Sertraline Noob

[EnoughAlready]

Hello, been prescribed sertraline 50mg for Anxiety(I am not depressed), horrible feeling I have taken this before about 25 years ago and I had a horrendous reaction and had suicidal thoughts but its so long ago I cannot remember if it was this or Fluoxetine

Anyway, is 50mg to much to start with - should I snap in half as am totes paranoid about reaction, especially as I had a bad reaction to the AZ COVID jab recently.

Thanks
B

PS Is it ok to take Nexium and Imodium on this med, I have to take both quite often. I did not make doc aware of this but he was very quick to issue pills so did not have much of a convo

[Scissel]

Hi there; B..

I guess I'm wondering why you were put on Zoloft if you aren't depressed? I'm not trying to pry or be too forward and want to respect your privacy.

To tell you the truth, the difference between 25MG and 50 to start isn't much of a difference, not that you couldn't try if you want to do that and see. I had a awful reaction to mirtazapine and know what that is like - it was scary.

Hang in the as panic_down_under will likely offer up sound advice for you.

Be well.

EDIT: Oh, I just read your other thread so I presume you were prescribed this for your headaches.

[EnoughAlready]

Was prescribed it as I have severe anxiety at moment, so cannot drive on a motorway without starting to panic, was having bad anxiety over presenting to a group of 20 people at work. Cant drive up hills in a car, have a fear if heights. Thought I was going crazy the other night losing my mind. Apparently small doses of sertraline or citalopram can help with this. I was also given propaopol to help with physical panic symptoms but my resting heart rate is 55 to 60 as I'm a keen runner so the idea of slowing my heart rate down further is scary.

If I did not have this 3 week headache I suspect my anxiety may not be presenting quite as bad as it is. Think I'll speak to doc again tomorrow. I had the astra zeneca vaccine 11 days ago and advice is if you have a headache after 4 days to get checked out so suppose I should in case.

Thanks for replying too :)

[panic_down_under]

Hello, been prescribed sertraline 50mg for Anxiety(I am not depressed), horrible feeling I have taken this before about 25 years ago and I had a horrendous reaction and had suicidal thoughts but its so long ago I cannot remember if it was this or Fluoxetine

Anyway, is 50mg to much to start with - should I snap in half as am totes paranoid about reaction, especially as I had a bad reaction to the AZ COVID jab recently.

25mg should be the starting dose for anxiety disorders and given your possible past reaction I would cut the prescribed dose in half for the first week, however, you should get your GP's okay first.


Is it ok to take Nexium and Imodium on this med, I have to take both quite often. I did not make doc aware of this but he was very quick to issue pills so did not have much of a convo

There is no interactions. Be aware that both constipation and diarrhoea are potential initial SSRI side-effects.


but my resting heart rate is 55 to 60 as I'm a keen runner so the idea of slowing my heart rate down further is scary.

Be cautious when first taking the beta-blocker, but it probably won't drop your heart rate that much. Also, while 60-100 bpm has long thought to be the normal range adult resting heart rate many cardiologists now think that is too high with 50-70 (https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/features/5-heart-rate-myths-debunked#1) bpm being the ideal range. Fwiw, I'm on meds to lower my BP to lower than normal after a lung lobectomy and my usual resting rate is 48-50 bpm. I'm not having any problems.

[panic_down_under]

I guess I'm wondering why you were put on Zoloft if you aren't depressed?

Anxiety and depression are driven by the same underlying brain changes so ADs work for both. SSRIs are actually more effective anxiety meds than they are anti depressives.

[Scissel]

Thank you for that clarification, my anxiety has been bad lately so I'm wondering if my AD is doing its job ... I've been struggling sooo very hard to reduce my benzo usage, but with little luck, though, I'm still doing well compared to before.

I hope things start to improve for you; B, and you have better luck this time with your medication.

[Phill2]

Starting Sert was the worst 6 weeks ever for me.
I did 25mg for a week then upped to 50mg.
Was on it for a while then changed to Lexapro.
Not every one is the same but I found the Lexapro much better and has less side effects for me.

[panic_down_under]

Thank you for that clarification, my anxiety has been bad lately so I'm wondering if my AD is doing its job ...

How much escitalopram are you taking now and how long have you been at that dose?


I've been struggling sooo very hard to reduce my benzo usage, but with little luck, though, I'm still doing well compared to before.

Struggling because of the anxiety, or because of withdrawal? If anxiety, I suggest you demand your GP prescribes an alternative because BZDs inhibit the mechanism by which ADs work, plus dealing with withdrawal symptoms won't help your recovery either. Alternatives include hydroxyzine, mirtazapine and maybe beta-blockers if you're having flight-or-fight adrenaline surges.

[EnoughAlready]

I've ended up going back to doc and getting citalopram instead. I'm almost certain lustral as I knew it 20 years ago gave me serious suicidal thoughts. Doc was understanding and has switched me to 10mg cit. Will start them over the weekend.

[Scissel]

How much are you taking now and how long have you been at that dose?



Struggling because of the anxiety, or because of withdrawal? If anxiety, I suggest you demand your GP prescribes an alternative because BZDs inhibit the mechanism by which ADs work, plus dealing with withdrawal symptoms won't help your recovery either. Alternatives include hydroxyzine, mirtazapine and maybe beta-blockers if you're having flight-or-fight adrenaline surges.Thank you for your concern. I believe its likely both anxiety and WD - I'm at .25mg 3 times a day from double that, but I just can't seem to function well without it ... I've tried to cut back and my agoraphobia gets difficult. I recall you said it's a vicious cycle I'm in. Ugh, I'll keep trying, I guess. I'm now on 10mg of escitalopram and my APRN wants to increase at some point, but its the same issue; even though I'm not sexually active, I don't like being "dead" either, so we're gonna take it slowly this time, and I will consider your thread discussing this side effect. Because of my cardiac condition(s), they wouldn't want to put me on something to cause issues - seeing I'm on several medication (blood thinner - blood pressure - statin).


I've ended up going back to doc and getting citalopram instead. I'm almost certain lustral as I knew it 20 years ago gave me serious suicidal thoughts. Doc was understanding and has switched me to 10mg cit. Will start them over the weekend.Good luck to you as I'm on basically the same medication, and thus far haven't felt suicidal.

[panic_down_under]

Thank you for your concern. I believe its likely both anxiety and WD - I'm at .25mg 3 times a day from double that, but I just can't seem to function well without it ... I've tried to cut back and my agoraphobia gets difficult.

...I'm now on 10mg of escitalopram and my APRN wants to increase at some point, but its the same issue; even though I'm not sexually active, I don't like being "dead" either, so we're gonna take it slowly this time,

I get your angst, but I don't see the point of taking a med at what seems to be an ineffective dose. Also be aware that BZDs can impact the libido to a significant degree too.


and I will consider your thread discussing this side effect. Because of my cardiac condition(s), they wouldn't want to put me on something to cause issues - seeing I'm on several medication (blood thinner - blood pressure - statin).

Ginkgo biloba is the only one of the suggestions which may be risky as it is an anticoagulant.

[Scissel]

Again, I'm grateful for your advice. Yeah, I don't know what to do at this point, as I've said before, I feel like I have to 'lead' my APRN - she is nonchalant to say the very least. I'll try to write more perhaps in another thread of my own as I don't want to encroach on this gentleman's thread.