Is sertraline making me too confident?!

[ncyetagain8222]

I started taking sertraline 3 weeks ago (50mg a day) and it's done absolute wonders for my anxiety. I feel so much calmer compared to how I was before and can barely believe the difference. Life suddenly feels so much more manageable.

However, as someone who's always suffered hugely from social anxiety in particular, I'm a bit worried that it might be making me lose my inhibitions to the point where it's a bit too much?

To give an example, I met up with a couple of colleagues recently and noticed I was far chattier than usual, to the point where I felt it was possibly too much (i.e. talking about myself too much and not listening enough to others). I was also far more open about myself than I would have been previously, because I felt a lot more relaxed and confident to be myself.

Is this the sertraline working, and has it thrown up another issue, where the "true" me is now coming out and perhaps I don't like that person too much?

Curious to know whether anyone else can relate...

But agree it is unsettling having to reorientate your perception of yourself.

@littleburn this describes it so well! I might lay off the alcohol for a month or two and see if that helps…

@ncyetagain8222

But agree it is unsettling having to reorientate your perception of yourself.

@littleburn this describes it so well! I might lay off the alcohol for a month or two and see if that helps…

You shouldn't drink on Sertraline OP so that may well be it. I know my tolerance for booze way dropped after I started - 2 drinks would get be hammered!

Thanks. I’m so worried I made an absolute fool of myself

Sorry to ask a different question but did any of you have itchy skin when you first started sertraline? Did it settle down if you did?

Oh just going to read comments on this thread! I’m not on medication but this sounds like exactly what I need.. deal with the over chatty issue at a later date. The only issue for me is, can you drink alcohol while on the medication? Is it taken daily? I don’t drink much but what if I took it before work that morning for example then we had dinner with drinks that night, could I have a glass of wine or can you just not drink at all?

So you’ve answered my question in the comments it seems.. some of the things I read sounded like it was a complete no-go to drink and extremely bad things would happen so at least I wouldn’t have to not drink at all maybe. I’m going back to work after mat leave and the anxiety of it has totally ruined my time off. I dread every interaction involved in it and the thought of having to speak infront of colleagues. It’s almost making me want to quit my job.

Worried if I start taking this I won’t stop though as I’ve had this issue for just over 2 years (it was before the pandemic started). I’d hate to have another baby and have to take this while pregnant when I’ve already been pregnant and survived with nothing, stopped taking my beta blockers for work and everything but really had to just keep my head down and breeze through the day as quick as possible

I had this too when I started on Sertraline. I felt like I was on a high. It did settle though.

SSRI- induced mania/hypomania is a well-documented phenomenon. Not saying this is necessarily what's happening here, but good to be aware. Any other symptoms of hypomania OP?