To ask you about sertraline?

[jitterywreck]

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.

Citalopram is my drug of choice. On it long term and completely cures the anxiety and occasional depression I've had since a teenager.

I hated, i had severe reactions to it. Just shows not everyone will get on with every drug!

kali its strange how people react so differently. I haven't braved starting citalopram yet I'm terrified to go through it all again. My heart rate has only just returned to normal from the sertraline

Why not try a different one then? As that one does have that as a side effect? Mirtazapine? Or Fluoxetine?

My GP said all anti depressants can increase anxiety at first but citalopram is the best tolerated so wants me to try it. I have taken fluoxetine as a teenager but didn't like the spaced out feeling.

I had same problem what I have found helps is take the sertraline morning give yourself time to do 10 mins exercise that gets you out of breath that has taked away the crazy feeling.

I forget to mention you can do as much exercise through out the day if you feel bad again supposed 30 mins is minimum but start at 10min I live in a flat and use the stairs from bottom to top

It takes at least 2 weeks to build up the levels in your system before any benefits are felt. Different mess suit different people, but whatever the med it's introduced gradually as it wouldn't be safe to give anyone with mental health issues something that's going to have a sudden, huge effect on them. Personally I've been on a couple of different meds over the years and have now found 150mg sertraline works wonders for me. It took a good 6 months for me to really feel stable. There's no magic quick fix. The most important thing is to keep see your GP and being honest with them. (I only really got to where I am following a consultant appointment and he then spoke to a specific GP who we both agree was lovely/very good, and I was only to see that GP for continuity. When booking each appointment the magic words to the receptionists were "the GP requested I only see him".) Be kind to yourself and take care, xx

I also found taken my meds in the morning better too!

Sertraline can take 4 weeks to work, it's changed my life, those internal negative voices have gone