Sertraline help

[clpsmum]

I have today been prescribed sertraline. I do not have any depression but I have crippling anxiety, intrusive thoughts, overthinking and panic attacks. I've just read the leaflet and then a thread on here that for the first few weeks it can actually make all these things worse. Has anyone experienced this? I really can't cope with things getting any worse than they already are and I just don't know what to do. Any help is greatly appreciated

What dosage did the gp start you off on? @clpsmum

@nopenotplaying started me on 50mg but to be reviewed after four weeks

How is everybody doing today? I'm struggling tbh

Struggling also! Sending hugs xx

@Whycantgiraffesdance what's happening are you anxious? I'm here if you want to talk. Keep going xx

Yes very anxious! Been on my new ADs for 3 weeks and feel like they are heightening my anxiety at the moment 🤯 I know it takes time but I’m not very patient and just want to feel well! How about u @clpsmum ? X

@Whycantgiraffesdance oh no that's awful. This is what I was scared of the most. I am on day 8 and feeling very down and anxious today.

I don't expect that all the symptoms you have are medication related. That is a low dose. I think sometimes we just get anxious about being anxious! Waiting for the side effect to kick in. Sounds like your doctor is taking it steady. I'm now on 200mg with some other things too such as Pregabalin. I read the recent news about Pregabalin the other day and spent 48 hours with all the side effects I'd never once had in the 2 years I've been taking it 🙈 hang in there xxx

Hang in there @clpsmum it’s still really early days with your meds and they often make u feel worse before they kick in and make a positive difference x

I've been taking it for twenty years (with a break during pregnancy). I remember being zombie like for the first 3 weeks, I'd wished I'd taken annual leave at that time. But I expect everyone's different.
It has changed my life incredibly; I can philosophise my way through most things, I rarely react dramatically, which can be a bit flat but I also feel great joy at times.

Things will get better. I was in a bad place during covid. I would say minimal side effects other than a bit light headed for first 3 days, day 4-7 were the worst. I was so anxious my stomach literally felt like a washing machine. Some weird dreams. But that was it, and it was very much worth it. After about 8 weeks I felt like someone just dialled down my stress level by about 50 notches. Everything was clearer and nothing too much hassle. I couldn’t believe the difference it made.
good luck you will be just fine x

Thank you for the reassurance everyone. Feeling awful today feel like I'm constantly experiencing a mild panic attack k and can't breathe and the nausea is terrible. Feel so anxious. Hoping I can keep busy and get through the day

This seems to be the worst day by far and it's so early 😩

It may be a good idea to give your gp a call. They will sometimes prescribe a short course of diazepam or similar to relieve the side effects. Or they may even suggest you try something different. If your symptoms are severe it's worth having a chat about it xx

@clpsmum I’m so sorry you are having an awful time, absolutely call your GP this morning and ask for a prescription for diazepam and possibly propanol.
They should offer both short term while the side effects settle.

I’m on day 11 today and while I still have a dreadful headache I’ve only had mild anxiety and I’ve taken the diazepam twice but it is reassuring that I have it if needed.

Agree with above poster. Sertraline is treating the illness but not really the symptoms of the illness so sometimes you need to take short term medication for the symptoms. My GP described it as the paracetamol for the pain that comes with the leg that you are slowly fixing.

But also, no matter how bad the panic, put one foot in front of the other. It’s very hard I know! But do one thing. Anything. You need to kickstart the other hormones to override the adrenaline.

How are you @SantaBarbaraMonica

Sorry wrong tag! @clpsmum xxx

Hope everyone feeling better and can get a good sleep. I got so easily distracted and fall behind with work

Game changer. I sleep like a log. I'm totally calm in situations that I couldn't manage.

If you knew me, you'd think I was the woman I was before I needed them.

@clpsmum How are you feeling today? I hope today is a better day for you?
Did you manage to get a GP appointment?

Thank you everyone for checking in. Had a tricky couple elf days and anxiety was through the roof but seems to have eased a bit today. How is everybody else doing? Has anyone who is a fairly new sertraline user noticed any difference yet? I haven't only side effects!!

@clpsmum I’m glad you are having a better day, it is day 13 for me, I haven’t noticed very much difference yet, I am still having mild anxiety/panicky feelings for a few hours after taking my tablet but nothing to severe.

I have started slowly moving towards taking it earlier in the day as I don’t sleep very well at the best of times but taking it in the evenings worked better for me to start with due to work commitments.

Although I haven’t seen much improvement yet I will say that the side effects for me so far haven’t been anywhere near as bad as I had thought they would be, I put off taking the tablets for several weeks because I was so worried over the side effects, if I had taken them when they were prescribed I would hopefully have seen the benefits by now.

Hopefully over the next week we all start seeing improvements.

I'm on day 13 today. My side effects haven't been too bad - a bit of anxiety, weird jaw shuddering (like shivering), a bit spaced out at times.

One thing that changed from day 1 is my sleep. I used to sleep really well but for the past couple of years I haven't. I'm back to my old sleep pattern now so that has been great.

I didn't think my mood had lifted much but, on consideration, I haven't been crying as much as I did. My depression is mainly due to grief and bereavement and I've cried daily for many months. I don't think I have cried as much in these past few days.