6 weeks Sertraline Hypchondria / Anxiety

[AjaxAmsterdam]

Hello, Let me introduce myself a 40 year old father and husband living in Amsterdam The Netherlands. I was on Escalitopram for 6 months moved up to the highest dose. Reason: major anxiety for getting sick / Hypochondria . I was in the GP's office probably 20 times last year. The Escalitopram had some effect but negative thougts came trough to mucg. Specialist put me on SertralineL:

1st week 50 mg sideeffect : ocd in checking my body

2nd week 100 smae side effect

3rd week 150 same

4th boom headaches like migraine, dizzy strange vivid dreams sleeping in a weird way, feeling high

back 125 after consulting specialist now almost 2 weeks later headaches are less, sleep is a bit better, still feel funny but i can exercise do my job..

But stil panic feelings over a mole that has been there probably for years...

in a week and a half another session with my specialist maybe up to 150?

any advice, help etc

[8421]

Hi there

I have been on sertraline for a long time! The symptoms do die down a bit as time goes on. Sometimes I think they don't help much but if I try to reduce them I manage for a while and then get very weepy and back up they go! So they must do something!

I worked for over 20 years while taking them and managed ok. They don't do much for your sex life! Common problem apparently!

Stick with it for a couple of months and see how you feel. I have chronic headaches but always suffered from migraines.

I don't know what to advise you re the panic, except when I went through a really traumatic experience I was prescribed propranolol which helped a little. I self referred myself for counselling and had 12 sessions of CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy) which has helped me quite a bit. Early days but 🤞.

I hope you start to get some benefit from the Sertraline soon.

Take care

Sue

[AjaxAmsterdam in reply to 8421]

Hi Sue, thanks for your reply.! i must say the headaches seem to fade out (just now and here) Same goes out for the dizziness . Today is my sixth week and feeling more myself but tis week 2 major panic attacks and that for me that means that the smallest thing in or on my body i freak out. i will and have to have patience because its only 6 weeks. but already thinking of upping to 150 or 175 next week after consulting my shrink. someone told me once fear is a reaction that you create , fear is no indication always that something terrible is actually going to happen. the idea that something could happen is keeping me hostage and not letting go...

[Natsteveo]

I’m identical to you health anxiety is the devil isn’t it... ask you’re doctor to also prescribe you propranolol it’s a beta blocker and a calmer it won’t space you out it will just calm you down I’m on it as well as venlafaxine Effexor it works wonders and helps me to relax the stopping and checking is health anxiety related I do it constantly I’ve kinda gone a bit ocd with it now