Sertraline for anxiety?

[ItchySeveredFoot]

Has anyone else used it for anxiety? I've suffered my whole life with extreme feelings of anxiety and feeling really down. I've managed it by not doing anything. I avoid doing lots of things and didn't really finish school and don't work. I've annoyingly been too anxious to seek help.
Today after having a panic attack last night i finally reached out and am feeling quite proud. I told the doctor how I'm feeling and she suggested antidepressants. They're coming in the post as we're quarantined at the moment. I'm just really nervous as I've never taken anything before. But totally desperate for something to work. I feel like I'm wasting my life. Has anyone had positive results?

[ItchySeveredFoot]

Anyone?

[kateshair]

Take them ! Worth a try at least. Your anxiety has stopped you from doing a lot of things.

[JessicaJoans]

There are lots of threads about sertraline on here. Understandably lots are about side effects - not ideal reading if you’re already anxious, but remember the people who didn’t experience any may well not have posted because they were fine!

Well done for taking the first step - it’s a huge deal, be proud. I started sertraline for social anxiety last week and apart from 1 groggy day I’ve had practically no side effects and feel like I can see a difference already. Give them time - I hope they help you.

[bluemarie87]

Hey..: I had a baby almost 12 weeks ago. See my post on the mental health bored titled b12 and pnd. I was put on sertreline 2 weeks after having him and yes the side effects are awful, they may not be for you though as I found that these "side effects" never got any better so I changed to mitazipine and I've found them really good. Please don't let that put you off trying then though, they just work for some people or else they wouldn't prescribe them. I'm here if you need to chat, I've tried many different antidepressants and anti anxiety medications in the last 10 weeks and I can tell you MY experiences of them or just be an ear for you. Let's face it, I've nothing much else to do other than look after my baby.. works stopped and I'm sat in the garden whilst my other half gets him to sleep (due to no work) xx

[roarfeckingroar]

It saved my life for sure. Ive been taking it on and off for years and it has a hugely positive effect on my MH with no side effects.

I've found that some people react well to Citralopram and others to Sert, rarely both. Give it a go and give it a couple of weeks.

[Camouflage]

Sertraline are amazing in my experience. I'd tried a few meds for anxiety (other anti ds and beta blockers) and nothing worked like sertraline. I didn't have any side effects either. Not had to take them for 2 years now but wouldn't hesitate to go back on them if I felt I needed to.

[ItchySeveredFoot]

It's great to read some positive stories on it. I'm trying to be mindful of that there could be side effects without getting bogged down in the negative! The doctor said I may get worse before I start feeling better.
I've definitely let this hold me back my whole life. Even if sertraline isn't for me I feel like at least I'm going in the right direction now. I haven't got it yet because it's coming in the post. Unfortunately the house is in quarantine. I'll post when I start taking it though and how I'm feeling. Thank you to everyone for talking with me.

[roarfeckingroar]

Good luck op, here if you want to talk once you start.

[Camouflage]

@itchyseveredfoot they say that they can take 3 weeks to get into your system and for you to start feeling the effects so don't give up too soon if you don't notice a difference straight away. I think it only took about 10 days for me to start to notice the benefits.

Best of luck x

[ItchySeveredFoot]

They arrived today 50mg. I'm very anxious after reading the possible side effects. And the warning that if I don't get on with them I can't just suddenly stop taking them. It says take 1 in the morning or at night. I'm not sure yet.

[ItchySeveredFoot]

Some of the side effects I'm most concerned about right now are chest pains and wheezing. Very close to symptoms of covid 19. I also will be less likely to access help with bad chest pains.

[Slat3]

I started taking it around 6 weeks ago, no side affects really (a bit groggy for a few days). I haven’t really noticed a difference in the mist of the pandemic - as I started taking them for unrelated reasons - but I also have propranolol for when I am feeling really anxious

[whoknew87]

A side effect is insomnia so in my opinion I'd take them first thing in the morning but that might not be the case for yourself :) x

[reindeerarebetterthanpeople]

I take sertraline and I have for a few years.
I find it really helps me with anxiety.
I've never had any bad side affects, first week of taking I remember feeling really tired.
I've run out by accident and after a few days I felt really unwell - but I have been taking them for years and a lot higher dosage.
Give it some time at least 6 weeks, good luck.

[ItchySeveredFoot]

I'm worried that with my anxiety I'll make myself symptomatic. I'm clearly a mess.

[Onekidnoclue]

I genuinely believe sertraline saved my life.
It’s killed my sex life, made me hungry all the time and messed up my sleep but I can hand I heart say taking it has changed my life significantly for the better.
I didn’t appreciate how bad things were until I took it.
If you’re as bad as you sound from your posts any this worth a try. If it doesn’t work for you don’t chalk it up as a mistake or a failure instead think “that one didn’t work for me, one down, onto the next”.
Good luck OP. X

[ItchySeveredFoot]

Thank you Onekid that's really good to hear. I think maybe I'll take it in the mornings then. I don't want to be lying in the dark worrying about side effects.

[lottieloop]

OP I'm here to help

I started taking it 4 years ago for anxiety. 50mg daily.

Some people have little to moderate to high side effects, I had side effects but continued regardless & im so pleased I did continue with them as they eased the anxiety massively & I got my life back!

I want to post the side effects but I don't want to put you off taking them.

If you are off work & at home now is the perfect time to start taking them as I continued to work & looking back if I could have been at home it would have been much better.

If you want to ask me anything go ahead x

[Biancadelrioisback]

I'm taking them at the moment. I started last month so still in the early stages.
I felt very, very tired for the first week and a lot more laid back. It's not great as things just aren't getting done as much but I don't feel the nagging sense to do everything all the time. I was moved up to a higher dose but I preferred the smaller one.

[IamDisappeared]

After years of trying other SSRI drugs with mixed results we've eventually (we being me and GP) settled on a low dose and it's been quite remarkable how it does just enough to kick my anxiety into touch. I now find it much easier to just "get on with stuff" after years of what I learned to be anxiety related procrastination.

Take care during your first week but stick with it, I got the odd brain zaps and stuff but dealt with it by having a week on the sofa not doing much, which I hope you shouldn't find too challenging today of all days. Good luck op, we are all here for you. Let us know how you get on

[babasaclover]

I started 1st March after years of struggling.

Had some side effects mainly insomnia, so take in the morning now.

I haven't noticed any improvement as yet but there must be some as I would have been driven demented by now with covid!!!

[ItchySeveredFoot]

Perhaps taking it will mean I'm not actually bothered by having side effects anyway 🤔

[IamDisappeared]

I most definitely recommend taking in the morning by the way

[ItchySeveredFoot]

I've decided I'll start taking it tomorrow morning.

[lottieloop]

OP let us know when you've taken your first pill.... here to support you x