Scared to start taking medication.

[Paradox]

Hi.

I've suffered with anxiety/panic attacks for a year and eight months now.

I had counseling through my university which helped a great deal, but things still needed to be improved.

But I finally got the courage to see a GP yesterday for the first time about this.

And she prescribed me Sertraline 50 mg.

I'm very nervous about taking it. I told the GP I was worried about side effects, but she seemed dismissive about it.

I also worry about becoming reliant on them to feel well and not solving my problems, which is not what I want.

And I also worry about the withdrawal when I do come off of them.

I'm really not sure what to do. The GP thought medication was the better way to go because I am about to start my final year of university next month, which is stressful enough without everything else going on.

I can see her point, but it make it any easier.

I hope you can provide some input or share your experiences.

Thanks in advance.

[Hidden]

Hi & Welcome

I have a meds fear , so I can relate to how you feel

How ever , there are a lot of members that will reply hopefully later when they see your post & I no for many they have taken this one with no problems & it has really helped them

When I do have to take meds , I always just tell myself I will just take one for today & then see how I feel tomorrow & continue with that way of thinking , that way it takes the pressure of me & I feel in control , which helps take away the fear

I dont think you can get addicted to this med , its not one of those kind that can cause that problem

As you have 4 weeks before Uni starts again , you could try them & by then you will see if they work for you & if they do well , that will be brilliant , but if they dont for some reason , you will still have time to stop them & which ever way , you wont feel worse than you do already , so you would have nothing to loose

Also I would try not to read the side effects or google them as if you have a med fear this is the worse thing we can do , as we will zoom straight in on all the negatives even if it says 1 in a 1000 we will read pass that & we dont tend to see the positives , so I have had to stop doing that , for people that dont have this fear they can & its not a problem , but for me its the worse thing I could do

Keep talking on here as it really helps to no you are not on your own & people will support you & even if you have to post everyday about this fear everyone understands

Let us no how you go on

Love

whywhy

xxx

[Hidden]

There are lots of people with a meds fear so don't worry you're not alone.

I myself refuse to take medication for flus & colds but that's about it - am a strong believer in thinking the body should be allowed to fight off those things.

[Hidden]

Hi there, I have a fear of meds as well, trouble with me is I read the leaflet that comes with the tablets and wind myself up even before I have even taken one.

Just remember everyone is different to meds and as whywhy says a lot of people find them very helpful. maybe you should give them a try before your term starts so they can get in your system.

If you feel they are not for you, you could go back to your GP and tell them.

I think a lot of people are worried of the side-effects of all different drugs so you are not alone.

[formidible]

I always think that finding out yourself about the particualr meds you have been prescribed can help overcome your understandable fear of taking them. I usually google the name and a wealth of info can be at your fingertips. Today I started a new med for anxiety call Propranolol and was worried before taking them, but they have taken the edge off my Anxiety which I was desperate for. I don't believe Sertraline are addicitive. When things improve you should be able to reduce and come off them. Good luck.

[Paradox]

Thank you whywhy, michaelwilts, gardenertwo and formidible for posting.

I think I might see a different doctor for a second opinion and discuss the side effects I am worried about.

In my case its the nausea/vomiting and the insomnia because those give me panic attacks.

I haven't even taking the prescription in to be filled yet because I feel like I can't face it.

I do feel like this doctor just wrote out a prescription too easy, she didn't ask me much at all but I did try to mention as much as I could about whats going on.

Hopefully I will get an appointment for Monday, and i'll walk out of that appointment feeling happier.

Again, thank you for your help and advice. It's nice to feel that i'm not alone.

[Hidden in reply to Paradox]

Hiya, will you get an appointment Monday it is Holiday remember.Good Luck.xx

[Paradox in reply to Hidden]

I should be able too because my registered doctor's surgery is a walk in center that's open every day of the year for 12 hours a day. If I can't get any appointment because they are too busy, then i'll go for Tuesday.

Thank you

[deb123]

I have taken meds for years; first amitriptyline, then seroxat, now prozac. I feel they give me quality in my life that i wouldnt have otherwise. I have tried to come off them and hope to reduce them again but even if i take a low dose, i feel they are a kind of crutch. i know they arent the answer but i feel for me they are worth the risks. have had very few side effects til this time but they are reducing now. Also cant be certain the side effects are real or imagined. good luck and keep talking on here; it definately helpsxx

[xantia in reply to deb123]

Hi I have been on meds on & off for about 5 years the first time I knew I had a problem I was going on holiday the following day & felt really anxoius I couldnt eat sleep nothing I didnt know what was wrong with me as usually im quite exited about going on holiday I felt like this for about 48 hours after a few weeks I went to my GP he put me on paroxatine I was on it for about a year and felt alot better then I decided to come off but after a couple of months felt the same anxietys comming back so went back to GP who put me on citalipram they didnt help at all so came off and went on fluoxotine (proxac) they really helped I had been on them for about 6 months & decided to come off have been off them for a couple of months now & all the same old anxietys are coming back I have tried loads of different things councelling,CBT, Mindfullness. I have come to the conclusion that I have always had anxiety even as a child but didnt know what it was thought every one felt like me I was able to controll it untill I got to about 47 I probably will go back on the meds because I feel I need them to live a normal life.

[Stacey83]

Hi. I was on sertraline last year ! They really helped for a gd month or so I felt great :-). But then I started getting bad side effects from them so had to stop. Just depends on the person sum they work for sum they don't !!! Gd luck hope they work for u if u do start them x