Starting Sertraline, how bad will the next few weeks be?

[toomuchpanic]

I have been suffering from severe panic attacks for 5 weeks, They started at the same time as an illness but haven’t gone away, my gp has prescribed propranolol which isn’t really helping, I have had blood tests and I am waiting on the results.

GP has suggested starting Sertraline, I’ve picked up the prescription this morning but some of the side effects ( increased anxiety/panic etc) are really worrying me, I’ve been struggling over the last 5 weeks and I’m not sure I could cope with these symptoms getting worse.

Can anyone reassure me that the next few weeks won’t be as bad as I think they will be or give me any advice?
Any help at all is appreciated, Thank you

I'm 4 weeks into taking setraline and honestly it's been life changing.
My Dr advised me to take half a tablet for the first 4 days then on to a full tablet and I did feel a little spaced out on the first day of a full tablet but I've not had any of the side effects that you get warned about and many people don't.

Thank you, I didn’t think about lowering the dose for a few days that really makes sense, I’m glad it it is helping you, would you mind me asking how long it took to feel a difference?

Same as above, I didn't get any terrible side effects either just a spaced out feeling for a few days which I actually quite liked. I started on 25mg and went up to 50 mg after 10 days and been on that dose since September.

@toomuchpanic I has increased panic and thought I would have to stop but push thru they work after 2-4 weeks x

Honestly, i felt pretty awful the first 2 weeks when i started them - but not sure how much of that was the underlying anxiety/panic anyway. But it wasn't a fun time. Your Dr should prescribe you some diazepam or similar to get you through any start up side effects. For me it took 6/8 weeks to get going but i know of many people who have found relief sooner.

That is my biggest concern, I’ve been struggling with constant panic since the beginning of Jan and have no idea what caused it, the idea of it getting worse before it gets better worries me but I might start on the half dose for a few days and see how it goes

1 week of panic attacks, I took some Valium. Get it prescribed, it’s something well known to happen

Week 2 I felt good already though so it doesn’t last long.

You might be absolutely fine. It's very difficult to tell how anyone will react to antidepressants. I've been on a few different ones, I've never had increased anxiety as a symptom. My side effects are usually dizziness/weird head feelings and being more emotional (crying more easily for example). But it fades and it's worth it if the drugs work for you.

You may want to ask your GP about trying beta blockers (like propanolol) for panic attacks if you find you get more or you're not coping. They work differently to antidepressants. They don't affect you mentally, they just block the physical adrenaline feelings. Wonderful stuff. You can take it alongside sertraline.

I found the hardest side effect was nausea. Never actually sick but constantly felt it. Lots of peppermint tea and soft mints were consumed.

It will be all worth it though; hope you feel more like yourself soon.

It'll be fine. I had it for years then stopped. Restarted a few weeks ago and feel like myself again.

Can you think of anything that may have triggered it? Overtiredness? Change in diet, too much alcohol? Could you be perimenopausal?

Presume your Dr will have done standard blood tests to rule out low vitamin & iron, thyroid etc?

Thank you I have 12 x 2mg tablets of diazepam that were prescribed two weeks ago my gp said they wouldn’t issue any more for a month so I have been trying not to use them just incase

I’ve had two years of intense stress including the illness and loss of an immediate family member, accident involving another immediate family member, I could make an entire list of things that have happened over the last 2 years, it has been non stop but I’ve coped with everything and looked after everyone else ( possibly ignored my own health a little too much?)

I woke with a sinus infection 1st jan and felt claustrophobic/couldn’t breathe, it started panic attacks and neither the infection or panic have left me since

I do think I am very very run down.

I had blood tests 2 weeks ago, a few results including my white blood count were abnormal and they were retaken again today, I’m hoping to have the results back this week and I have a GP appointment next week.

I am 52, I am perimenopausal, I’ve been on HRT for 4 years, the panic attacks are an entirely new thing.
I’m usually a very practical calm person but this has really hit me hard, I don’t feel like myself at all.

That is reassuring to hear, thank you

It worked fairly fast but gave me the runs at first and nausea too but I felt fine about it 😂

Sometimes these things can crop up when we're just overwhelmed and are down on resilience. I always find tiredness is a big trigger for me. Sounds like your infection and this panic are going hand in hand though - does your Dr think there is a link - in which case might the panic not go away once your infection is under control?

I'd also look at your HRT and make sure it's enough as sudden unexplained anxiety can be a massive issue in peri (I know this myself).

@toomuchpanic peri and menopause have so much to answer for!!

They really do. I thought i was going totally insane having never had any MH issues in my life before.

I didn’t have any side effects at all!

I started Sertraline on Friday, so far have had waves of feeling nauseous and I am more sleepy. I find taking it with food (I had a dry cereal this morning) has helped a little with the nausea. To me it feels like travel sickness.

I did consider it may be my HRT, I’m on 75mg patches, I did increase them a while ago to 100mg but felt they were too strong so decreased back to 75mg, I have on several occasions recently changed the patch a day later than I should as I was unable to get hold of any more patches and was trying to make them last but since the start of my panic issues I have made sure to change the patches on the correct days.

That is really good to hear, Thank you

Thank you, feelings of travel sickness etc I can cope with I’m just really worried about the tablets amplifying the panic effects.

Do most people find it best to take them in the morning or evening?

I've just started too. On day 4 so far 🫂