Sertraline starter...horrible side effects

[Keeley87]

Hi all,

Looking for some shared advice/experiences for anyone who has been on Sertraline.
My GP isn't open this weekend so wanted to reach out on here for general opinions in the mean time, as it's always been help for for me x

Anyway, I started 50mg of sertraline yesterday and experienced crazy racing heart for a while which subsequently sent me into a bit of a panic. I'm having a look in side effects and doesn't mention a racing heart but it was so awful it's put me off wanting to take it again for fear of that happening!

Anyone else had Similar or is that a 'I wouldn't touch that any more' side effect do you think?

Thanks as always
K x

I have taken Sertraline on and off for years without any problems at all, except last time it gave me two weeks of dreadful nausea, I have health anxiety anyway from having had cancer so I was convinced I had cancer back in some form or other!

The side effects I usually last about 2 weeks and after that I’ve always found it an ok AD to take.

I think sometimes if you expect side effects you are hyper alert to them which in turn leads to anxiety and panic.
I would see how you are today taking them and give it a few days to settle down, maybe ask the Dr Monday x

I think you need to give it longer - I got a huge range of side effects from sertraline when I first started taking them, including weird stuff like my jaw clenching, as well as the usual nausea etc.

If it were me, I would ignore the racing heart if you can - not easy I know if you're on them for anxiety - keep taking them and speak to your doctor on Monday if you're still worried. All antidepressants will have side effects and you do need to ride it out to some extent. As @guiltymumofkids says, if you're on the alert for side effects it can make it worse if you do notice something out of the ordinary.

When you get horrible side affects try and logically think that this is a huge serotonin surge that is causing this. It's your body receiving a massive hit of hormone and this is just your bodies way of dealing with it. Your body will eventually settle down and get used to this hormone but right now it's surging and these side affects are happening because of this.

I always find having a logical reason why helps me.

I started sertraline 50mg in may.
I felt really quite unwell for the first 10 days - nausea, diarrhoea, fatigue, confusion. I also had episodes of feeling really on edge.
BUT I feel loads better now!! It's really helped my anxiety.
They say it takes 4-6 weeks to settle fully.

Do persevere.it took me a good 6 weeks to feel better and even now occasionally get some adverse effects. But it’s so worth it. It’s turned my life around

Thanks lovely's. I think what doesn't help is that when I read NHS website it says contact your GP straight away if you experience a racing heart and have taken too much.
I've only taken the dose given but I think this put the fear in me too that it wasn't normal and now I'm so worried to take it again.

Drink loads of water with it. Advice someone gave me when I started that really helped. All I’ve got sorry. It does settle down after a couple of weeks though, although I still get side effects if I miss a dose.

For my first 2 weeks on sertraline my jaw hurt, I had tummy ache and generally wanted to hide from the world. After that it was fine and got LOADS better !!!

My dad had a terrible reaction to sertraline it literally landed him in A and E suicidal almost ended up in MH hospital. Wouldn't touch it.

I took sertraline for 8 weeks and never felt better, in fact I have never felt worse in my life, give it two to 3 weeks and if you don’t feel at least the usual normal by then go back to your doctor and ask them to let you try a different ADs.

My OH is on Sertraline to cope with severe anxiety attacks - they have got much worse since taking the tablets and his GP just suggests increasing the dosage. Its been an horrendous 4 weeks - 2am every night he wakes with racing heart, dry heaving, sweating, shaking so hard the bed wobbles etc. Hes phoning the GP again today to request a different prescription as he's made huge progress with talking therapies - its just the physical stuff that's dragging him down!

How are you OP I tried stertraline too. Day five I was woken with a racing heart, felt terrible. I have high blood pressure and was terrified I was going to have a heart attack. I phoned the Dr the next day she said not to take anymore, she wanted to give me Prozac instead but I was too scared to try anything else. So still struggling with anxiety.

Hey @Katyy,
I'm sorry to hear you had that experience. It must have been so scary! It sounds like ours were very similar, I called 111 who told me to stop taking too but I haven't reached back out to my doctors yet for fear that other medication may give me the same reaction. I'm still struggling with anxiety myself. I had diazepam in the interim but if I'm honest that didn't do anything either.
I'm looking to start some CBT therapy and and very two minded about medication and whether to try something new. I hope you find a resolution and something that works for you x

So many of us seem to be in this position. I'm another one who tried sertraline and it was a disaster. Currently struggling on without medication except the occasional diazepam. What is the answer for us?

MiL has recently been prescribed sertraline for depression. She was told to take half a 50mg tablet for 3 weeks to start with before taking 1x daily.

Seemingly has had no issues ( that she has talked about )