Sertraline hell

[icepops22]

Hello, I'm new to the forum and desperately needs some help/advice.
Day 5 of sertraline for severe anxiety and I feel dreadful-cannot sleep, cannot eat, shivering and feel on the edge of a breakdown.
I know side effects can be pretty grim in the first few weeks but this is so bad.
Has anyone gone through this? Thanks

@icepops22 sorry you're going through this. I felt exactly the same when I started taking sertraline. The first week was the most difficult. Week two was a bit easier and since then things have steadily improved.

I know how tough it feels, but stick with it if you possibly can. I'm so glad that I did.

There's a sertraline hand holding thread in the mental health board. Do join us there if you'd like some support getting to grips with it. Or if you have a read of the thread you'll see that lots of people have found that things can unfortunately get worse before they get better.

Haven’t much advice except drink loads of water.

So sorry OP. Stick with it, but do let your GP know how you are feeling. It is common.

Yes, tell your GP. I was awful on citalopram - really bad, but when I switched to sertraline I was a lot better.

Sorry you're feeling like this OP! I felt very similar, and very nauseous I wanted to stop taking them. I persevered and am now 4 months in and feel much better. I think the first week is the worst, second week was better then after that was back to normal x

It should improve within a fortnight. I never did shake the nausea unfortunately.
After trying a variety of different SSRIs I concluded that they just didn’t suit me, but actually got on much better with a tricyclic, lofepramine. Initial side effects
for me was blood pressure dropping when I stood up but that settled in time.

My GP said different antidepressants will have those side effects for different people. I was on Citalopram which made me feel exactly like you are. After the first one I was literally sobbing to DH as I was so scared to take the second one because I couldn’t face another day feeling so ill.
I lost 6lb in weight and the health visitor phoned the GP because I felt so awful - I couldn’t eat and drink, was dehydrated and too weak to do anything.
I was switched to Sertraline which I felt rough on for a few days but nothing compared to the Citalopram. But the way Sertraline is making you feel is common and it will get better. Try to eat and drink small amounts if you can. If you get to the point where you can’t continue feeling so ill please phone your Gp and asked to be switched because I know how awful it feels. Hope you start to feel better soon!!

Hi, I went on this 2 years ago for anxiety so bad it totally dilapidated me. When I went on it my anxiety went through the roof. I stuck it out for a year and came off it. Didn’t work for me, made it worse, but I know it does help for other people. Good luck with it. I do know for the first 2 weeks it can make all your symptoms 100% worse. Hope you feel better soon xx