Sertraline, what is your experience of it if you take it?

[Tacosforteaplease]

My doctor has prescribed this mainly for anxiety but also low mood from being under enormous stress. I'm a bit uneasy and hesitant. But keen to help myself. Would be very interested to hear how other people found it?

Did it make your anxiety worse at the start, or did you put on weight?

Thanks in advance for any response!

Had to come off it after only a few days because the side effects were so incredibly horrendous. I know people say to 'push through' but I honestly felt more ill than I'd ever been in my entire life - I got a covid test because I assumed that it couldn't possibly be such extreme side effects as a result of that, but felt much better as soon as I missed one dose, and perfectly fine again within two days of stopping. No chance of weight gain, I couldn't even have a cup of tea without throwing up, was burping constantly (I mean constantly, like 20-30 times a minute!), couldn't sleep at all, and my temp dropped to 33 degrees (35 is hypothermia!)

Lots of people seem to get on really well with them though so hope it works well for you! If you do get any side effects read the guidance as to what will help - e.g. taking them with food if you feel sick, early in the morning if you get insomnia or late at night if they make you feel tired etc.

@UnholyStramash - mind recommending what did work for you? I will almost as ill with fluoxidine - now on mirtazapine and not feeling sick but am starving all the time and really really don't want to put on weight.

I ended up on one of the old tricyclics, Imipramine. It seems to suit me, the only ill effect I get is a very dry mouth and my eyes can get quite uncomfortable. I use eye gels anyway for autoimmune eye disease - I have several autoimmune conditions. I tried a few others - wanted to avoid ones which helped weight gain as I’m a bit overweight already. It’s been agreed I need long term antidepressants and I expect to just stick with these ones now.

I have been on a low dose for 10 years and stayed on it throughout 3 pregnancies on doc's advice.

No weight gain. It has helped me immensely.