To ask if I’ve had a bad reaction to sertraline or is this normal?

[LydiaBennetsUglyBonnet]

Had a horrendous year and my mood is at an all time low. CBT hasn’t worked so the GP prescribed me Sertraline. Had my first table about 2.30pm. Have never had anti depressants before. Am I supposed to feel awful - I feel REALLY anxious and panicky and like I’m having an out of body experience. Everything is a bit cloudy but I’m aware enough that I can type messages etc (but wouldn’t chance driving). I feel like I’m having heart palpitations but I’m not. My eyes feel wide. It’s like I’ve had a bad drug! Is this normal after 1 tablet?!

Hi, I've been taking sertraline for 2 years now when I first started taking them I felt dizzy and sickly it was such a strange feeling it lasted a few days before my body started accepting them and I don't know where I'd be without them now

I’m so pleased I asked as google doesn’t give solid answers I nearly chucked them in the bin! Cannot beat this level of anxiety I feel like I’m gonna be attacked or going to fall ill. That sounds so weird doesn’t it

Sertraline did nothing for my deep depression - after starting to take it I quickly became more pro actively suicidal and suffered extreme anxiety (having never been anxious before). I’ve been left with anxiety which I now take propranolol for and would not recommend Sertraline to anyone unless under very close supervision (which I wasn’t)

I feel for you. I had an awful awful awful first few days on them. Just totally yuck. I had to cancel all my social plans as I felt so hideous.

I ended up taking a quarter of a pill (25mg) then working my way up to a whole one. I take mine for PMS for one week of the month and still have to work my way up to a whole one. Works really well for me now so don't give up hope.

Sorry, but yes, that sounds normal to me. I felt horrendous for about a fortnight but it settled down and really, really helps, so it’s worth it.

Honestly these tablets saved my life.

I was in a incredibly bad place before them. The first 2 weeks are sheer hell, but I have found depression and axienty is a form of hell all of its own but they managed to pull me out of the darkness.

If you can stick with them they worked for me x

DH went on these and he went through two weeks of hell. I’m not exaggerating it was horrific and then after maybe day 13 the sun came out and he was a million times better than before he started. It’s was awful for about two weeks - genuinely scary but he persevered and he was glad he did

Good luck and see if you can battle through but don’t hesitate to call your GP if you think you need to

Meant to say DH started taking them before bed which seemed to help a bit as the worst of the horrors took place when he was sleeping and had settled a bit by Morning - might be worth a try

God yes when I tried them it was like mental torture. Anxiety off the charts, just suffering through every second, agitated, complete insomnia, completely upset stomach.... lasted two tablets and thought fuck that, I'd rather have my "normal" anxiety.

I think some people get side effects worse than others.

The things I found helped:
Take a quarter tablet and build up very gradually, this helps lessen the side effects.
Take with food! This really helps the nausea.
Know that it will tale a good few weeks for the side effects to go, but know that they will.
Be kind to yourself while getting through the first few weeks.
It will take about 6 or more weeks to really notice a difference.

I had the jaw tremors, diarrhoea, foggy head, derealisation, feeling generally detached and very introverted which then changed to sadness, heighten anxiety, hot flushes, jaw/neck pain, clenching jaw.
It sounds awful but the side effects weren't all at once and I am now starting to come out the other side and am glad I stuck it out.

Definitely normal in my experience, I always feel uncomfortable in my own skin for the first few days...its almost like coming up on Ecstasy but less pleasant!

If your tablets allow being cut in half, you can try reducing your starting dose and see if that works better for you.

I know many feel better on them, but within hours of taking just one low dose tablet I was like a zombie, if I hadn’t been with family then I’m very sure I would’ve tried to take my own life. Having gone through what happened with a very nice GP and linking in with other drug sensitivities I have, she gave a retrospective diagnosis of Serotonin Syndrome. It doesn’t seem to be very well known but certainly should be considered by people who are sensitive to SSRIs.

When I went on it my GP said the first 10 days are hella bad. Knew what to expect, stayed in bed for most of it, teeth clattering, jittery, palpitations, anxious and nausea all round horrible. Pushed through it and then felt better overnight. I credit it for saving my life. My whole world changed.

I always take at breakfast with food but not grapefruit

have you tried other things like meditation, breathing therapies, cold water therapies, embodiment and somatic therapies? Different types of talking therapies? The pills are not the only solution to most psychological problems

What is causing your mental health problems?

what was your Doctors reason to prescribe anti depressants rather than pursue anything other than CBT.

Anti depressants mess with your chemistry, if that’s not the underlying cause of your problems it’s a sticking plaster.

personally I would explore other options. Antidepressants are handed out as a quick easy fix by a stressed NHS, because everything else is really hard work.

I had the exact same reaction. I was absolutely wired. I couldn’t sleep, and when I did I had horrendous nightmares. I gave them four weeks because my GP insisted but then I went on to Citalopram and that suited me much better. I’ve been on it for about 10 years now.

I never had a big revelation of feeling better...but if I missed a dose or two I'd become my old irritable, no motivation self extremely quickly.

I was on and off sertraline for years. The first 2-4 weeks were always a nightmare but if I got through it then it did start to help. Good luck OP!

My experience with it was exactly the same. I never took any again after the first tablet. I've always been fearful of drugs of any form so it didn't really help that I started with that mindset but my heart was thumping, mind racing and I was suffering with nightmares for a very long time after. I also had a really bad experience of stomach pains, cold sweats, muscle pain and my jaw was aching from clenching after. Not saying this to scare you, it wore off but no you're not alone at all. I had such severe panic attacks with it that I was pacing around the room. If you need anyone to talk to I'm now fully recovered and have a years worth of experience with anxiety and what worked for me I'm always happy to discuss. Been there Op, but it isn't forever. Message me if you need to x

This is incorrect. It may take a few weeks for the antidepressant effects, such as they are, to kick in. But this is a drug and some people experience strong sideffects immediately.

The side effects I had from sertraline were so severe I ended up in a psych ward. I genuinely thought I was losing my mind, I did not sleep at ALL.
That was after four tablets. My useless GP parroted that sertraline had the fewest side effects of any SSRI which is utter bollocks.
I found citalopram much, much easier.

Sorry @ShinyMe but that's really not the case. You're correct that it takes a couple of weeks for the beneficial effects to start but awful side effects can and do often happen after just 1 tablet. They did for me.

OP, I persevered for 2 weeks but had to give them up in the end. There are other meds available and the next one I tried worked brilliantly. The most dangerous side effect is that it can make the depression much worse and you MUST ring your GP immediately if this is the case. They take that very seriously.

This can happen. If you can get through the first two weeks, the nausea, headaches and agitation should subside. It is usually better to take them first thing in the morning.