Sertraline for anxiety

I didn’t dispute it’s a common SE. I both work with such meds professionally in a specialism, and am a long-term user of SSRIs myself.

I was pointing out that in each individual it’s difficult to pin-point exactly how much is the SSRI and how much is a complex interplay between sex and mood disorder. Or a bit of both.

I take this. I originally had it because I had panic attacks caused by customers' impatience and rudeness. I do wish customers realise that their behaviour is one of the main reasons that people leave retail.

Now I still take it as still very worried about unable to find work.

No it’s a very common side effect. People in pharmaceuticals often joke that you “can be happy or can have a libido, not both”

As soon as I stop, it comes back. As soon as I start, numbness so it’s not a depression side effect - and I take them for PMDD

No, you really don't need more the longer you take it. Several friends have taken the same dose for over a decade, and are very happy with it

Oh @toastwithbutter I really feel for you.

I was the same. Came on suddenly. Horrendous morning anxiety, loads of nervous energy, constantly in edge/emotional, and really awful negative and intrusive thoughts.

I resisted sertraline for a while, but wasn't getting better. So I started just before Xmas. I started on 25mg. My initial side effects were AWFUL. I won't sugar coat it. I was significantly worse. Stopped eating, stopped sleeping. The intrusive thoughts ramped up and I was crying all the time. But I persevered, increased to 37.5mg for a few days then up to 50mg and once I was on 50mg, the side effects subsided and I started feeling better. I'd say maybe 2 weeks after I went up to 50mg it was like a switch had been flipped. I wasn't totally better, but started having more good days than bad.

I'm still on 50mg. But I also started HRT 1.5 weeks ago (low dose). I was having cyclical relapses (not as bad, but still distressing for me). I was initially convinced some of my symptoms were peri menopause related but the dr said i was 'too young' 🙄 finally 3rd Dr I saw agreed with me and I'm hoping that will finish levelling me out!

It is definitely worth taking an SSRI, but it won't be an immediate fix, and you do need to be prepared for that xxxx

Decreased libido is also a known symptom of anxiety and depression. So it’s v difficult to tease-out what is caused by a SE of the meds, and what is a symptom of the condition.

Thanks, yes it seems to be every other woman I know too though. Very frustrating to have to make that choice

For a small proportion of people there is evidence of sexual dysfunction as a SE.

If we think of “how we feel” as being how we experience the world and how that is affected by physical sensations of anxiety plus our anxious thoughts / cognitive distortions; then yes - medication changes this as it dampens down the out-of-control “threat-system”.

What medication doesn’t do is address any underlying psycho-social causes for the anxiety, clearly.

So it’s best to use medication hand-in-hand with a talking therapy, plus making lifestyle changes such as reducing stress, increasing exercise, sleep hygiene etc.

Sertraline really helped me get my life together, and back on a path out of darkness (situational and just me). But it absolutely killed libido and was in a new relationship, so stopped eventually. Even a day or two in 25 mg and the ability to feel anything below the waist disappears! Anyone else had this or found a SSRI that doesn’t cause this?

You’re entirely correct. Anti-D’s don’t have any tolerance-related issues. They don’t lose efficacy with long-term use.

Anytnjng you hear around this is purely anecdotal and usually due to the placebo effect

Ps: you can self-refer to your local NHS Talking Therapies service. Not sure of your area but if you type that into google with your home city it will bring up the website.

(MH Practitioner here)

Sounds like really classic (and horrid to experience) anxiety. Sertraline is an incredibly commonly-taken medication which a surprising proportion of the population take/have taken. It works gradually and imperceptibly, so don’t expect to notice much difference for a few weeks. Some people have initial side-effects of increased anxiety but please persist as these subside.

GP should’ve signposted you to NHS Talking Therapies also (first line treatment for anxiety) as lifestyle factors, psycho-ed and/or CBT are just as (if not more) important tools in addressing anxious thoughts and feelings.

I’ve never heard this before and as someone on Paroxetine for a long time and now citalopram I wouldn’t say this is my experience. SSRI are not known for need higher increasing doses unlike benzodiazepines unless they have stopped working. Op I found I was anxious in normal situations eg exams, they won’t stop that.

I feel quiteva few of the symptoms you have described @toastwithbutter but I think they are situational and have to do with my relationship.
So I'm very worried of going on meds and the side effects... I have a job where I need ti focus a lot, and there arw multiple things I need to manage at the same time... Can anyone help to advise on how it affects your ability to focus ans be "on the ball"? (Sorry, I hate this expression too)

Oh bless you OP. One day at a time while the meds kick in. At some point, hopefully you will wake up and suddenly realise you can face the day. As I said before, the tablets make you not think about those things because they balance things out in your head. As you're not worrying so much, the physical symptons will go. They may come back briefly now and then but will go quickly with your new coping strategy. Stay away from negativity and surround yourself with just your family and anything positive. Good luck and let Sertraline do its thing xx

Rhodiola Rosea supplements worked quite well. Hypnotherapy- Paul McKenna has loads of free stuff on You Tube and I do that every night. Sea swimming - I’ve done this weekly all year round. Sleep. Really good self care. Acceptance. Breathing. Being kind to myself and accepting my limitations. Generally slowing down where possible. The Sertraline helped and I needed it but I’m glad I’ve come off it now. Carefully weaned myself off - got down to 10mg every third day before stopping completely.

For me, a bit of both. My antidepressant reduces my anxiety to a level where I can go out and try things, which means that instead of the anxiety and panic being reinforced and growing (and my world shrinking), it reduces over time. It also means that I'm able to engage and work with therapy, which again reduces my symptoms longer term. But for me, I still need medication to keep my anxiety at bay and to stop it spiralling. If I didn't my anxiety would grow to a point where I couldn't go about my daily life and apply the things I've learnt. I don't think it's possible for my anxiety to be fully cured, but it's well managed. And one of the things that keeps it well managed is the anti-depressant.

I do think they mask anxiety. I can go days or weeks and think I haven't thought about hyperventilating or wanted to keep swallowing today. They can divert your attention away from your symptons so you're less likely to panic etc.bloody lifesavers.

I was on Seroxat for 20 years but a year ago they suddenly stopped working. I had all the original anxiety and depression symptons come flooding back. I had to wean off seroxat for one week before I started sertraline. I had a bit of nausea as a side effect with more frequent bowel movements. It took 16 weeks for them to fully kick in. However, that timeframe changes for everyone. What it does it make you not think about your symptons. You can function day to day and see light again. You think they are never going to start working but they will. The only downside is the vivid dreams but I'd rather take those than the horrible, crippling anxiety.

Thank you for asking 🙏

I started taking Escitalopram for lifelong anxiety and it has been life-changing.

Mindfulness and meditation are genuinely very good. It sounds like a cliché but it's true. Also exercise, fresh air and eating well. Thing is, I wasn't in the headspace to do those without the sertraline. It doesn't have to be one or other, you can take sertraline as an adjuvant to lifestyle and mindset changes.

@Newmum738 do you mind sharing what works for you?