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Original poster

Anxiety - what positive impact has Sertraline had on your day to day life?

38 replies

PinkCosYouAreSoVery · 18/05/2022 20:28

I'm starting this thread as I havent been able to find a blog type thread starting from day 1 of starting the tablets, so thought it might be useful for others!

I finally asked the GP today for medication to help ease what I think is mainly social anxiety. I have used Propanol in past for work presentations etc but lately I have felt I needed a more regular medication to help with the awful feeling of dread, shaking out of nerves etc. Even my lips start to shake and my voice goes high if im really feeling anxious. I have started to dread family gatherings even, going to the shop in case I see someone I know etc. I go red so easily which just makes it worse! I will go red in a normal conversation without someone for no reason! I dont really have a reason to feel so anxious, I dont really feel depressed, I dont have major worries (just the usual family/work life balance stuff) but I have got to the point where I pretty much have that feeling of impending doom a lot of the time and I dont want to go out where there's people, I just want to stay in my nice safe bubble at home with my family!

So I start 50mg of sertraline tomorrow morning! Scared of side effects but really hoping it will help, so I'm hoping to hear your positive stories! How did it help you? Do you feel more able to socialise and actually enjoy it? Did it help with the physical symptoms of anxiety like the shaking, blushing, sweaty armpits etc? I hope I'll start to feel more like the old me in a couple of weeks, though I know it will probably take longer.

OP posts:
Tillsforthrills · 18/05/2022 20:32

Its great that you’re doing something about your social anxiety.

SIL was on this medication and it did help her but make sure you’re not too busy over the next month or at least two weeks as it can make you more anxious at first as was the case of SIL but she stuck it out. So don’t give up as it usually takes 6-8 weeks for full effect.

Good luck OP

Kellyblueeyes · 18/05/2022 20:56

I have just came off it a few weeks ago, haven't told my doctor maybe I should have, I was on it for both depression and anxiety, the first week is not pleasant at all as you usually feel worse as your anxiety gets really bad and the side effects are quite hard but my issue is they made me feel more anti social, I used to be a very talkative bubbly person yet after taking these I now often struggle to make conversation with people even my own kids have noticed hence one of the reasons I stopped taking them, this the 2nd time I've been on them in a few years and felt the same both times and they made me feel emotionless so even in really hard times like family members passing away I never cried or grieved so I would be careful with them, lots of people say they work for them but depends on what you class as working x

popandchoc · 18/05/2022 21:57

For me it got rid of the feeling of doom. Also the hours of stress i would have before having to do something like get on a train or be in crowded places. I feel a lot more calm and rational about things.
It doesn't work straight away so keep at it but well worth it.

Interested in this thread?

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General health
Mooserp · 18/05/2022 22:18

I started on 25mg then went up to 50 and felt stable enough to stay at that level. First week or so I had bad nausea and some sleep problems.

What it's done for me is it stops me tipping over into irrational anxiety, where I used to get massive adrenaline rush. And because I'm more rational I'm much more laid back in general.

Good luck

PersonalClown · 18/05/2022 22:24

Docs put my autistic son (20) on this after he regressed massively during lockdown. He's been on it for just 3 weeks so far and he is stimming again, willing to leave the house again and today he spoke for the first time in almost 3 months.
Just 1 whispered word but it's progress.

stopthepain · 18/05/2022 22:29

I took it for a brief time in my late teens for severe depression. It made me a zombie and I had zero energy and zero emotion. After a month of Sertraline, I switched to Prozac and took that for 3 years. Been okay since :) I actively made other changes in my life and addressed my trauma.

Rekorderlig88 · 18/05/2022 22:32

I'm on 100mg.
I have anxiety and OCD around emmetophobia.
It let's me live literally.
The side effects were hard but stick with it
It makes me a bit detached but I can cope tith that

Belltiger · 18/05/2022 22:35

I’m on week 2 of it. Started on 25mg and have increased to 50 since Sunday. Side effects are nausea tiredness. Yesterday I had a buzzing in my ear … I’m hoping they will make a big difference to me. Good luck.

Original poster
PinkCosYouAreSoVery · 19/05/2022 10:08

Thank you all so much for your replies, in a weird way it does help to know you're not alone in feeling like we do. Its good to hear about your experiences, quite a mix!

I took my first tablet this morning, I was and still am feeling apprehensive about it.

Question re side effects? How quickly did you first notice the side effects from taking your first tablet? Was it within hours? Days?

OP posts:
HummingQuietly · 19/05/2022 10:29

@PersonalClown that's amazing, well done to DS.

OP I made a decision not to think about side effects. If your mouth is dry, just drink some water. It you sit about analysing whether it's drier than it would have been before the sertraline you'll drive yourself mad. A lot of the side effects overlap with the symptoms of anxiety too, so it's hard to tell if it's a side effect or a symptom that might be improved by the meds. Just take them and distract yourself. Of course this won't always work if you get more pronounced side effects, but many people don't.

For me sertraline helped alongside taking my foot off the pedal. I think my brain needed a lot of time to just be. I wasn't magically better after a fortnight but over time I gradually got back my concentration and my brain started working again.

Iwasfeelingepic · 19/05/2022 11:40

stopthepain · 18/05/2022 22:29

I took it for a brief time in my late teens for severe depression. It made me a zombie and I had zero energy and zero emotion. After a month of Sertraline, I switched to Prozac and took that for 3 years. Been okay since :) I actively made other changes in my life and addressed my trauma.

I started taking it yesterday after having to stop yet another AD. I would love for it to work like that for me, even just for awhile. Not having any emotional feelings would do me a world of good right now.
I read about people who take ADs and then either feel like a zombie or like a cloud has been lifted, but although I've been on ADs for years and none of them have made me feel that way.
@PinkCosYouAreSoVery I hope they help & the side effects aren't too bad.x

Iwasfeelingepic · 19/05/2022 11:44

stopthepain · 18/05/2022 22:29

I took it for a brief time in my late teens for severe depression. It made me a zombie and I had zero energy and zero emotion. After a month of Sertraline, I switched to Prozac and took that for 3 years. Been okay since :) I actively made other changes in my life and addressed my trauma.

Sorry my last post sounded a bit snippy. I am glad you found something that worked for you, and are doing better.Flowers

Oddsocks55 · 19/05/2022 12:01

I've been on it for 3.5 years. Before i started on it, i was a mess. I'd stopped leaving the house, i would spend the day in bed after the kids went to school, i didnt loom forward to anything.

The first few days i felt really nauseous and about a week in i had a few days of feeling totally spaced out. Then i felt - better, i guess? I stopped binge eating, i started up running, i began to look forward to things again, i was able to get out and face the world. I was able to focus more, i stopped feeling such intense lows.

It changed my life, I'm on 150mg and have no qualms staying on it for the rest of my life.

Original poster
PinkCosYouAreSoVery · 20/05/2022 08:46

Thank you all for taking the time to share your experiences, sounds as though some of you have been through really tough times and I guess I feel a bit of a fraud for starting out on this medical journey as my feelings don't sounds anywhere near as bad as what some of you have gone through.

So...day 2 for me. I have just taken my 2nd tablet. I felt a bit weird on and off during the day yesterday, went to sleep ok but woke up at 2.30am with awful headache and aching jaw and then didn't drop off again until it was nearly time for the alarm. Its going to be a long day today! I dont usually have trouble sleeping and I dont know what the aching jaw is about!

OP posts:
HummingQuietly · 20/05/2022 14:32

You're not a fraud. It's not a competition, I'm sure you were prescribed them with good reason. Just take heart that people have been through it and out the other side, and you can too.

I don't know but your aching jaw thing is one of those things that sound more likely to be have been caused by your anxiety (maybe making you tense up or or grind your teeth in your sleep?) than by taking one tablet. You are going to be extra anxious at the moment because you're worried about taking the tablets but this is just a stage to go through, not your new life. See how you feel in a week x

Original poster
PinkCosYouAreSoVery · 20/05/2022 14:49

Thank you, that's such good advice.

OP posts:
Grotbag81 · 20/05/2022 14:50

I'm on day 3 of setraline, after years of AD's not working for me, I used to get all of the bad side effects and non of the benefits of them. The Psych struggled to find an SSRI I haven't tried.

I have a light breakfast, like banana and 2 biscuits dunked in tea, or a bit of toast as I find it hard to eat with my anxiety & take the tablets in the morning. I avoid anything milky to avoid the nausea.

I felt calmer within a few hours of the first dose, however I am taking 40mg of Propranolol twice/x 3 a day alongside it, as Psych said setraline boosts the Propranolol, I've been on Propranolol for years but they stopped having an effect.

I've had a dry mouth, little appetite, and lots of energy, less irritable, just feel calm and steady. Like the old me really. I've had a light headache here & there, nothing ibuprofen didn't sort out.

I know it can be a placebo affect but so far so good. I had the first uninterrupted 7 hour sleep in many years last night.

There are lots of old Mumsnet setraline threads I found very useful.

Original poster
PinkCosYouAreSoVery · 25/05/2022 19:28

Day 7 now...its been ok, a bit headachy and thirstier than normal and have felt a bit weird at times but I notice it less and less as the days have gone on. Not really noticed any effect on anxiety yet but I think its early days still.Had one night where I only slept a couple of hours but that's it.

OP posts:
Belltiger · 25/05/2022 23:47

That’s good that your doing ok @PinkCosYouAreSoVery. I’m defiantly thirstier than normal but the nauseous feelings have subsided a bit. I’m into week three now. So I’m hoping that as each day goes on Things will get better. My sleep isn’t great at all though. I’m waking lots throughout the night. Which is tough.

Shakeitshakeitbaby · 28/05/2022 08:19

I just started yesterday but I have taken it before. Very much helps with the racing thoughts and impending doom feelings. I always notice a difference very quickly, after a few days usually. Also gives me more energy during the day.

Belltiger · 28/05/2022 09:21

Good luck @Shakeitshakeitbaby.
I’m drinking loads of water and I find if I don’t it really makes my anxiety worse.

GrandmasterGlitchsMoustache · 28/05/2022 09:39

It's been a game changer for me. I've taken it 3 times and am on it now. I have low level anxiety that flares up with major events (eg lockdown, post birth). I have a busy job and small children with SEN, do most of house/life admin. I often get asked "how do you do it, you're doing so well" and I smile and nod but the honest answer is "I take sertaline and I'd be screwed without it". When stressful things happen (eg major illnesses, work dramas, deaths) I can handle it without tipping over. If life gets calmer when the kids are older I'll come off it in the future but it takes the edge off the anxiety for me without any significant side effects.

I hope it works as well for you.

Mythril · 28/05/2022 09:56

I take sertraline, but for depression. I've been on it 3.5 years. It has really helped me - it just gives me that lift in mood that allows me to get out of bed and get on with life.

Side effects - they were quite pronounced when I was on 200mg a day. Mostly brain shocks and dizziness, which were more pronounced if I didn't take my pills every 24hours. I definitely knew if I'd forgotten to take them!

These days I'm on 100mg and I don't have any noticeable side effects. I have gone from being a light sleeper to a very deep sleeper - I'm not sure if that's caused by the sertraline or years of interrupted sleep from having babies. Will find out when I finally come off them.

danni0509 · 28/05/2022 10:09

PersonalClown · 18/05/2022 22:24

Docs put my autistic son (20) on this after he regressed massively during lockdown. He's been on it for just 3 weeks so far and he is stimming again, willing to leave the house again and today he spoke for the first time in almost 3 months.
Just 1 whispered word but it's progress.

@PersonalClown that’s great. My autistic 8 year old son just put on it for his awful anxiety. He’s on 25mg a day, he takes atomoxetine too for his adhd.

danni0509 · 28/05/2022 10:12

Just want to join this but it’s my ds who takes it. He’s 8 and started 25mg a day this morning.

He is on it for his anxiety. He’s taking liquid sertraline as he can’t tolerate pills.

He’s on other stuff for his adhd and sleep too.

Hope it helps as he’s terrified of his own shadow at present! Plus side I added the med into a drink of orange (he knew it was in there) and he took it no problem. Seems ok so far. Not allergic or anything! Hope it helps.