Sertraline for anxiety and panic attacks!

[susiedaisy]

Feeling really low for weeks and the last few days have been awful having massive panic attacks and anxiety particularly first thing in the morning, it took several hours to calm down this morning and even now I'm still feeling sick and shakey, the gp gave me a prescription for sertraline 50mg which I haven't started yet, but really hoping someone has positive stories from taking this AD. Feeling desperate.

Thanks

[Charleebird]

Im on day 12 and im oy just feeling slightly better. Im on 100mg. In my opinion they are ok, give them a go and see.

[susiedaisy]

Thanks for that, have the side effects been ok?

[Charleebird]

I will be honest. For me, they made me worse first. My anxiety increased, i had the shakes and my memory was awful. That lasted for about a week. But everyones different. Now im on day 11 the tiredness has kicked in so bad i nap alot in the day and i still feel tired. Thats a common side effect.

[Charleebird]

May i ask what causes your panic? Does it just come for no reason? X

[susiedaisy]

Been feeling down for weeks then had a series of problems that have been really worrying me and then bam I have just gone down hill really quickly and literally within days the panic attacks and horrible feelings of despair have set in,

[susiedaisy]

Meant to say the panic just starts for no reason, being on my own defiantly makes it worse though and I'm a single parent so its not great.

[susiedaisy]

Shameless bump, just hoping someone else would have some positive stories!

[BlessThisMess]

Oh yes, absolutely. Sertraline has changed my life, honestly. I was given it 13 years ago for depression, which it was brilliant for, but realised shortly afterwards that it had transformed my constant anxiety too. For the first time in my life I felt 'normal' and just did things other people did without being anxious, feeling sick and shaky or just plain unable to do them. I was on 50mg to start with (actually I started very slowly and built them up gradually because I was scared of side-effects), but after a while I cut down to 25mg (half a pill) and have stayed on that ever since. I have no depression any more, and the 25mg just keeps the anxiety well under control. I hope to stay on it forever, and my GP agrees. Definitely give it a try. We are all biochemically different, so it might not be the exact right one for you, so if not, do try another one, because I really really recommend it.

[susiedaisy]

Thank you for that bless

[connorandmaddiesmom]

it hasn#t worked for me it made me feel suicidal and i actualy did take an overdose .but everyone is different so the best thing to do is try it for yourself and see,warning tho it does make you very tired .good luck x

[susiedaisy]

Thanks, i started first dose of 25mg last night felt very sick and spaced out so will have to see how I go.

[MorrisZapp]

I had a panic pattern just like you - worst in the morning, and full blown attacks at night. This was part of my PND.

I started on 50mg sertraline and like charlee, I did get worse for a week or so, which was hideous. But I hung in there and after the first week, I got better. Sertraline gave me my life back, and gave my DS a mummy.

[susiedaisy]

Thank you Morris, the mornings and nights are just so hideous I can't even begin to describe it to someone really hoping this AD can get me back on track. So glad it worked for you.

[MorrisZapp]

Susie, panic attacks are the utter pits of the earth aren't they. I felt like I was literally dying. Don't worry - the sertraline will probably work for you too, and if it doesn't, there's loads of other stuff you can take too. You really don't have to live with this. Each day is a day closer to feeling well again.

[susiedaisy]

connor thank you, I hope you found something to help you in the end.

[susiedaisy]

morris can I ask what time of day you found sertraline best to take?