Sertraline Increased Anxiety

[CEC1990]

Hi
I have started sertraline 2 weeks ago now. Initially started om 25mg for 1 week and I am now 1 week into 50mg dose. I was doing good on it but the last few days my anxiety appears to have crept back in especially in evenings and bed time. I am also experiencing what I imagine are side effects (acid reflux, ravenous hunger to the point its waking me up at night, slight brain fog)

Does this sound normal?
I am on the meds for health anxiety as it is and the physical symptoms coming back that I had prior to starting the sertraline is making me super anxious.

I can't advise re the physical side effects as I didn't really have them but I do remember my first 2-3 weeks on Sertraline were absolute hell, my anxiety was horrible. And then things began to improve, and after another 4 weeks or so I was definitely better than I had been for a while before starting.

The next time i started on an SSRI the GP offered me two weeks of 2mg valium to get me through the horrible first bit - it's a well known phenomenon.

It’s very common for anxiety to increase when you first start taking it, it does get better x

Thank you both.
Today has been rough. Cannot stop catastrophising and thinking something bad is going to happen to me.
All my family are reassuring me my symptoms are just normal side effects of the sertraline but so hard to try and tell myself that.

I had a hellish time and nearly gave up but once they kicked in, it was heavenly.

They are so helpful and good once they kick in. Please stick with it and try to do other things to help get through this initial period like Calm app, gentle walks, yoga, podcasts, healthier eating if you can etc. In a few months you will look back and think “it was only bad for a few weeks” but at the time the weeks feel so long.

You can also try switching the time you take them so you sleep through the worst of the symptoms (or take them in morning if sleeping is an issue). Bon courage!

I am so desperate to push through.
My mood is definitely better already but the anxiety picking back up and the acid reflux and nausea at night is flooring me as it was one of the biggest reasons for my health anxiety.

For me the side effects if sertraline were the worst around 2-3 weeks in.

I don't know if it's the same for all meds, but I feel its like the meds working, which comes with the realisation of everything I need to do in order to get myself out of the depression, and the simulataneous realisation that I'm not well enough to do the things, which feels so utterly defeatist. But after about 6 weeks in its usually gotten better.

I've spent a lot of time regulating myself and not beating myself up, and am getting a bit braver at dealing with things.

Can you ask for something like Famotidine for the acid reflux? I take it every day and it works very well.

I am on Lansoprazole and have been for 6 weeks now. I feel so unwell today. Really sick and my ribs are burning intermittentley so cannot stop thinking something is really wrong. I'm due on my period any day now as well so I'm a tearful anxious mess.

I'm experiencing the same thing at the moment, although it's mirtazapine, not sertraline. It's really shit that the very thing it's meant to be treating is the thing that gets worse initially. Like you, I'm trying to push through and reassure myself that it's temporary but I'm really struggling. I live alone and am not very good at distraction tactics. I have a catchup with my GP on Wednesday so that's what I'm focusing on getting to right now. Do you have a short-term milestone you can concentrate on, even something small and not very significant?

I didn't get on with this one, and another one starting with O. The O one gave me a bad rash.
Maybe ask to try another one.?

The first time I took them my anxiety got significantly worse and then one day around week 4, I said to my partner at the time, I haven't had a panic attack for a few days. It's worth it to push through.

Its awful isn't it. I felt like I had a good week last week then this week has just come out of nowhere with anxiety as bad as before I started the medication. I am due on my period so guess that isn't helping too.
How are you doing?
I've been and bought some books to keep my mind occupied and am setting myself a goal of going out for a walk every day.

I am beginning to wonder if my physical symptoms this last week are down to the Lansoprazole. Getting a stinging sensation in front of my ribcage but not obvious triggers and an awful dry mouth and sour taste in mouth.

I'm not really ok but I just have to hold on to the belief that I will be soon. I've stupidly taken on a lot of extra responsibility at work because I thought it would give me something to focus on and distract me from overthinking but it seems to have made me spiral instead. It's especially hard at the weekend when I'm not at work. I'll have to rethink whether this is the right time to take more on but reluctant to make any important decisions while my mood is so unstable. I'll get myself to Wednesday and see how I feel after that.