I have been suffering from panic disorder and my doctor prescribed me Sertraline (50mg) dose daily. Have been taking for a week now and i have to say the panic attacks have stopped almost completely, however my anxiety levels have rocketed, to the point where i can't sleep, can't work and am even nervous about going outside.
I have also stated having really depressive, awful thoughts about 'losing' it and harming my girlfriiend, myself or soemone else, googling the symptoms have just led me to horror strories from other users of Sertraline and now i'm in a real state, i don't know if i'm thinking these things because i read about them , or i;m actually thinking them, either way its pushing my anxiery levels over the edge.
Hey David, I've been taking the same dosage for about a month now and feel much better. My GP prescribed 50mg for panic attacks and anxiety and like you, the panic attacks stopped almost instantly but the anxiety got worst for the first couple of weeks, it's one of the side effects unfortunately but it does tail off. I've had no anxiety at all now for about a week and a half.
Regarding the self harm and harming others, I didn't feel like that at all so perhaps you may need to mention that to your GP?
My advice would also be to try not to Google your meds etc. because in general, you only find comments/posts by people who are suffering and not so many from people who the meds have helped. I know it's difficult not to though!!
Hope you don't mind me butting in on your post , but I also have been taking 50mg for a month the panic attacks side of things are more or less fine , but my anxiety level is through the roof , so much so I am unable to go to work which I Iove , how long would you say it room for the anxiety to lift please.
Thanks Rob, that actually makes me feel a lot better, i was thinking that this was how things would be for me, a choice between panic or anxiety! , good to know it tails off in couple of weeks. I've booked a call back with my doctor re: bad thoughts etc, i've rea its a normal side efefct of this type of meds but its really unsettling, you'r absolutely right about Google!
I've also been speaking to a clinical psychologist and he taught me some breating exersises and some other stuff which seems to help control the anxiety. One major thing though was identifying he cause of the anxiety in the first place which for me was stress caused by work and family issues. fortunately, the family issues have now subsided and I was fortunate enough to be able to leave my job and by doing this, I feel really helped.
unfortunately, I'm guessing that different people respond differntly to the meds but I genuinely think that the combination of them with the therapy has helped me over the past month but I also know that it's still early days.
Sorry I can't be of more help but for me, the bulk of the anxiety went away after about 3 weeks.
Hey David, my anxiety was really bad for a bit so having the side effects of feeling tired, dizzy, "fuzzy ear", upset stomach, dry mouth and loss of apetite for a bit was a fair trade off to get rid of the anxiety s I hated that!
The only side effects I get now are a bit of a fuzzy ear for a couple of hours per day and that's it really. I take my "happy pill" at about 7.30am every day and try to have something small to eat with it at the same time and that also helps.
Hey David, my anxiety was really bad for a bit so having the side effects of feeling tired, dizzy, "fuzzy ear", upset stomach, dry mouth and loss of apetite for a bit was a fair trade off to get rid of the anxiety s I hated that!
The only side effects I get now are a bit of a fuzzy ear for a couple of hours per day and that's it really. I take my "happy pill" at about 7.30am every day and try to have something small to eat with it at the same time and that also helps.
Thank you that has helped me, as I too have a lot going on and this doesn't help my anxiety , I have started Yoga and meditate most nights and felt I was nearly over the worse, but the last few days have been horrendous ! But will plod along and hopefully feel the benefits soon.