Sertraline side effects - reassurance needed

[wonderwomaninaus]

I've started taking sertraline for anxiety and panic attacks. I'm on day 3 and feel awful. I feel really wired and edgy and a bit dizzy. My jaw is clenching a lot, I feel a bit nauseous and the worst is, I can't sleep. Waking all hours of the morning and not been able to go back to sleep. The pharmacist said side effects will wear off, just wondered if anyone could share their experience with me and when I might expect to start feeling better?

Thanks @OhpoorMe, it's very reassuring. The hope that I will feel myself again soon, I think it's been a long time coming.

Only the first 7 days. They started me on a half dose, then I went to the full dose (50mg) after a week and stayed on that.

Hey OP.
I’ve been on this for 3 months. Initially I found the jump from 25-50 too much, so GP suggested doing one and half instead, equivalent to 37.5. I stayed there a while and then tried again at a later date to go to 50. I think for some of us a gradual build up can help. Although, you might be fine. Just an idea. Good luck.
x

@TreeHuggerMum1, I think I will try this. I'm quite sensitive to medications so think this is a great idea. How long did you stay at 37.5? I slept six hours straight last night which is great compared to last two nights, although had some strange dreams! Also not much appetite either.

I bought myself a pill cutter for a few quid. Worth every penny.
I did a month of 25. Then a month of 37.5. Then a few weeks of 43 before going up to 50. With three kids and a f/time job I couldn’t manage the early side effects when I jumped straight from 25 to 50. This was much more manageable. Good luck.

Thanks @TreeHuggerMum1, I also have a few children and a ft job, it's tough isn't it. Did you find 25mg helped with your anxiety? I tempted to stay here for a while as like you can't manage everything now and my DH is doing everything whilst I'm off work this week. Just don't know if 25mg will help at all, did it help you? Thanks for taking the time to reply, it really helps x

My doctor told me to only split pills that have a line already scored in the middle. Pills without a line don't have the same amount of the drug throughout the tablet. One side may be the drug and the other the filler.

I also remember my doctor telling me that the average therapeutic dose of sertraline for an adult is 50mg. So unless you are very petite 25mg is unlikely to give you the full effect.

25mg is usually prescribed in order to get somebody used to the drug before increasing the dose.

Thanks for the info @yhk. They do have a line in the middle, they are 50mg tabs and I have been taking half. I guess I'm on the petite side (54kg). These side effects have been intense, I'm just nervous to increase the dose but want enough to work obviously. Thanks again.

25 definitely takes the edge off. It doesn’t take away the anxiety and / panic. It just makes it more manageable. 37.5 was good, definitely saw a difference there. Felt like I got my life back. But still wobbles and anxiety in the background. 50 I am hoping is the magic number and will make me 100%.
I am very medication sensitive so have to be careful, hence low and slow. It isn’t a race.

It's 1am where I am. Not been able to sleep at all tonight and feeling highly anxious. My DH is upset with me as his sleep has been disrupted too, I was crying and he said you know what this is, why cant you control it? I don't think he understands anxiety and has been good up until now. I'm just really upset. Don't know why I'm posting again, just feel alone as it's the middle of the night.

I restarted a low dose last week, and have a headache and feel a bit sick. Feel better already but it may be the placebo effect.

Have you managed to sleep yet OP? Sometimes I think if you cant sleep it might be better to get out of bed and do a few stretches and read somewhere quietly/listen to an audio book. It can be hard when you share a bed, do you have a spare room you could use? Your DH is probably just being a bit grumpy as he’s being woken. The main thing is just to rest so try not to worry about not sleeping. What time are you taking your sertraline?

@Toddlerteaplease - great to hear you are feeling better! ☺️

@Squiggles23 thank you. I try to sleep but as I fall I'm jolted awake by anxiety. It's 3am now and I haven't slept a wink. This is the worst night so far and I'm on day 5 of the meds my sixth dose will be in the morning. I take it around 8:00. Although I did take it an hour late this morning, could this be it? Just feels like I'm getting more anxious and wonder if this is normal. Only on 25mg.

Also @Squiggles23 my DH went and slept downstairs in the end as wouldn't let me go down there. Will have to sort something else out as he has a physical job and can't go on like this. We don't have a spare room as have four kids. I just hope this is worth it.

No if you are taking it at 8am (or 9am) that shouldn’t be it but more likely body still adapting to it.

You are probably getting little bits of sleep without knowing it.

Try this, form a baby cobra pose (see pic below). From there take a deep breath, tip your head back as far as it will go, jaw wide open and breathe out.

Relax head back down into the pillow and then do it again two more times.

That causes some sort of release (don’t ask me what but a sleep expert told me!)

Then put either a sleep meditation or an audio book on your phone (YouTube) and just relax and listen to it. If you notice your mind thinking of other things just bring it back to listening.

How are you feeling now Aus? Hang on in there. X

Hi @TreeHuggerMum1, thanks for asking. It's now 5:15am and had sons broken sleep but just keep waking up. The same really. I just hope the side effects calm soon as I have to go back to work next week. Last night was the worst yet. Just feeling very tired and edgy now.

Thanks for the tips @Squiggles23, they did help somewhat.

I struggled with sleeping in the early days. I took over the counter sleep aids from the chemist. Really helped. It won’t last. I sleep like a log now and it’s only been 3 months. Can’t remember the last time I took something to help me sleep so definitely passed early on. X

I had this, felt high as a kite for a few days. Felt like I was in my clubbing days, not ideal in normal mature life!!!! Hopefully you should settle soon.

Also I stayed on 25mg for years despite gp saying it was a child’s dose, it took the edge off for me and i had previously suffered coming off ssri’s so didn’t want a high dose as they take forever to come off if you decide to.

I agree @Lovethatforyouhun, except it's just not fun like the clubbing days. I'm on day 6 now and 25mg has wiped my out. My jaw is so tight and I feel so strange still. These messages are helping me to power on and remind myself it's just the side effects.

Glad you're feeling better @TreeHuggerMum1, I might go to the chemist today about a sleep aid.

How are you feeling @PastyMuncher? Just seeing how your symptoms were going. I'm very tearful today.

You must be exhausted OP. You probably need a big cuddle.

Sorry you are having all these side effects I really hope it starts to ease up asap! X

Antidepressants affect everyone differently so your side effects may not necessarily align with other people's side effects and how or if they dissipate over time. If you find this intolerable then go back to your GP and ask for a different antidepressant because sometimes side effects are not worth going through and they do not go away, if you are on the medication for long enough, then you'll have to taper off in order to not have horrible withdrawal symptoms.

Personally, I would give it a week and see where you're at on day 7.