Sertraline

[Stephanie33]

Hi everyone. Looking for some advice about Sertraline.
I've suffered from anxiety since my daughter was born 7 years ago. Usually ive managed to cope with it reasonably well with the occasional up and down periods.
This year though seems to have tested me and the past 2 weeks I've had the worst time with anxiety and panic attacks. My anxiety has even got so bad that it makes me feel like I'm choking or can't swallow food properly and I've lost a lot of weight in 2 weeks.
This morning my Dr prescribed me Sertraline 50mg and I am terrified to take them in case I get worse.
Does anyone have any experience on this medication??

@mumof4males that sounds really tough.

If it helps I already had diazapam and tried taking it once but I find it wipes me out for the rest of the next day - if I was in a position where I could sleep for 10/11 hours it would be great but a small child+lockdown+working from home meant that itsnt a possibility. You could also try going back to the GP and asking for diazepam or similar if you find you have trouble sleeping. Not everyone does though - some find it makes them more drowsy. Also maybe be open to changing the time you take it - some people find taking it in the evenings best but others the morning...

Just to add it does get better, after a few weeks as it starts having a positive effect on your mood, so keep going

I've tried lots and lots of ADs and in different combinations and sertraline is by the far the best for me. I generally take the max dose although I'm actually on more than that at the moment. Good luck to all those just starting on it

hope I can join.
I started 50mg 5 days ago and decided after 3 days of relentless nausea to try 25mg for a fee days and then increase. so much better but dreading upping it back to 50mg

Just to update you all. My gp called and told me to stop taking the sertraline immediately. Between the high heart rate, no sleep and the extreme sweating he thinks it's just not agreeing with me. He's putting me on 5mg of diazepam to give me a few days rest and then he will draw up another plan for me with the mental heath nurse

Well done for giving them a go Stephanie33 and for not giving up even though these weren't right for you. Fingers crossed the new drug is better and does the trick.

I've just taken my first dose of Sertraline tonight and really hope they work but like you if they don't I will seek a replacement.

I really need this feeling of anxiety to go now and the constant teariness and feeling low. Onwards and upwards as they say.

I somehow missed the last update! It sounds like at least the doctors are om the ball and actively trying to find something that works for you. Hope they manage to figure out the right medecine soon

Hey all can I join? Just picked up sertraline today and am nervous about taking them tomorrow morning. I have two tinies and have to look after them on my own when my husband works (12 hour shifts) so really hoping it won't be too bad :(

Hey biscuit sorry I've only just seen this. I have to say I'm definitely one of the lucky ones I had not nausea or heart palpitations at all but am suffering from waking in the night needing to wee a lot (tmi) and enhanced anxiety (this should settle). The other thing I got was blurred vision with things up close first thing in the morn but that has now stopped. I've taken 6 tablets now. How are you getting on?

Hey there, on day 7 now I think and I've had a really easy ride of it. Slight nausea the first day then nothing out of the ordinary at all. Was really anxious yesterday but a bit better today which is quite normal for me. Fingers crossed it will all improve! Glad to hear it's going well for you too

That's good to hear. Fingers crossed for you. The only thing still bothering me is the waking constantly needing to go to the toilet. Does anyone know if this subsides eventually? Today will be day 12 for me.

Out of interested what time do you take the tablet? I take mine at 7.30pm and this might be why I'm up all night peeing!!

Hi everyone I'm in the process of switching from Fluoxetine to Sertraline. Have been on Fluoxetine for over 7 years and its not really helping any more.

So I've had a few days at half my usual dose, today is first day without it, on Monday i start taking 25mg Sertraline for a few days then up to 50.

I was pretty rough starting the Fluoxetine - nausea and deadly anxiety so am a bit apprehensive. Useful to hear people have had diazepam to help.

I really need it to work as struggling with c-ptsd, anxiety some depression. 2 dcs one asd one also ptsd, bipolar ex who I'm starting to think has been gaslighting me and about to start divorce process...

mumof4males sorry to hear you've had such an awful time. My last 10 years have been a similar catalogue of awfulness.

Covid on top of all that is really, really hard.

I'm taking it in the morning about 9 am at the moment. No change in night waking to pee so far

ok well 2 days in and i don't need the laxative i usually take iykwim Psych has started me on 25mg as i was v ill when started fluoxetine years ago. Seems like a good decision!

taking it in morning after breakfast

Hi everyone, I just wanted to update you. I re-started Sertraline a few days ago and had an absolutely dreadful day yesterday. It turns out two of the vitamin supplements I’ve been taking are contraindicated with Sertraline, so I managed to accidentally give myself seratonin syndrome. I honestly thought I was dying.
PLEASE ensure you aren’t taking anything which reacts with Sertraline.

This said, Sertraline really helped me loads in the past - I was just careless this time. I intend to restart it in about 5 days when my system’s cleared.

@Jennygentle oh no that sounds horrible! Hope you're ok. It just says on mine not to have grapefruit with it but are there other things too?

Wow I just looked it up and looks like my migraine pills that were prescribed a few weeks before sertraline are a no-go! Just as well I've not had a migraine!

If you look up seratonin syndrome on Wikipedia, it lists the things you mustn’t mix with Sertraline.

Do check - I’m wondering if some of the severe side effects described this thread might be linked to it.?

Anyone had bad headaches as side effect when starting Sertraline?

@Stephanie33 I know this is a really old post but I was hoping you may be able to help as I was reading about your anxiety and choking trouble swallowing food, I'm having the exact same issues and seem to have developed a bit of a phobia over eating, can I ask did you get this sorted?