Advice with sertraline

[Samantha123_57]

So I started sertraline a week and a bit ago- only 12.5 as I’m too scared and felt headaches and nausea and high has reduced but still there sometimes. I was taking it at night before bed but was getting nightmares and waking up several times a night. I took my first 25mg yesterday day time but today been lightheaded (which is a trigger for me) and panic and anxious .... any advice? Will this all pass? Will it help me ?

[Lauriem4]

I've just started on that low dose also. I don't feel too bad just a bit nauseous .Think it should pass as your body takes time to get used to it x

[Jessie8]

Hi

I had the same issues with this. Gave me horrific nightmares and my anxiety went through the roof for 2 weeks. I couldn’t carry on taking them. However, I was assured by other people/dr that these symptoms pass after 3-4 weeks. Speak to your Dr and see if the can refer you for CBT also xx

[IBS_Problems]

Anti-depressants are always a ‘get worse before they get better’ give them some time like 4 weeks I came off my mirtazapine because it was making me crazy but defo wait x

[lin62-65ze]

Hello Samantha, my son takes Sertraline and has been on it for over 5 years. As with any medication you need at least a month for it to take effect. It is not unusual for you to experience symptoms, however I would not be afraid to take it. I have been on medication for almost 20 years it's better than being ill. Persevere and you will soon feel much better.

[Loki1018]

Yes the side effects will eventually pHase out I started off at 25 mgs and worked my way up to now 150mgs and just this past appointment with my psychiatrist we shaved off 25 mgs from that dose because it's has interfered with my sleep. It has worked wonders for me definitely has curbed my anxiety and I too take it for my depression which has helped it.

Currently though I've had a minor set back into depression but also into mixed state since I am diagnosed bipolar.

Hang in there though but if side effects worsen let your doctor know about them.

Best wishes !

[Samantha123_57 in reply to Loki1018]

Thankyou.. how long did it take until you saw a change x

[Loki1018 in reply to Samantha123_57]

Well Samantha first off I have to state that I'm very sensitive to medications. On the very first dose of sertraline after 30 mins it hit me and I felt as if I had drank 4 energy drinks and took 5 espresso shots. I felt as though my adrenaline sky rocketed on this was on the very first initial dose my anxiety was through the roof as well because I had never experienced something like this. Crazy right ? I ad to take my xanax right then and there because I could not stay still but yet I was on the couch figeting like crazy after a few days though as my body adjusted to it I began to feel better not as depressed my anxiety still though not as bad but still there I guess because the boost in the receptors that this medication works on. But I was getting better and yes I did get the nausea for a week or so but that disipated.

I'm now on 125 mgs mind I just had to shave of 25 mgs because it was keeping me from sleeping but it was having me more on the up side. I have to be careful though that it doesn't kick me into a manic episode since I am bipolar. The increase was also to curb once again my anxiety which had gotten a bit worse. I was constantly on edge feeling impending doom and as if death was following me making me feel as though my time to go was soon approaching and if it wasn't me, I was feeling as though my mom was going to die and that is a no no for me. Since I had lost my father at the age of 10 it has now been 21 years since his death and the thought loosing my mother brings me into a panic mode like no other. If I can't make it to her physically I then either call her or FaceTime her to make sure she is ok. I even have location tracking on my phone for both her and my brother to make sure they are where they need to be if they can't answer my calls or if I here of an accident along their route to and from work.

My depression and anxiety as well when I go into mixed states comes out a lot in anger. I spit venom like a cobra as my mother puts it and that is because I hate having to feel the feeling of sadness or despair I don't deal with it very well so it turns into anger or rage.

I been on treatment now for almost three years with a good psychiatrist and a therapist behind me who both listen and my doctor knows and trusts me to control the my doses of meds if need be. I work in the medical field so he feels comfortable with letting me either having to shave off a bit or increase a bit.

I took a 3 types of medications to keep me stable and that's not including other meds for other health reasons.

Hang in there and listen to your body as well cause your the only one who knows it better then anyone else and keep it honest with your physicians because they are hear to help and do a lot of research on your medication, I do but don't let it get to you too much because the mind is powerful and reading symptoms and side effects you will begin to believe it and then feel it but take it with a grain of salt but it's good to be educated and aware of what your taking and also your diagnosis.

Best of luck to you!

[Samantha123_57 in reply to Loki1018]

I’m a bit like that - my mum was in Icu in 2014 and for 9months she was a vegetable- so now she’s back with me I fear losing her everyday- death scares me but I know someone who took their own life and that scares me that no one knew what she was going through- I then have the what ifs and will my limbs make me do that- ??

Scares the crap out of me!

I hate the feeling of dread, the dizziness,the fear of being alive not not living

I just wanna feel like me again

[Samantha123_57]

Having a few bad days ... makes me overthink and feel like crap