Sertraline withdrawal

[Lulabella22]

Will I get withdrawal symptoms after 6 days of 25mg?

Headaches, exhausted, eyes are heavy, head foggy, just feel awful. Also hurt my neck quite bad the same day I started the tablets for health anxiety and can't work out if symptoms are related to that or the tablets. This really isn't helping !

Any advice?

you’ve given it 6 days op

come on… it does get better it really does

but you really need to give it more than 6 days

No you won't.

Were you told what to expect with Sertraline? The symptoms are hard going for a few weeks before it kicks in. They completely changed my life and dealt with my anxiety but I had to hold on and get through those early weeks when they made it all a bit worse!

You should try to give it a few weeks at least. It really does get better. It can be very rough at first though.

No, you won't, I shouldn't have thought.

Also, please don't let anyone make you feel bad if you genuinely feel these tablets aren't for you. I've known from taking just one tablet of an antidepressant that it wasn't for me.

There are many different types of antidepressants and we're all individuals so what works for one person won't suit another.

I kept trying different treatments until I found the one that was perfect for me. I'm glad I did because this one really was a lifesaver.

Don't give up after just six days. No point in having started them unless you were prepared to stick it out for a couple of weeks.

However, if you do want to give up, I would either half the dose or half the frequency with which you are talking it. Just for a day or two and then half again and then stop. I don't imagine you would get withdrawal symptoms after so short a period but there's no harm in being cautious.

EDIT: I'm not a doctor or anything like that; just someone who has been on and off ADs a lot

Thank you all for your replies. I was told I may feel worse before I feel better but I just thought that was in terms of anxiety, which in all honesty hasn't been too bad. I feel like my head is full of cotton wool, my eyes slow to move and it's only on 25mg. The headaches are deep in my head. Is this all normal then? I don't feel safe to drive it feels that bad.

There is no normal, really. Every tablet is going to affect everyone differently.

It really depends on how you feel. If you can't stick feeling like this for weeks and weeks while you wait to adjust to this, then go back to your doctor.

I would say that whatever side effects you get, you'll continue to get a mild version of that for some time. So think about whether you could live with this if it was at, say, 20% of the level it is at now.

I don't think I can stick it out. I've been so sleepy today, had to take the afternoon off work. Headache has eased a bit which is something I guess. I do feel calmer, I've been on edge for a long time, but I think it's because I'm just too tired to care !

What time of day are you taking them?

Around 9am

Why not take them before bed instead of they're making you sleepy? It will wear off - promise!

As someone who takes sertraline, it can take weeks or months but it really does work. Wishing you all the best

@arlequin did you suffer from bad headaches and tiredness too? If so what where your headaches like? Hopefully you don't mind me asking. Thanks x

@Lulabella22 I felt absolutely dreadful and yes to headaches and tiredness. Your brain and body are adjusting but it's worth giving it 6 weeks (I know that's tough when you're feeling dreadful)

It's also worth thinking about whether the health anxiety has temporarily increased and so you're hyper aware of all the symptoms