I started sertraline 19 days ago and was pretty miserable for 2 weeks, nausea constipation, diareah tremors just overall sick feeling and dizzy too. Then for 5 plus days felt really well. But last night I woke up with panic attack and it has carried over into today..
Jittery tremor feeling inside body. Heart racing dizzy headache nauseus... the thought of serotonin syndrome heart attack swirling in head. I finally tool ativan and feel better but exhausted. Is this normal to still feel like this after feeling good for a few days? It just scared me so bad as I thought I had turned a corner.
Zoloft/sertraline side effects at day 19? Is this normal?
Question posted by Januarygirl72 on 22 April 2018
Last updated on 26 December 2021 by jj1790
3 Answers
jj1790
26 Dec 2021
From what i heard supposed to be 6 to 8 weeks i was on zoloft and put on to pristiq and now back on zoloft in the past 3 weeks have gone from 0 to 150 and last week been up to 200 so now what yoi are going through will just take time to go through it on week 1 felt better but been worse anxiety on week 5 so hopefully like mind yours will improve but takes time hang in there
ChristineA1975
25 Aug 2018
Hello, i was hoping you can help me. I will be on week 4 tomorrow. I’m taking 50 mg of Zoloft for some agoraphobia, panic and anxiety... still waiting for the Zoloft to desensitize me... my question to you is... I take my Zoloft at 9 pm because when I started taking it it was making me fall asleep three hours after I took it. The last 2 nights I woke up at 3 am with my heart racing, like 140 bpm... it only lasted about 15-20 mins... but I was still scary and I went back to sleep after. Does this sensation go away? Thank you for your time and consideration.
Enchanted179
30 Aug 2018
I have been doing the same thing I will be sleeping and I wake up all of a sudden with my heart racing extremely fast. I try to do something to calm me and get my mind off it and it starts slowing down and I become calm then but it's so scary I am finding myself not wanting to go to sleep now. I know it's anxiety but it's still scary when it's happening. I'm hoping this goes away soon. I'm on day 13 of 25mg
ChristineA1975
30 Aug 2018
when do you take your medicine? I started today to take mine in the morning... I normally took it at 9 pm because when i started it made me fall asleep 3 hours after taking it.
Enchanted179
30 Aug 2018
I have been taking mine in the afternoon 3-5pm because that's when I took my first dose and was trying to stay with same time everyday. The last 4 days I've done great as far as side effects going away and my anxiety getting better but then woke up this morning with the racing heart. But I will say I have done that before not on medicine so I think I'm having panic in my sleep. Let me know if taking it in the morning helps you with that.
Samantha1988
24 April 2019
Hi, I know this is old but I'm just wondering if this ever went away for you? I'm currently on day 13 of 50mg after increasing from 25mg and still having some sleep problems and a little anxiety throughout the day. Would be nice to hear an update from you to keep me positive :)
ChristineA1975
24 April 2019
Hello Samatha, YES!!! The negative side effects do go away once zoloft stabilizes. I’m still on 50 mgs and I feel fantastic. Zoloft saved me again... best advice I can give is to be patient and trust the process... try not to change your dose starting at 50 mgs until after 10-12 weeks... remember Zoloft is a progressive drug, u will see better days more and more.
Samantha1988
24 April 2019
Wow thanks Christine! This is wonderful news. Definitely makes it easier to keep carrying on! So glad you're feeling well now!
Emzharding51
28 June 2021
How.long did it take for the sertraline to kick in ?
mingos
2 May 2018
I'm on the third week as well, and still feeling side effects like diarrhea, occasional intrusive thoughts and difficulty staying asleep. From what I heard it takes between 6-8 weeks to fully kick in.
So I guess what I'm saying is hang on and hope for the best.
Yesterday was also an amazing day for me(specially the morning was pleasant and not depressive as usual) and today I'm back to feeling depressed. It's going to be a long bumpy ride.
Januarygirl72
2 May 2018
Thank you! I guess that's whats so frustrating... the amazing days then boom the next day is crazy anxiety and panic. I'm hopeful though! Thank you again for answering... it helps seeing all the warriors out here :)
mingos
2 May 2018
Not all days will be good nor all bad. Today I'm having loads of dark thoughts but yesterday I had a very nice day. I just assume it means it's starting to work
C312
14 April 2020
Hello. I saw you answer and wanted to ask if the diarrhea would come and go? I started taking my medication 14 days ago and upped the dose 4 days ago. I had a little bout the first week but today has been awful.
Related topics
zoloft, constipation, panic disorder, vertigo, nausea/vomiting, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, social anxiety disorder, sertraline, side effect, anxiety and stress, tremor, body dysmorphic disorder
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