Re: Sertraline for anxiety - nausea?
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Originally Posted by
WorriedOlive
I have been prescribed 50mg of sertraline due to anxiety
Sigh!
The recommended starting dose for anxiety is 25mg for the first week. ![Curse](images/smilies/curse.gif)
and took my first tablet at around 11pm last night. I have been up since 2am with dizziness and bad nausea where I’m on the verge of physically being sick. Is this likely to be a side effect of the tablets? Or just a coincidence!?
No, it is almost certainly the sertraline. Both dizziness and nausea are common side-effects of most serotonergic ADs (and of anxiety), not helped by the high starting dose. They are caused by the increase in serotonin activity. After a while the body responds by down-regulating serotonin synthesis and expression and the side-effects then diminish, but may return for a while after dose increases.
Luckily I’m on annual leave this week but I wouldn’t be able to cope with this nausea at work.
Ginger and/or vitamin B6 supplements may ease the nausea. If they don't ask your GP for assistance as this can be treated. I suggest you contact him/her anyway and ask for a prescription for 25mg tablets which will usually produce less severe initial side-effects than 50mg.
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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.