I have suffered with anxiety for almost 3 years now and I am taking 50mg of sertraline per day an have been for 8 weeks. However, the past week or so has been unbearable - I have been getting every anxiety symptom there is all at once and I'm really struggling to cope. I feel so uncomfortable, like I am about to pass out, breathing feels so restricted, chest pain, muscle aches, a strange sensation in my throat which makes me want to clear it all the time and tingling at times in my hands. I am a student nurse and the way I feel has left me completely incapable of helping others at times and scared for my future - the doctor keeps saying it will take time and it is just anxiety but I don't believe them and crazy as it may be, I am convinced I have a serious health condition which may shorten my life - any advice would be really appreciated
I'd go back to the doc and ask for some different meds.. It sounds like these arn't agreeing with you. I took myself off of mine completely (I know you arn't supposed too) as they were making mw physically sick and I was getting more panic attacks on them than off. I hope you can find something that works for you, good luck
Hi Jodie
i also have been on sertraline a little longer than you. I also have that feeling of fullness in the throat and having to cough to clear it, I don't think it's anxiety but some weird side effect of the med as I have not had that before. Also sleeping patterns are so off. Perhaps it's time to go back to the drs.
Hi Natasha
did you just stop on your own? What dosage were you on and for how long. Thinking of doing the same. I am not sure if these meds are workin. Been on them since April 11th. Any advice?
lynda
I'd say this is definitely anxiety and not something else. I'd either try a dosage increase on the meds or another med enetirely.
I am entirely sure this is anxiety and not something else. All the symptoms you describe are that of an anxiety disorder.
I am in bits with anxiety myself at the moment, have suffered on and off for a long time but its flared up alot lately so I changed meds from Fluxatine (prozac) to Venlafaxine (Effeclor XL). Was on 35mg Effecor first then increased to 75mg and for the past month 150mg and no better, going back to doctor tomorrow to see what she thinks, either increase or change meds
Hi Jodie
Please go back to dr and change medication. I did this and I am told the one I am taking now is a new med. Its called Mirtazapine - it worked from th first tablet and I have only been taking it for 4 days now and I functioned at work today like Inormally do. It gives you your appetite back and makes you sleep when you take it at night. Its just a suggestion. You cannot continue like this sweetheart x
Jodie, please don't stop taking your Sertraline without your GP's consent. If you do want to stop taking it, you will need to reduce it gradually otherwise you may have withdrawal symptoms.
What you need is to speak to your GP and make a plan for your ongoing treatment and recovery. Ask to be referred for CBT as this is crucial for dealing with anxiety. Also ask about beta blockers - Propranolol is not addictive and can often help with some of the very physical symptoms of anxiety.
My GP has only just recently told me about Propranolol so I have started that. There is also something called Buspirone which I want to ask my doctor about.
The antidepressants I have tried in the last 12 months are Seroxat, Citalopram, Sertraline, Mirtazapine. Unfortunately I have not yet found the right one which helps with my anxiety and depression.
There will be a solution out there for you with regards medication whether this is a higher dose of Sertraline or something else.
Everyone's experiences are different but I know anxiety is a terrible thing that can take over your life. You might not be in the right place for it yet, but Mindfulness and relaxation exercises can be helpful when you feel up to it. These things are hard work so it's not easy.
I've been given some online CBT modules to do and they talk about the worry cycle. If you Google "how to stop the worry cycle" you might find some things which are useful. Also do a search on "the anxiety trick" as that is something which helped me to see how anxiety keeps escalating out of control.
Thank you very much for your reply. I went to my doctor yesterday and she has doubled my dose of sertraline to 100mg per day, however, when I went to my chemist - they have given me a different brand of sertraline and to me the tablets look huge in comparison to the 50mg, I'm scared to actually start the larger dose as at the beginning of taking 50mg, I had bad side effects and became very paranoid that I was suffering with serotonin syndrome - something I know can happen when the medication is increased so last night I snapped it in half - I know I sound like I'm not willing to help myself but it's not that I don't want to do what the doctor advise, but I have become such a worrier/scared for my health continuously.
Hi Jodie - So glad you have been back to the doctor. I must say that I have never doubled a dose of anything overnight, I've always just made a partial increase for at least a few days maybe a week before going up to the higher dose. If you can go up to 75 mg by using 1 and a half of the 50 mg tablets that might be the best plan and then see how you feel before increasing to 100 mg.
I'd also recommend keeping a diary on paper - even if it's just a few lines a day to chart what dose you are on and how you are feeling (physically and mentally). Sometimes you can then see a pattern. I find it's better actually writing it on paper as you can look back at a glance better than if you are making notes on a computer, tablet or phone, and also to me I feel it gets thoughts and feelings out of my head better if I can see it on paper.
Sometimes the days and weeks become a blur so it's good to have something to refer back to. I try and also do a short weekly summary to see whether I feel there's any progress (or not).
When I look back at my diary I can see I had that weird throat thing with the Sertraline too. In the end it didn't suit me as I was just crying all the time and felt drugged up, but it's not the same for everyone so see how you feel. In the end with my GP's consent, I reduced it gradually (had some side effects from that) and went onto Mirtazapine which unfortunately hasn't been the miracle cure either so I don't yet know what's next for me.
Let me know how you get on with just making a slight increase in the Sertraline. When you are feeling almost permanently anxious the adrenaline can have alsorts of effects that you don't even realise is actually the adrenaline. Sometimes it's hard to know what symtoms you are getting from the side effects of the tablets and what is actually from the anxiety.
Last year I was told I had a macular hole affecting my central vision and it would require really unpleasant eye surgery - I spent 4 months worrying about this non stop (and moving house in that time) - then the new hospital where I moved to said it was the wrong diagnosis and no operation was required. All that worry was for nothing and it was a huge waste of energy as I'd worn myself down with that and everything else!
If you google "the anxiety coach" you'll find a web site which really helped me as this American doctor's description of anxiety was the best I'd ever read and it explained exactly how I feel. Hope it might help you too.
Let me know how you get on this week. Take care now.
Hey, I was on 65mg venlafaxine to take twice a day but an hr after taking one I would feel sick and extremely anxious and one day I was physically sick all over my floor so I stopped them completely as I have 2 children. I'm actually better off medication than on it but obviously everyone is different and it really isn't advised to stop suddenly like I did. I had been taking them for around 4-5 weeks. Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you! I really would advise you see your GP as they can help you more. I actually found counselling helped me more than medication but then I am the sort of person who needs to offload things else I get worse... If I can help in any way let me know xx
Hi Jodie sorry to hear about your on going anxiety. There is an excellent book called self help for your nerves by Dr Clair weeks it can be ordered from Amazon, it's a simple straight to the point book that gives an explanation for every anxiety symptom and how to overcome anxiety. Take care of yourself and good luck x