Can you tell me about your experiences on Sertraline?

[AdmiralOrangeroo]

I've been prescribed this but am struggling to take the leap and take it. I had a couple of questions I'm hoping others can answer :

1. What if any were the side effects and how long did they last?

1. Do you take it morning or evening?

1. Did it work?

1. Was it hard to come off?

Thanks so much, I really appreciate any help.

1. I was so ill I don’t think I’d have known what was physical symptoms of my anxiety and what was the sertraline side effects. But by about day 8 I started to feel less manic and horrific and started to get better from there.

1. I take at night last thing. I find it easier to remember. Never caused any sleep trouble, in fact probably fixed my anxiety related insomnia.

1. I slowly and steadily got better the first 3 weeks. Got back to 100% within 3 months but it was a serious breakdown so I needed time to come to terms with it and stop feeling afraid of myself and feeling like that again. I’ve been perfectly well now for 2 years nearly on it.

1. Haven’t tried yet because why would I really when I’m so well on it! But yes, I wish I wasn’t and want to stop taking it but only for my pride!

I’ve been on it two weeks today. I’ve had very few side effects. A bit of heart burn, that’s it. My anxiety did not worsen at all. I immediately slept better which is a god send. I take it in the morning. I definitely feel calmer but not sure how it’s working yet.

@AdmiralOrangeroo

Strange question, but does it stop you being able to cry?

Nope, but sure I’ve nothing to cry about currently. Couldn’t be arsed with crying either way🤷‍♀️ Not sure why anyone wants to cry, a release I guess.

I so appreciate these replies! Can I keep drinking wine? Or did you all give up?

Go careful with the wine. I found I got drunk on a single drink once I started taking it. I can now handle a bit more but you are told not to consume alcohol while on Sertraline

I gave up for months but I also gave up coffee which I adore because I was so sick I was terrified of anything adding to that. Now I drink as normal on them. Sometimes waaaaay too much, sometimes a glass or two a few nights in a row. But look, just be aware of the blues with alcohol which I think is a big dip in seratonin or dopamine, can’t remember. But it’s exactly that sertraline is working to avoid so be careful heavy drinking doesn’t set you back.

I've been on Sertraline for 2 years, after having been on Citalopram for 10 years, and Prozac for 8 years before that. I changed because the Citalopram was becoming ineffective. I have severe and chronic depression and my meds keep me alive - without them I have suicidal urges which I can't fight.

I take 100 mg in the evening.

Long-term side effects are a complete lack of emotion - no lows, but also no highs. (But I'm on a relatively high dose). I cannot cry at all and I really miss that release - instead I just feel flat nothingness,which sometimes makes me think I am missing out on life.
With any of my meds, when I've changed them or upped the dose, I have a period of about 7-14 days where I have horrendous headaches and feelings of dizziness. The only way I can cope with this is to sleep through - so I have always had to take about a week off work.

It absolutely works for me. I'm not preoccupied with wanting to die, I have made no attempts since the last time I tried coming off my meds several years ago. No intrusive thoughts and no self-harm.

I will never come off altogether- though I will no doubt have to change again at some point. But I would say for most people they are short term (perhaps allowing you a break or to access therapy) and with careful management should be relatively okay to wean off gently.

Oh, and I absolutely do not drink alcohol with it. Some people do, but I react with terrible side effects.

Crying — kind of yes, kind of no. I definitely cry much, much less on it. But that’s fine by me, personally.

Alcohol — I stopped drinking completely for a while when I was first on it. Now, I do drink a little. A glass of wine or two with food once a week or so, nothing more. Because alcohol is a depressant, and sertraline has the opposite effect, they cancel each other out. And alcohol can make any digestive issues worse, and contribute to functional impairment. (The old ‘driving or operating heavy machinery’ clause.) I would say it’s safest to not drink, especially in the early stages of getting used to it.

Oh — avoid grapefruits and grapefruit juice when on sertraline. It can mess with the absorption of the active ingredient.

I didn't take one last night as I had a glass of wine before I realised I shouldn't have done. I'm really struggling to get over the idea of a bad first couple of weeks and the idea of them changing my brain etc. need to get out of this hole!

@AdmiralOrangeroo I picked up my prescription about 3m ago and can't get past the panic of two weeks feeling worse so I haven't taken them. I'm trying to focus on the end result. Logically, I would swap 2 weeks of feeling anxious and low for a lifetime of feeling anxious and low. I was previously on Citaloptam for a number of years. Well done for starting yours- you are a little closer now to feeling better

@iwantcurry I've only taken one tablet and am wondering if I should keep going! I feel the same as you. If you want to, we could do it together and check in on this thread like a diary? I think when you're an obsessive over thinker (as I am) making the decision is impossible

Keep going! Honestly it’s far worse to take something ad hoc. All this drug is is something to block you absorbing (and wasting) your seratonin. Like some meds just give the body insulin or a thyroid iodine or whatever. Consider it a supplement. There is sooooo much misinformation and bad branding of SSRIs but they are not some big mystery. You do need to be consistent and some people spend time panicking or possibly even finally letting go of all the backlog of psychological pain and fear. But give them a chance and like any medication, you stop if side effects are intolerable.

@Santaslittlemelter that's such an interesting way to look at it!

I'm on day 16, still not feeling the benefits and if anything feel slightly worse (plus have restless legs and have noticed eyelid twitching too). I hope it's a case of it gets worse before it gets better, I was on it a few years ago and I think I remember it being the same then. I'm on 50mg at the moment, due to speak to GP again next Friday so maybe he'll increase it and that will help.

@iwantcurry how did you get on with it?

I've just started on it today, with half a tablet, and have felt sick and a bit wired all day.

@NoodleDoodleDo they're still sat in my bag! I’m so scared of the side effects that I’ve been putting it off. I’m barely coping with a massive life stress plus normal every day home and work stuff , that I’m worried it will tip me over the edge to not coping ! Well done you for starting, you’re one day closer to feeling better.

I know this is an old thread but I’m curious as to how you got on @AdmiralOrangeroo ? I’m currently in yet another anxious pit with my 10 month old in tow and feeling like a pretty rubbish mum! Starting to think after 4/5 years of on going anxiety should I consider medication!

Do it!

I went up to 200mg on it during the pandemic to get through various elements of that - it didn't stop it being shit, but it made me able to function enough for the kids at least. Tapered off it with no problems.

Back on it now because I started getting horrendous panic attacks (I think possibly peri related) - it worked pretty rapidly, I had a couple of weeks off work while I started it and it was me back to being OK again by the time I went back. I take 100mg at the moment and it's doing the job with anxiety.