Any advice appreciated

[Sufferingwithanxiety]

Hi all. I have always been a bit anxious such as flying due to a bad experience and suffered a panic attack last year en route to the airport but my wife calmed me down and I made it.

unfortunately my wife upped and left in September for a bizarre reason (decided she now wanted children , we decided no but wouldn’t allow me to consider now we’re married ) and haven’t seen or spoken since, like I’m ghosted from her life

obviously it was hard to deal with, and I threw myself into work, friends etc until recently I was stood in the petrol station que and thought whoa I’m going to faint. Made it home and felt wiped out all weekend

made it to work the following week, legs started going cold and head pulsing so made a gp app and night blood pressure

things got a bit worse on that I just cried for no reason and went back, to be told I had anxiety due to what was going on. Was prescribed 50mg sertraline, felt better for talking to the doc. Took 2, and walking through town one day felt like I left my body and was going to pass out which set off the mother of all panic attacks

Since then (7 days ago) I’ve been on a constant state of panic. Even scared to go out incase it happens again.

My doctor is on holiday and can’t change the medication, and stopped the sertraline

just wondering if anyone has any similar experiences, or issues with sertraline

I am

Desperate to have some help and can’t wait for the doctor to come back to hopefully sort it out

[012703060610]

You are going through SO much. I am incredibly saddened for you that your wife just left. Having gone through a terrible divorce, I think all of your emotions are justified. I also think crying can be bit is healthy....otherwise it just builds. I can appreciate diving into distractions as I have been there myself.....it often ends with exhaustion and more anxiety. I am guessing it is because the issue is still there. I remember trying to work through the divorce and was able to make it and avoid the thoughts during the day....but at night it would all come rushing back. I was offered this medication for PMDD (crazy form of PMS basically). It would have been prescribed two weeks of the month only....so I am guessing the med just isn't good for you versus withdrawals if you suddenly stopped. I hope it gets better each second of each day. Instead I take Prozac for the same thing only one week a month. Please take care and keep us posted.

[Sufferingwithanxiety in reply to 012703060610]

thank you for your kind words. Am hopeful the doctor can prescribe something else and this all becomes a journey in my life. Il update

[MINNT]

Hi, sorry to hear you're going through this. I was prescribed 50mg Sertraline after experiencing anxiety and panic attacks, and like yourself, was in a constant state of panic. A symptom of my anxiety/panic attacks was dissociation, which it sounds like you're describing when you say 'left your body'. It's part of the fight, flight, freeze response and is actually your brain trying to protect you, to disconnect you from it. However, I found it a terrifying experience. I took Sertraline for a couple of days then rang my GP as the dissociation was causing me such distress. He told me that symptoms often get worse within the first few days of taking Sertraline while your body's adjusting to the medication, and assured me it should settle down after that. I carried on taking it and he was right, just after a week of taking it, my anxiety started to get much better, and with that, the dissociation also started to subside. I now take 100mg Sertraline as 50mg wasn't quite enough for me but everyone's different. I also saw a Clinical Psychologist and had ACT therapy, which I found very beneficial. I was also prescribed 40mg of Propranolol for the panic attacks, which I found really good as well, but once the Sertraline kicked in I didn't need them. Dissociation is a terrifying experience but my Clinical Psychologist assured me it's a very common response to anxiety and panic. Hope this helps.

[Just_breathe_1]

Very sorry to hear about this. The out of body experience is relatively common with Sertraline, and dropping the medication would have exacerbated it further. However, 50mg should not have had such large of an impact. Have you tried staying on Sertraline at 25mg? In regards to the panic attacks, when you next see your doctor, I would advise enquiring about Lorazepam (NOT Diazepam as this can be very addicting) which will take the edge off of the panic, and changing antidepressants… fluoxetine is a common one as are many others. I would also consider some form of low grade sleeping medication (Melatonin, Quetiapine etc.). Seeing a therapist would also be beneficial… trauma can quite easily induce panic. All the best.

[NaseerPDWazir]

Hi I've been through similar situation. That's panic disorder. I've been on Sertraline since long. I suggest you start taking Sertraline 100mg again. Believe me you will be okay in a couple of weeks. Looking forward to hearing from you after two weeks.

Love and respect

[Sufferingwithanxiety in reply to NaseerPDWazir]

Hello, Thank you for reaching out. The doctor has changed my prescription and mentioned the panic attacks aswell. I am only on day one but am hoping it agrees with me and I can ride out the first couple weeks to get the benefit as this is an awful feeling

[NaseerPDWazir in reply to Sufferingwithanxiety]

Nothing works better than Sertraline 100mg (once a day after breakfast) or Escitalopram 10mg (twice a day) at least for 3 to 6 months.

Plus Clonazepam 0.5mg to 2mg (twice a day) for 21 days and then tapering off gradually.

Sending out my love and prayers for you.

[NaseerPDWazir]

PS. For instant relief you can take clonazepam 0.5 mg for three weeks only.

[Sufferingwithanxiety in reply to NaseerPDWazir]

the DR gave me proponalol but it doesn’t do anything for me

[NaseerPDWazir in reply to Sufferingwithanxiety]

Please take clonazepam 0.5mg and you'll feel an immediate relief from panic attacks. Believe me. Propranolol doesn't work in severe panic attacks.

[Dragoonlady]

When you have these spikes what are you feeling when they hit. Is it fear, sorrow, or something else?