Re: Sertraline prescribed
Originally Posted by
Phoenixess
I agreed with the gp to try 25mg of sertraline the normal dose is 50mg I’m scared to try it, part of me knows I’ve had it before the other part of me is scared I’ve got a newly developed heart problem and therefore it will kill me.
Anxiety/stress is a far bigger risk to your heart than any SSRI. They are commonly prescribed to treat the depression many heart attack and ischaemic stroke survivors develop and have been shown to aid survival. The SSRI of choice for this is sertraline according to the NHS (DOCX) - let me know if you can't read DOCx files and I'll upload it in PDF format.
Can it increase your blood pressure too?
No. SSRIs have little if any impact on BP (or heart rate), however, anxiety about taking them may. The other thing to know is SSRIs are mild anticoagulants which may reduce the risk of heart attacks and ischaemic strokes (but slightly increase the risk of the must less common haemorrhagic stroke).
__________________
The opinions expressed above are based on my observations and, where applicable, interpretation of cited data and are general in nature. Consult your physician before acting on anything stated.