Sertraline. Yes or no

[johnlennonsglasses]

Posting for traffic... sorry!
I'm looking for some advice.
I had an ectopic pregnancy just ver 2 years ago. It was pretty awful and not an experience I'd wish on anyone.
After the surgery / recovery, I just got up and got on with life. Didn't really deal with it. I've got 2 DC and DH and I both work FT, so I was easier to just keep going if that makes sense.

For the past 2 years I've been really up and down. Awful anxiety. Snappy, withdrawn, cloudy thought process, making mistakes in work an very very forgetful.
I'm tired of feeling this way so I went to GP on Wednesday and she has told me that I'm suffering from post traumatic stress. She prescribed sertraline and referred me for counselling.

I'm really torn on whether to take it. I'm scared of the side effects and scared that it will de-sensitise my real feelings.

AIBU to ask for your thoughts and experiences? Thanks in advance!

They changed my life, I couldn't function with my anxiety. The initial side effects were awful but give them 2 weeks to work and it'll be worth it. I did find they dulled the top end of my emotions as well as the low but totally worth it to not feel so bloody awful all the time.

I'm now off them and able to regulate emotions a lot better but I wouldn't hesitate to take them again if needed.

OP, so glad that other people's experiences have encouraged you to try. I'd like to add - keep going even if you get a lot of side effects to start with. I had a terrible few weeks when I started (mainly nausea, dry mouth, and jaw clenching) but those have all faded significantly as my brain got used to things. Also, if you have the side effects it's a good sign that the sertraline will be effective for what you're actually talking it for!

It works for me. I felt nauseous for the first couple of weeks (but did with anxiety anyway!).

I take mine at night as it knocks me out a bit so that works better for me - did make me have some very vivid dreams to start with.

I started on it 2 weeks ago and I could have written this post. But honestly OP it's wonderful, made such a huge difference to me just in this short space of time. It's natural to be apprehensive but you will feel better.

Glad to hear everyone's positive experiences, there is so much out there negatively about antidepressants but they are life savers that turn peoples lives back round. as others say if you are diabetic or asthmatic generally you take the medications recommended without querying. If a Dr is recommending something it is because they think taking it will be better for you than not. Hope it works for you

I tried it and it was great, mood really lifted. However I've come out in really bad bruising all over so going back into doctors for a review and think I'll have to try something else which is annoying. I was nervous but once I'd got the courage to start was pleased - was also worried about feeling numb but I jsut felt less despairing if that makes sense!

It warms my cockles how far the world has come when it comes to talking about MH drugs.

Sertraline will hopefully give you enough emotional regulation to allow you to engage in therapy fully and get something from it. It's one of those things that you get out of it what you put in so you need that pharmaceutical support sometimes

I’ve been on it twice now, this is the second time which I started a couple of weeks ago. Felt a bit sick in the first week but it’s eased. I suffer terrible anxiety and I find it takes the edge off and also makes me more calm and less snappy. Be warned to take it with plenty of water though as if I only take it with a small sip of water it gives me heartburn like I’ve never known before!!

It's worked well for me. Just be aware, it made me feel quite sick for the first week or so. Just power through, and you should hopefully start seeing the benefits.
And we'll done for getting the help.

@BottleBeach sure come on in and join the party lol! The more the merrier!
I've been in work since 8 and popped my first one with my breakfast.
Hearing so many of your positive stories and words of support have really encouraged me. Thank you.
I feel empowered to take this on and win... you've all helped me with that!
I'll check in to keep you updated on progress. Those of you who are also starting / have recently started sertraline, please do the same. We can help each other x

Yes OP, to start off with the side effects are horrific so please try and stick with it because so worth it when they kick in.

Yup another positive response here also. Like the previous posters said life saver. Please persevere with side effects, will be worth it. Hardly anything with me a little hot flush first couple weeks.

I love Sertraline, it saved me from the depths of PND and cured the social anxiety and OCD I've struggled with all my life.

It hasn't dulled my emotions or affected my ability to focus.

It can take up to 4 weeks to feel the full benefit. I had some initial nausea and feeling a bit hyper with blurred vision but it wore off after the first month.

150mg sertraline here and it works wonders for me.
I still feel normal feelings, but I am so much more level headed!!

ADs work in different ways for everyone, so don't be disheartened if this one doesn't work for you. It's taken me a couple of years to get the right medication and dose, but it's so worth the wait

Setraline also saved me from the depths of pnd, and has changed my life. I have twins, and whilst I could deal with the day to day stuff of having babies, I wasn’t feeling anything positive and was utterly overwhelmed with anxiety. It works wonderfully for me, and within a couple of weeks it was like the world was in colour again, and although I knew I loved my babies I could actually feel it - it hit me like a ton of bricks!

I’ve been on it for about a year, at the worst point I was on the highest dose allowed, and am now on 100mg and have been for a few months now. I used to be so against ads (for me personally) and looking back I can’t believe I allowed myself to suffer so much.

I was on Setraline for a year, due to feeling overwhelmed with challenging life experiences. It helped me a lot, it meant I was able to fully participate in the counselling I was also offered. I had no problems when I came off it, probably best not to follow my example though. I started reducing it ( with doctor’s help) then got a virus, felt so rubbish with the illness that I decided to just stop the Sertraline ( without doctor’s help) and deal with any withdrawal problems at the same time. By the time the virus passed, about 2 weeks with little apparent withdrawal symptoms I was totally fine and have carried on with my life. If I ever needed to in the future I would totally take Sertraline again.

I had every side effect on the leaflet, badly. After two weeks they went and i felt so much better. Anxiety is minimal. They literally saved my life. So, take them. They're medicine and take a while to work

My husband has been on sertraline for a couple of years now and he has been on other similar drugs . I think sertraline has been the best one and hasn't changed his personality at all so I would say it's working for him .

I would take it. My son was going through hell with PTSD and depression/anxiety.
He had 4 months off work and was prescribed it.
He s now so much better he s back at work and happy in himself and has reduced the dose.
One thing i will warn you about is for the first 2 weeks it can make you feel worse before you feel better and cause insomnia so see GP again if it happens to you.

I was put on sertraline and propanolol after a MMC and it's the best decision I've ever made

I would recommend it.

Though for me it only worked for about 18 months. After 18 months, going through a bad time at work the doctors increased the dose. It didnt help. Then a couple of months later I was suffering with headaches so bad I was admitted to hospital. I was tested for a stroke it was so bad. I couldn't even move my head. I has a lumber puncture and scans etc.

It was finally determined to be severe tension headaches because of my anxiety and depression. Please note it wasnr the sertraline, I am nor saying sertraline caused mark be so ill. It just stopped working and my body couldn't cope with pressure I was under. Deep down I knew I needed to ho back to the doctors again, but kept putting it off incase they changed my medication. I should have just gone.

I am now on a different one and doing well again.

That said, I would recommend it. But i would just keep an eye out for you outside symptoms returning and see a doctor. Dont put it off, like I did.

Thanks everyone

Another one here who suffered with anxiety and depression for well over 10 years before finally breaking down, going to the doctor's and starting on sertraline. Best thing I ever did! Don't forget though OP that it's not a one size fits all when it comes to these sorts of drugs, so if it doesn't suit for whatever reason do go back to your doctor and ask to try an alternative. Good luck

Hello AlunWynsKnee I am so surprised that your doctor prescribed sertraline for a 12 year old. My 17yr old suffers with social phobia/panic attacks, to the point he could not physically bring himself to start college, and when I asked if he might try ADs his doctor practically laughed in my face. Thankfully my DS seems to be gradually improving slightly without medication, but I am just wondering what it takes for an under 18yr old to be prescribed an SSRI drug?

Definitely take it - if you end up with nausea you could ask your GP if you could have something for that for a couple of weeks to tide you over - I take a different AD which causes bad nausea and have metroclopramide to take if it is too bad.