2 weeks on Sertraline has been hell!

[Jods25]

Hi, I have been taking sertraline for 2 weeks and i have never been this depressed and overthinking is killing me. I am getting so anxious i am throwing up, sertraline has made me completely lose my apetite also, and i usually love food. I have gone from over thinking to regretting my whole life, which i have never been that negative before. I used to travel a lot and change locations and friends and obviously used to get drunk quite a bit, but it was a lot of fun at the time and was a big adventure in my 20s. Of course everyone has some regrets in ther 20s or cringey moments. But since i have been on sertraline, im going crazy about it and regretting everything, and getting a rush of feelings, going over and over everything, round in circles. Im looking back and wishing i had never done any of it but at the time we was all acting the same, just immature 20s stuff. I dont want to look back and regret my whole life, wheres i think you are who you are today from your experiences, which has led me to be happily married. So why am i suddenly hating myself so much, im losing my confidence and my zing for life now. 2 weeks on sertraline, i am sinking lower and lower, i keep going back to bed, i just want the day to finish so i can hopefully see if i feel better when i wake up. Today i am not even pulling myself out of bed as i feel so utterly rubbish. I would never have started the medication if i knew it could go from anxiety and over thinking to full blown depression and regretting my whole life. Should i stick with this medication, is this just a intense side effect? I will gladly continue if it does level out my head. But i cant stand all this negativite thinking about my past that really doesnt matter anymore, i didnt care at the time but now is killing my head.

[xdianex]

Hi Jods25

I’m really sorry you’re going through this and feel the way you do.

I’m just about to start sertraline for anxiety. I spoke in depth to my doctor before and I have been told that I might end up feeling really low in the first few weeks. My doc also said it can take up to 6 weeks to stabilise and make you feel better.

Would you be able to talk to your doctor over the phone and tell them how you feel? Mine told me to call if I needed to talk to someone.

[Jods25 in reply to xdianex]

Hi, thankyou for replying. I phoned the doctor today and he has told me to stop taking it, as it shouldnt have gotten this bad. He has now prescribed me mirtazapine instead. Hopefully this helps because im so tired and numb, i have never felt this low.

[Hidden in reply to xdianex]

That was a good bit of advice there. Ive always thought Drs shouldnt say you may feel lower at first as most people think he means that the tablets are going to do that themselves. Imagine cooking someone a meal but telling them they would find it disgusting for the first 15 minutes haha They should be clearer and explain its because they dont work for 2-4 weeks and the depression is more likely to either level out or get worse until then. It would save a little bit of extra worry