3 weeks on Sertraline and still feel bad!

Treatment and medication
1

Been on 50mg Sertraline for 3 weeks and still getting bad side effects. I'm taking propanalol (40mg twice a day) to combat the panic attacks but still not sleeping properly and get very shaky at times, also today my teeth hurt and my hands are sort of numb/stiff!

Apart from the side effects I'm not as paranoid or anxious as I was but still don't feel good.

Not sure about coming off and trying something else... thought about decreasing the dose to 25mg to see if that will stop the side effects.

Really don't know which way to go, can anybody help please??

2

I'm on 50mg sertraline for 4 weeks and feel terrible blurred vision shaky legs sick no sleep its horrible

3

Hi

If I were you I'd give in another 2 weeks as you say that you're feeling some positive effects from the meds. If after that you're still having bad side effects then consider changing medications. I imagine if you changed or decreased the dose/med now you'd lose the benefits you'd started to experience and start afresh with a whole bunch of other side effects. 3 weeks is still quite early days. Wishing you well. X

4

Hi Jen, I guess you're right, I'm just being impatient. I know they can take a while to kick in..

Thanks for advice.

5

Really hope you start feeling better soon....

6

Thanks I do to for the sake of my hubby and kids

7

Hi

I've been taking Sertraline for about four weeks now. I work as a permanent employee too.

I have to say, I felt extremely bad during the first stages, I know what you're going through. I was originally on Fluoxetine, But during the first two weeks, this made me unable to work, drowsy, dizzy & tired, pretty much had a bad term with these so I was put straight on to Sertaline.

I started on the small dose of 50mg a day, during the first few weeks it was extremely hard. I had various stages of side effects, heaviness, couldn't move much, couldn't drive anywhere, no motivation, & difficulty with orgasm (which was a big pain....).

I had some very bad turns, I've been suicidal, taken overdoses and hurt myself very bad. I can tell you that these do make you feel worse before they make you feel better. I haven't started feeling any better yet after having my dosage doubled (100mg now) since this. Luckily I've had support from my employer, and family and friends - This makes things a lot easier by the way, if you have someone to talk to about what's going on.

I've spoken to my GP & also psychiatrist, they have advised me to allow up to 6-8 weeks before feeling any better (I was prescribed diazepam before suicidal tendancies appeared, but got off it as soon as I could to stop the withdrawel).

You can have various side effects on these, if there's any serious ones, you should speak to a doctor as soon as possible. I've had to have numerous visits and been thrown back and fourth between crisis teams, my GP, psychiatrist, but in the end you will get there. Just persevere.

If you have any of the below symptons you need to either speak to your GP straight away, or call 111 to speak with a doctor to see whether you need medical attention or not (better to be safe than sorry, they can be helpful and have a doctor speak to you within the hour).

very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, feeling like you might pass out;

agitation, hallucinations, fever, overactive reflexes, tremors;

nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, feeling unsteady, loss of coordination; or

headache, trouble concentrating, memory problems, weakness, fainting, seizure, shallow breathing or breathing that stops.

I hope my experiences and information help you and any others.

P.s. - Over the difficulty with orgasms, it was more of a mind issue, after managing to deal with this I am now fine - no reported signs of impotency either.

Thanks.

8

Forgot to add - I have had serious issues with insomnia and loss of apetite too. I rarely eat one meal a day now, lost well over a stone, and was prescribed sleeping tablets, they helped, but as most i maybe get about 3-4 hours sleep a night. Which isn't great.

 

9

I started sertraline 1 December 25mg for one week as was coming off venlafaxine (had a terrible time getting off that), been on 50mg since 7 December and to be honest I feel so damn depressed, didn't help on Xmas day my sister in law verbally attacked me and tried to physically attack me screaming how useless I was having tried to kill myself 5 times.  Will be trying to get a doctors appt in the new year

10

Hi Blu,

I'd suggest going back to your doctor and discussing whether it'd be worth persevering or changing medication. However obviously any SSRI does take time to present benefits, so it might be worth sticking with it. I'm five days in and feel very weird. Tingly face, arms and chest which worries me. Slight heart palpitations, dizzy feeling, detachment etc. Also found that emotionally I'm feeling very short with people, lot of agitation. Did you get this in the early stages?

Hope you're well,

H.

11

Hi H

Thanks for the reply. To be honest over the last couple of days I've felt a big improvement in myself, still got someway to go but believe after nearly 4 weeks that the meds are starting to kick in.

Certainly my first two weeks were the worst, much worse than I was before starting the meds and would say I experienced some of the side effects on your list - not all but everyone is different.

Stick with it and hopefully you'll feel better soon.

12

Hi Blu,

That's good to hear! Glad to know your perseverance paid off. In regards to the side effects I was told by my doctor that because I was switching from Citalopram to Sertraline I wouldn't suffer any additional side effects and I'd just see a reduction. However I have to say from my current state of health that I disagree. 

Luckily I have seen a reduction in the side effects for which I was taken off Citalopram in the first place. Horrendous vertigo and blurred vision would be two of the major kickers that convinced me to switch.

Yesterday I had a really strange day. I felt full of energy but not in a good way. Like it was excessive. I felt very angry, and was completely unable to calm down. I ended up having an awful attack, I thought it was Serotonin Storm at first. Scary stuff.

I have been prescribed beta blockers but because my anxieties lie mainly in my health and concern for my heart I was reluctant to take them. Like I want my heart to operate naturally if you know what I mean?

I hope the excess energy wears off soon or becomes something that feels beneficial and activating rather than maddening. Can you relate? Funnily enough I also feel as though my sex drive has increased since starting this medication which apparently isn't meant to happen!

Hope you're well,

H.

13

Hi H

I assume when the doc switched you from Citalopram to Sertraline he did it slowly? I've read on this forum that an immediate switch can cause undesirable side effects!

I was prescribed beta blockers too and found them very helpful controlling the panic attacks caused through side effects, it might be an idea to give them a try.

14

Hi Blu,

He did an immediate switch. I was on the Citalopram nearly five weeks prior and despite the side effects mentioned I was beginning to settle somewhat. 

I will see how I'm doing before my checkup on Wednesday and discuss with my doctor whether starting the Propranolol is necessary.

I'm currently feeling highly anxious as I'm starting new full-time work on Friday. I was meant to be doing work for a popular retailer over Christmas but as soon as I walked through the door I had an episode and had to leave. Trying to believe I can control myself with the new job.

Regards,

H.

15

Hi Liz,

I've just come off 225mg venlafaxine after putting up with the nasty side effects (& no benefits) for 2 months. I was so desperate to get it out of my system that I came off cold turkey (no Christmas pun intended as I'm a vegetarian!).

I've been suicidal for several months now with regular contact with the CMHT & Crisis Response. Have had a particularly low day in which the Samaritans had to "talk me down" twice when I couldn't get through to the Crisis Team by phone.

The psychiatrist has given me a new prescription & I've deciphered his handwriting as 50mg of Sertraline. I must admit to being very apprehensive about a new battery of side effects before I feel the benefit. Must be positive though.

I'm so sorry to hear about your wretched Christmas without your family's support.

Big hug coming your way. I hope we can compare notes.

Digsby

x

16

Hi Blu,

Are u still feeling the benefits? I'm interested cos I'm just about to follow in your footsteps having been changed from a horrible drug with side effects (Venlafaxine) to Sert which I hadn't heard of before but is obviously pretty popular. My head is just clearing from my withdrawal so I'm wary of any new side effects of a new medication. Fingers crossed, eh?

Looking forward to hearing that things are still positive for you.

Best wishes,

Digsby

P.S. Sorry I hijacked your discussion in replying to Liz's reply to you below - I'm still a rookie ;-)

17

Hi digsby I am little worse for wear after New Years eve 

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18

Sorry to hear that Liz. Just take one day at a time...and if that's too much, then 1 hour at a time. Don't focus on what's behind you; focus on what's ahead.

Take care,

Digsby

x

19

Hello,   am thnkng of tryng ertralne as  am pretty desperate, but all this talk of anxiety and panc attacks has put me off.  I am scared of getting worse before I get better. It looks lke everyone gets increased anxiety initially. Is that true?

20

The worse week for me was the second week, first week was coming off the venlafaxine which was ropey but the second week starting sertraline and having witdrawel from venlafaxine was wicked.  Off to the DR tomorrow as my moods are still very flat and dark