Too scared to take sertraline

[Cinders29]

I've been prescribed sertraline for anxiety.

I've suffered anxiety for years, and I had been on sertraline for about 7 years. I came off them about 4 years ago after counselling and I've been great since, up until about 6 weeks ago when I had a random panic attack and it's just started it all off again 😩 I've started counselling but doctor has said as I have quite a stressful life ( son with special needs ) she thinks it's best I take medication too.

I know it's so ridiculous as I've been on them before and I cannot remember having any really bad side effects when I first started , speaking to friends that have been on them that have had bad effects has made me not want to, I keep telling myself I actually don't need them - when I probably do.

Also, as it's the holidays I'm frightened incase I'm so bad on them and I'm alone with both the kids.

I'm also just so gutted I'm having to go down this route again after finally being free of them.

Can anyone give me experiences ( positive lol ) that will help me to just do it.

I’ve just started taking them again after not taking them for a few years.

The first day was pretty horrific, I didn’t sleep that night and was really spaced out and jittery all the next day.
But the second day it settled down and I slept fine all night, and didn't feel half as bad. I’m on day 5 now and feel fine. I think it’s going to take a while for the anxiety to completely go but I do feel a lot calmer already.

I've been on sertraline for 10 years & it has genuinely been a great help to me for anxiety & depression. Am on 150mg now, can't imagine how I'd cope with my everyday situation otherwise (lots of stress & many problems that I won't go into).
I'd recommend you to follow your GP's advice, perhaps clearing a bit of space in your diary if you can, for those first few days.
If you do feel side effects initially, especially if mood-related, try to tell yourself that they aren't real & in fact are part of your road to a better emotional & mental state.
Wishing you success & peace x

Thanks both, would it be ok to start on 12.5mg or is that just silly? They've told me to start on 25mg

Honestly, I'd do what I was told because I like to believe that my doctors know best - reckon that goes with my own special anxieties though!
However, if a couple of day on 12.5 helps ease you into 25, then do it.
I know it's easy to say (& perhaps a tad ironic in the circumstances) but really, just do it.
Please let us know how you go on x

You will be absolutely fine. I remember feeling a little more anxious for the first couple of weeks but I think that was probably me getting over anxious!

I started on 50mg. I would go straight for the dose you were prescribed, get steady and then take it from there.

You have done really well to seek help, no point struggling on when there is something which works for you. You can taper off again when you feel good but there's no rush.

I was put straight on to 100mg, but since having done some research on line looks quite high as a starting dose. I assume the dr knows what she was doing though, I was prescribed it for anxiety and PND.

It saved my life but I was not going to take it either. I would 100% give it a go

Thanks all - I dunno whether to wait until kids are back - I'm prob making excuses but I'm so scared to feel bad and have them on my own.

They go back in 2.5 weeks

You know that muzzy head you get when the weather's really hot and you get a headache and just feel generally under the weather? It's like that for me but only for a few days, nothing horrific. They're the gentlest ADs going.

I find it helps to keep a bit of a diary and write it all down. Compare yourself more objectively. So Day 1 expect to feel like shit but introduce them into your body gradually. Day 2. Maybe a bit worse. But Day 3 a little better. By end of Week 1 really feeling better than Day 1. End of Week 2. Wow. Look at me compared to Day 1!!

A way of just feeling a little more in control. That you expect to feel a little weird. But it will soon pass.

Maybe wait till kids go back?

They are my friend (the pills) not my enemy. Something to keep onside. Not avoid. I came off ADs for a few years and really did end up in a pickle.

Going back on sertraline was the best thing I ever did. I'm not looking to stop taking them.

PS. Remember. The stomach upset stuff soon passes too!! But worth bearing in mind.

Thank you 😊

I can cope with an upset stomach, nausea, headaches even but a few friends reported feeling spaced out, wired etc and that I'm scared of. Feeling spaced out is a big trigger for me, so much so I refused ANY pain relief during labour especially gas and air because I'd rather feel in control and in agony 🙈

I've no family close by if I get in a mess and need help with the kids - however dh is off back end of this week..

I started sertraline 50mg about three weeks ago and felt really spaced out and not sleeping and more anxious for about the first ten days. I am starting to generally feel a lot better now. I understand it's hard at first though.

I am on week 8 of 50mg sertraline and from what I understand, it takes about 2 weeks to get through the initial side effects and then can take up to 12 weeks to get to feeling level and better. If you need to increase your dose, it can mean 'starting again' in terms of side effects and the 12 week timeline so if I were you I would take the prescribed dose and stick with it for 12 weeks to see if it's enough

Hey Cinders, how are you?
X

Yes a lot people I've spoken to have felt spaced out at 50mg. Maybe I'll feel not as bad at 25mg.

I've been ok, had low level anxiety all week and a bit down. Last night I had a couple of drinks and felt really panicky and had to go bed ( literally only had 2 and it normally calms me down ) and then woke up feeling really down and anxious. We were away in a cottage and have had to leave to come home so I'm feeling crap today tbh. Just like I'm not really with it or participating with life. Just existing and it feels shit. I have moments where I feel ok and start to feel positive but then start feeling crap again.

I know I need to take the tablets but struggling to take the leap in case I'm bad. I've no one local to help out if I feel bad, husband really busy at work and a toddler and child with special needs so feel stuck 😩

I've taken 12.5mg - I'm freaking out I'm in bed ( luckily husband is off work today but he isn't for the rest of the week ) I know I'm just like this cus I took the tablet and it's not an actual side effect ( I can reason with myself as only took a small amount - im glad I didn't take 25mg else I really would be a mess )?

God I HATE anxiety I'm so so so sick of it

Just wanted to update in case anyone ever comes across this thread with the same problem.
Took another today, and apart from some initial tiredness I've felt really good all day - it's either the tablets or the fact my son has had a few seizures - obviously I don't feel great about that - I'm on edge as fuck about it however, I run on adrenaline I think when he needs me so gives me something else to focus on and tend to be less anxious in a weird way.

I'll try to document how I'm getting on as the weeks go by... I'm hoping I'll be ok to stick to 12.5mg I'm very reactive to medication - no matter what it is I remember when I was on 50mg it was way too high so always sat at 25mg but we will see.

@Cinders29 Thanks for the updates.
How are you today? Hope your meds have settled down & you still feel like you did on Tuesday.
Hope your son is doing well too.

One of my children takes it (125mg daily) and it has been life changing for her. It hasn’t eradicated all of her problems but it has definitely eased her symptoms and made day to day management of life much easier. She had side effects for the first couple of weeks and when she was titrating her dose but they were no harder to manage than her illness.

Dd has just started on it, 50mg she's on day 5 and has got over the worst of the side effects now. She's going to be on 100mg apparently. She's tried various kinds but gp has suggested this is better

Since being out of hospital, I've not had a great few days. Wake up feeling fine then I take the tablet and an hour or so after I'm having racing thoughts, restless etc ( im so glad I didn't jump into 25mg tbh ) luckily, it's bank holiday and my dh is off work so both yesterday and today I've been able to go back to bed for an hour or so and try to sort myself out. I wake up feeling ok, not great but better than earlier. Both days I've made sure I've got out early evening to go to a friends, Tbh when I'm there I feel uncomfortable like I just wanna go home and can't really face talking but afterwards I feel better for it.

Right now, I feel probably 95% normal. But I'm sure that'll soon change once I wake up and take the tablet. It's exhausting tbh - I just wanna feel like this all the time.

I'm wondering if taking it at night would help? But then I don't wanna be up all night either, which I've heard can happen.

My sons on 45mg ( liquid ) sertraline and he's doing great on it,

Hi OP, I feel the same, my GP prescribed it a year ago, I took one and was sick, spaced out and so so anxious, my teeth felt clenched too.
Anyway I couldn’t take another and for the past year I’ve tried to manage my symptoms but lately I can feel myself losing the battle and am thinking of giving them another go.
I’ve got some time off this week so tomorrow I’m going to take half of one.. 12.5mg!
How are you feeling?

If it's a 50mg tablet - half is 25mg so you'll need to quarter it ( it's a pain but I got a pill cutter )

I'm ok , as of tomorrow I'm going to go up to 25mg - I've def been a bit better these last couple of days now the side effects have subsided a bit but I know I'm going to need more than 12.5 plus it's such a pain cutting them at least with 25mg I'll know I'm getting the same dose each time.

Let me know how you get on, I'd def recommend starting slow though. X

Took my first 25mg today and so far so good 👍🏼 no side effects at all really other than about 2 hours after taking I came over really tired but that passed.

May change over the next few days but I'm definitely feeling better already and start counselling on Monday so am finally feeling as if there could be a light 😀