Sertraline (SSRI) experience

[coco09]

Hi, today is my fifth day on 25mg Sertraline for my anxiety and panic attacks. The first three days were actually really good. I felt good and was able to open up more to people. Since yesterday though I am experiencing the worst panic attacks and anxiety I have ever experienced. Normally it would go away after a while but this time it doesn’t want to leave me at all. It’s really hard. Has anyone any tips for me or has gone through the same in the beginning?

[DesertLove]

Hello!

I hope you are doing better from the time you posted this. You may want to follow up the doctor that prescribed Sertraline for you. It could be that you will need to go ahead and up the dosage as 25mg is pretty low. That was what I started on, but after a couple of weeks, I was increased to 50mg then 100mg. Also, try to do some self-evaluation (I know this can be hard) to determine what triggered it. I am not sure if the medication is a factor, but that is another reason to reach out to your doctor.

I know it the mists of a panic attack, it can seem impossible to get through. If you are still working through it at this time, utilize some tools. Slow breaths, visualize a calming place, have someone talk to you to distract you from focusing on the panic.

[coco09 in reply to DesertLove]

Thank you so much for replying to me. It means a lot. I actually feel a bit better now. But it was ongoing for almost two days straight. I’d really never wish that on anyone. Your tips are really helpful. And I thought of a higher dosage as well. I will discuss that. I’m pretty sure the pressure from having to learn for exams triggered the attack. And when I had to push myself to study it got way worse. I didn’t realize that you had to take things really slow. So I will have to figure something out with the exams because studying is just impossible with so much fear.

I also suffer from OCD so letting go of control and overall changes are really scary to me.

Meditations for OCD and anxiety on YT help a lot. Beautiful voices to listen to.

[CAGgmb]

I started on 25mg sertraline for 5 days, then upped it to 50mg. This was with a nurse practitioner. When I found a psychiatrist, she felt that still wasn't a therapeutic dose for me. She upped it to 75mg for 10 days, then to 100mg, which I've been on for almost 2 months. I feel better, more in control of my life. It takes weeks if not months for an SSRI to work. Everyone is different. My suggestion is to talk to your doctor. In the meantime, use whatever coping strategies that work for you. Mine are walking, reading, doing crosswords. Good luck.

[coco09 in reply to CAGgmb]

Thanks so much for sharing. I just went up to 50mg after eight days. So I’ll see if it makes me feel better. Did you not feel any positive effects on 50mg?

[CAGgmb in reply to coco09]

I was only on 50mg for two weeks, then I saw the psychiatrist because I wasn't comfortable with the nurse practitioner. I believe the psychiatrist could better see how bad my anxiety was. That was why she upped the dose in steps. Time has passed, I'm doing pretty well on 100mg, so I think she was right. Everyone is different, though. You may be fine with 50mg.

[Fearful1]

I took celexa for 6 days and was so nauseous so then started Zoloft for the last 5 days. I have had more side effects on the Zoloft but need to stick with it I guess to avoid switching again. Loss of appetite and probably because of it a very acid stomach. I slept upright for a few nights and also ate with my dose and that helps. My biggest. Complaint is that I have whats called akathisia which was impossible to get rid of with any relaxation techniques. Shaky and chilled and tense couldn’t sit down etc. I really didn’t want to take the Lorazepam because of the possible withdrawal later on but now I have to just to keep this other thing at bay. After 2 doses I went from a scared worried puddle of a person to almost my normal self. Guess I’m just not balanced at the moment and really need both to function.