Sertraline - thoughts appreciated

[AMG123]

I've had generalised anxiety and health anxiety for years (with loads of symptoms that all end up being psychosomatic, or stress-related - from headaches and IBS to tinnitus, and, well, you name it!).

My Dr said that because I'm living with a level of anxiety all the time, it's starting to become dangerous - elevated heart rate, mental health declining, etc.

I've been on sertraline for a week and I have so many side effects:
- headaches
- muscle tension
- jaw pain
- exhaustion (insane exhaustion!)
- a little nausea
- struggling to focus/concentrate

Is this normal? Is this really the only way out of this? Am I always going to feel this awful?
Just looking for advice and people who might make me feel a bit better!

[nomorepanic]

Hi

This is just a courtesy reply to let you know that your post was moved from its original place to a sub-forum that is more relevant to your issue.

This is nothing personal - it just enables us to keep posts about the same problems in the relevant forums so other members with any experience with the issues can find them more easily.

Please also read this post:

http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=213239

[panic_down_under]

I've been on sertraline for a week and I have so many side effects:

Am I right in thinking you've been prescribed 50mg sertraline?

- headaches
- muscle tension
- jaw pain
- exhaustion (insane exhaustion!)
- a little nausea
- struggling to focus/concentrate

Is this normal?

These are all potential initial side-effects.

Serotonin is not only a brain neurotransmitter. It has many functions throughout the body. Nor is the brain the most serotonergic organ so some of them may be more affected by the initial increase in serotonin activity than the brain.

The common pain killers should lessen the headaches and muscle pains. As SSRIs are mild anticoagulants paracetamol, aka acetaminophen, is a better option than aspirin and ibuprofen, etc, if you need to take them for more than a day. Ginger and/or vitamin B6 should ease the nausea.

Am I always going to feel this awful? Just looking for advice and people who might make me feel a bit better!

Bio-feedback mechanisms typically begin down-regulating serotonin synthesis and expression within a week or two which should see most of these side-effects begin to diminish, however, they may return for a while after dose increases although usually at a lesser intensity.

[AMG123]

Thanks so much for replying. Last weekend I ended up feeling awful, with a migraine, nausea, feeling faint, I didn't know what to do with myself. After that 'episode' last weekend, it took me a good few days to level off again - I was beyond exhausted, sleeping 10 hrs/night (far more than I usually get), unable to focus or string sentences together - and this was all on just 25mg/day with a view to going up to 50mg/day after 10-14 days.

Whilst I was experiencing fairly common side effects of sertraline, I just couldn't bring myself to continue taking it. I spoke to a pharmacist who said that 7 days of 25mg wasn't something to be concerned about tapering off, and that I could just stop. So I did!

Thank you so much though, it wasn't an experience I'd like to repeat!

[AMG123]

Thanks so much for replying. Last weekend I ended up feeling awful, with a migraine, nausea, feeling faint, I didn't know what to do with myself. After that 'episode' last weekend, it took me a good few days to level off again - I was beyond exhausted, sleeping 10 hrs/night (far more than I usually get), unable to focus or string sentences together - and this was all on just 25mg/day with a view to going up to 50mg/day after 10-14 days.

Whilst I was experiencing fairly common side effects of sertraline, I just couldn't bring myself to continue taking it. I spoke to a pharmacist who said that 7 days of 25mg wasn't something to be concerned about tapering off, and that I could just stop. So I did!

Thank you so much though, it wasn't an experience I'd like to repeat!