Sertaline 8 weeks in

[Yuppi67]

Been having panic attacks and severe anxiety for a few months. Started of that I noticed pvc, and they where many. Did all the heart checks, and had 12% when tested. Eventually the doctors couldn't find anything wrong even though i had chest pains, diziness, fatigue, attacks every single day. But all tests where fine all the time. So was diagnosed with GAD, health anxiety and panic disorder/panic attacks.

Started sertaline 8 weeks ago.

Has been even bigger nightmare than before. Every time i increased dose the first 3 weeks where worse than before.

How long time did it take to have effect?Started on 25mg for 4 days, 50mg 3,5 week and now 4 weeks on 75mg. Had like one and a half good day without hell, and that was a few days ago. So feeling less paniced but more tired and don't have strength to do much now.

How long should I wait to know if the current dose Works? Any other tips or someone that has had similar experience?

I have also been taking atarax to sleep and when panic attacks comes. Did help me sleep "better" at least I don't wake up.

My resting pulse is down to 53 now, maybe cause i stopped drinking alcohol and went from 90 to 80kg. I don't know.

I am 40 year old male. It's killing me that I cannot be with my children and do stuff with them. They are so extremely nice and understanding and only 7 and 4. Which makes me feel worse.

I have so many questions if I can find someone with similar story.

[Jamesh77]

hi I’ve been taking Sertraline 25 mg for a month and the last 3 weeks been on 50mg the last week I’ve been feeling awful stomach pains head pains constantly bloated and my Heads been non stop 24/7 I’ve been struggling sleep feel like I’ve been having short dreams all the time I’m hoping things will improve soon also

[Yuppi67 in reply to Jamesh77]

Did it get worse when you started on 50mg? You suffer from panic attacks or similar?I read so many reviews but now i am up to 8 weeks on 75mg and still not okay.

[Yuppi67]

Anyone else having similar experience?

[Picklesmum7]

I started taking Sertraline in January and was told that symptoms may get worse before they get better and it would take up to 6 weeks to see improvement. It works really well for me but took a while to feel the benefit

[Yuppi67 in reply to Picklesmum7]

How long time did it take and did you adjust dosage?

[Yuppi67]

So I am 9 weeks in and 5 days. Still on 75mg. A bit better but seems it's also fatigue or burnout which might be my underlying issue beside the anxiety. Will try 100mg tomorrow and see if i can get rid of the anxiety at least. But some improvement and fewer panic attacks. But tired and can't do anything.

[Yuppi67]

Started on 100mg yesterday, feeling okay and no difference yet. Will continue to update cause I know how much this means when you start on sertaline.

[Yuppi67]

5 days on 100mg. No panic attacks for a while. More fatigue taking over. Sertaline is working but might have been covering that i was exhausted . Not sure yet or if its the anxiety that is causing it.

[Yuppi67]

6th day of 100mg i almost had new panic attacks. As before the dosage increasement has been seen a few days after starting the higher dose. Usually the side effects lasts 3 for the worst once. But this time I don't feel that bad as the previous dosage, at least not yet. Hopefully i am reaching therapeutic dose.11 weeks and 5 days in..

Hope someone can reply something soon so i am not unique in this..

[Yuppi67]

Starting to give affect. Still anxiety but less. No panic attacks for a long while now. It might be starting to help on 100mg. Only 10 days in so will keep posting.Fatigue and breathless when doing stuff is still there. Tried to hit a few golfballs, but only manage like 30min before being tired. Will make a new try soon. But i drove there and home at least.

[Yuppi67]

16 days in on 100mg. Still bot okay, better but not good.

[Mickey11]

how are you feeling now?I have been on Sertraline a few years, the worst part are continuous weird dreams, a very dry mouth all the time

[Yuppi67 in reply to Mickey11]

Hi, thanks for replying. Im better but not good. Less panic attacks but overall some anxiety and not doing anything. How did you know it was right dose, how much and how long did it take?

[Yuppi67]

Upped sertaline to 125mg. As usually side effects from day 4 and a few day forward, like diarrhea but not that bad. Headache worse. 18 days in on 125 i had high anxiety when doing stuff and taking care of kids. Overall been a calmer period but hugh pain today. So not sure how much this medicine actually do or if I need to wait 4-6weeks to see again if i need to raise. But that will be the last attempt then im not increasing over 150mg. Any tips? I believe its health anxiety involved due to the heart pvcs still there.

[Klaus-sperger in reply to Yuppi67]

I take 200mg per day for 14 years.essential,cannot live without it,it has transformed my suffering.Not the same for everyone.

Side effects and negative reaction are common.

I get no side effects at all but I am lucky. They say if you lower the dose a little or just keep on taking them the side effects get less and go away but I don't know how long this takes .

Negative reaction I always get where I feel awful for a few hours to a few weeks ,in fact a living hell but in continuing with the same family dose I have always found the suffering disappears and I then start to feel great.

[Jamesh77]

I’ve been taking about 5/6 weeks now I feel pretty awful had a family meal yesterday was so overwhelming by the whole situation I felt like I could hardly speak had 2 beers which I don’t normally drink had broken sleep with continuous weird dreams I really don’t know what I should do that can help me !