FIBROMYALGIA AND SERTRALINE

[marknico]

Fibromyalgia - and now GERD symptoms ??? Hi anyone been put on Sertraline for anxiety I was as doctor suggested this could help as anxiety is part of the fibromyalgia package which I don`t totally agree with - Anyway was on Sert for 6 weeks @ 50mg really bad side effects so came off straight away as doc said this would be ok as not been on a high dose or for a long time. Been off now for 2 months and have been really ill mainly with chest pains but now stomach issues \ back - neck and shoulder pains - acidy taste in mouth - slightly nauseous and light headed - aches in arms \ wrists and weak in the knees - sometimes slightly breathless alot of these do indicate gerd\acid reflux so been docs and tried ppi`s ( lanzaprazole and omeprazole ) with no change even been to A & E as chest pains became worrying had ecg`s and blood tests and they said not a heart issue - most of these issues started after the sertraline not sure if a coincidence or the med triggered these symptoms however I feel 10x worse now than I did before with my Fibromyalgia sure I had a bad days etc like we all do but was able to hold down a job and live a a fairly normal life but now I`m to ill to do anything Iv`e lost my job and feel crap most of the time :0( Any thoughts or anyone had a similar experience just so down atm and feel a waste of space

Cheers Mark

[Badbessie]

I have been on sertraline for many years with no problems. By now even with sertralines long half life it should be well of of your system. Your symptoms could be related to your anxiety or a number of other things. For example your chest pain sounds like my own problems with costochondritis a very painful condition. Or people with anxiety and stress can cause chest pain just with the way they hold their body tense. Been there and done that. The best advice I can give is to keep seeing your GP as any answer you get on the internet will be at best an informed guess. Your symptoms could be due to psychological or physical reasons or a combination of both. Safest advice is keep seeing your GP and keep away from doctor Google.

[marknico in reply to Badbessie]

Thnx for reply bessie yes could be costochondritis but doctor said that was more acute pain upon moving etc mine is a constant ache could be I`m tensing up all the time due to the constant pain but the docs seem to keen to jump on the anxiety \ stress wagon and pop you on tablets - just wondered if anyone else has a new thoughts on the matter would rather change my lifestyle than go on pills :0) Cheers Mark

[Badbessie in reply to marknico]

I found the relaxation and meditation techniques taught on my pain management programme very helpful. Perhaps this is an option you could speak with your GP about. They do take an holistic approach to your problems.

[PepsiPro]

Hi! I’m on sertraline 50mg for moderate depression. But when I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, my doctor put me on Amitriptyline as it’s good for treating some symptoms of Fibro. It did help me manage my pain and improve my sleep. I’m currently off amitriptyline and my fibro has worsened

[marknico in reply to PepsiPro]

Thanks for you reply Yes I was on amitriptyline for a while only a low dose I`m wondering now if it was helping alittle I did still feel rough so came off it thinking it wasn`t helping but maybe it was taking the the edge of it as of late it` seems to have gotten alot worse ?

[PepsiPro in reply to marknico]

Initially I was put on 25mg of amitriptyline, which was pretty useless if I’m honest. Then increased it to 50mg which was slightly better. My doctor was thinking of upping it to 75mg, but I came off it because my depression started to spiral out of control due to low dose. Hence why I’m back on sertraline. But my doctor is considering putting me on 10mg of amitriptyline as well now, to help with fibro pain. It’s all trial and error before you find the right medication and dosage. It’s frustrating I know, because you feel so ill in the meantime. But hang in there 💪

[marknico in reply to PepsiPro]

Hi and yes it`s a vicious circle for sure just want some kind of life back again but then again that`s what we all want cheers Mark

[cozza54]

Hi I been on sertraline for ages take 200mg a day I've had no problem with it as I also have fibro I'm on pregablin 3 x75mg 3 times a day I also take nefopam 2x 30mg 3 times a day and at night I take phenagan tablets to help me sleep. I get chest pain sometime but that's another side effect of fibro I think all these tablets much my brain up sometimes but then if I didn't take all this tablets I couldn't stand having the pain

[marknico in reply to cozza54]

Thnx for reply cozza and yes you are on a high dose I know it`s trial and error with meds just fed up of the errors and not seeing the benefits :0(

[cozza54]

Yes it's like we are on s rounder about and it don't stop so we go round in circles all the time

[YASMINTINA FMA UK Volunteer]

Hello there Mark, sorry to read this, we all react to different meds I know, but I was put on Sertraline and eventually my anxiety hit the roof after 5 weeks, doc weened me off and was put on duloxtene one tablet a day 60mg, I turned around and no anxiety at all. I tend to use Epsom salts for soaking in bath as the magnesium is supposed to be helpful, I am allowed codiene but not constantly, any kind of warmth on my body is great, my fibro body dosent like the cold. See your doctor again and say what is happening, yes your right trial and error, keep trying till you feel something is working hard I know. Horrid when you give up work but try and see people ie family/friends even if they come visit you sometimes, just letting out your feelings over a cuppa and not holding it in, hopefully you have somebody who has good empathy and understanding, cannot work now and it’s something I miss p/t , my love of the outside as a gardener. Take care, update us how you get on, healthunlocked.com/fibromya... a link if you want to lock your future posts.

[marknico in reply to YASMINTINA]

Hi and thnx for your experiences tbh docs are not listening to me at all so frustrating all they says is anxiety not what is causing the anxiety after all we all suffer with it due to our aches and pains and never feeling good. Such a lottery with meds and so many pro`s and con`s to consider all I know was I was not to bad up until I took the sertraline and been downhill there after - my partner tries to understand how I feel but I can tell it`s getting to her as she basically has to do everything atm whilst I just take it easy as I cannot do alot else without having to go back bed as feel awful :0(

[johnsmith]

You say: "was on Sert for 6 weeks @ 50mg". Are you having withdrawal symptoms? Speak to a pharmacist. It might be advisable to take a tablet to ease the withdrawal. This is not my field of expertise. Pharmacists are trained to advise on this matter.

The symptoms you have may be pressure on the vagus nerve and other nerve roots in spine. I am making a wild guess which may be wrong. This is chiropractor territory. Worth investigating.

[marknico in reply to johnsmith]

Hi John and spoke to my gp who wouldn`t accept it was the issue but it`s strange how all these new ailments have developed since taking the sertraline I don`t believe in coincidences but what can you do ?

[johnsmith in reply to marknico]

Speak to NHS England. They have a complaints service. They are the people who pay the GP wages.

[Midori]

You are not a waste of space. Fibro makes you feel like this, Sertraline is awful, I had it for awhile.

I have been on many tablets for years, and have gradually weaned myself off them because I hate feeling dosed up.

I also had Omeprazole, but they did nothing for my gut. I eventually realised that I was getting nauseous after having porridge for breakfasts, so I experimented and found that I have a mild intolerance to gluten. I can manage bread if it is Sourdough, or Brioche with a high percentage of butter in it. MY GP had me tested for Coeliac, but the results were inconclusive as I was not eating bread at the time.

I take very little medication now, just Ibuprofen for pain, and I have a few CoDydramol, for when it really is unbearable (fortunately rare).

It is important to keep your interests alive. there are groups all around the country which will welcome any skills you have, and it really does help you feel valued.

I take an odd approach to my Fibro; instead of getting depressed about it, I get angry With it, angry that it has stolen so much of what I enjoyed. It keeps me going.

Hope this helps a little.

Cheers, Midori

[marknico in reply to Midori]

Hi Midori and thnx for your experiences I just get fed up the docs bantering the word anxiety all the while after all something must cause the anxiety ? Don`t want to take the antidepressants meds if I can get away with it but defo need something as it`s getting worse with my age ( does fibromyalgia get progressively worst with age ? ) Also anybody had any luck with benefits as at present cannot work and they give me £317 UC credit a month how the hell you can live on this is a bloody joke and why isn`t fibromyalgia classed as a disability ? After all druggy`s and alcoholics get a dam site more help it seems than us people with this cruel illness - ok rant over now. Anybody know of any fibromyalgia groups or meets in the shropshire area ( sy13 ) ? Cheers Mark

[Midori in reply to marknico]

Hi Mark, The reason I decided to take charge of my own treatment was partly because I don't like the feeling of being 'dosed up', and secondly, because I could see the doctors reach for the prescription pad as soon as I staggered in. I know my body better than anyone, (after all, I live in it!) and I found that action not just dismissive, but disrespectful.

The only thing I will accept is Nortriptyline, and that only for the muscle relaxing properties. (I hold tension in my neck and shoulders). I don't have it currently, but having recently moved to another part of the country, I'm trying to get to grips with new Council rules on recycling, an extra layer of Government, (I'm in Wales) and local byelaws, so I'm likely to need it again soon.

I agree with you that UC is dreadfully inadequate, fortunately I don't get it, being on DLA and, due to my age, unlikely to be migrated to PIP.

Fibro itself is not classed as progressive, the Doctors class things like diabetes, MS, Kidney failure, Heart failure and Liver disease as progressive, along with Cancer. Fibro, like CFS/ME tends to come into a different category, they may well progress, but not at the obvious rate of other conditions, which are counted as Life Limiting. (Fibro itself won't kill you, in other words.)

I don't know of any groups in Shropshire, but it is a beautiful area, and my grandfather was born in Wellington.

Cheers, Midori

[Hidden]

Hi I take 100 mg of sertraline I find the anxiety makes pain much worse it could of been the meds I find sertraline helps me try asking doc for something else for the anxiety I get severe stabbing chest pain ibs and digestive issues I had endoscopy was all clear I believe the digestive issues are to do with fibromyalgia good luck maybe try another antidepressant xx

[Hidden]

You are no way a waste of space either your having bit of hard time now that's all your get through it x

[marknico in reply to Hidden]

Thnx Lauren yes guess I am abit down of late mind due part n parcel for my life these days hey ho that's life cheers Mark x

[Caat]

Did your GERD symptoms resolve themselves in the end? Bwt I was on sertraline for just a month and it's left me with severe GERD. I don't have fibro.