Been prescribed Sertraline, worried about side effects.

Treatment and medication
1

I've been prescribed Sertraline yesterday and om due to take my first tablet this morning. So I've done a little research. 

I suffer with anxiety, IBS and serious emetophobia (fear of being sick) this is why my anxiety is unbearable right now. 

I've noticed that many people have felt/been sick. Because the reasoning of starting sertraline is because of my emetophobia it's my worse nightmare to have these symptoms. 

I'm unsure as to what to do, this is a massive thing for me. And I'm so nervous.  

Any advice/personal stories people could share will help so much, I'd appreciate it. 

2

Well, I found sertaline batter than many others but it depends on personal tolerence as everybody is different. Only way to find that is by using it as you are prescribed for some valid reason.

My gp told me to start with half dose (i.e. half tablet 50mg/2) and gradually increase if required. I kept taking half, and as per my experience small doses of SSRI's are batter.

I found sertaline more tolerant to my body when compared to others like xanax, and expecially mirtazapine. Sideeffects i am facing are more dry eyes and some redness in eyes. (well known side effect of sertaline).

It has worked for OCD, anxiety etc so far but some days its a feeling like gradually less effective.

3

Thank you Jayy.  I'm just worried about the feeling sick part, did you have any sickness side effects?  

Anything else doesn't bother me to this extreme.  

4

No....personally not except very dry eyes some days.

But as i mentioned everybody os different so cannot say if you will tolerate it.

For example, i was.priscribed mirtazapine before which many people had no/fewside effects but i had heart palputations vomiting etc whole night with that. I had to ask gp to change it and was given sertaline.

5

Yeah, I understand.  I'm terrible for getting myself worked up over something! Haha. 

Thank you for your comments. Knowing that not EVERYONE has these side effects does help!  

6

Hi Lauren, I've been taking Sertraline for 4 months and I have never been sick with it, sometimes felt sick, but never was, that feeling only lasted about 10 days and now it's fine. Good luck with it, I hope you try it - it's helped me.

7

Hi Wendy. 

It's the feeling sick part that sets off the whole panic attack thing.  

I'm going to start taking it and then just home for the best and try and battle through it I think.  (Easier said than done) 😕

8

Hi Lauren, that's really difficult for you but I hope you go for it - what have you got to lose... but good luck and know you've always got someone to talk to on this forum. It's helped me a lot, we're all in the same 'boat' really with similar fears and hopes ... hope it works for you :-) x

9

Yeah, it's great that someone understands you.  The people around me don't really get the whole anxiety thing... There just like get up and get on with it. But it's not that easy. 

Thank you for your comments, they've made me feel abit better already 💕

10

Hey Lauren, I am at work so this may be short.  If you ever want to email me, feel free.  It is a terrible feeling when those who don't have panic attacks or the anxiety we feel.  Saying "get on with it" does not help, I think it makes us feel more uncomfortable, because we aren't able to at the moment. 

Good Luck, Janice

11

Hi Lauren, hope your feeling ok  just read your post, and like you, suffer with a fear of sickness which also affects my tummy   I have been on Sertraline for 6wks  first 3 wks on 50mg  was ok nothing serious no feeling of sickness etc so my GP increased to 100mg but after couple of weeks started to xperience a lot of diarrhea upwards of dozen times a day which really freaked me out because I link diarrahea with sickness (had a really bad experience 20yrs ago on ferry to France and I think this was the start of my anxiety) So went back to Docs and he lowered dose again to50mg  have been back on 50 for 5 days now and my diarrhea has abated 3 times aday  hoping this will stop.  Try to stick with it and if you feel anxious try and distract yourself   i have been known to walk around the garden at midnight!  I'm an impatient person and want to feel better now  but have been unwell for about 30yrs so know its not gonna happen overnight. Keep reading and posting  the support is fantastic   and I really hope you start to feel better soon

12

Hi Lauren

I suffer the same issues as you. General anxiety and daily chronic IBS. I've tried diet, medication, psychology and really am not getting anywhere. How are you getting on?