Day 16 Sertraline...side effects!

[MrsOwen90]

Hey.

I've recently restarted sertraline again for severe anxiety which triggers my insomnia.

I was on 50mg for 2 weeks and am now on my 4th day of 100mg.

I've had these constant headaches since upping the dose, feel more anxious too. Is this normal with upping the dose?

How long do the side effects go on for after increasing the dose? I feel awful xx

I've been on sertraline for years now but what I do remember is the side effects. I went back to my gp and told them and they said to move slowly up the dosage rather than the recommended dosage increases. So I started on 25mg then went up to 50 then 75mg over a longer period of time. So I would give your gp a ring tomorrow and discuss it if you can, the side effects will lessen over time but if you stay on 100mg you will feel rough for a while longer in my experience.

Yeah I remember last time I was on them, I went up in dosages of 25mg. I suppose it's quite a jump from 50 to 100mg. I remember upping dosage increases anxiety, I didn't have these headaches tho. I'm hoping it will start to subside in a few days.

Got 2 boys who are a handful 🤣 and feeling like this doesn't help.

I'm about to start week 6 of 50mg Sertraline, and over the last few days have been feeling pretty ropey, health anxiety creeping back in, nausea etc. Frustratingly I saw my GP last week and told her everything was getting better!.

I woke up in the middle of the night feeling like my breathing 'wasn't working' ( if you know, you know!) and had to take one of my emergency triazapam sleeping tablets.

I feel like I need to go back to the GP and have the dosage upped , but feel like I'm always bothering them.

Another question mark is that I suspect I have had or still have Covid, and you forget you can still get normal illnesses and not everything is medication side affect or anxiety related!

Please go back to the gp and talk to them. 50mg is still a low dose and it might not be the dose that will set you straight. My maintenance dose ranges from 100mg to 150mg. Has done for years now.

Hi, I’ve just gone up to 100 too. I started on 25 and had the WORST side effects for about 10 days. Waited til they had completely stopped before going to 50. Felt a bit sleepy but otherwise okay. Going from 50-75, and then 75-100 I’ve had no side effects whatsoever. I think some people just need to do it very gradually. Good luck!

I’m on 200mg of Sertraline. Have been for years. I remember the insomnia, it was awful. Keep with it. Eventually you’ll feel “better” :)

My 19 yr old ds has just gone up to 200mg for severe ocd (gone up slowly over nearly a year).

It's been a wonder pill for him but am worried about him being on such a high dose - just wondered how you have found it eg side effects?

Honestly.. no side effects I haven’t already had. I can finally see the woods for the trees and life is clearer. I’m not a Dr but he’s done the right thing, going up slowly. Therefore the side effects will be less severe. Good luck to him x

Can i ask about the side effects you're experiencing?

Well, week 8 now on Sertraline ( actually thought it was 9, but only 8).

The GP won't up my dosage from 50mg, and won't prescribe any further temazapan.

I explained that despite being on a beta blocker and Sertraline, I still had a panic attack and have bad health anxiety but she wasn't to be negotiated with!.

I guess I'll just have to tough it out from here.

Might be worth speaking to a different gp if you don’t think the level is working ?

Hiya, I know you posted this last month, but have a question if you don't mind? What side effects did you have on 25mg? (I've had horrendous ones - zero appetite, so so much fatigue, increased anxiety and depression).

Also, how did you feel on 25mg once your side effects had passed? How did you know you needed to increase and how much time did you leave between each increase? I'm worried about having all the side effects come back each time I increase.

(I've been on Sertraline before for PND and came off in January, so I should know all of this but I can't remember! I do know it was a rough ride though! I ended up on 125mg.)

Thanks so much - on Day 11 and it's a tough journey xx

Hi @BramleySweet
I know you were asking someone else but I'm coming up to three weeks on Wed and I've had all the side effects you mentioned. Crippling tiredness, low mood, my appetite is coming back. I'm taking them to cope with a stressful period I'm having and they are really making it worse.

I don't know how long to give it? Just doesn't seem worth all of this.

Literally same - I'm on them because something a bit traumatic happened in work and I felt like I had PND all over again. Now I feel worse for taking them, but also feel like I needed them. It's so hard.

I think if you're three weeks in and your appetite is returning, that's a good sign. What dose are you on? It might be worth doing one more week and then increasing by 25mg?

I just have read so many of these messages on here where people say to stick with it and they all magically feel better, but it's agonizing having to get through each tricky day and still feel rubbish. Xxxx

@BramleySweet
Yes it's so frustrating as I've literally felt the worst I've ever been!

I did a week on 25mg and from then 50mg I didn't notice a change when I upped dosage. 50 is the amount I've been prescribed. It is a bit of a test I wouldn't say I have depression but I'm having a very stressful time with my son and I get stress induced migraines so this is an attempt to prevent them too. But the absolute fatigue is the worst thing I can have during summer holidays!

I'm so sorry you've had a horrible time x

Hi I’m on day 12 on 50mg of Sertraline and honestly it’s been the worst 12 days of my life, the increased anxiety has been horrific it’s caused me to have panic attacks which I’ve never had before, I haven’t wanted to get out of bed. I called the GP back this morning and he recommended upping the dose to 100mg but it petrifies me to feel any worse then I already do. Has anyone got any advice please, does it get better 😭

How are you feeling today? I'm on Day 12 and it's still so tricky!

I've been reading these constantly:
https://www.drugs.com/comments/sertraline/for-anxiety-stress.html?search=&sort_reviews=highest_rating

Make sure you toggle it so that you only read the highest rated ones - the people who give it 10/10.

It looks as though a lot of people struggle for the first two weeks massively and also maybe for the first three.

The fatigue is awful - I had to go back to bed again this morning! Xx

Hi lovely,

I'm on Day 12 too, but of 25mg. The side effects are just awful - I read on a different thread that their anxiety peaked on days 8-12 and then started to fade after that, so do keep going. This time next week, you might feel much better.

I think 50mg is quite a strong starting dose for some people (myself included!) so I'm not sure I'd jump to 100mg at this stage if you're only on Day 12. I'd give it at least 4-6 weeks at 50mg or even reduce down to 25mg until the side effects have lessened and to give yourself a bit of a break. A lot of people do 2 weeks at 25mg and then increase to 50mg. (If you do increase, it might be worth doing 75mg for a bit.) But I'm not a medical professional at all.

Happy to do this together - we can keep checking in on here until we start to feel better? I wish I had a better memory of when I started Sertraline back in 2020 - I do know that after 4 days of 50mg, I ended up ringing 111 because of the immense agitation and feeling wired.

Hope you are OK xx

Yeah I've decided to come off it, I'm only doing 25mg today and for next few days and then I'll stop. I'm at 3 weeks but I jut can't manage with this tiredness and sadness, it's worse than I felt before. I don't think it's for me.

Thank you all for your replies. I just feel so desperate. I have a 7 week old baby and feeling this low and looking after a baby is so so hard thankfully I’ve got lots of help but just feel like a terrible mum and wife as feel like I can’t even get out of bed, I’m missing out on my baby. I went to the doctors with post natal anxiety I didn’t feel depressed at all, just anxious to be around people or go anywhere. I’ve only felt depressed since taking these tablets.
just feel at an all time low and like it’s never going to get better, it scares the life out of me that I’m going to feel this way forever and never go back to my old self or be able to leave the house.

I’m constantly looking things up online and reading pages of reviews which I am taking some comfort in reading the ones that it gets better but when your in it and waking up every day feeling so awful it’s so hard to carry on with the medication.

I thought 50mg was a strong dose to start with as well which he why I’m very reluctant to go up to 100mg, I think I’ll stick with the 50mg for longer and hope it kicks in, just not sure how long I can feel this bad.

would definitely like to stay intouch on here thank you, it really helps talking to people who are going through it or been through it for some reassurance xx

@Holbic I'm so sorry you're feeling this way. I care for my 5 Yr old who is non verbal autistic so I understand the immense pressure and feeling of failure.

Are you managing to get outside for any walks at all?

My nephew is also 5 and non verbal autistic and feels exactly the same😭sending you lots of love!
it’s just the most awful feeling isn’t it but I’m sure your doing an amazing job!
I had been going for walk every day but yesterday and today I’ve just stayed in bed xx

Sorry was meant to say my sister feels exactly the same

It's so hard to know when you push yourself a bit to get out and when to just surrender to rest. 🙏

Ps thank you.... It is very challenging I've had so much dread over the summer holidays but I think I'm half way ish!!