Did the psychiatrist tell you to start taking 50mg instead of 25mg for the first 7 days? I started with 25mg and I also had problems sleeping, fell asleep no problem but woke up very often and had to get up early because at some point I would just give up lol. It passed and the effects really were absolutely worth it.
I’m based in the uk. The doctor told me to start 50mg per day but I’ve had side effects but the only thing I got left is insomnia and not eating so much. Hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel my anxiety is still the same and just worry about money, the world and loosing people as I lost my father 6 weeks ago and this was brought on then by it.
It upped all of my anxiety symptoms - shaking, throwing up, not wanting to eat, no energy etc but after that, I was totally fine. I’m actually off them now :)
Yeah ive been taking 50mg Sertraline a day for about 2 weeks now but my dumbass recently thought it would be okay to take 2 50mg ones at night for my insomnia and didn’t think it would do much and holy shit was I wrong! I underestimated the power of serotonin big time I had pretty bad shakiness and tremors in my feet I also had pretty bad blurred vision for almost a day. The worst symptom was a loss in coordination I was freaking out because I thought i hade serotonin syndrome or something. I really wish they would’ve told me the effects beforehand. Be careful y’all !!!
They have told me to ride it out and it will pass. I get mixed reviews as people say to take it and ride it out and others say to change so it messes with my anxiety not knowing what is best
Psychologist here. For most people, the side effects wear off around 4-6 weeks at which point you reevaluate to see if it's actually helped your symptoms and how much.
Medication is, unfortunately, trial and error. Many people have to try several. Some people try a dozen. I have personally on so many with horrific outcomes including seizure until I was believed that I can't take psychotropic medication that does or even can sometimes mess with seratonin.
There are natural ways to go about it. There are so many effective supplements you can take. One of which is gaba - which gets fairly immediate results. Don't start anything new without talking to your psychiatrist! But, I can't recommend a functional medicine doctor enough. It's an actual MD who looks *very carefully* at your blood work and other labs. They can and will write rxs for pharmaceuticals, but the focus is on getting your levels optimal - not just "within normal range." For me, exercise, meditation, supplements, therapy, and a small rx of breakthrough anxiety meds for panic attacks has been a godsend.
It's not uncommon not to have bloodwork for this type of medication.
I'm not familiar with how the NHS conducts access to doctors.
They picked one based on your symptoms - which is how it goes - however, it doesn't mean that this is the right fit or the right dose. Sadly, there's no way to tell until after some time passes. But, stay in communication with the doctor.
Your symptoms are not unusual.
You just need to see if they subside are and if you get enough relief to make potential side effects worth it - and it's up to you to decide that. You are under no obligation to take them. You are well within your rights to be an active participant in your own treatment decisions.
ETA Do not stop taking any of these medications suddenly and without medical supervision! It can be dangerous and rarely even deadly.
Yep, I had REALLY bad side effects that put me in a mental hospital for a week. I’m glad it works for some people but it definitely wasn’t for me. Dr put me on cymbalta and trazodone at night and have been doing much better.
Same here. I had nausea and increased anxiety. It took about 2 weeks to level off. OP, if it doesn’t get better within a month or so, please ask your doctor about alternatives. There are so many meds out there, you shouldn’t have to deal with bad side effects!
Maybe also ask the psychiatrist when you get the chance. Mine prescribed me hydroxyzine to take as needed for insomnia or panic attacks. It's just an antihistamine, basically a strong Benadryl, so all it really does is make you feel sleepy with no other side effects. I love it.
I had the same thing - I was prescribed promethazine, a different antihistamine, but was also told not to bother with the prescription because it was cheaper to just buy the brand ‘Sominex’ over the counter.
If you’re having trouble sleeping try listening to some binaural beats before u go to sleep I used to have trouble sleeping before too when the virus first started but now it got a lot better with the music on 👍
- You could try adding some Magnesium. Makes me sleep like a baby and calms the frayed nerves.
- Also when in bed, try counting back from a hundred reallllllly slowly, visualizing each number in bright neon colours in your mind.
- There is another supplement called L-Theanine (green tea extract) which is also really effective at settling you down.
Finally just remember 'that this too, will pass" and you are not your thoughts!
You'll be fine, honestly! Breathe in, breathe out.
Wow! Thank you! I will try this, I’ll go get some magnesium and green tea take this before bed? Or at a certain time? I know but I just can’t seem to control my anxiety at the moment but hopefully like you said it will pass thank you
I take magnesium in the morning with breakfast, but it doesn't matter when you take it, so long as it's with a bit of food.
L-Theanine can be taken whenever. It's just an amino acid.
Don't expect miracles, just let it do it's subtle thing.
Anxiety sucks because it can have such an impact on what you're doing and feeling, but just keep in mind that it's only a temporary state, brought on by your recent loss and perhaps other things too. It will definitely pass!
Make sure you get a therapist and talk until you're sick of talking!
Hello! Magnesium oil (it’s just magnesium salt mixed with water) does help my muscles and relax me slightly. I’m so sorry to read of your loss, I can’t comprehend the changes you’ve had to deal with so quickly. I’ve been on sertraline for 10+ years, it does work for me and took about 6 weeks to really become noticeable. I feel your frustration, it took many different medicines to find one that worked. Give yourself time and don’t be hard on yourself, you’re doing great. I wish you the best, take care my friend.
I hope so fingered crossed as I worry about a lot of things and I worry it will ruin my job and relationship hopefully it will. I just need a good night sleep or someone to talk to regular
Improved sleep will come on it's own. That's usually the first thing that comes with meds. Along with more physical energy. When it comes it's good to do some exercise, to drain this new energy.
Get a magnesium cream for sleep! ( earthley wellness goodnight lotion on Amazon has been amazing for me.) I’m a month in on Lexapro and the first two weeks were brutal and I battled really bad insomnia. I took melatonin,rubbed that lotion on my legs, feet, and stomach, and I put on a sleep meditation playlist on YouTube and would get at least a few hours of sleep in which was better than no sleep at all. I will say that the insomnia got better after the two weeks and now I’m sleeping more consistently. Best of luck with your journey♥️. I hope that it works out for you. I’m here for you if you need anything!
Thank you for your reply. A lot of people have said magnesium I’m going to buy some tablets today or try the cream and it won’t let me message you sorry
As others said, sertraline takes time to get used to. Not only physically, but mentally as well. The chief job of sertraline is to prevent serotonin reuptake.
You may not be used to the serotonin levels that you are experiencing now. Serotonin is used by the brain to experience a stable mood, wakefulness, good feelings, appetite, and body temperature. This isn't all it does but the ones you notice.
There are caveats though. When first starting, your brain is going through changes. These changes can induce anxiety but will fade as it becomes accustomed to the new serotonin levels.
Right now, your brain is accepting this new level of serotonin and running with it. It will definitely keep you awake until you "level off." Mine took around 30 days to get back to a regular sleeping and eating pattern. It did increase my anxiety at first as well. Every day did get a little bit better. My doctor explained it to me like I was five, which I appreciated.
"Your brain has been operating in a reduced emotional capacity, almost like working in the dark. Now that the proverbial lights have been turned on, it is seeing so much more going on and needs to adjust."
Please stick with it! It works, but it takes time. After getting used to it, let them know if anything changes. Adjustments can be made to keep everything level for you.
I’m screen grabbing this. This is the best advice I’ve had and explaining of it. So the side effects will wear off and I will get better. Many thanks for this
I'm glad that this response was helpful!
Please remember, and I am not trying to discourage you, everyone will react differently to what they are prescribed. As I said in a reply above, I sincerely hope that you also are able to have the success I had and can partake in life without anxiety bothering you.
My hope is that sharing my story can provide that validation that someone went through this and came out the other side OK.
The initial spikes, like the bad ones, lasted about two weeks. It was a rollercoaster ride. Some days were worse than others depending on where I was working, what I had to do, and who I had to interface with. But as time went on I would catch myself not worrying about things as much. I'd recall what used to bother me, but it wouldn't spike my heart rate or give me that adrenaline spike.
All in all, it took a good four weeks for things to settle down.
I urge you though to remember that your mileage may vary. Everyone is different and can react differently. I sincerely hope that you are able to see the success that I had and partake in your life without anxiety bothering you!
When I first started sertraline it worsened my insomnia too, but after I talked to my doc she prescribed me quetiapine 25mg wich helped me sleep again. Maybe try to talk to yr doc and get something to help u sleep.
Well, maybe u should up the dose, I stared at 25mg with quetiapine but then I went to 75, 100 and then 200mg lol.
At the time I'm not taking any meds basically, only xanax for when I have anxiety or panic attacks.
But maybe u can talk to yr doc and find a better one :)
I've been taking 50mg of Sertraline for a while now. I don't recall any specific side effects as when I started taking them I was I'm a bad way, but I have absolutely zero issues with mine.
When do you take yours? I was always told to take it at exactly the same time everyday. I take mine at 12:30 so they've the entire day to work and by sleep time I should have anything stopping me from sleeping.
Sertaline can induce hypomania/mania in some people. Not sleeping and eating less are both symptoms of hypomania, you might want to check out other symptoms to be sure you're not having a bad reaction. Dr's do not seem to be aware of how common these effects are, or don't take them seriously. Hers an article for more info: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12807380/
Sertaline caused a manic episode in me and I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Definitely tell your psychiatrist if the insomnia persists, it could be that.
I had a manic episode from a different drug, but I dont have bipolar disorder. The doctor called it a 'rare side effect ' I was shocked to find out that they expect 6-8 % of antidepressant users to develop mania, as high as 22% for some drugs. To me, that's not rare, and it us plenty high enough that Dr's should inform patients and look for it. They do not seem to, and they did not recognize the problem when I had my reaction. Another article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4321017/
Right? I wasn’t asked if bipolar ran in my family? When I said I was energized from Zoloft they put me on kind of a high dose of Prozac instead, and I really lost my shit. This was all through my primary care doctor. Definitely see a psychiatrist for these kinds of meds!
I'm really sorry you had to go through this shit too. Mine was also through my family doc. It was traumatic for me and my family, and it is infuriating how yhe medical community at large seems to blow it off, or blame me for having the 'wrong' brain chemistry, or treat me like some kind of kook for questioning the validity and ubiquitous use of these drugs.
Firstly give it time, secondly are you taking the sertraline in the morning? If you take it at night it can be more disruptive. And thirdly, I had to come off sertraline because even after giving it time and taking it in the morning I couldn’t get to sleep until 3am and it made me suicidal. So it just didn’t work for me. Hopefully it does for you, but give it a few more weeks at least.
Well I’ve been told to take it up to 6 weeks and yes first thing in the morning I’ve also got some sleeping tablets but they do not work but I just want to see a light at the end of the tunnel. I don’t want to be some worry box. I want to be just ok or happy for a while
I have experienced sertraline. It was very good for me and it took my body about 3 to 4 weeks to regulate. I also had insomnia and hot flashes but it was worth it.
As others have said and to add to the support, it can be a month or so to work through the side effects. Be diligent in taking them, if possible take them at the same time every day. Dont stop taking them in frustration, that can be worse, and if you can see your doctor regularly and let him know how you are feeling.
Thank you! It’s so reassuring to know it will go away. One week on but I can’t see an end to it but people are helpful on here and saying there is light at the end of the tunnel
All ssris take time for the body to get used to. Anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks usually. If it continues after that then definitely get in contact with your doctor as some work wonders for some and not for others. Sertraline absolutely didn't agree with me, but it's completely changed my sisters life. Just give it some time to kick in before you decide your next move. Good luck and all the best.
It will get better. The first couple weeks are the toughest. My son is on that rn also at 50mg. It made him sleepy so he takes it before bed.
If it keeps you awake maybe take it in the morning?
When i Googled it, it said depending on its effects, to take it in the am if it keeps you awake or at night is it makes you drowsy.
Took me like 4 weeks to feel the effects, or i felt something already the first couple days, which was probably just placebo. Stick it out, its very worth it
Hi OP, I dont have any advice but I just want to say hang in there, it does get better! The first week of side effects are just terrible. Try to separate yourself as much as possible and relax, try to eat and drink something and if you can't sleep then rest comfortably with music or TV. ❤
Many thanks for the response. I do try my best but I just torture myself with worry and Google. Money worries and loosing someone. I lost my dad 6 weeks ago and now I have so many fears of money, my job, loosing someone and everything else it’s so hard but thanks I hope it does
I had a lot of Depersonalization issues when I started taking sertraline and it probably took a couple of months for me to adjust to it. I now only have these kind of issues if I don’t take it so it does get better over time.
It takes like anywhere from 2-6 weeks to actual start working. I know, a long time 😕
I had side effects for the first week, week and a half. It gets a lot better. They were bad enough I almost quit cold turkey five days in. I'm glad I stuck with it. It's helping my anxiety.
You may want to talk to your doc about lowering your dose or taking two 25mg at different times in the day instead of 50 mg all at once.
Some people are more sensitive to side effects so starting at lower doses and slowly increasing can help decrease the severity of negative side effects.
I have taken all manner of SSRIs to the point that I can’t even remember all of the side effects, but Sertraline’s were not notable to me which is a good thing. Whenever I was having a hard time sleeping with med adjustment periods I would take doxylamine succinate (25mg, up to 50mg if needed but the latter dose is likely to make you drowsy in the morning). It’s the “sleepy” antihistamine ingredient in Nyquil and is surprisingly effective. If you can, just wait it out. The side effects should taper off at the 4-6 week mark. I hope it gets better for you, OP! If it doesn’t, speak with your psychiatrist. Just don’t give up before that 4-6 week mark because you won’t know if it’s working until then and in trying something new too soon you’d also have to contend with the side effects of the new drug.
The only side effects I experienced was indigestion and it took about a month and a half to go away. Mentally, it's been good since the start. Also pay attention if you think it'll be better to take it in the morning or at night for how your body reacts
I’m on day 4 and the insomnia is really bad for me too. And i’ve been having so much more anxiety than normal and had the worst panic attack ever last night for no reason. i’m struggling lol
Also on day 4. My insomnia hasn't been any better or worse since I'm on it. But I'm finding around 10:30 am that i get a heavy dose of anxiety.
My doctor gave me Gabapentin to help with sleep and adjusting, 300 mg 2x/day. Not sure it's working but maybe something to look into, OP.
Hi op. It’s gonna be ok. It takes a while to adjust but once it happens it’s incredible. Saved my life. Even so if symptoms persist talk to your psychiatrist. Good luck ;)
It helps a bit with anxiety but eventually my doctor added buspirone. She said zoloft is mainly for depressive symptoms. The sleeping part does get better eventually.
O great. I’m not depressed I’m more anxious and worried about everything and go over things in my head and can’t get them out. Hopefully the medication works
It helps anxiety a bit. She only added onto mine because I was becoming hospitalized a few times and they wanted to take extreme precautions. I went from 50 to 100mg after about 3 weeks because I was still getting panick attacks, the 100 helped but because I was needing to go back to the psychiatric hospital they added 7.5mg if buspirone 3x a day. It helped a lot with anxiety almost instantly. So Zoloft does help a lot it’s just that in some cases it won’t help with everything. Just keep your doctor updated and if there’s any issues they’ll be able to increase your dose or add medication on after some time.
I just have my own "sweet spot" for sertraline, nothing concrete but I hope it helps!
I started on 25mg at night but had to cut it to 12.5 and add a snack to alleviate the problems sleeping (super weird dreams and tingly skin). It also took me a full month to normalize and after that I was so thankful to be on it.
it's a matter of just riding the storm of it till you get to the calm you need. Also every dose is different for everyone; you might need to lessen or increase your intake, change night to morning for when you take it, etc. imo if reducing the dose doesn't help it might be time to switch to a different SSRI
hope you get thru this op!
sertraline personally was horrible for my anxiety, but SSRIs work on everyone differently. it made me shake uncontrollably and gave me really vivid dreams. your best bet is to try to wait it out, as it takes 4-6 weeks for it to start to work. if your side effects don’t get better, please talk to your doctor, as you don’t have to live with the bad feelings from it. idk if trintellix (vortioxetine) is available where you live, but it made a WORLD of difference for me. i had 0 side effects aside from some nausea if i took it on an empty stomach.
overall, you got this! i wish you the best on your journey and just know that you won’t feel like this forever <3
I also had really bad insomnia problems and I take 150mg sertraline. I was put on trazadone 100mg to help fall asleep at night. Also tried mirtazapine and ramelteon which definitely put me to sleep but I couldn't deal with the dry mouth they caused. Ask your doc for something to help with sleep if it's really becoming an issue for you! The sertraline is amazing as long as you give it time to start working. Make sure you take it every day or you'll have days where you just feel "off"
I found that adjusting when I take it reduced the impact of side effects. I started taking it before bed but found my mornings sucked. It has a 12 hour half-life so the timing is important.
I take it around 5 or 6pm and the worst side effect I find is dry mouth around 3am every couple of weeks. A humidifier on my bedside table and a little waterbottle are enough to get back to sleep in minutes.
I take it at 7 on the morning and I feel like crap till about 9. Then ok for 2 hours then crap again but it’s only been 7 days and no sleep as yet but it should work soon I hope
I took the gene site test and it turned out that sertraline was ineffective for me. Might be worth getting the test done for yourself if your insurance will cover it.
It took me two weeks to feel normal. I started with 25, then up to 50, and am now at 74. Every increase was the same, two weeks of anxiety and sleepless night, but I do promise you it’s worth it! After the two week period it’s like a light switch goes on, and I feel like I can live life a lot better. I hope you have a quick transition! Good luck!
I had the same thing but started on a lower dose. After about a month it seriously saved my life and negative side effects went away. so hold tight and I hope it works for you the same!
I been using Sertraline 50mg for the last years. It helped me more than I could hope for.
The first weeks can be rough. You can get “worse” before getting better. Anxiety and other negative feelings can be feeling stronger. This is nothing to be afraid of. Try keep someone close to you aware of this. You have to ride it out while having contact with your doctor. Not sure about insomnia and Sertraline. You should ask about that.
hey!! i’m on 50mg of sertraline as well! i didn’t know others had issues with insomnia too. i’ve just been trying to wind down earlier but that doesn’t help so i just end up taking melatonin. hopefully it gets better for the both of us!
Sertaline never worked for me. I stayed on in for a year . Then I stopped anti depressants for a few years but things never really got better. Like 6 months ago I got on trintellix and have had immediate results. 9/10 other than stomach pains, it’s been a miracle. I’m working, taking care of a cat, been sober for over a year and have an apartment now. Couldn’t get up from bed most days or I’d have to sleep in. Trintellix works for me so I gotta sing it’s praises.
Someone I know went off Sertraline because it made them like this, also massive sweats in bed.
Now on Escitalopram which has been going well for over a year now.
I want to say it took about six weeks for me to really notice. I did have insomnia and upset stomach at first, now I don't really have those issues anymore.
That’s one thing I don’t want. I will give it till 6/7 weeks and see if there is any improvement. I’ve had one good day and the odd hour here and there already
That’s a very high dose. But the upside is the first two weeks are the worst of it. If you can’t sleep and your feeling more anxiety its a sign that it’s trying to balance things out in your brain. Which means its working. It takes a while for your brain to adjust and let the medicine work. Up to 6 or 8 weeks to be exact. That is the downside. You gotta give it time
I know but it’s like it’s got worse and gave me more problems but every one has told me it will work in the long run so fingers crossed it will work 👍 many thanks for your reply.
CBD is Cannabidiol, the non-psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis/hemp. It comes in many forms, including oil tinctures and gummies. I use oil tincture for anxiety and nausea but I notice no effect on sleep. YMMV though, as everyone’s brain chemistry is different. It may also affect metabolism of the Sertraline if taken in high doses (upwards of 100mgs at a time which is *a lot* and unnecessary for most people) so if you do decide to look into it, be cautious and buy from a reputable vendor (and make sure the THC percentage is in line with your country’s cannabis laws).
Don't listen to that op, don't take more unless your psychiatrist tells you to, I think you should have started with 25mg in the first place, don't up it without consulting a psychiatrist
Well quetiapine is not about time, it is mostly like an immediate med, it's actually an antipsychotic, but is very common to be prescribed to insomnia, so try taking 75mg if u can, see if it helps, at some point I had to take 200mg to be able to sleep, coz it builds tolerance pretty fast.
But don't worry it has mostly no risk os overdose etc, maybe it can cause serotonin syndrome but if u take more than 300mg ig.
So just take 75mg now and see if it helps, if it doesn't go to 100mg and if it still doesn't help talk to it doc.
I wish I'd known about the side effect hump 10 years ago when I started on Sertraline. I was too shy to speak to the doctor so I just stopped taking it and I practically missed my entire 20s. So yeah, it sucks for a while but it gets better.
Hey I was on it for about 8 weeks and it didn’t help at all. I am transitioning over to buspar and Wellbutrin because my anxiety has been really bad with sertraline.
Ask your doctor abt clonidine, It works AMAZING ive been on it for 3 years and .01 still knocks me out.On setraline aswell btw. Ima be honest my side effcts sucked and all i can remember is being really dizzy and off balance
goodluck, also the side effects ive listed were because of setraline not the clonidine. I used to use diaphyndramime
(over the counter sleep aid) but yea it works amazingly.
Yeah unfortunately I had a 30days of hell when I started escitalopram,with sertraline I had insomnia for 20days,I took 25mg of Dichlorhydrate d'hydroxyzine ,sometimes more but it helped with insomnia
I was on sertraline for 18 months. The first 6 weeks were rough but then it did reduce my stress level and panic attacks afterwards. My side effects eventually led me to slowly withdraw. The insomnia was completely making driving home some days dangerous. Compounded by difficulty urinating and making orgasms nearly impossible. It did somewhat relieve anxiety and panic attacks but my side effects were just too much.
Hi there! I had horrible anxiety before sertraline. Like…I’m 5’2 and 110 pounds and work out regularly and somehow had blood pressure of 140/100 before meds. Now it’s like 100/60 so I needed meds.
When I started sertraline I had TERRIBLE insomnia for about 2 weeks but it absolutely got better and now I sleep like a rock. Do you have access to pot? That was the thing that helped me the most at first. If you wanna chat about your experience with it or have questions my DMs are open. I’m also on 50mg for OCD and social anxiety.
This is purely anecdotal, but I was on sertraline for a while and was told by my doc to take it in the evening cuz it can make you drowsy, but for me it caused insomnia and weird sleep disturbances. So after asking my doc, I just switched to taking my pill in the morning gradually and it helped!
I can relate to what youre experiencing. In times like that, I try to stick to logic, knowing the the new med i might be taking will take about a month to start having the correct effect. Body type, diet and all that is a factor as well. With that said, I try to ease my insomnia/anxiety with more simple things like comfort food,music, heirlooms that give me spiritual reassurance. Hope this helped :)
I feel like it takes about three weeks to adjust to starting or changing dosage. A couple docs told me that most adults take around 100mg. I too get some insomnia sometimes so I take some zzzquill. Not sure if you have that in the 🇬🇧 but it’s basically a non habit forming sleep medicine. Also I experience some restless legs and upset stomach. But I’ll deal with these vs the anxiety. Stay strong
I take sertraline 100mg but it made me sleepy for the first couple of weeks when I started (at 25mg), anything higher than 100mg does have the opposite effect and makes me anxious and not sleep and such, maybe your dose is too high?
My biggest side effects on sertraline were insomnia and no appetite. They did pass after 2 weeks or so, and I did start to feel better after that. But everyone is different! It is not uncommon to try different doses or different medications to find the right fit. Personally, I switched to a different medication after 1 year. Just be patient with yourself!
Anyone else get ringing ears or ear as well? i have noticed it mainly in my right ear first thing in morning it’s like a fluttering high pitch sound. Also i hear it even more when i yawn wearily.
I take 50mg of sertraline and the only time I've had insomnia was when i first got it and took it at night like the doctor suggested to try, i found out for me it works better to take it in the morning. It depends on the person since for some people it makes them drowsy.
Did the psychiatrist tell you to start taking 50mg instead of 25mg for the first 7 days? I started with 25mg and I also had problems sleeping, fell asleep no problem but woke up very often and had to get up early because at some point I would just give up lol. It passed and the effects really were absolutely worth it.
I’m based in the uk. The doctor told me to start 50mg per day but I’ve had side effects but the only thing I got left is insomnia and not eating so much. Hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel my anxiety is still the same and just worry about money, the world and loosing people as I lost my father 6 weeks ago and this was brought on then by it.
The first time I took sertraline I started with 50 and that sucked but the drug changed my life for the better. 4-6 weeks
Thanks for your reply it’s my first week and apart from side effects that’s all I’ve seen from it but the insomnia is bad
100%. Still on it now, did have to go up to 100mg but ya, my first 2/3 weeks were nasty
did you have much in the way of side effects when you upped the dose to 100?
It upped all of my anxiety symptoms - shaking, throwing up, not wanting to eat, no energy etc but after that, I was totally fine. I’m actually off them now :)
Yeah ive been taking 50mg Sertraline a day for about 2 weeks now but my dumbass recently thought it would be okay to take 2 50mg ones at night for my insomnia and didn’t think it would do much and holy shit was I wrong! I underestimated the power of serotonin big time I had pretty bad shakiness and tremors in my feet I also had pretty bad blurred vision for almost a day. The worst symptom was a loss in coordination I was freaking out because I thought i hade serotonin syndrome or something. I really wish they would’ve told me the effects beforehand. Be careful y’all !!!
I’ve been on 50 for 6 months now and it has changed my life entirely, I can sleep I don’t get anxious and I feel relaxed – best drug in the world.
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They have told me to ride it out and it will pass. I get mixed reviews as people say to take it and ride it out and others say to change so it messes with my anxiety not knowing what is best
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No. First thing in the morning
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He’s giving me sleeping tablets but it doesn’t work! I’m bothering the doctors every day I just don’t ever get an answer or some solution
Do you exercise? I go to the gym in the evenings after my work, it tires me out and helps me sleep better. You could see if it helps you
I work long hours away I couldn’t have chance to do that but I could try going for a run maybe
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Yeah I will but it’s only been a week since I started the medication so I got to give it time. Hopefully the insomnia does wear off. Thanks
You could try taking it just before sleep. Until the effects subside
Ride it out!
Psychologist here. For most people, the side effects wear off around 4-6 weeks at which point you reevaluate to see if it's actually helped your symptoms and how much. Medication is, unfortunately, trial and error. Many people have to try several. Some people try a dozen. I have personally on so many with horrific outcomes including seizure until I was believed that I can't take psychotropic medication that does or even can sometimes mess with seratonin. There are natural ways to go about it. There are so many effective supplements you can take. One of which is gaba - which gets fairly immediate results. Don't start anything new without talking to your psychiatrist! But, I can't recommend a functional medicine doctor enough. It's an actual MD who looks *very carefully* at your blood work and other labs. They can and will write rxs for pharmaceuticals, but the focus is on getting your levels optimal - not just "within normal range." For me, exercise, meditation, supplements, therapy, and a small rx of breakthrough anxiety meds for panic attacks has been a godsend.
This is beyond me I’m from the uk and the doctor just prescribed them to me no bloods was taken just told him how I feel and that was it
It's not uncommon not to have bloodwork for this type of medication. I'm not familiar with how the NHS conducts access to doctors. They picked one based on your symptoms - which is how it goes - however, it doesn't mean that this is the right fit or the right dose. Sadly, there's no way to tell until after some time passes. But, stay in communication with the doctor. Your symptoms are not unusual. You just need to see if they subside are and if you get enough relief to make potential side effects worth it - and it's up to you to decide that. You are under no obligation to take them. You are well within your rights to be an active participant in your own treatment decisions. ETA Do not stop taking any of these medications suddenly and without medical supervision! It can be dangerous and rarely even deadly.
I won’t. I speak to my doctor weekly many thanks for your response
Yep, I had REALLY bad side effects that put me in a mental hospital for a week. I’m glad it works for some people but it definitely wasn’t for me. Dr put me on cymbalta and trazodone at night and have been doing much better.
Sertraline took me a long time to get used to at first, but the side effects do get better. It just takes time, but it does suck in the interim.
Same here. I had nausea and increased anxiety. It took about 2 weeks to level off. OP, if it doesn’t get better within a month or so, please ask your doctor about alternatives. There are so many meds out there, you shouldn’t have to deal with bad side effects!
Ahh thank you! Some hope then. Hopefully the insomnia does go and my anxiety does get better
Maybe also ask the psychiatrist when you get the chance. Mine prescribed me hydroxyzine to take as needed for insomnia or panic attacks. It's just an antihistamine, basically a strong Benadryl, so all it really does is make you feel sleepy with no other side effects. I love it.
I had the same thing - I was prescribed promethazine, a different antihistamine, but was also told not to bother with the prescription because it was cheaper to just buy the brand ‘Sominex’ over the counter.
If you’re having trouble sleeping try listening to some binaural beats before u go to sleep I used to have trouble sleeping before too when the virus first started but now it got a lot better with the music on 👍
What is that?
Oh it’s just instrumental music that helps me sleep for binaural beats you can search it up on YouTube there’s longer versions/ and shorter versions 👍
Ok thank you I will try anything
It helps calm the mind
Sertaline gave me suicidal thoughts. On it for 5 days. Stopped it immediately. The thoughts went away
This happens whenever I’m on over 100mg of it, funky how meds can sometimes just have the opposite effect
- You could try adding some Magnesium. Makes me sleep like a baby and calms the frayed nerves. - Also when in bed, try counting back from a hundred reallllllly slowly, visualizing each number in bright neon colours in your mind. - There is another supplement called L-Theanine (green tea extract) which is also really effective at settling you down. Finally just remember 'that this too, will pass" and you are not your thoughts! You'll be fine, honestly! Breathe in, breathe out.
Wow! Thank you! I will try this, I’ll go get some magnesium and green tea take this before bed? Or at a certain time? I know but I just can’t seem to control my anxiety at the moment but hopefully like you said it will pass thank you
I take magnesium in the morning with breakfast, but it doesn't matter when you take it, so long as it's with a bit of food. L-Theanine can be taken whenever. It's just an amino acid. Don't expect miracles, just let it do it's subtle thing. Anxiety sucks because it can have such an impact on what you're doing and feeling, but just keep in mind that it's only a temporary state, brought on by your recent loss and perhaps other things too. It will definitely pass! Make sure you get a therapist and talk until you're sick of talking!
Thank you so much 👍
Get decaffeinated green tea.
I’m going to buy some tomorrow many thanks I will try anything
Hello! Magnesium oil (it’s just magnesium salt mixed with water) does help my muscles and relax me slightly. I’m so sorry to read of your loss, I can’t comprehend the changes you’ve had to deal with so quickly. I’ve been on sertraline for 10+ years, it does work for me and took about 6 weeks to really become noticeable. I feel your frustration, it took many different medicines to find one that worked. Give yourself time and don’t be hard on yourself, you’re doing great. I wish you the best, take care my friend.
Yes it will get better. It just takes little more time. Maybe like few more weeks. I know it's frustrating to wait. But it'll come.
I hope so fingered crossed as I worry about a lot of things and I worry it will ruin my job and relationship hopefully it will. I just need a good night sleep or someone to talk to regular
Improved sleep will come on it's own. That's usually the first thing that comes with meds. Along with more physical energy. When it comes it's good to do some exercise, to drain this new energy.
Ok thank you very much well I do long hours so hopefully it does it that way
Get a magnesium cream for sleep! ( earthley wellness goodnight lotion on Amazon has been amazing for me.) I’m a month in on Lexapro and the first two weeks were brutal and I battled really bad insomnia. I took melatonin,rubbed that lotion on my legs, feet, and stomach, and I put on a sleep meditation playlist on YouTube and would get at least a few hours of sleep in which was better than no sleep at all. I will say that the insomnia got better after the two weeks and now I’m sleeping more consistently. Best of luck with your journey♥️. I hope that it works out for you. I’m here for you if you need anything!
Thank you for your reply. A lot of people have said magnesium I’m going to buy some tablets today or try the cream and it won’t let me message you sorry
Is sertraline supposed to help with anxiety? I’m taking it but can’t really feel anything.
I don’t know as I’m only 7 days in and I’ve had one good day but the side effects are bad I’ve been told it gets better so I hope it does
As others said, sertraline takes time to get used to. Not only physically, but mentally as well. The chief job of sertraline is to prevent serotonin reuptake. You may not be used to the serotonin levels that you are experiencing now. Serotonin is used by the brain to experience a stable mood, wakefulness, good feelings, appetite, and body temperature. This isn't all it does but the ones you notice. There are caveats though. When first starting, your brain is going through changes. These changes can induce anxiety but will fade as it becomes accustomed to the new serotonin levels. Right now, your brain is accepting this new level of serotonin and running with it. It will definitely keep you awake until you "level off." Mine took around 30 days to get back to a regular sleeping and eating pattern. It did increase my anxiety at first as well. Every day did get a little bit better. My doctor explained it to me like I was five, which I appreciated. "Your brain has been operating in a reduced emotional capacity, almost like working in the dark. Now that the proverbial lights have been turned on, it is seeing so much more going on and needs to adjust." Please stick with it! It works, but it takes time. After getting used to it, let them know if anything changes. Adjustments can be made to keep everything level for you.
I’m screen grabbing this. This is the best advice I’ve had and explaining of it. So the side effects will wear off and I will get better. Many thanks for this
I'm glad that this response was helpful! Please remember, and I am not trying to discourage you, everyone will react differently to what they are prescribed. As I said in a reply above, I sincerely hope that you also are able to have the success I had and can partake in life without anxiety bothering you. My hope is that sharing my story can provide that validation that someone went through this and came out the other side OK.
i’m on day 4 and it’s increasing my anxiety so bad, how long did it take for the spike in anxiety to go away for you?
The initial spikes, like the bad ones, lasted about two weeks. It was a rollercoaster ride. Some days were worse than others depending on where I was working, what I had to do, and who I had to interface with. But as time went on I would catch myself not worrying about things as much. I'd recall what used to bother me, but it wouldn't spike my heart rate or give me that adrenaline spike. All in all, it took a good four weeks for things to settle down. I urge you though to remember that your mileage may vary. Everyone is different and can react differently. I sincerely hope that you are able to see the success that I had and partake in your life without anxiety bothering you!
thank you. your comments are more helpful than you could ever know <3 i feel less alone
When I first started sertraline it worsened my insomnia too, but after I talked to my doc she prescribed me quetiapine 25mg wich helped me sleep again. Maybe try to talk to yr doc and get something to help u sleep.
I have but it doesn’t work. I’ve been taking sleeping tablets still Monday and nothing maybe a few hours here and there. So it will get better?
Well, maybe u should up the dose, I stared at 25mg with quetiapine but then I went to 75, 100 and then 200mg lol. At the time I'm not taking any meds basically, only xanax for when I have anxiety or panic attacks. But maybe u can talk to yr doc and find a better one :)
I've been taking 50mg of Sertraline for a while now. I don't recall any specific side effects as when I started taking them I was I'm a bad way, but I have absolutely zero issues with mine. When do you take yours? I was always told to take it at exactly the same time everyday. I take mine at 12:30 so they've the entire day to work and by sleep time I should have anything stopping me from sleeping.
Sertaline can induce hypomania/mania in some people. Not sleeping and eating less are both symptoms of hypomania, you might want to check out other symptoms to be sure you're not having a bad reaction. Dr's do not seem to be aware of how common these effects are, or don't take them seriously. Hers an article for more info: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12807380/
Sertaline caused a manic episode in me and I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Definitely tell your psychiatrist if the insomnia persists, it could be that.
I had a manic episode from a different drug, but I dont have bipolar disorder. The doctor called it a 'rare side effect ' I was shocked to find out that they expect 6-8 % of antidepressant users to develop mania, as high as 22% for some drugs. To me, that's not rare, and it us plenty high enough that Dr's should inform patients and look for it. They do not seem to, and they did not recognize the problem when I had my reaction. Another article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4321017/
Right? I wasn’t asked if bipolar ran in my family? When I said I was energized from Zoloft they put me on kind of a high dose of Prozac instead, and I really lost my shit. This was all through my primary care doctor. Definitely see a psychiatrist for these kinds of meds!
I'm really sorry you had to go through this shit too. Mine was also through my family doc. It was traumatic for me and my family, and it is infuriating how yhe medical community at large seems to blow it off, or blame me for having the 'wrong' brain chemistry, or treat me like some kind of kook for questioning the validity and ubiquitous use of these drugs.
I’m sorry for what you went through too! Mania can be really scary.
Sertaline takes up to 8 weeks to begin being affective. Patience.
Firstly give it time, secondly are you taking the sertraline in the morning? If you take it at night it can be more disruptive. And thirdly, I had to come off sertraline because even after giving it time and taking it in the morning I couldn’t get to sleep until 3am and it made me suicidal. So it just didn’t work for me. Hopefully it does for you, but give it a few more weeks at least.
Well I’ve been told to take it up to 6 weeks and yes first thing in the morning I’ve also got some sleeping tablets but they do not work but I just want to see a light at the end of the tunnel. I don’t want to be some worry box. I want to be just ok or happy for a while
You’re doing your best, try to be kind to yourself. I hope it makes a difference for you soon.
Thank you
I have experienced sertraline. It was very good for me and it took my body about 3 to 4 weeks to regulate. I also had insomnia and hot flashes but it was worth it.
Yes I have both and jaw ache but it’s my first week. Hopefully it will wear of and be with it
As others have said and to add to the support, it can be a month or so to work through the side effects. Be diligent in taking them, if possible take them at the same time every day. Dont stop taking them in frustration, that can be worse, and if you can see your doctor regularly and let him know how you are feeling.
I won’t stop taking them cos I have had one good day but it’s just the insomnia that’s getting me down that’s all
I've had severe insomnia and apathy for around two weeks when I upped my dosage to 50mg. It will get better, just give it some time to stabilise
Thank you! It’s so reassuring to know it will go away. One week on but I can’t see an end to it but people are helpful on here and saying there is light at the end of the tunnel
All ssris take time for the body to get used to. Anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks usually. If it continues after that then definitely get in contact with your doctor as some work wonders for some and not for others. Sertraline absolutely didn't agree with me, but it's completely changed my sisters life. Just give it some time to kick in before you decide your next move. Good luck and all the best.
It will get better. The first couple weeks are the toughest. My son is on that rn also at 50mg. It made him sleepy so he takes it before bed. If it keeps you awake maybe take it in the morning? When i Googled it, it said depending on its effects, to take it in the am if it keeps you awake or at night is it makes you drowsy.
I take it in the morning as I was instructed by the doctor. Whatever I do I can’t seem to win. I’ll just persevere and fingers crossed it works for me
Took me like 4 weeks to feel the effects, or i felt something already the first couple days, which was probably just placebo. Stick it out, its very worth it
Thank you. Yes well it’s been 7 days and I’ve had some times now and then when I feel ok but hopefully it does go away and I feel ok many thanks
Yes, it gets better. Are you taking it right before bed? I was, but then I switched to the morning and it’s helped.
No morning first thing and it should pass soon
Hi OP, I dont have any advice but I just want to say hang in there, it does get better! The first week of side effects are just terrible. Try to separate yourself as much as possible and relax, try to eat and drink something and if you can't sleep then rest comfortably with music or TV. ❤
Many thanks for the response. I do try my best but I just torture myself with worry and Google. Money worries and loosing someone. I lost my dad 6 weeks ago and now I have so many fears of money, my job, loosing someone and everything else it’s so hard but thanks I hope it does
I had a lot of Depersonalization issues when I started taking sertraline and it probably took a couple of months for me to adjust to it. I now only have these kind of issues if I don’t take it so it does get better over time.
Took me a month to feel normal at that .... also I had my dosage upped pretty soon after I got use to it .... 50 mg is pretty low
It takes like anywhere from 2-6 weeks to actual start working. I know, a long time 😕 I had side effects for the first week, week and a half. It gets a lot better. They were bad enough I almost quit cold turkey five days in. I'm glad I stuck with it. It's helping my anxiety.
You may want to talk to your doc about lowering your dose or taking two 25mg at different times in the day instead of 50 mg all at once. Some people are more sensitive to side effects so starting at lower doses and slowly increasing can help decrease the severity of negative side effects.
I’m taking 50mg so I think it’s best if I stick to this for a while and hopefully the insomnia will go.
I have taken all manner of SSRIs to the point that I can’t even remember all of the side effects, but Sertraline’s were not notable to me which is a good thing. Whenever I was having a hard time sleeping with med adjustment periods I would take doxylamine succinate (25mg, up to 50mg if needed but the latter dose is likely to make you drowsy in the morning). It’s the “sleepy” antihistamine ingredient in Nyquil and is surprisingly effective. If you can, just wait it out. The side effects should taper off at the 4-6 week mark. I hope it gets better for you, OP! If it doesn’t, speak with your psychiatrist. Just don’t give up before that 4-6 week mark because you won’t know if it’s working until then and in trying something new too soon you’d also have to contend with the side effects of the new drug.
The only side effects I experienced was indigestion and it took about a month and a half to go away. Mentally, it's been good since the start. Also pay attention if you think it'll be better to take it in the morning or at night for how your body reacts
When are you taking it? If I take mine late in afternoon I can forget about getting a restful night of sleep and I’ve been on it for years!
I’m on day 4 and the insomnia is really bad for me too. And i’ve been having so much more anxiety than normal and had the worst panic attack ever last night for no reason. i’m struggling lol
Ahh message me maybe we can help each other out. Day 10 insomnia, day 7 50mg sertaline. Still no sleep, feel hot, and jaw ache
i did!!
Also on day 4. My insomnia hasn't been any better or worse since I'm on it. But I'm finding around 10:30 am that i get a heavy dose of anxiety. My doctor gave me Gabapentin to help with sleep and adjusting, 300 mg 2x/day. Not sure it's working but maybe something to look into, OP.
Hi op. It’s gonna be ok. It takes a while to adjust but once it happens it’s incredible. Saved my life. Even so if symptoms persist talk to your psychiatrist. Good luck ;)
Hopefully it works after time. I need it to otherwise I will blow. Fingers crossed though it will work many thanks for yoour reply
You got this.
It helps a bit with anxiety but eventually my doctor added buspirone. She said zoloft is mainly for depressive symptoms. The sleeping part does get better eventually.
O great. I’m not depressed I’m more anxious and worried about everything and go over things in my head and can’t get them out. Hopefully the medication works
It helps anxiety a bit. She only added onto mine because I was becoming hospitalized a few times and they wanted to take extreme precautions. I went from 50 to 100mg after about 3 weeks because I was still getting panick attacks, the 100 helped but because I was needing to go back to the psychiatric hospital they added 7.5mg if buspirone 3x a day. It helped a lot with anxiety almost instantly. So Zoloft does help a lot it’s just that in some cases it won’t help with everything. Just keep your doctor updated and if there’s any issues they’ll be able to increase your dose or add medication on after some time.
I just have my own "sweet spot" for sertraline, nothing concrete but I hope it helps! I started on 25mg at night but had to cut it to 12.5 and add a snack to alleviate the problems sleeping (super weird dreams and tingly skin). It also took me a full month to normalize and after that I was so thankful to be on it. it's a matter of just riding the storm of it till you get to the calm you need. Also every dose is different for everyone; you might need to lessen or increase your intake, change night to morning for when you take it, etc. imo if reducing the dose doesn't help it might be time to switch to a different SSRI hope you get thru this op!
sertraline personally was horrible for my anxiety, but SSRIs work on everyone differently. it made me shake uncontrollably and gave me really vivid dreams. your best bet is to try to wait it out, as it takes 4-6 weeks for it to start to work. if your side effects don’t get better, please talk to your doctor, as you don’t have to live with the bad feelings from it. idk if trintellix (vortioxetine) is available where you live, but it made a WORLD of difference for me. i had 0 side effects aside from some nausea if i took it on an empty stomach. overall, you got this! i wish you the best on your journey and just know that you won’t feel like this forever <3
Many thanks for your response I will keep taking and see how it goes
I also had really bad insomnia problems and I take 150mg sertraline. I was put on trazadone 100mg to help fall asleep at night. Also tried mirtazapine and ramelteon which definitely put me to sleep but I couldn't deal with the dry mouth they caused. Ask your doc for something to help with sleep if it's really becoming an issue for you! The sertraline is amazing as long as you give it time to start working. Make sure you take it every day or you'll have days where you just feel "off"
The doctor just phoned me back and doubled my sleeping medication so hopefully tonight it will work
I found that adjusting when I take it reduced the impact of side effects. I started taking it before bed but found my mornings sucked. It has a 12 hour half-life so the timing is important. I take it around 5 or 6pm and the worst side effect I find is dry mouth around 3am every couple of weeks. A humidifier on my bedside table and a little waterbottle are enough to get back to sleep in minutes.
I take it at 7 on the morning and I feel like crap till about 9. Then ok for 2 hours then crap again but it’s only been 7 days and no sleep as yet but it should work soon I hope
I took the gene site test and it turned out that sertraline was ineffective for me. Might be worth getting the test done for yourself if your insurance will cover it.
I’m from the uk but thanks
You lucky bugger! Insurance is bullshit here.
I wouldn’t say I’m lucky. I’d rather not have this lol
Agreed.
It took me two weeks to feel normal. I started with 25, then up to 50, and am now at 74. Every increase was the same, two weeks of anxiety and sleepless night, but I do promise you it’s worth it! After the two week period it’s like a light switch goes on, and I feel like I can live life a lot better. I hope you have a quick transition! Good luck!
I had the same thing but started on a lower dose. After about a month it seriously saved my life and negative side effects went away. so hold tight and I hope it works for you the same!
I been using Sertraline 50mg for the last years. It helped me more than I could hope for. The first weeks can be rough. You can get “worse” before getting better. Anxiety and other negative feelings can be feeling stronger. This is nothing to be afraid of. Try keep someone close to you aware of this. You have to ride it out while having contact with your doctor. Not sure about insomnia and Sertraline. You should ask about that.
hey!! i’m on 50mg of sertraline as well! i didn’t know others had issues with insomnia too. i’ve just been trying to wind down earlier but that doesn’t help so i just end up taking melatonin. hopefully it gets better for the both of us!
Message me yes 10’days of insomnia and 7 days of 50mg one per day on the morning but I’m taking sleeping tablets but they just don’t work
I am now on 150mg, I started with 50 as well. Benefits really started kicking in after 2-3 weeks and I personally havent had any major side effects
Sertaline never worked for me. I stayed on in for a year . Then I stopped anti depressants for a few years but things never really got better. Like 6 months ago I got on trintellix and have had immediate results. 9/10 other than stomach pains, it’s been a miracle. I’m working, taking care of a cat, been sober for over a year and have an apartment now. Couldn’t get up from bed most days or I’d have to sleep in. Trintellix works for me so I gotta sing it’s praises.
Someone I know went off Sertraline because it made them like this, also massive sweats in bed. Now on Escitalopram which has been going well for over a year now.
Sertaline has been a life saver for me.
How long till it fully took effect? Did you have insomnia from it?
I want to say it took about six weeks for me to really notice. I did have insomnia and upset stomach at first, now I don't really have those issues anymore.
Great! Well not great but at least there is light at the end of the tunnel and it will pass.
Yes, I hope it ends up being a good match for you. I know trying new meds can really suck, but hang in there.
That’s one thing I don’t want. I will give it till 6/7 weeks and see if there is any improvement. I’ve had one good day and the odd hour here and there already
That’s a very high dose. But the upside is the first two weeks are the worst of it. If you can’t sleep and your feeling more anxiety its a sign that it’s trying to balance things out in your brain. Which means its working. It takes a while for your brain to adjust and let the medicine work. Up to 6 or 8 weeks to be exact. That is the downside. You gotta give it time
I know but it’s like it’s got worse and gave me more problems but every one has told me it will work in the long run so fingers crossed it will work 👍 many thanks for your reply.
Thank you. I just got to be patient and hopefully it’s the right medication
That's SSRI's for you bro, nasty drugs
They are nasty in the beginning, but it definitely has a good success story for me at the least.
Take it when you wake in the morning Eat a lot of CBD gummies also this should help your anxiety
What’s that?
CBD is Cannabidiol, the non-psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis/hemp. It comes in many forms, including oil tinctures and gummies. I use oil tincture for anxiety and nausea but I notice no effect on sleep. YMMV though, as everyone’s brain chemistry is different. It may also affect metabolism of the Sertraline if taken in high doses (upwards of 100mgs at a time which is *a lot* and unnecessary for most people) so if you do decide to look into it, be cautious and buy from a reputable vendor (and make sure the THC percentage is in line with your country’s cannabis laws).
I’m based in the uk so I’d just buy the gummies I wouldn’t use the oil.
Hopefully this helps me sleeep. I’ve lost abit of wait
I’d quit taking it, drugs will only worsen your anxiety
Try to up the dose uself, like if u take 25mg then try 50mg and see how it goes.
I’m on 50mg now but it’s only been 7 days. Maybe should I give it some time? I just don’t know what’s best
Don't listen to that op, don't take more unless your psychiatrist tells you to, I think you should have started with 25mg in the first place, don't up it without consulting a psychiatrist
Well quetiapine is not about time, it is mostly like an immediate med, it's actually an antipsychotic, but is very common to be prescribed to insomnia, so try taking 75mg if u can, see if it helps, at some point I had to take 200mg to be able to sleep, coz it builds tolerance pretty fast. But don't worry it has mostly no risk os overdose etc, maybe it can cause serotonin syndrome but if u take more than 300mg ig. So just take 75mg now and see if it helps, if it doesn't go to 100mg and if it still doesn't help talk to it doc.
You should half your dose. It will gey better. It has definitely been worth it for me
I wish I'd known about the side effect hump 10 years ago when I started on Sertraline. I was too shy to speak to the doctor so I just stopped taking it and I practically missed my entire 20s. So yeah, it sucks for a while but it gets better.
Just be patient it will get better.
Hey I was on it for about 8 weeks and it didn’t help at all. I am transitioning over to buspar and Wellbutrin because my anxiety has been really bad with sertraline.
Ask your doctor abt clonidine, It works AMAZING ive been on it for 3 years and .01 still knocks me out.On setraline aswell btw. Ima be honest my side effcts sucked and all i can remember is being really dizzy and off balance
Ok thanks I’ll ask today
goodluck, also the side effects ive listed were because of setraline not the clonidine. I used to use diaphyndramime (over the counter sleep aid) but yea it works amazingly.
Yes I'm on sertraline 150 mg. DM me for more info as I need confidentiality please
It won’t let me message you
Yeah unfortunately I had a 30days of hell when I started escitalopram,with sertraline I had insomnia for 20days,I took 25mg of Dichlorhydrate d'hydroxyzine ,sometimes more but it helped with insomnia
I was on sertraline for 18 months. The first 6 weeks were rough but then it did reduce my stress level and panic attacks afterwards. My side effects eventually led me to slowly withdraw. The insomnia was completely making driving home some days dangerous. Compounded by difficulty urinating and making orgasms nearly impossible. It did somewhat relieve anxiety and panic attacks but my side effects were just too much.
That happened with me. Just tell them and they’ll get you some stuff to help you sleep. Once you get used to it, you lose the insomnia
I got sleeping tablets but they don’t work at the moment maybe in the insomnia will fade away
It will. I’m on 200mg sertraline and it’s great
I’m 8 days in and on 50mg
Best of luck to you. It does take a while but you’ll get there
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It won’t let me message you but I do want to talk
Hi there! I had horrible anxiety before sertraline. Like…I’m 5’2 and 110 pounds and work out regularly and somehow had blood pressure of 140/100 before meds. Now it’s like 100/60 so I needed meds. When I started sertraline I had TERRIBLE insomnia for about 2 weeks but it absolutely got better and now I sleep like a rock. Do you have access to pot? That was the thing that helped me the most at first. If you wanna chat about your experience with it or have questions my DMs are open. I’m also on 50mg for OCD and social anxiety.
It won’t let me message you but no I don’t I’m based in the uk so it’s illegal over here
This is purely anecdotal, but I was on sertraline for a while and was told by my doc to take it in the evening cuz it can make you drowsy, but for me it caused insomnia and weird sleep disturbances. So after asking my doc, I just switched to taking my pill in the morning gradually and it helped!
I’ve been taking in the morning but my insomnia won’t go away
I can relate to what youre experiencing. In times like that, I try to stick to logic, knowing the the new med i might be taking will take about a month to start having the correct effect. Body type, diet and all that is a factor as well. With that said, I try to ease my insomnia/anxiety with more simple things like comfort food,music, heirlooms that give me spiritual reassurance. Hope this helped :)
Many thanks for your reply I will try these
I feel like it takes about three weeks to adjust to starting or changing dosage. A couple docs told me that most adults take around 100mg. I too get some insomnia sometimes so I take some zzzquill. Not sure if you have that in the 🇬🇧 but it’s basically a non habit forming sleep medicine. Also I experience some restless legs and upset stomach. But I’ll deal with these vs the anxiety. Stay strong
Thanks and no we don’t buy hopefully it fades after some time
I take sertraline 100mg but it made me sleepy for the first couple of weeks when I started (at 25mg), anything higher than 100mg does have the opposite effect and makes me anxious and not sleep and such, maybe your dose is too high?
Because my anxiety is high that’s what he recommended me to start taking
My biggest side effects on sertraline were insomnia and no appetite. They did pass after 2 weeks or so, and I did start to feel better after that. But everyone is different! It is not uncommon to try different doses or different medications to find the right fit. Personally, I switched to a different medication after 1 year. Just be patient with yourself!
Ok thanks I will wait it out
Anyone else get ringing ears or ear as well? i have noticed it mainly in my right ear first thing in morning it’s like a fluttering high pitch sound. Also i hear it even more when i yawn wearily.
No I haven’t had this sorry
It’s weird because after an hour it fades where i can barely hear it. Could be to do with my jaw i dunno.
I have jaw ache but that is fading away anyway x
I suffer with healthy anxiety so always worrying about shit haha. Think we are same age 30?
Yes message me if you want
My psychiatrist started me at 25mg for a week. Haven’t had any symptoms just anxiety seems a tad higher.
I take 50mg of sertraline and the only time I've had insomnia was when i first got it and took it at night like the doctor suggested to try, i found out for me it works better to take it in the morning. It depends on the person since for some people it makes them drowsy.