Will sertraline work? When?!

Didn't for me, gave it 8 months, anxiety and side effects were too much.

Got put on Mirtazapine which has far less side effects and it's been a miracle for me. Still cross with my doctor for throwing the big guns at it straight away without trying the less side effect heavy meds first.

I'm on sertraline and I remember being told it can take a month for it to work fully.

I went from 50mg to 100mg but didn’t like how I felt - I couldn’t cry!!! So went back down to 50mg.

Try and eat before you take it, to ease heartburn. I also find it better to take it at night.

I clearly remember sitting on the side of the bed wide awake and frozen in anxiety while my husband snored away next to me. When you've already been anxious for so long and then do something to try to feel better and then it makes you feel even worse, it's so tough. I was really white-knuckling it at some points and trying to cling onto hope that it would get better. I remember repeatedly googling for stories of people in similar situations where it had then improved, which is why I want to reply to you now! Obviously we're all different, but what you're experiencing is common for starting SSRIs and a lot of people do find they work if you stick with them.

Hi all, I'm on Sertraline and it works, and it also makes me feel like me, and not a zombie, I think it's brilliant.

In the meantime have a look at the DARE app and book, there's a YouTube channel, and Claire Weekes is good too. It completely changed the way I thought about anxiety and panic and it's taken the panic attacks when they happen, down a notch. There's a Dare support group on Facebook and it just makes sense.

Good luck! I know how shit it feels but you can and very likely will feel better soon.

I've been on and off SSRIs many times, including sertraline. I also take them for anxiety, and they always make me feel worse before I feel better. I would say I feel more anxious/unable to sleep well for about a month, and then usually notice improvements (as in feeling better than before I was taking them) within about 2 months. That first month or two can be really tough, especially with the worry that they won't work. Hang in there!

If it's any consolation, you're all doing a lot better than me!

My GP prescribed me 50mg, and on the first day I took it, I ended up passing out in the bathroom a couple of hours later after suddenly feeling very dizzy and peculiar.

It's rather put me off trying it again, and I'm now hoping alternatives to medication like CBT work better for me!

I was given sertraline for general anxiety about 10/15 years ago. The side effects took my anxiety from mild to extreme, and I suffered it for about 6 weeks before seeing a GP who knew me (the GP who'd prescribed them had advised me to taper off, even though I'd only been taking them 6 weeks) who told me to stop taking them immediately (she was horrified at the change in me).

The 'cure' for my anxiety was self help. I say 'cure' because there isn't a cure, it's about learning to manage it. Not easy to learn and practice the techniques, but I'm glad I persevered with the behavioural stuff - I very rarely notice any anxiety now.

I hope you find something that works, anxiety is awful, as are panic attacks.

I gave up after about five weeks. It was just making my sleep worse and worse, and that made everything else worse. Didn't have a sleep problem before taking it. Have to say, the few days after stopping taking it were fantastic. Best single step I've made so far, life was a lot easier and slept so much better!

That doesn't mean it's the wrong choice for you though. It helps many people, and it may help you. I'm proceeding by trying different options, and keeping the things that work. If something doesn't work for you then try something else. But give it long enough that you can really say it didn't work for you, don't give up early and leave yourself with doubts.

i was on sertraline for about 8 years, i remember it feeling a lot worse at first for maybe a month or two and after that a lot better! :)

Day 4 for me - feeling horrendous!

Yesterday I just felt so anxious & low.

Today I have no appetite, anxiety is through the roof, I just want to hide away.

I'm sorry you're not feeling better this morning, I hoped you were through the worst!

I am, thank you for asking x

I've been on Sertalene for two years now. I'm weaning down from 150mg but I'm really keen (so is my therapist) to keep at 50mg it 25mg. The anti anxiety effect is really helping me. I'm even nearly finished learning to drive in a city after years of being terrified! Try and stick with it a bit longer. Fingers crossed for you x

Absolutely yes. It took at least a month tbh. The history was this.......I had been on Citalopram for years. I weaned myself off this as my life got easier (very long story....too long to share). Another reason for weaning off was because I wanted to try Amitriptylene for the pain from my spinal stenosis. This worked well for my pain and also enough of an anti anxiety in my dose to keep my mood stable. I then had a heart attack out of the blue and the first thing the cardiologist did was to take me off Amitryptaline. I survived for about a year then felt anxious etc again. So the GP put me on Sertraline, which took 5 to 6 weeks to kick in properly. It did feel worse before it got better. Good luck x

Absolutely 💯 this