Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Sertraline…to ask if this is normal?

58 replies

Yiie · 23/02/2025 17:49

I’m on 50mg of sertraline for anxiety. I took 25mg for a week and now been on 50 for another week. I feel exhausted. Like first trimester pregnancy tired. Also spaced out and lethargic. On the plus side I don’t feel as anxious. However I literally don’t know how I will function at work tomorrow as I’ve felt totally drained all day! Is this normal?!

OP posts:
ItGhoul · 23/02/2025 19:33

It’s normal to have side effects for a few weeks, especially if you’re increasing the dose. Do you take it in the morning? If so try switching to taking it at night.

It’s actually very unusual for it to improve your anxiety within a fortnight.

Doggymummar · 23/02/2025 19:31

I was on 200mg and didn't have this, I'm sure it will settle. I was it for a decade till I managed to get the Dr to prescribe HRT.

JorgyPorgy · 23/02/2025 19:30

I’ve taken it before for anxiety , I had no side affects like that at all, in fact for the first 2 months I didn’t feel that it was doing anything at all and not working for me , but after that i did notice it took the edge off my anxiety.

Mousespace · 23/02/2025 19:30

I was on a much higher dose and the doctor and leaflet often tells you to take it in the morning- but it does seem to be a medicine that gives some people insomnia, and makes other people super sleepy. I switched to taking it in evening instead. Would sleep 9 hours beautifully. Maybe try this change?

ALSO as a warning from a bad experience, absolutely NEVER dry swallow this medicine. Plenty of water. I was flippant about it cause you can dry swallow an antihistamine or a paracetemol and it's fine, but you dry swallow sertraline and youll be on the phone to nhs24 panicking.

SquashedSquid · 23/02/2025 19:28

I'm on 250mg a day but don't get this any more. It wore off after a few weeks.

Katemax82 · 23/02/2025 19:24

I literally spent my entire time on sertraline exhausted, lying on the floor and having chronic dihorea

Jaxtellersoldlady14 · 23/02/2025 18:04

I started 50mg just over 2 weeks ago and I've felt the same absolutely shattered but seems to be easing a little now.

EarsLikeAFennecFox · 23/02/2025 17:58

Sertraline did that to me, and didn't improve. I actually think my anxiety was a symptom of perimenopause and I felt much better when I stopped the sertraline and started HRT instead. I'd originally asked the gp for hrt, as my anxiety felt hormonal, but was told I was too young (42 at the time). Not sure how old you are, but if it's a new symptom and you're in your 40s, might be worth looking in to?

Swipe left for the next trending thread