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Original poster

Sertraline - too nervous to start taking them, need positive stories!

51 replies

Harlevie · 29/07/2018 18:17

Hi everyone, this is my first post on here so I’m not 100% sure I’m doing this right. My doctor prescribed me 50mg Sertraline on Friday after me finally admitting it’s time for some help. I’ve suffered with anxiety for 10 years now and for the most part have coped on my own, but since the beginning of this year I’ve had some bad panic attacks that I feel have led to depression. I feel so down, ill and fragile all the time. Anyway i haven’t started taking the tablets yet as I’m absolutely terrified of the side affects. I’m so scared I’ll have bad heart palpitations which is my biggest trigger atm for my anxiety. Or my anxiety will be worse and I won’t be able to control whether I have a panic attack or not. Please tell me it’s not so bad? My anxiety is massively around my health so I know any side affects will set me off panicking 😞. I just want to be better and be my old self again.

OP posts:
litereally · 29/07/2018 20:01

I moved to Sertraline from Citalopram and since have upped my dose from the lowest to second-lowest. I take mine right before bed. It has 100% improved my quality of life, my daily, no-reason anxiety has completely gone and my depression symptoms are a lot more manageable. I had a depressive episode last summer due to high stress which is why I went up a dose. I would like to go back to 50mg eventually as the sexual numbness isn't workable long term, but even if you do have a bad experience with it, the fact you are moving forward on your treatment "journey" (sorry for cornyness!) is important. Everyones reactions to drugs are different, keep in touch with your doctor but they are right about the side effects wearing off after a month or so.

MrsBobDylan · 29/07/2018 20:12

I also take mine just before bed. No side effects, convinced myself I felt more depressed for the first two weeks as like you, I was really nervous about taking them.

They have changed my life and helped me cope and engage with CBT. It's been transformative and fabulous to not worry I'm about to kick the bucket periodically throughout every day!!

Original poster
Harlevie · 29/07/2018 20:13

The reason I lost control of my anxiety again this year was because back in Feb, as I was loading my car after shopping in town, completely relaxed, no anxiety, no reason for it to happen but out of no where my heart just started racing out of my chest and I mean racing! I sat down and thought wth is going on! I ended up ringing an ambulance, by the time they got to me and put me on the monitor my heart was at 140bpm, anyway they put it down to anxiety/panic attack which although I’ve suffered with anxiety for so long, I had had it massively under control at that point for a long time! So I’ve never really been able to accept that that’s why it happened. But I had another ecg at the doctors after that and it came back fine. I’ve had a few doctors listen to my heart after telling them about my ectopic beats and no one has had any concerns. But still because of my anxiety I just worry there is something wrong with my heart. So although I know heart palps can be a side affect, I know if it happens to me I’ll be sat here thinking I’m about to die ☹️

OP posts:
Original poster
Harlevie · 29/07/2018 22:20

About to take my first tablet I feel SO scared 😞 will report back in the morning. Just going to keep updating on here so hopefully I can look back in a few weeks and see I’ve come a long way 🤞🏼

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 29/07/2018 23:03

Don't be scared. This could be the start of better times to come. Good luck.

Original poster
Harlevie · 30/07/2018 06:05

Thank you. I’m still here! Still alive lol. Woke up with instant heightened anxiety which was probably partly just me but definitely felt different. Had a hot flush and feel very jittery and sick but a lot of that could be nerves. Just praying today goes smoothly and doesn’t put me off taking them again tonight.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 30/07/2018 08:56

Good luck today. Do keep taking them. It takes a while to feel better.

mrsjackrussell · 30/07/2018 09:01

My daughter was prescribed propranolol for panic attacks which really helped her. Then sertraline which changed her life around. She's so confident now after a year and is still taking them.

softkittywarmkitty28 · 30/07/2018 09:20

I started on 50mg and had a little nausea but nothing too bad, it went after a few days.
Was increased to 100 and again a little nausea but soon passed.
Went up to 150 and it gave me a breakdown very quickly, so am back down to 100.
It's been great and effective

softkittywarmkitty28 · 30/07/2018 09:21

Oh and the only other symptom I get is night sweats but they are becoming less frequent

Womble75 · 30/07/2018 09:43

I started a month ago on 50mg and they have honestly turned my life around. They worked very quickly for me and my anxiety and mild depression have all gone. This is after a rough 4 years of multiple miscarriages, a pregnancy that was 9 months of various complications and my son being in SCBU after birth. And waiting for a hip replacement so constant pain.
I feel much more in control, can cope with matters rationally without dissolving into a sobbing mess and life seems so much better.

I haven't gained weight, and weirdly my libido has returned. I wish I had tried them sooner.

Original poster
Harlevie · 30/07/2018 10:44

Thanks for your replies it really gives me the motivation to keep going!

OP posts:
Iblinkedandiamold · 30/07/2018 14:32

I am on it since Janurary. I started out at 50 and moved to 100. I feel good on it. Haven't had any side effects. My doctor said that it works better when you use it together with counselling but so far so good for me anyway.

Original poster
Harlevie · 30/07/2018 17:16

I’ve just booked my first appointment for counselling where I’ll have my assessment. A lot of people have said they work well together!

OP posts:
SirHubzALot · 30/07/2018 19:05

A common start up effect with sertraline is that if will make you feel a bit more anxious than before but don't let it put you off. Ride it out and you'll soon be feeling better than ever.

Fatted · 30/07/2018 19:10

I took them for a while after DS1 was born. Take them first thing in the morning as I felt like they disturbed my sleep. And they did make me yawn and grind my Jaw quite a bit.

didyouseetheflaresinthesky · 30/07/2018 20:51

Never ever take them with anything fizzy either. Just water. Burning, tingling pins and needles in your throat is a very peculiar sensation.

I didn't get along with them myself but they weren't awful. I don't get on with any SSRIs. Sertraline were relatively inoffensive, just didn't work for me.

Have you asked your GP about possibly trying beta blockers? They help with the physical symptoms of anxiety so at least you won't be walking around having anxiety over whether you are going to have a panic attack. I couldn't have coped without them recently. It's like a wave of enforced calm, settles you right down.

Original poster
Harlevie · 30/07/2018 21:01

Thanks everyone I have worked myself up a bit again about taking my next one incase I feel worse tomorrow than I did today, even though I wasn’t too bad. I would ask at what point can I expect the side affects to wear off? But I guess it’s different for everyone? I had a reaction to beta blockers so can’t take them ☹️

OP posts:
SirHubzALot · 30/07/2018 21:03

About 1-2 weeks before anxiety lessons and you start feeling benefits. Honestly, I know it doesn't feel like it when you first start them but they are worth it if you stick with them

SirHubzALot · 30/07/2018 21:04

Lessens!

Original poster
Harlevie · 30/07/2018 21:26

Thank you. Praying it’s sooner rather than later. Feel sick to my stomach tonight thinking about it.

OP posts:
LexieLulu · 30/07/2018 22:38

Ive has my third tablet today, nausea was very brief this afternoon (I take mine mornings) but I cannot stop sweating. My palms are dripping.

But other than a bit of a low mood I don't feel horrific xxx

GivenAndDenied · 30/07/2018 22:46

There's no one anti-anxiety med that is right for everyone, I think. The issue is just working out which one works for you.

I already take a beta blocker, and suffer with a racing heart & palpitations due to a combination of anxiety and thyroid issues. I was put on sertraline, and it didn't bring on any further anxiety or palpitations (not more than I get anyway!), and I didn't feel at all sick. Unfortunately it really upset my tummy - I am prone to IBS attacks, and it triggered it badly. I persevered on for six weeks, as the gp said it would settle down after about 4 weeks, but it didn't. After I stopped taking it, it took a total of about four months for my tummy to settle back down. So sertraline isn't right for me. Now I'm on citalopram, and doing ok on the side effect front. We'll see longer term how it deals with the anxiety.

SirHubzALot · 31/07/2018 19:43

How are you today OP?

FoldyRoll · 31/07/2018 21:40

I've taken just about every SSRI and SNRI there is. Sertraline is my tipple of choice. It has fewer side effects than most, especially at 50mg. At 150 or 200mg I find it makes me clench my jaw and reduces my sex drive, but the former can be counteracted and the latter is unnoticeable at lower doses. Please try to relax OP, and give it a couple of weeks to start working.

Also, I too have palpitations but completely unrelated to anxiety. Does it feel like your heart skips a beat, and then starts absolutely racing with no gradual rise? If so, you can often stop them by taking a deep breath and holding it for as long as possible. It may take two or three attempts, but it often tricks your heart in to skipping another beat and returning straight to its normal bpm.