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!