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Original poster

To ask for your experiences (sertraline)

53 replies

Emmylou292 · 23/09/2020 09:50

My doctor has prescribed sertraline for my severe anxiety, panic attacks and feeling low in general.
I'm experiencing scary panic attacks most days and my worries are getting out of proportion.
The problem is I have read the list of possible side effects and scared myself silly.
The only person I have chatted to who has been on this had a negative experience (which is also making me afraid to take them).
It's really hard because each day is a living nightmare (depression/ panic attacks) and I just want to feel normal again.
I can't actually remember what it feels like not to have this big black cloud hanging over me.
Please can anyone tell me your experiences of sertraline - good or bad?
What was it like for you? Did you experience any of the side effects mentioned? (I'm most worried about the visual disturbances mentioned).

OP posts:
Ellsbells12 · 23/09/2020 09:51

Mine has been good I won't lie you will feel worse for around 4-6 weeks maybe less but once they kick in that will help x

Thecathouse · 23/09/2020 09:54

It’s a lifesaver honestly

I didn’t read the side effects, I got my fiancé to read them so I could tell him if I was experiencing anything and he could tell me no that’s just your mind

But I honestly had no side effects and things feel so much easier on them

Hobnobsandbroomstick · 23/09/2020 10:00

Not me personally, my friend takes it and says it's helpful, but it did make her anxiety worse for about 3 weeks, which she wasn't expecting but apparently it can happen.

Purplecatshopaholic · 23/09/2020 10:05

It was/is a lifesaver for me. However, yes, the bedding in period was tough, I have to be honest. I had three weeks of feeling worse before I felt better - BUT it is worth it and I would defo try and hang in there

user1471565182 · 23/09/2020 10:14

Whatever you do have it with loads of water. Ive spent all morning dying of heartburn because of taking it dry.

contrmary · 23/09/2020 10:56

This topic comes up surprisingly often on here which I suppose shows how commonly prescribed this drug is.

Personally I have found Sertraline to be perfectly fine. No sudden changes to personality, just a gradual improvement in mood over the space of 3 months or so. I am on 200mg/day, my doctor tried reducing it but the adverse effect on mood was very obvious. I haven't had any side effects.

Don't expect it to be a revolution. For me it was a slight change over time. Nothing sudden or dramatic.

The best way I can illustrate it is, before I took it I felt like a stone in water, forever sinking deeper. Now I've been on it for several years I feel like a cork, bobbling along just under the surface.

mynameiscalypso · 23/09/2020 11:02

I've been on many different ADs and I always come back to sertraline as it's the most effective for me with the least side effects. I only really have side effects when my dose goes up beyond the maximum (under medical supervision of course) and then I get a bit of a dodgy tummy but up to 200mg, nothing bad at all and it definitely helps a lot.

undercoverhero74 · 23/09/2020 11:06

I was prescribed 50mg after a bout of PND. The first three weeks of taking them were awful! I felt so much worse but after that period things improved and I have never felt better. If you can stick with it, it will be worth it I assure you.
I do agree with a previous poster that you need to take them with a lot of water. If you don't the heartburn is horrendous.
I hope you start feeling better soon 😊

Spied · 23/09/2020 11:09

Like you, I read the side effects and refused to take it. I'm actually much better now ( CBT and emdr) but a friend of mine takes it and says she's been fine, that she'd rather give it a go as any side effects would be preferable to how she was feeling at the time. If she could cope with daily panic and it's symptoms then she would cope with the Sertraline.

daisy46 · 23/09/2020 11:10

It saved my life and I'm thankful for it every day. I was agoraphobic and had terrible panic attacks and the combination of sertraline and CBT brought me back to normal.

I had a few side effects at the beginning (vivid dreams/headaches/etc), but they all went away eventually.

ChocoholicMama · 23/09/2020 11:15

Amazing. I found the first few months I did have a few side effects but I was just aware it's normal and didn't allow myself to overthink it and it was fine. Most settled down after a few months and all side effects had settled down after six months. The first two weeks were rather rough adjusting to the tablets, even on the starter dose, and it felt like I had a virus for those two weeks. But it is 1000% worth it! Once I'm settled on it, the only difference is that my health anxiety and general anxiety is at a much lower level and easily manageable, and I'm generally in a better mood with far far more patience to cope with a very demanding toddler.

Bentoforthehorde · 23/09/2020 11:18

I take 100mg sertraline a day, first couple of weeks were a bit rough. Felt stoned (laughed at a light bulb for several minutes once I remember) exhausted, hungover maybe. But so worth it.
Been taking it for 2 or 3 years.

I'm now taking mirtazapine as well for night time anxiety/stress and that absolutely wipes me out.

Ihatefish · 23/09/2020 11:20

My DH once took it and it messed up his sleep, couldn’t sleep at night and slept all day.

No tablets suit me, I’m always the one with side effects so I really didn’t want to try any AD and I had CBT and psychotherapy to overcome ptsd and associated depression which worked for me.

PaxMalmKallax · 23/09/2020 11:21

I take 50mg a day, have been for about 18 months and they’ve kept me on an even keel. Can’t remember the last time I had a panic attack or felt burdened by worry. I resisted meds for years until my GP convinced me to try them and I’m so glad she did.

catgirl1976 · 23/09/2020 11:22

DH started on this about 5 weeks ago. The first two weeks were horrendous. His anxiety was off the scale and he had full panic attacks and described as being in hell. It was terrifying.

However, he stuck with it and 5 weeks on he is fine and the adverse side affects have gone and it is really helping him.

His GP did tell him (and I have no idea how true this is) that they found people who had the worse adverse effects in the beginning seemed to get the most benefit.

Good luck but don't be scared to go back to your GP and let them know if it gets too much.

perfumeistooexpensive · 23/09/2020 11:22

It's been a life changer for me. It takes a few weeks to work. No side effects. Why wouldn't you at least try it for a couple of months? It really makes a difference.

mynameiscalypso · 23/09/2020 11:45

I also think that if you look at the potential side effects of any medication - paracetamol, hayfever meds etc - they all seem terrifying whereas, for the very vast majority of people, there are no effects and, if there are any, the positives of the meds outweigh the downsides.

Mammylamb · 23/09/2020 18:29

@user1471565182. Eat a couple of apples. That will help

Ellsbells12 · 23/09/2020 20:15

@contrmary

This topic comes up surprisingly often on here which I suppose shows how commonly prescribed this drug is.

Personally I have found Sertraline to be perfectly fine. No sudden changes to personality, just a gradual improvement in mood over the space of 3 months or so. I am on 200mg/day, my doctor tried reducing it but the adverse effect on mood was very obvious. I haven't had any side effects.

Don't expect it to be a revolution. For me it was a slight change over time. Nothing sudden or dramatic.

The best way I can illustrate it is, before I took it I felt like a stone in water, forever sinking deeper. Now I've been on it for several years I feel like a cork, bobbling along just under the surface.

Did you notice a difference between 150 to 200?
ShelbyCherryBlossom · 23/09/2020 20:21

I've taken many mental health meds and sertraline is one of the good ones imo. I think the PP that described it as a cork on water fits perfectly. It just alleviates that heavy weight of anxiety and low mood. I've experienced side effects but I'm quite sensitive! It's worth it though without a doubt. Hoping you feel better soon.

KimonoKim · 23/09/2020 20:25

My anxiety was crippling me. I've been taking Sertraline for 2 years and it's the best thing I ever did.

EL8888 · 23/09/2020 20:30

Meh didn’t do much for me. I felt less irritable but made little impact on my depression or anxiety. I persevered for a few months. The side effects of sweating excessively, sexual dysfunction and weight gain made me stop.

I was naughty and stopped dead one day. A week later I thought l had the flu and could barely walk. I’m still foggy headed and dizzy with some queasiness

Oly4 · 23/09/2020 20:33

First two/three weeks the anxiety and depression got worse, then things got so much better. Stick with it if you can

JollyGiraffe12 · 23/09/2020 20:36

Felt worse initially also very nauseous. I take 100 a day and have done for about a year now. It doesn’t change your personality or your life dramatically it just gives me a better grip on myself and keeps me that bit calmer. I’m still a natural shy person with a tendency to overthink but I’m no longer in a constant state of panic.

CSIblonde · 23/09/2020 20:42

It works fine for me. Kicks in quickly, no side effects. Fluoxetine gave me sweaty palms & weird spacey,whooshing feeling in my head .