Been given a prescription for Sertraline but scared to take them!

[RhodaCamel]

I know I am BU for not wanting to at least try them.
I’ve had overwhelming anxiety and IBS for many years but it’s been really bad the last couple of years, To the point it’s all I ever think or talk about!
I eat well, don’t smoke, drink or take any kind of drugs. I exercise. I’ve tried CBT, counselling, hypnotherapy, relaxation methods etc, etc but nothing non-prescriptive has helped make a dent in this all consuming anxiety and the physical aspects which come with it.
I’ve always said no to antidepressants as tbh I am so scared it will make my physical symptoms worse and I can only just about get on with my day with the symptoms I already have, I really can’t afford to have any more.
I’m scared they will give me an upset stomach or make my IBS worse (I have bad health anxiety) scared they will give me headaches, scared they’ll make my anxiety worse or leave me feel depersonalised and most of all I’m scared I’ll put on weight, vain I know but I have read stories of people putting on 3 or 4 stone (I know that this would make me miserable!).
I know we are all different and respond to meds differently but any experiences of Sertraline or any antidepressants (good or bad) would be most welcome.

I've been on Sertraline for 6 weeks, was also very nervous to start them and put it off for a few weeks as I was worried about side effects. I split my tablets in half for the first few days. My only side effects were slightly reduced appetite and difficulty getting to sleep. I'm taking it for depression. I've had IBS in the past and know how hard it is. If the sertraline helps deal with the anxiety hopefully it will help with the IBS. Good luck. I'm so pleased I started them, they've made me feel so much better and wish I'd started soon.

I have been on Tricyclics for years and was on a break when GP suggested I try something new.
Perhaps that’s why I was prescribed them again as I know they work for my depression.
The side effect is constipation though

I have been taking sertraline for approximately six months now: the first tablet I took, I felt kind of spaced, a little woozy. I also found it difficult to sleep that night. I don’t know if it was because I had taken the tablet mid afternoon – I now take them at 9 o’clock on the morning and have had no problems since. I had no Lucy feelings after the first tablet, I sleep fine, and in fact I feel like myself, only without the crazy anxiety that was crippling me. No headaches, no problems, no side-effects whatsoever. No weight gain, either. I am so so glad I started taking them. I presume your doctor is monitoring you, and has advised you to return in a month? I saw my doctor after each month, to check over whether they were suitable. If you are having any issues at all, go back and see your doctor and try something else. Don’t give up – these tablets have been a life changer for me.

• Lucy feelings = woozy!!! No idea who Lucy is!

I’ve been on these 3 months and they have helped me rationalise things and cope a lot better. The first 2 weeks I felt a bit sick so took them at bedtime as it was easier to cope with but then that went and I’ve no problems with them. Took about 2 to 3 weeks to feel the effects but I am happier with these than others I’ve had in the past. They haven’t affected my IBS.

My daughter is on them. She's much much less anxious now and happier than before. Life got better for the whole family which took more stress of everyone. Virtuous spiral. The happier she became the easier she was to live with and the easier she found it to live with us.... etc.

I've tried most anti d's and sertraline has been the best. Only side effect is I'm a bit thirsty/dry mouthed. I've not gained weight, my anxiety is massively better & I feel like a different person. The others I tried gave me hot sweats & headaches.

I’d take it if I was you. I started taking sertraline a year after being diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis and it didn’t affect my bowels but did make me feel very sick for the first week. Was on 50mg for 18 months and was doing ok but the last few months have been a nightmare and dose put up to 150mg. Dr trying really hard to get counselling referral accepted but seems like there’s not enough funding for them where I am. Hope you find some relief from taking them x

I refused to take any for 15yrs, when I did finally start it was life changing, I so regret not doing it earlier. I'm on fluoxetine (still an SSRI)

I'm on sertraline no weight gain. In fact I've lost some. TBH even if I'd put on weight I'd stay on it because of the difference in the way I feel

All I can say is try them, if they don't work for you then you can always try a different one which may fit you better.

I started taking them on October 21st of last year, four months on I can now see that I had been mentally ill and struggling to cope since I was about 15. I thought all those negative thoughts and feelings were how I, and everyone else was supposed to feel but I was wrong. Sertraline has given me a life that I didn't know I wasn't having.

The first two weeks weren't great to be honest and I seemed to get every side effect I could possibly get but I powered through the heightened anxiety and insomnia. After three weeks those things lifted completely and I was a new person, even my partner says I have been transformed.

The only time they don't work as well is the day before and a few days after getting my period. My intrusive thoughts and pure OCD symptoms return albeit to a lesser, more manageable,extent.

To actually feel excitement about my day when I wake up instead of an all consuming doom that I can't put my finger on and can't seem to shift, really is the most liberating feeling.

Feel free to PM me if you get any side effects you are worried about, I'm fairly sure I've experienced most of them.
😁😁😁
Good luck 🍀

Just to add, I've had no weight gain on them at all 😊😊😊

I have had sertraline sitting in my medicine cabinet for the last 6 months. Completely terrified to take the first one...
Reading this thread I think I might just bite the bullet.
Thanks everyone.

Thank you everyone for your input. It’s good to see that the majority have had positive experiences with them. I just need to bite the bullet and do it. I wish I had some annual leave left so I could take some time off work, I drive a disabled lady so can’t afford to feel woozy or light headed!