed.

Hi Anna,

I have been taking Sertraline (any any kind of anti depressant) for the first time. Have been on it for 25 days. Started the first 2 weeks on 25mg, then stepped up to 50mg thereafter. I have been diagonsed with servere anxiety and depression. No doubt the side effects of this drug has accentuated my already horrible symptoms, but I have read that after 2 months or so you will feel the benefits. I can only wait it out. This is the very first time I have been signed of work and have been for almost 4 months. I'm so scared to go back because everyone knows! Feel trapped right now, but have to concentrate on myself to get better. Just remember you're never alone with this illness, there are more people gping through a similar thing than you realise. Peace & love to you.  

100mg to start is very high. I started a few days ago on .25mg and am battling nausea now, indigestion, abdominal discomfort and my tongue feels weird. I went off this drug about 8 years ago but had to go back on. At that time had persistent diareahh. About 6 weeks of it. Had one but of it today. Hoping it won't be bad this time around. The nausea is the worst now though. My stomach is not happy. Hoping my appetite comes back as I'm very thin as it is.

I know you are wondering if it is worth it... and I can tell you it is. Symptoms do settle down after a while so sometime it is a case of waiting them out. However, there are many different antidepressants you can try, and sometimes going back to ones you have tried before (after a few years) can be helpful as you may get less side effects the next time. It took me a few years to find the right antidepressant combination, and it was worth the wait.

As for the propranolol, I am on it as a beta blocker and take 80mg twice daily. My friend is also on 10mg PRN like you, and finds it very helpful. When taking it for anxiety, the reason your doctor told you to take it only when needed is that it slows your heart beat. If you were to take it when you were feeling calm, it might cause some nasty symptoms. Have you been given a maximum number of times you can take it each day? If not, I wouldn't take it more than three times. I know you feel anxious all the time now, but you should find it lessens when you take the propranolol.

Your doctor started you on a low dose, as he should have done. If you find it helps a bit, but not much, he may be able to increase the dose a little.

All I can say is give it a try. Hopefully it will work.

If it doesn't, speak to your doctor about Pregabalin (Lyrica). I have found it extremely helpful, and you can get it on the NHS. If you are in America, I am not sure if your insurance will cover it as it is very expensive, I get through a box a month which costs £83 (though obviously I get it free on the NHS) according to my Pharmacist.

I know the feeling I been on sertaline for 20 weeks now had 3 good weeks when I went on 100mg anxiety hit the roof so had to go back down to 50mg still feel s..t all doc would say give it time it was so frustrating after 20 week how much longer must I give it so I think is time to come off this med it does work for some people but from what I've experienced its not for me and I think it doesn't work more than it does work in other words the side effects over weight the anxiety like the other person said propanalol is good for the body symptoms not the head keep me informed

Thanks for replys, i agree, 100mg is alot to start of on and then 4 weeks later tell me i dont need them at all! You would think i need to reduce the dose gradually.

Yes the dr told me to take the propranolol maximum 3x a day. Suppose i will try them but if they only treat the symptoms rather than cause that cant help long term..

Fingers crossed the side effects from the sertraline wear off sooner rather than later.