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Original poster

To ask you about sertraline?

60 replies

jitterywreck · 07/05/2017 12:14

Posting here for traffic as slightly going out of my mind here.

Started sertraline 50mg 2 weeks ago for long term depression and anxiety. My anxiety levels are now higher than they have ever been and I'm having full blown panic attacks several times a day and through the night like I have never experienced before. (Hot flush, dizzy,nausea, feeling of being terrified and wanting out my body) The other day I lay down all day and every time I moved it kicked off a panic attack, spoke to GP who asked me to continue another few days to a week as increased anxiety is normal. Yesterday I felt able to leave the house for a walk but when I reached a busy area automatically I felt sick and faint and had to sit down in the street. Is this level of anxiety normal and likely to pass? Anyone experience this?

Gp says I can switch to citalopram if I want to but I'm wary of more meds.

OP posts:
kali110 · 08/05/2017 14:00

Agree, don't dismiss medication, not every medication will work for everyone.
I loved sertraline but hated citalopram.
Could you ask for a different brand?
I and many people have had bad reactions to certain brands.

Blossomdeary · 08/05/2017 14:06

I took half a one as a start and just sat around retching all day until it wore off. I now take a very old-fashioned Anti D called Dosulepin (Prothiaden as was) and I am fine. It cured my IBS too.

livsmommy · 08/05/2017 14:40

That's interesting about sertraline and propanol interacting, I take both and often feel dizzy and lightheaded but it has never been mentioned by my GP. Propanol worked brilliantly for me in the beginning, but as time went on I think I have developed a tolerance as they don't seem to work as well now. When I first started on sertraline 50mg the main side effect I felt was complete and utter exhaustion. I now take 200mg per day and the side effects when I increased were awful for around 3 weeks but they've made such a difference now to my anxiety and depression, I feel like a different person. They do need time to kick in. Different meds work for different people, so worth a chat to your GP. I also have diazepam for panic disorder, it takes all 3 medications to keep me on a even keel sometimes.

patheticpanic · 08/05/2017 15:23

Please don't come off sertraline quickly. Your GP will be able to advise you the best way to slowly withdraw.

I came off sertraline immediately, cold turkey. It was the worst thing that I have been through.

Original poster
jitterywreck · 08/05/2017 15:33

No I won't just stop it, I've taken half and will take half tomorrow then seeing GP the following day. There is no way I could take a full dose today

OP posts:
PersianCatLady · 08/05/2017 15:37

Please don't come off sertraline quickly. Your GP will be able to advise you the best way to slowly withdraw
I absolutely agree with this.

If you are having bad side effects then you may also be quite susceptible to withdrawal effects.

Seek medical advice first before changing your dose.

kali110 · 08/05/2017 21:27

I never knew they interacted either, i never had any problems years ago.

Leontine · 08/05/2017 21:58

I echo what others have said about not coming off them until you've seen your GP.
2 weeks is quite a short amount of time, so the GP may suggest taking them for a little longer or adjusting your dose slightly. When I first started taking sertraline I had dreadful gastric side effects, (I've tried a number of diffferent medications and have never had such severe issues) but they subsided somewhat after a couple of weeks.
I remember my GP telling me that antidepressants are only a stepping stone on the road to recovery and the most important step is participating in talking therapies like CBT.

willawonder · 08/05/2017 22:42

I am on 50mg of Sertraline since January this year. It was reasonably ok as side effects go initially (I was happy to suffer extreme flatulence for a month!) and jittery for three weeks but almost five months in, it is leaving me utterly exhausted and extremely lethargic to the point where it is really interfering with my life. Mood and anxiety-wise, it has been fabulous - I feel so sociable, 'normal', balanced and in a good mood - i am consistently the happy, loving and relaxed mother I want to be - it has even knocked my debilitating PMT on the head - BUT I am gaining weight like nobody's business (2 stone!!) and routinely end up sleeping most of the weekend (when DH can take care of the small DCs). I can barely get up in the morning to get my little one to school and even the most trivial of tasks like showering takes an immense effort. My dream day currently would be to wake up, fix myself a coffee if I can be bothered and go back to bed - Sertraline is literally flooring me. Out of sheer determination, I'm keeping my home clean, ironing done etc, but the lethargy is crippling and life-changing so i've decided to see my GP tomorrow.
FWIW, I tried 10 mg of Citalopram last year and it was even worse - I could barely get out of bed.

Dixiestamp · 09/05/2017 02:35

I had some really bad reactions to sertraline, possibly because of the combination of medication I was taking. It just didn't feel right so now I am on mirtazipine (no idea how to spell it!).

SignOnTheWindow · 09/05/2017 02:44

Willawonder Sertraline was exactly the same for me - there were times I couldn't even make it to a chair and I'd just lie down on the floor and sleep where I was. Or I'd have a glass of water next to me, be raging with thirst, but too tired to reach out and take a sip.

I'd come off Citalopram because it stopped working after 6 years.

I'm now on venlafaxine, which is brilliant - no side effects for me at all, even though drowsiness is supposedly one of its more common side effects. I'm still occasionally very lethargic, but nowhere near as bad as I was (and my tiredness now might have something to do with the fact that I'm very bad at getting myself to bed).

DJBaggySmalls · 09/05/2017 02:57

Another vote from me for Venlafaxine. It did make me drowsy at first, but that wore off.
I was hospitalised with constant panic attacks after being prescribed Seroxat for PTSD, then switched to Sertraline and had the same problem plus double vision.

Sunnysidegold · 09/05/2017 07:24

I switched from citalopram to sertraline last year and it took a few weeks to adjust.like others I was on propanolol which helped with my racing heart beat. My Dr also prescribed a tiny (12.5 mg) dose of an anti psychotic called quetiapine which is marvellous for anxiety. Is there any way you can see your gp quicker? An emergency appt? What you are experiencing sounds hellish and he or she might be able to give you something to help with the symptoms short term. Interested to see someone else mention heartburn side effect....i have noticed that too and hate it. Good luck please let us know how you get on

Original poster
jitterywreck · 09/05/2017 09:07

Yesterday on the half dose was very slightly better then usual, in that I had less panic attacks but I still lay down most of the day in a state of anxiety with random terrifying moments, I hate to think what I would be like without the propranolol. I see GP in the morning and need to decide if I want to switch to citalopram or come off medication. I really want the drugs out of my system at the moment and think I'd rather be depressed than risk this again.

OP posts:
user1490465531 · 09/05/2017 09:28

I feel a lot of these drugs that supposedly help depression can make you feel worse and I really believe in counselling /therapy over tablets.
there are always so many side effects to these tablets I feel the bad outweighs the good.

LittleCandle · 09/05/2017 09:38

I would go back and chat with your GP about this. It doesn't sound right to me. DD2 was put on sertraline and it really didn't agree with her at all. In fact, her symptoms sounded just like yours and she had sertraline poisoning, so please do not wait. Get an appointment at once. It is better to be safe than sorry and your GP won't mind.

willawonder · 09/05/2017 10:22

user1490465531 I agree that counselling/therapy is hugely helpful but I would have attempted suicide if it wasn't for tablets. Sometimes tablets are necessary, and for me they were a last resort after many years of resisting them.

kali110 · 09/05/2017 10:23

user for some people other things don't work and medication is theonly way.

PersianCatLady · 09/05/2017 10:42

Or I'd have a glass of water next to me, be raging with thirst, but too tired to reach out and take a sip
I know that feeling only too well.

It was made even worse by parents who thought that I was being lazy and if I just tried hard enough I would be able to make myself get on with things.

NooNooHead1981 · 09/05/2017 10:47

Please don't come off drugs too quickly.

I had a horrendous time coming off an antipsychotic cold turkey - it felt like I was psychotic and my body was detached from my legs, with an awful 'head pressure' and tingling at the top of my brain (if that actually makes sense!)

Citaolpram was a life saver for me when it kicked in, I only wished I had taken it sooner. I was left with a drug induced movement disorder from the antipsychotic and it's hard at times, not to mention embarassing (lip smacking, grimacing, odd facial movements etc).

Antidepressants are definitely better, just be careful coming off them slowly.

SherlockPotter · 09/05/2017 11:00

I hated Sertraline but two weeks isn't long, your body will still be getting used to them... it takes 6-8 weeks for them to start working! I'd persevere with them. I'm on Fluoxetine and the side effects are only just starting to disappear, I've been taking them for 7 weeks!

LollyGag2020 · 09/05/2017 12:43

I experienced the same thing for the main month or so, I stuck it out and I am so so glad I did. My mental health was abysmal I was suicidal, my anxiety stopped me holding down a job, managed to scrape my way theough my access course. I have now been on them 3/4 years and I am the most stable I have ever been, I am a bit scared I will be on them for life but at the end of the day I'd rather take medication and be well than live like I was. Quite often I think mental health is underestimated. People wouldn't bat an eye at taking medication for high blood pressure etc so why anxiety? It's not for everybody and everyone reacts differently but they can take time to work, and get worse before better IYSWIM.

Original poster
jitterywreck · 09/05/2017 12:57

Thanks for everyone sharing their experience, it's appreciated. I did expect anxiety to increase and side effects to be hard and prepared for that but not to the level I've experienced. Lying down all day in a state of panic having full blown panic attacks if I tried to sit up or move, the urge to do something stupid is not something I can persevere with and I can't continue to miss work. I haven't taken today's dose and feel 50 percent better already. Will see what GP recommends tomorrow.

OP posts:
livsmommy · 09/05/2017 20:56

user1490465531 I have had counselling/cbt for many years and while it is fantastic and I'm a huge advocate of it I need medication on top of it, the pros outweigh the cons for many people. Good luck tomorrow OP 🤞

Original poster
jitterywreck · 10/05/2017 19:03

Quick update for anyone going through a similar experience. GP said stopping sertraline was absolutely the right thing to do as it clearly didn't agree with me. Starting citalopram 10mg on Friday for a week then to alternate 10mg and 20mg daily for a week. Praying to god I have a better experience this time round!

OP posts:
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