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Original poster

Any positive experiences of sertraline for anxiety?

49 replies

Reesewithafork · 10/06/2022 21:08

I’ve seen a few threads that have been negative - I’m about to start on a 50 daily dosage for anxiety and I’m really quite nervous about it.

has anyone found it to really help?

OP posts:
Luredbyapomegranate · 10/06/2022 21:13

Yes it’s very helpful. And the majority of threads I have seen do confirm that. It’s a popular and effective drug.

Usually you take half a dose for a week or so, helps reduce the side effects you can get for the first couple weeks.

PermanentTemporary · 10/06/2022 21:14

Yup. I actually didn't realise how anxious I was until I started taking it, I felt better from day 1. Tbh the first few days were a bit of a honeymoon, it was as if all the tense spaces in my brain were filled with pink cotton wool.

Honestly, give it a go. You'll still be the same person but it might give you a break from some of the unhelpful struggles.

Vallmo47 · 10/06/2022 21:15

Yes it’s very helpful. I hope you find the same. :)

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
Original poster
Reesewithafork · 10/06/2022 21:25

Thank you - that’s really positive to know! I thought there must be some positive threads but most were filled with people experiencing difficult side effects!

OP posts:
rosiebl · 10/06/2022 21:28

Sertraline was a very important step for me to get better following several years of bad anxiety and depression. I was in a very bad way, it helped me feel level. I took it for a little over a year, towards the end I started to reduce the dosage until I stopped completely. It changed my life for the better.

Sirzy · 10/06/2022 21:30

I am currently trialing stopping it after 5 years. The first two weeks where horrenous but after that it made a massive difference and got me into a place where I was able to access CBT. The combination of the two mean I am in a better place mentally than I can remember ever being in (hence the cautiously trying to remove the tablets)

Fritilleries · 10/06/2022 21:30

Saved my life. Truly.

xoxFulhamMUMMY · 10/06/2022 22:06

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Sarah13xx · 10/06/2022 22:13

I’m on a Facebook group for it as, like you, have been planning to start. The side effects are majorly putting me off but it’s probably like anything, holiday reviews for example 🙈 people are far more likely to come on and review it if they have a story to tell about how awful it is rather than just saying it was completely fine. I’m getting married which is increasing my anxiety and don’t want to dread my own wedding 🙄 the thing putting me off though is if I start it I can’t drink without the risk of passing out and missing my own wedding as it seems really unpredictable if you have alcohol with jt

Loveduvetdays · 10/06/2022 22:21

I have been on and off it for 5 years. I had a break in January as I thought I was ok but 3 months later my anxiety hit the roof. I went back on it one month ago. My anxiety got worse for the first three weeks back on it, I lost half a stone as I couldn't eat. However this week I am feeling so much better. My appetite is back and I don't wake up in the morning dreading the day ahead. I'm on 50mg, previously on 100mg. If you start it with the expectation the first few weeks might be hard, you'll manage it better. Good luck, you'll be fine and have your life back,

NoToLandfill · 10/06/2022 22:27

Life changingly GOOD.

Glitterheart · 10/06/2022 22:38

Yes it changed my life, wish I’d taken it sooner. Just push through the first few weeks of side effects (nothing horrific for me mostly headaches and tiredness, slightly worse anxiety). After 2-3 weeks hopefully you will start to feel a change. Good luck xx

josil · 10/06/2022 22:39

Changed my life OP, I tried every drug free method for ten years and finally caved into these meds for depression 50 mcg and it's been life changing for me. I cannot thank sertraline enough!

Kenwouldmixitup · 10/06/2022 22:42

I’m day 18. Started 25g for one week, then 50g. No significant side effects, nothing worse than I’d already been experiencing. Yesterday morning woke minus a sense of dread. I’ll take that for starters.

Rassy · 10/06/2022 22:45

I have been on 10mg a day since September and it has really helped me - feel much more level. Looking back to how I was prior to taking it I realise now how bad I was with anxiety - Pandemic sent my anxiety into free fall. I have no plans at the moment to come off it

KpopArmy · 10/06/2022 23:29

Easy to say, I know, but please don’t be nervous about it. I’ve been on 50mg for 14yrs now (with a few short breaks in between), and I can honestly say it’s been really good for me. Like other people have said, I felt better from day 1 (please note, this isn’t the case for everyone, and it’s usual to feel worse for a couple of weeks before any improvements are noticed).
I haven’t noticed any major side effects, if I’m honest. I will add, if and when you decide to come off of sertraline, it’s really important to reduce the dosage slowly (your GP will give you an idea of the best time frame for this process). Failure to wean off slowly can make you feel much worse. Anyway, I’m jumping ahead here!
From my experience, I would recommend you try it and see how you go. Wishing you sunnier days in the very near future.

DropYourSword · 10/06/2022 23:50

It's been fantastic for me. This is my second time taking it. Like a previous poster, I didn't realise just how bad my anxiety was until I started medication and it started to improve.
I took 25mg for a week then up to 50mg for 6 weeks. Just increased to 75mg last week. Have had no side effects but had an appreciable difference in my anxiety levels. I can just cope with life better and feel
like a much nicer person! It's been all good for me.

IdiotCreatures · 11/06/2022 05:56

My Dr has prescribed it because I am suffering from Vertigo (5th attack in two years).
Having read up on it, it seems to be prescribed for anxiety caused by Vertigo and not the actual sensation I am experiencing.
My anxiety has been bad in the last week or two, so am glad that I will be getting it but at the same time I am slightly irked, as it was the sensation I wanted to have something for, hadn't even mentioned anxiety to the Dr.
Hmmmn.

Cardilover · 11/06/2022 07:50

Four months in and it’s really helping. I didn’t feel instantly better but noticed an improvement after a couple of weeks that has continued steadily.
Its definitely worth getting through those first 1 or 2 weeks of side effects but ask the GP for help if they are hard to bear. I had a couple of days of panic attacks so went back to the GP who prescribed propanalol, that really helped. I only needed them for a few days.
It took a couple of weeks to work out when was best to take it - for me it has to be morning or it keeps me awake, and after food or I get an upset stomach.
Don’t be afraid to give it a go, it could be a big help.

Timeandtune · 11/06/2022 07:57

My DS aged 22 has been on a 200mg dose for a few months. He started off on 50mg and it was gradually increased.

He didn’t experience any side effects but TBH he was so unwell at the time that I doubt he would have noticed.

Anyhoo , the combination of drugs and counselling has transformed his life. He has a job, has moved into a flat share and is off on holiday next week.

He is looking to reduce his dose down to 150g next.

feathermucker · 11/06/2022 08:06

For me, it was worth persevering past the initial side effects. I've heard many others say the same.

Saved my life. Literally.

PermanentTemporary · 11/06/2022 13:05

Just to @Sarah13xx - I didn't drink at all in the first 3 weeks just to let things settle, but since that I've had two glasses a couple of times a week with zero issues, both my GP and another doctor friend said to me that there's no particular reason not to drink on Sertraline, its just that alcohol is a depressant and I had depression as well as anxiety.

I was afraid of sexual side effects and it has damped down my sex drive a bit and made orgasm a bit longer to get to, but it's all relative. It's worth it to me at the moment.

Notsolittlemermaid · 11/06/2022 13:22

It's been absolutely life changing for me. For ages I knew I was struggling but I didn't want to approach my GP or do anything about it. I didn't want anyone to think I wasn't coping. But I was in a pretty dark place. It wasn't much fun. It wasn't until someone pointed out to me that they could see I was struggling and actually sometimes it's OK not to be OK. The point they made was that you would seek treatment for a broken leg, so what was the difference between that and seeking mental health support.

I'm on 100mg at the moment but this could potentially be increased as I am starting to find things a bit difficult again. However I am in a much, much better place than I was. I'm also able to rationalise things a lot better than I was, where I would just sit and cry instead. Including my youngest dc's headteacher at one point ffs.

The first week or so the side effects were not always the nicest (mainly nausea and absolute bone crushing tiredness) but they soon went. I'll happily go through the side effects again for the massive difference it has made.

Sarah13xx · 11/06/2022 14:11

@PermanentTemporary oh that’s reassuring! I did think that! When I’m not depressed anyway and actually feel better anxiety-wise with a drink then I’d hopefully be able to have a few drinks on it. I’d just worry when I only have a month or two to trial it that it might result in me not knowing how it affected me 🙈 also think you’re usually in control of your drinking but at your hen do for example people will be maybe buying shots or getting you to drink more and more. The benefits do seem to outweigh the negatives by far though and I don’t want to look back and think all I did on my wedding day was worth about having a panic attack

PermanentTemporary · 11/06/2022 14:23

@Sarah13xx I think with just a month left I'd start today if you can - i feel like I'm drip feeding now but I did have the nausea after taking it and the tiredness at first but that was all pretty much gone within 3-4 weeks. Why not he honest with your hen crew that you're starting meds, you want to have a chilled pace of drinking on the night and could they let you decide how much you're going to drink with no pressure? Hope you have a great wedding x