I've been suffering with health anxiety ever since my operation in may, I've really struggled with it and it's not getting any easier. I just had my first one on one appointment with a psychiatrist, he has to me to start taking sertraline but a quarter of a 50mg to start with as I usually get side effects, which I'm really worried about. Really getting me down now as it's made me a different person to who I usually am. Don't know if it is better to keep trying with out the tablets or not. Just wondering everyone else's experiences?
Hi alex.
It does help im on 50mg from day 1 and been on it for 15 days now im starting to see little things change, i got really bad anxiety which made my social anxiety through the roof i couldn't talk to anyone. But today been out and talked to people i dont even know so its definitely helping and still early days with me also. Try not think about the side effects as ive still got them but tell myself im ok its only going to get better. I suffer with bad side effects but this tablet has been a walk in the park for me but were all different. Stick it out im sure it will help you around 2 weeks time
Thank you. It's just been so hard. Anything little that I feel with in my body, I naturally panic which is why I really don't want the side effects and that's why the psychiatrist told me to split the 50mg into quarters to start with
If it helps I've just started taking Sertraline starting at 12.5mg (1/4 of a 50 pill). Like you I was scared to try it as had a very bad experience starting on Citalopram (another SSRI) at the end of last year.
This is the 4th day of taking it and so far not too bad really, certainly nothing like the side effects I got with Citalopram (although it is a lower comparative dose of the Sertraline). Slight upset stomach for the first couple of days, bit of not too bad headache at times. Had some anxiety but then I always have some anxiety anyway so don't think the Sertraline is making it much if any worse.
Like you I was scared to take them but read a good positive post of someones experience of them (can't remember where) and that gave me the push to finally take them and so far they've been ok on the 12.5mg.
Your anxiety like mine has clearly been affecting your quality of life for several months,so I would say be brave take the quarter of a pill, try not to panic yourself about taking it and see how you go for a week or two. If they cause you really bad side effects you can always stop them and Sertraline has a pretty short half life so it would then clear out your system pretty quick (especially at 12.5 mg dosage).
Hope this helps and hope it all goes well
Yes it is hard as im the same health anxiety is horrible, im 27 years old just turned and ever since i was 8 years old i thought about awful stuff that i thought i had. 75 brain tumors stomach cancer, lung disorders, M.S, ALS, i even thought i had HIV AT one point when i was about 14 because i liked the group queen and thought wow how did freddy mercury die looked it up and thought ok i have those symptoms thats it im going to die like freddy did. All in all that was just a cold i had as id not even had sex at 14 hahaha but still horrible health anxiety.
I got told to do 12.5mg then up up up untill 50mg but thought lets just do it as side effects last for a week or 2 everytime you up the dose anyway so i thought might aswell get these 2 or 3 weeks over with and not wait 5 or 6 weeks untill your on the dose of 50mg. But thats just me i was in a bad place mentaly anyway so just bit the bullet
Sounds like you have struggled with it for a very long time, I've only been struggling with it since may, that has been a struggle. You must be a strong person. Thank you for the advice
I've taken first dose, it hit me quite fast, light headed feeling mostly and feel tired but wide awake, don't know how else to explain it lol
Yeah you could say ive been through the mill with it all but so have you her him and them. Were all fighting this battle and non of us are alone in any of it. Ask your doctor for a beta blocker you will not get the panic or shaking side effects as bad. Thats if you do have any at all
Tired but wired, sounds familiar. Disconcerting but not frightening.
I constantly feel that way anyway, fidgeting, anxious all the time, I've got diazepam which I think they said I can take with them
No not frightening, just feel glued to where I am lying. Little bit of dry throat too but manageable. Thank you
Yes diazepam will help but only try use them if absolutely deperate as i have known good friends to become dependent on those and its not a pretty site. I refused them when the doctor gave them to me. Beta blockers will sort your problem phsicly while the sertraline works on your thoughts. The only i took off the doctor was a sleeping tablet as the first week can be a little up and down with sleep. As ive been through alot in all these years i do class myself as a strong person but when i was on citlopram i got serotonin syndrome and was in hospital i actually thought my time was up and wanted to die rather than be in that place again. It took me 6 months of hell looking at a box of sertraline as i couldnt bring myself to take it just incase. But to my amazement sertraline has been the best tablet for side effects and im already feeling happy because of that.
Sorry Alex I meant Selincro the new tablet that's meant to help reduce alcohol it's just come on the market am also on Sertraline 100m have had no problems except they seen to take a bit longer to work
Yea, they told me to take 3 a day but i really don't want to get addicted to them, I've only got 5 days worth so should be ok. I'll ask at the doctors for the beta blockers. Good that you are feeling better. I've tried citlopram before and it was horrible I had, dry mouth, felt really sick, tremors, couldn't sleep, went all hyper, juttering chin. Was so of putting, stopped them after two days.
sorry Alex I meant a new tablet for lowering alcohol called Selincro am on Sertraline 100m took a while to work but no problems
hi alex,
i tried to battle through without medication and things just got too much, don't give yourself a hard time, you've been through a traumatic experience, you are bound to worry about things!! sertraline can help with so many problems, from depression to OCD and PMT, i'm taking it for depression and anxiety and know what you mean about the not being the same person as you used to be. i was like that too, felt like someone else was controlling my thoughts and feelings, thankfully 11 months on and its been a long road, i'm pretty much back to normal, good luck and keep posting on here, it really helps knowing you're not alone :-)
Thank you for the reply. That helps to know it's not just me and feeling how lots of others feel
no problem, we are all in the same boat on here, just fighting different demons i guess, anxiety is a horrible thing to have, i know exactly where you're coming from, and coming on here is a great comfort when you're having a bad day :-)
Hi Alex I have been on Sertraline for 6 months now and at last am feeling like there is light at the end of the tunnel. i have suffered with anxiety for most of my life connected with death of loved ones illnesses scared of being sick scared of going out you name it. When I first started i was put on 50mg and apart from diarrhea initially for 3 weeks have been ok (now on 100mg) So take heart this site is brilliant for offering support and advice you will come thru this let the tabs get into your system it will take time also I have just had my appt thru for CBT which I have been waiting for for months!! Keep posting we will all help you thru it Take care
Hi Kathy you say 6 months thats along time to only start feeling normal again. Didnt 50mg do anything for you