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[shel_g]

Hi
I started with health anxiety about 6 months ago, I started HRT but this didn’t help with my anxiety. I have physical symptoms chest pain/ stomach pain, pain between my shoulder blades and headaches.  Sometimes full panic attacks.  I became obsessed thinking I was going to die.  My GP prescribed me Sertraline, which I was really nervous about taking. I started of on 25mg for the first week, the side effects where really bad my anxiety got a lot worse, really bad headaches, no appetite and insomnia.  I spoke to my GP and she said if I can put up with the side effects for a bit longer I would feel the benefits.  I’m now on 50mg which I have been on for 10 days,  my anxiety is getting better slowly and the side effects have gone apart from the insomnia but it’s not quite as bad. I had my first CBT therapy last week, so im hoping this helps. I’m still really nervous of taking it. Does anyone know if alcohol can affect the Sertraline, I’m not a big drinker but I used to enjoy a glass of wine on a weekend, I never have anymore than 2/3 glasses but I am too scared to have a drink.

[CLKD]

Do not drink with other medication for the 1st few weeks.  Otherwise alcohol may impact the uptake of what has been prescribed.  Alcohol is also a depressive.

   So pleased that you have been able to get over the side effects, keep on with Sertraline for at least 6 months. 

Some find that keeping a mood/food/symptom diary of use.  Let us know how you get on.

[Jules]

Hi
I started with health anxiety about 6 months ago, I started HRT but this didn’t help with my anxiety. I have physical symptoms chest pain/ stomach pain, pain between my shoulder blades and headaches.  Sometimes full panic attacks.  I became obsessed thinking I was going to die.  My GP prescribed me Sertraline, which I was really nervous about taking. I started of on 25mg for the first week, the side effects where really bad my anxiety got a lot worse, really bad headaches, no appetite and insomnia.  I spoke to my GP and she said if I can put up with the side effects for a bit longer I would feel the benefits.  I’m now on 50mg which I have been on for 10 days,  my anxiety is getting better slowly and the side effects have gone apart from the insomnia but it’s not quite as bad. I had my first CBT therapy last week, so im hoping this helps. I’m still really nervous of taking it. Does anyone know if alcohol can affect the Sertraline, I’m not a big drinker but I used to enjoy a glass of wine on a weekend, I never have anymore than 2/3 glasses but I am too scared to have a drink.

My son has taken sertraline for a few years for anxiety and severe anxiety attacks. He drinks with no effects but Im not sure if he did at the beginning, I cant remember. I know he had to ride it out a bit to get the dose right but to be honest that and CBT saved him, he was in a bad state about to lose his job. He is now doing very well. Still has anxiety but not anywhere near as bad and he is able to manage it. He's a different person to back then. Id ask the pharmacist about the alcohol mix. Obviously everyone is different but I can say my son has his good nights out and is fine

[shel_g]

Hi
Thanks everyone for your support, today is my first day back at work since starting on Sertraline, feeling a little on edge. Last night was the first night I slept all night.  I’m trying to stay positive.

[Fianna]

My daughter takes sertraline and I was on Fluoxetine for several years.  Yes, you can drink but your tolerance becomes much lower so beware!

[CLKD]

Hi shel_g - do U feel supported at work?

[shel_g]

Hi

Work have been really supportive, they have cried with me and will just sit and talk if that’s what I need. My husband has been very supportive, but he doesn’t always understand why I feel the way I do.

[CLKD]

It makes a lot of difference when work colleagues are on side.

What doesn't DH understand? 

[shel_g]

Hi

Just why I  can be fine one minute and then really anxious the next.  I’ve been on Sertraline for 3 weeks now and still getting quite a few headaches.  Has anyone else had headaches for so long?.

[CLKD]

I'm fortunate not to suffer headaches unless I miss a dose, then its background.  Any info in the leaflet in the box?

MayB print off the 'hints for husbands' or whatever it's called and hand to your husband.  U can also explain that anxiety is partly due to flight/fight response going back to our caveman days  .  Keeps us in general safe when the adrenaline surges begin in preparation but can be mis-interpreted as anxiety because we don't have to fight or run.

Tell him 'it is what it is' and part of peri-menopause.  Also keep hydrated and eat little and often, it may take 3-4 weeks to get into the habit but that routine won't do any harm.

[shel_g]

Thank you

I will definitely print that off, hopefully will help him understand. My main issue with anxiety is thinking I am going to die, so any little niggle or pain I overthink it. 

[CLKD]

Why would anxiety cause you to die?  My sister had temper tantrums and would hold her breath B4 collapsing.  The Doctor told Mum that she would black out and not die, once my sister had been told she stopped acting out.

Sometimes anxiety manifests itself as shortage of breath, difficulty in drawing a deep breath etc..  Often people breathe faster which causes more anxiety, it is suggested that blowing into a brown paper bag might help. 

Anxiety caused me to stop eating    which became a difficult circle to break.  So eating little and often means that I feel better most of the time.

[shel_g]

The physical symptoms I get like heart racing, shortness of breath, pain between my shoulder blades, dizziness, make me think I am going to die,  Been on Sertraline for 3 weeks now and apart from the headaches I am starting to feel less physical symptoms.  Having face to face CBT has also helped.

[Penguin]

Just to share my experience re alcohol. I am on fluoxetine, another ssri. I don't drink regularly, usually just on hols. Been away this weekend, took my dose as normal in the morning, drank two beers in the evening and I was wasted, slurring my words and everything. Now perhaps it was the heat contributing too, maybe I was dehydrated, I don't know, but my advice would be to start with just one drink and see how it effects you first. I lost half of the following day to feeling shaky, weird and hungover from two beers.
Re the physical symptoms of anxiety, if the sertraline isn't enough for the heart racing, jitters, ask the GP if you can have a trial of a beta blocker for ad hoc use. 10mg of propanalol for me stopped the fluoxetine initiation side effects. I don't need it now, well rarely. It works within an hour. My dose is very low, some people take 40mg but I am sensitive to medication and 10mg is enough for me. I only use it for the physical symptoms of anxiety, if it is cognitive you need something different.
Gold luck, you are very early days into the sertraline and it is worth persevering. I'm over 3 months into fluoxetine (having switched from a different one) and it's really helping.

[CLKD]

Those are awful feelings to endure shel_g.  4 me it's sudden nausea = panic sets in 

Tnx Penguin - U home yet?