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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:

Original poster

Reesewithafork · 12/06/2022 13:13

This is all really useful.
if people did have side effects what were they? The GP said it was likely to be tiredness and nausea and maybe feeling worse anxiety wise before I feel better

OP posts:

MolkosTeenageAngst · 12/06/2022 13:20

I had side effects at first, brain fog and vertigo/ dizziness mostly with a little bit of nausea and a dry mouth and feeling tired. I also had a bit of trouble falling asleep and then had very vivid dreams. The side effects weren’t great but they weren’t unbearable and I pushed through them and within two weeks I wasn’t experiencing the side effects any more. Don’t let the side effects put you off and if you do experience them know in most cases they will pass within the first two weeks so it’s worth persevering.

Original poster

Reesewithafork · 12/06/2022 15:56

Thank you, I’ve been really nervous about starting it because of the side effects as I’m worried I will feel awful and I have a toddler to look after

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

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General health

Stompythedinosaur · 12/06/2022 16:20

It is a very effective medication in my experience, if you can get through the first few days where you might feel a bit sick.

PermanentTemporary · 12/06/2022 16:31

Honestly, of course it has side effects but try to focus on the effects - that you should feel better and find life a bit easier.

3dogsandababy · 12/06/2022 16:37

I started taking sertraline about a year ago, also had a toddler to look after. I can only speak for myself but I took it at nighttime so I would sleep through the potential sickness. I'd take some ginger biscuits or rich teas up to bed and nibble on them if I woke up feeling sick and that seemed to work. It really wiped me out for the first week I'd say so it was definitely beneficial taking it at night!
I felt better straight away after starting it, I think a big part of my anxiety was not wanting to take any medication but I'm so glad I have - it's definitely improved my anxiety and I feel like a better/more capable mum because of it.
I really hope you start feeling better soon 🤞

Kizzy192 · 12/06/2022 16:45

It's been life changing for me! At one point I couldn't leave the house. I've been on 150mg for a few years now and it's incredible.

Very useful that you can be on it whilst pregnant too, which some others you can't... Not sure what stage of life you're at.

One thing though, I take mine in the morning as gave me strange, vivid dreams taking it at night. Easy enough to switch if that's the case for you though.

Good luck! Hope it works out well.

IloveJudgeJudy · 12/06/2022 17:41

I haven't rtft but DH went on it about 6-9 months ago. He started at 50mg and increased to 100mg. He has had/is having weekly/fortnightly therapy too atm. It's made a massive difference to him (and us).

For various complicated reasons he missed 2 or 3 days of it in March and it was awful for both him and us. There are now measures in place so that this will never happen again (like having a tablet in his wallet which he always takes with him and a reminder on his phone - he should have done this before but thought he'd never be in a position to forget/not have access to his medication).

He does not react so negatively to events now, nor does he catastrophise like he used to. This is not just from the medication. He's worked very hard to get to where he now is.

Original poster

Reesewithafork · 13/06/2022 23:34

I’m starting tomorrow and really hoping I see an improvement!

OP posts:

Useranon1 · 13/06/2022 23:42

I love it! Honeslty it gave me my life back and I only wish I'd started sooner.

Now, the first few weeks were bad, im not going to sugar coat it. It really increased my panic attacks to the point I couldn't go outside, and I was a bit spacey and lots of jaw clenching etc.

But it soon settled down and not I've gone from panic attacks multiple times a day, to being almost completely normal!

Honestly, just accept it's going to get worse, commit to getting through that, and look forward to being happier and more settled.

Original poster

Reesewithafork · 13/06/2022 23:49

Thanks @Useranon1 what dosage did you start off with

OP posts:

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 14/06/2022 00:05

I had it and it helped. The instructions said to take it in the morning and I struggled with that. It made me too spaced out. I switched to taking it at night and slept really well. My dd who is autistic and anxious is on it and it has changed her life completely. Really positive.

Sniffypete · 14/06/2022 00:11

The doctor told me it may take a few weeks for it to start working, but I noticed a difference straight away. Felt so nice being "me" again.

Zslater · 08/11/2022 22:21

When would you all say the best time take this at? My husband has just been prescribed it but he's been told morning is best but worried as he has the children whilst I go to work in some days.

PermanentTemporary · 08/11/2022 22:44

After breakfast. I did find i felt some nausea in the earliest days and food helped. But I didn't find it particularly made me sleepy or anything.

Kez200 · 09/11/2022 01:25

I had a side effect of chest tightening and collapsing, but I was on 3 medications so I can't say which did it.

I stopped medication completely though and a month later with therapy I'm still battling slowly to improve. I may have improved quicker with it.
I'm awake now, for example, with a panic attack. I get at least two most nights.

IamSamantha · 09/11/2022 01:49

Been on it for 10 years and GP and I have no intention of taking me off it. I would not be here today without it. Yes I am now showing signs of longer term side effects (insulin resistance etc) but these cannot be directly attributed to the drug and could be age and stress related. They can be managed through lifestyle.

Side effects where rough initially. Very nauseous and my anxiety got worse on some days during the first month. Not all but there where times I struggled. I was prescribed anti sickness and diazepam to get me through the tough days.

It's the best one for me and I am now stable.

IamSamantha · 09/11/2022 01:51

My advice is take it at night to start with to sleep through the side effects. After a month begin to move it to morning.

grateful3 · 08/01/2024 13:58

I’m nearly 3 weeks into taking 50mg of sertraline. I’ve had a few good days but today I’m very anxious again. Is this normal and will things improve? Thank you

henrysugar12 · 10/01/2024 16:40

grateful3 · 08/01/2024 13:58

I’m nearly 3 weeks into taking 50mg of sertraline. I’ve had a few good days but today I’m very anxious again. Is this normal and will things improve? Thank you

Maybe. But speak to your GP, they may adjust the dose.

CeriB82 · 10/01/2024 17:54

Im on day 3 starting with 25mg for 6 days then 50mg.

im a miserable bitch, sad, feeling lonely. Crying wreck because of the menopause.

i saw my GP and before i spoke i was a blubbering wreck😂

shes 50 and knew where I was coming from.

too early to say but no side effects

CeriB82 · 10/01/2024 17:55

grateful3 · 08/01/2024 13:58

I’m nearly 3 weeks into taking 50mg of sertraline. I’ve had a few good days but today I’m very anxious again. Is this normal and will things improve? Thank you

My daughter is on 100 and took 8 weeks to turn the corner.

treeinthedistance · 10/01/2024 18:12

@Sarah13xx I drink with Sertraline without any issues. At least a couple of glasses a week, at Christmas it was a bottle of wine with Xmas dinner. I wouldn't do it while you're still adjusting to them, but once I was settled, it was fine.

Jillybean48 · 25/09/2024 14:11

I've been on 100mg for 6 weeks now, anxiety still bad, when will I see an improvement?

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