Does it get better?

[MissMog]

Hi I'm new here, I was prescribed sertraline 50mg for anxiety and started it exactly 5 weeks ago today. The first few weeks were fine, in fact I felt better than I had, then came the terrible non-stop headaches and vision problems, that lessened off last week but now I just feel sick all the time and utterly exhausted as I can't sleep at night due to insomnia, chronic heartburn and anxiety which is worse at night. I'm just feeling low at the moment and would appreciate any words of encouragement...does it get better?

[Hidden]

Hello Welcome

Give the medication a bit longer to settle you down. You are bound to have good or bad days and it seems you need to give more time. Five weeks is not really that long and the way things are at the moment your Anxiety will most probably be running on overtime.

You could of course explain to your doctor what you are feeling to put your mind at rest although all your GP will do is change your medication. or possibly increase the medication dose. Remember you will have more problems changing medications and it may even take longer for you to settle

The choice is Yours

BOB

[Lizzypink]

Hi, sorry your going through a tough time right now! I too struggled with sertraline, I’d give it till six weeks, as I Felt really exhausted, diarrhoea and aches also made my anxiety worse, first 3 weeks were ok. I waited till 7 weeks, and personally think it shouldn’t get worse, so I no they didn’t agree with me and I’m slowly tapering off them! I have a strict routine of yoga each morning, Deep breathing and meditation. Also only 2 cups of tea a day, I take chamomile tea and do CBT online! This alone helped so much! I take omega 3 fish oils to help with low mood! Lots of kind people on here gave me that advice and support!

I was so grateful and feeling I can now tackle this rough part of life better! Hope you find the right direction! Good luck and keep strong!

Lizzy.

[isin13955]

Speaking personally I have been on it fir 4years and now taking 200mg. Sometimes I don’t feel as though that’s enough but I think that’s the max.

[Fraggy]

hi, sorry its hard for you at the moment. my personal experience is very limited as I have only been on this medication for just over 2 months. I am on 100mg at the moment and I have had bad stomach, the runs, tired, anxious to name but a few.

But what I wanted to say is the last few days I have started to feel better and by that I mean like the old me before depression took me to my knees. ive always had anxiety but have even noticed that is improving. its very early days for me just wanted to give you some hope that if the meds is right for you it is worth hanging on for a bit longer to see if it can benefit you.

keep strong and know you are not alone.

by the way even just writing this as simple as it might be for some normally I would have deleted it or spent that much time worrying about how others might misinterpret my words I wouldn't have posted it. the past few days I have felt strong enough within myself to come out of my self imposed shell.

I hope after trying nearly every other anti-depressant I have found one that helps me get me back. I wish you well on your journey and really hope if this one doesn't work you find another one that does help

jackie

[MissMog in reply to Fraggy]

Hi Jackie, than you for your reply, I'm going to give it until the 8 week mark and if I don't see much of an improvement I may ask my GP if they can up the dose as I don't want to go down the road of trying different medications without giving this I try. I suppose I'll just have to ride out the side affects and hope they improve through time. I'm glad you are finally getting results and hopefully I will also see a difference soon.

Claire.

[Fraggy in reply to MissMog]

hi Claire, I think that is a good plan at least then you will know you at least gave it enough time to work. believe me I was despairing of finding anything that would help me but am so glad I stuck out the negative side effects (which haven't gone completely) but if I continue to have days like I have had the last few days it is a small price to pay. don't get me wrong I'm not singing and dancing (yet) just seem to be getting my spark back keep us updated I will be keeping my fingers crossed for you.

jackie

[MissMog in reply to Fraggy]

Thank you Jackie, I will update you in a few weeks, hopefully I will start to see some results.

Claire

[_Alex_]

One thing with sertraline: take with lots of water. Don't take it just before laying down. If the pills don't go down properly, people sometimes report being in a lot of pain with a heartburn-like effect.

[RayannAbbey]

I’m now into my 5 week and feel awful x my muscles ache so much and I feel so achy x waking up in a panic is vile too anyone else experience this?

[MissMog in reply to RayannAbbey]

Hi there, sorry to hear you are struggling, I'm now into week 6 and am feeling much the same as you, I'm getting to the stage where I'm to scared to fall asleep because I know I'll wake up a few hours later panicking, it's just awful. I believe, from what I've been reading on-line that this is generally considered normal at this stage and doesn't mean the drugs aren't working, for some people it can take upwards of 8 weeks or more for them to see benefits, I'm hoping I'm one of them! I'm going to wait until the 8 week mark and if I still feel as bad I might get my GP to up my dose a bit, I'm currently 50mg.

[RayannAbbey in reply to MissMog]

Ah that’s the same dose as me x really don’t want to increase my dose as I can’t tolerate the side effects very well sickness dizzy trembling etc do you suffer with muscle ache too? X thank you for replying 💗

[MissMog in reply to RayannAbbey]

I was suffering from all those side affects, thankfully most of them have gone over the past week, I still feel a bit sick and get heartburn and am knackered all the time, but then I'm not sleeping well so that's to be expected. I haven't really been leaving the house not feeling up to it, but I've been trying to keep myself motivated in the house, putting some music on and cleaning etc. I find that lifts my mood a bit and makes me less anxious.....it's just so disheartening feeling like things aren't getting better, but I have hope as I am having good days as well as the bad. I would give it until the 8 week mark like me and see how you feel, hopefully it'll get better for you x

[RayannAbbey in reply to MissMog]

Thank you so much I will hang on then x thank you for replying very grateful x keep well x

[Iamtheoneandonly]

Really hope you feel better soon. I am just a week in to taking sertraline same dose. Maybe you need to get it upped if you still feel the same after week 6 from GP if you can still cope with the nausea. X