Too scared to start Sertraline

[BlackCatFan]

Hi,

I just wondered if anyone else has experienced this or has any advice please?
I was prescribed 50mg sertraline before Christmas and I haven't started it yet. The GP asked me to make an appointment 2 weeks later to see how I was getting on but obviously I didn't make that appointment. This makes me nervous that GP might think I'm just messing about which I'm not.

I'm scared about the side effects. I tried citalopram about 10 years ago when I had some mild depression and I became suicidal after the 2nd or 3rd tablet with some very intense ideations and plans. It was so terrifying. I was living alone at the time and found things difficult due to dizziness and sickness, I remember walking down the street one day and everything suddenly looked strange, I looked down at the floor and it was coming up at me, like I was on LSD or some other drug.

My depression and anxiety has been very bad and in order for me to go back to work (I'm off sick at the moment after leaving a new job due to my symptoms, which happened in September last year) I realise I need to get an anti depressant into my system .. I live with my DP and he is starting to get annoyed with me being out of work. I've tried to explain my situation but he doesn't understand.

I plan to cut up my tablet and start on 12.5mg and go up slowly. I'm so scared I'll be suicidal again. I tried to tell my GP about my past experience and he didn't want to know.. just wanted me off the phone quickly. I under they're busy but as ridiculous as this is it is very serious for me.

In an ideal world I've have a short hospital stay or something with someone holding my hand while I take this drug and monitoring me at all times..... :(

If I take it and find that I have some horrible side effects, how long will the drug stay in my body for? I worry about being stuck with side effects for days...

Sorry that was long!

I'm actually in the same situation today.. I've been having panic attacks and dr gave me sertraline before Christmas..I took the first one around this time last night and it caused me a massive panic attack and I ended up in a&e until midnight. Having chest xrays and ecg.. I'm petrified of taking another today and was just looking for advice..if I was you I'd cut it in half and take it at bedtime andthenin the morning.. I wish I'd done that now. Xx

@michelle222 so sorry to hear what you've been through 😔 what a nightmare

I'm on 150mg now. Starter in November. At first it probably did get a bit worse but I was in such a state I didn't really care.

Now I feel much, much better and really do put a lot of it down to the drug.

Take it with caution. You know the drug could cause exaggerated symptoms. Keep remembering that. Are you on your own this time?

Sorry I've just probably read your post.

Start taking it. Give yourself four weeks with it and make sure dp realises it could get worse before it gets better. I can understand him being frustrated if you don't try.

I was like this back in April last year, was prescribed citalopram but was too scared to take it. I eventually did in September but had to come off it in December as the side affects were awful (night sweats,bruising, dizziness) and I couldn't cope. I've now been on sertraline a week but I was very cautious and kept putting it off for the first week.

Antidepressants affects different people in so many ways! I was put on it after a stressful period last year for anxiety. I got terrible hot flashes and palpitations I thought I was losing my mind. I can safely say my experience is not a reflection of how you will cope but the first few weeks are always intense. I still had hot flashes after 4 months and the GP put me on Venlafaxine.

I'm on 50mg and started NYD. I hate the nausea, the lack of appetite and the disturbed sleep. But the side effects of the pill only last a couple of weeks. And the mental balance it gives far outweighs the side effects for me. OP, take the leap and remember, it's for the better. If you cut your finger off, you wouldn't leave it open to the air would you?

I can understand this completely. I was so nervous about starting sertraline because I'd been on it before and remembered the start up side effects - I started with half a tablet every day and felt a bit spaced out for a couple of weeks but it didn't make my anxiety worse and then I increased to a whole tablet after the two weeks and had no side effects at all. Maybe try half a tablet when you feel like you are ready or have someone to keep you company. Hope it helps you I find it a very good medication.

Thanks for the replies. I don't know what to do, some days are awful, some like today are fine. But good days are really few and far between.
I've just been offered a job, I won't start yet but I'm terrified now. I don't think I can go back to work full time. I'm going to think about it all tomorrow, although I have accepted the offer.

It's my anxiety that's bad, my depression is ok at the moment.

I'm on 200mg of sirtraline and I have absolutely no side effects at all. I started on a 100mg dose and I've never had any bad effects. You can only try it and see how it goes.

Citalopram made me feel absolutely awful.

I'm on 150mg on sertraline and it has changed my life so much for the better.

@thaegumathteth that sounds really positive, thanks

Just wanted to say that the first two weeks for me on citalopram I felt as if I was high. It was not a great feeling. I have been on it for ten years now for panic disorder. It has been a life saver for me.

I know it seems difficult but the long-term benefits may be worth it for you

Please take it if you think it will even slightly help you. I was prescribed it and held off for so long, until unfortunately the depression got so bad that I had no other option but to take it. A few very mild symptoms for a week and by month two I felt better. You won’t regret taking it. Sooner the better!

I'm on day 20. Did 6 days at 50mg, 9 at 75mg but made me too spacey, now 5 days back at 50mg. Had increased anxiety and would pace around chanting to myself I was safe and was only a feeling until it passed.
Used this

https://www.itsjustafeeling.co.uk/panicissatrick

Am feeling much calmer, still anxiety flutters but manageable.
My issue is it stops me from sleeping. At one point 3 nights with no sleep. Have now been given Zopliclone for 7 nights.