Sertraline
Hi everyone! My name is Clare, and I am totally new to this whole anxiety thing. Well, okay, no - I've always suffered from social anxiety, and I've had depression for as long as I can remember, but I've started getting panic attacks a few weeks ago, which is new and kind of terrifying.
My GP has prescribed me sertraline, which I've taken it once and honestly, the side effects are so bad that I don't know if I can keep taking it. I'm so tired, I feel like I've been drugged. I'm anxious and headachey. I'm dizzy. I keep feeling hot and tingley, and I can't focus. Like, I am cool with side effects, bit this really feels like they've been cranked up to eleven.
I'm due to take the second tablet today. My instinct is to not take it. I read somewhere that if I keep taking sertraline, the side effects will subside but I don't know if I can survive a couple of weeks like this. Has anyone else had a similar experience?
That would be my instinct too—not to take it. I have also read that for some people the side effects do subside, and some people have taken Sertraline for many years. So it's a difficult decision.
Another option is to try a different drug in the same SSRI family. You might be able to find one that gives you the benefits without the side effects.
My understanding is that social anxiety, depression and panic attacks can all be treated very effectively and permanently and quickly with therapy, CBT in particular. But the difficulty with that is finding a CBT therapist who provides real in-depth treatment and doesn't just hand out worksheets or distraction techniques.
@dapperCake933
Sertraline is really good for social phobia and social anxiet but zoloft as an anti-depressant isn't really considered now-a-days. it would be Wellbutrin for dopamine deficiency
I am 38 and have been on Sertraline for about 20 years. I really feel like it's a placebo sometimes and never feel that it does anything, but a few days forgetting to take it and my moods can suddenly slip. I suffer with acutr depression and anxiety.
I take sertraline and its honestly amazing for anxiety. I didnt get the side effects youre getting but in the tablet box they should have a warning of the symptoms you might get and which combination of ones could mean something is wrong. Just be careful and know that sertraline is a really good medication.
@itslovelytobelovelyy can you describe how sertraline has improved your anxiety? I e been taking it for a little while now but I actually developed my anxiety while taking it and it
@decisiveDrum1564 for me personally I found that I have been more confdent, I can do more. I still struggle and still experience anxiety everyday, but panic attacks are so much less frequent and anxiety doesn't run my life anymore.
If you find that you are getting more anxious due to sertraline, tell your doctor, look into other medications and request different ones.
@dapperCake933
hi
I have been on it for 2 years now, and yes at first for 2 weeks it was the same, then it became better and now I do not have any side-effects