Prescribed sertraline for anxiety

[Dawnelaine67]

I had covid before Christmas which left me with bad anxiety. I have done hypnotherapy which has helped alot but l wake up most mornings with a nervous tummy and feeling anxious. My GP has just prescribed me 25mg sertraline which l am really worried about starting. I was prescribed 20mg citalopram a few months ago and had a really bad reaction to it so l discontinued them now l am worried about sertraline, l have read so many bad reviews please help! I need to this anxiety sorted

I'm certain almost everyone will tell you 25mg is a tiny dose, it's safe for a 6 year old. Please don't worry about it.

Take the Sertraline and after a few weeks you won't worry about it so much (personal experience)

Both my adult DC have taken it. DS1 is now on Escitalopram because it works better for him, but DS2 is on Sertraline and says it has made a massive difference to him.

Just because Citalopram didn't work for you and made you worse that doesn't mean Sertraline will. This isn't an exact science because we are all different and respond differently to medication. Finding the right one is transformative.

Can I ask what sort of age you are? Any chance you could be perimenopause? If yes, HRT might help with anxiety symptoms.

I am 57 so l maybe post menopause now

OK, wanted to ask in case this was a new symptom in the mix of potential peri symptoms.

I think it is worth trying it for a few weeks. It's might not be same as citalopram, you might get on with it better. Have you got a quiet few weeks soon where you can take it and see what the side effects are like, without impacting your life too much?
I hear you, that you want this anxiety under control.

I am going away next Friday for a long weekend so l was thinking it might be better to start it after that just incase

Sounds like a very sensible plan. All the best.

I've been on sertraline 8 months. I think it's amazing. First week was tough but now I feel level and in control of my feelings

I've been on it two months after crippling anxiety, it's really helped me. I was on 50mg. First weekish I had bad headaches and felt really wired/spaced out but that settled and now feel normal, just less anxious.

Same here. I've tried a few but Sertraline has been exceptional for anxiety. I lost a parent after years of caring for them and 6 months on I still haven't cried. I'm not sure how I feel about that as it's so abnormal for me to be so unemotional but at long last I feel like I've got a grip on my emotions. Stick with it for at least 2 weeks OP. I started on 25mg have stuck at 50mg. Good luck!

So sorry to hear about your loss, l totally sympathize as l lost both my parents and mother in law in a short space of time and l nursed all of them til the end. My thoughts are with you x

Medications are a band aid. Find a good psychotherapist and get the emotional wounds tended to properly, so you can heal fully.

I’ve been on 50mg for a little while now. I went to the GP with what I thought were peri symptoms, but I was also suffering anxiety too.

it’s been brilliant! I just don’t care about stuff now, at all. I have lost a little enthusiasm for some things that I liked before because of that, but the bigger picture is so much better and I also don’t care about it!

What was it like when you first took it

I'm on 100mg of sertraline, started on 50mg. As others have said 25mg is a small dose to begin with.

Educate yourself about poly vagal theory and really understand how the nervous system works. I'm not anti medication at all, but alongside meds we really need to learn how to regulate this incredible body of ours.

Sometimes you need a band aid so you can carry on functioning though and be able to look at your problems from a stronger position

Mrs Clownland is correct.