Started sertraline at 50mg and feeling more panicky?

[Littletinytarzanswingingfromanosehair]

Hi all, I have been under a lot of stress these past few weeks.
I have been put on sertraline for the time being but only decided to take it yesterday once I had my wedding so I didn't get the side effects.
I took a 50mg and then remembered the Dr said maybe try the 25mg by cutting it first.
I took in the morning, struggled to sleep had some crazy dreams and woke up panicky!?
I do actually feel quite strange and more panicky.
Did anyone taper down straight away if they didn't feel right?!

Definitely start on the 25mg! I felt very odd for the first couple of weeks. It does get much better

I have just submitted a request to the gp for a call this morning as I have now gone down a rabbit hole and it's saying this like serotonin OD etc! Ahhh why do we do this to ourselves?!

Have you taken ssris before op? They can make you feel very strange at first, then they can really improve things.

@Lizzbear I have many years ago but don't remember feeling like this?

Yes, totally normal. I started taking them at night and felt much better. Have a shower/fast walk or something to reset yourself- this fades.
Also chat with pharmacist. Don’t give them up, once it settles it’s really a game changer.
Ive been on them for 7 years and have a maintenance dose of 25 now. (Every time I make a change it takes a week or so to settle again). You’ve got this OP x

Hopefully the GP can reassure you. I remember doing the same in a total panic. Honestly a few days of feeling worse then you will turn that corner.

Also the GP might suggest starting with 25 and then see how it goes for a few weeks. It might be enough to take the edge off for you.
sorry for all the replies. I keep thinking of how it felt and what I did!
I stuck with 50 and went up to 150 over a few months (was very unwell postpartum with crazy hormones) then tapered off over a few years

You can’t get serotonin syndrome what you referred to as an OD from taking one (1) 50mg sertraline pill. It is a risk when SSRIs build up over a long time at high dosages.

I wasn’t monitored for it until I had been taking a cocktail of 3 different SSRIs at much higher doses for over a year.

It is likely that the sertraline isn’t even doing much yet and this is stress induced anxiety. The proper side effects you will get, and everyone is different, will build up for the first 2 weeks and usually settle down after 4 weeks. Assuming you won’t be staying at the same dose of 50mg/day.

Usually they start you at 25mg/day and then ramp you up to 200mg/day.

Definitely speak to a pharmacist rather than waiting for a GP. I imagine it’s fine to just drop down to 25 rather than continuing with 50, but the pharmacist will know for sure.

They made me quite panicky at first, but that passed quite quickly (within a few days) and after that they really helped. If you can hunker down and take things very easy for a few days you should get through it soon enough.

How many tablets have you taken in total over how many days? If it’s only a few doses / days you won’t need to taper down, you can just stop. Sometimes there can be an increase in anxiety / panic or commencement of the medication but it’s usually temporary & will go away over a week or 2. If it’s intolerable then it might be an option to change medication. Otherwise, it’s just like any other side effect & it’s about the pros & cons.

I only started yesterday!
But, I did also take a phenergan at night which didn't even click and apparently phenergan alone can cause anxiety. I mainly use for allergies/hay fever etc.

What did the GP suggest OP?

Definitely try 25 for a week or two first but also be prepared to ride out some increased anxiety and panic in the beginning even with that lower dose (I know easier said than done if you're already in a bad place). It took me a good few weeks to settle onto it but it's been life changing - I promise it's worth it!

To go back down to 25mg!
Some parts of the day I feel mellow then some days I start ruminating and it takes over.
I'm really, really struggling with sleep to the point I dread bed time and that when the anxiety peaks again.
Day 3 and I am going to hold on.
The good thing about it is it takes away the desire to drink despite the anxiety (not a daily drinker TBF)

I absolutely can't do it. The concentration is zero. It's like my mind won't shut up. I can't even chill and watch a TV show. I might genuinely need to call the crisis team.

Please do OP 😢❤️

Please please call them if you feel you need to. I had a horrendous reaction to citalopram so very much feel your pain.

Op I’m sorry you’re feeling so awful. Please update us when you’re feeling up to it.

Hi all, 111 nurse got back to me and she said a GP will call later in the evening (call back was at 7pm) so unless it got too late to call back I don't know. I have only been taking since Tuesday on 25mg so I'm getting I might be able to just stop. The nurse said the consultant might bute on something else but I'm too scared now. I just don't think SSRIs agree with me.

We are out in the countryside camping until tomorrow so I'm hoping this will help me ride it out coming off this small dose.

Thanks for your support with this so far, I don't want to put anyone else off trying it as it could be a good send for them x

Thanks for the update. Sorry they didn’t work out for you. Maybe leave it for a while, but there are so many different medications that you could try if you need to in the future. Good luck op x

It’s quite normal to feel like this starting Sertraline. Often a Gp will prescribe a short course of Diazepam or Lorazepam to take the edge off whilst it gets in your system.

Totally normal. I started on 25mg. If you only have 50mgs just break the tablet in two.

I've had 4/5 different SSRis in my lifetime. Not this one actually, but the first 4 weeks are definitely a lot more heightened with side effects, not being able to sleep being a huge one I struggled with.
I'm not on an SSRI now, but will be on a permanent dose of an anxiety med for the rest of my life.
If you'd told me 3 years ago I'd be able to live a fairly normal life with my level of anxiety I'd have laughed in your face. Now I can manage my anxiety within normal levels but those first weeks on SSRIs are testing.
Don't give up OP, there are several other options and some that can start at much lower doses so the side effects aren't as intense.
It's okay to stop the one your on though with medical support and find something better fitting.

Yes you will feel worse on the sertraline at first. I'm sorry. It's very unpleasant. If you find yourself feeling very impulsive, reckless or suicidal, get yourself to a place of safety immediately. If you introduce it more slowly that will be helpful but then it will take longer to reach a therapeutic dose. The anxiety is really really unpleasant but it's relatively short-lived and it's an effective drug with fewer side effects than others in the longer term.

I honestly felt manic after 50mg.
So went instantly down to 25mg and just still couldn't get down from the ceiling.
Anxiety is still coming in waves but my last dose was yesterday morning so I'm on the half life now of that.
I have a private therapy session on Thursday through a work perk so I'm hoping that will help xx