Sertraline concerns

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AIBU to ask to hear from people who have gone on sertraline. My good friend has just been prescribed it as going through the year from hell but won’t take it as she’s scared it will make symptoms worse.

I have read the packaging with her and sympathise with her concerns. Can people share with us what it was like to go in sertraline and whether it made anxiety better or worse.

I have had two periods of being on sertraline. Both times have helped me get out of the anxious cycle I was in. I’ve not been on it for 18months now but wouldn’t hesitate going back if I needed to. Both times I started taking it, I had a rough two weeks where things did get worse while my body got used to the medication. Then it was better. Easier to get through that two weeks the second time round as I knew it was only temporary

Sertraline was pretty bad for about two weeks. I was really dizzy and tired all the time, and for some reason had really bad heartburn. At about the two week mark, I woke up one morning feeling amazing. Buckets of energy, really excited to be out and about. It was definitely worth it for me, but those first couple of weeks were a bit rough.

Sertraline has been a lifesaver for me. The initial weeks on it are sometimes a bit hard but this is outweighed by the end result. Anxiety completely controlled, fire in head extinguished, being able to rationalise. Your friend can feel so much better than she does now. Take the meds!

I echo what @alsebsaid. It has been life changing for me. I felt utterly hopeless when I started taking it but within a week had felt an up kick in my mood. The only negatives I have experienced was urgent, loose stools for the first few weeks and I now can’t seem to eat raw onions without getting a migraine, which Dr Google tells me is linked to taking Sertraline 🤷🏻‍♀️

I felt sick for the first couple of weeks But apart from that it has been amazing. Life changing/saving.

Is it normal to still have occasional panic attacks on antidepressants? or should the medication stop them completely? And how quickly?

I won't try an SSRI again.
I tried Citalopram and it made me severely anxious immediately. Sertraline gave me insomnia and diarrhea.
I also didn't want to lose my sex drive or suffer from anorgasmia, which is common.

I'm now on Mirtazipine, which is a different category of antidepressant. Its suiting me really well and no side effects at all so far, 6 weeks in.

I’ve been on sertraline for about two months and recently increased the dose. It took about six weeks to work at all but it has helped, its not a magic pill - I still get anxious - but its less. I had no side effects at all.

I went on it for anxiety and panic attacks, the 2 weeks mentioned were horrific for me.

I stuck it out and gave it a year, didn’t work for me unfortunately.

the best thing I have ever done, has saved me and my family xx

I also hesitated to start taking it but so glad I finally did. I felt much better pretty quickly. Discovered taking it in the morning was best.

I don’t get panic attacks with Sertraline
I do sometimes have the odd pang of anxiety but this is a normal human reaction, everyone does but it doesn’t become terrifying and all consuming. I was on Mirtazapine. I put on weight with it and was zombie like.

The only anxiety I have on Sertraline is the thought of coming off it. It makes me 'me' again, not a panic-stricken, tearful wreck.

your friend has probably been given 50mg tablets. For a gentler start up, she would be better to split the tablet in half and take 25mg for a week, then increase to the 50mg. It minimises the start up effects as 50mg knocks your socks off. It’s a life saver, Im now on it for life or until such time as it doesn’t work anymore. I’ve been on and off it for years.

tell your friend to never take it on an empty stomach and to take it with plenty of water as if not, it can give the worst heartburn. Taking it right before you go to sleep can mean you sleep through the worst of the start up effects, but if it keeps them awake, then take in the morning.

It is scary, doing anything for the first time, but sertraline can work absolute wonders.

It has been absolutely worth it for me - despite a full month of horrendous side effects (dizziness, extreme fatigue and nausea). It's worth it experimenting with taking in morning or in evening - I found that taking before bed works best for me. I feel normal now for the first time in months.

All medication can potentially have side effects, including every day things like paracetamol. All SSRIs take a few weeks to start working and most have some relatively minor side effects at first. All can make you feel a bit agitated at first but it calms down soon.

I've been on Sertraline for six years. I felt nauseous for the first couple of weeks and after that, zero side effects. It has helped me tremendously and there is no reason to be worried about taking it.

Sertraline has allowed me to live a life again. I was in such a bad way I couldn't leave the sofa for months on end. Sertraline turned down all the anxious, negative thoughts and I could literally breathe again.

Honestly I was lucky as I didn't get any side effects other than a bit of dizziness. I would suggest you increase and decrease very slowly, my GP suggested halving and quartering the starting dose and taking each increment for 1 or 2 weeks before jumping up to the next dose which I think really helped.
Also I was prescribed diazepam to only use incase starting the medication got bad, or I wanted to do something very anxiety inducting so that might be an option?

Honestly it has allowed me to live a life again, I work, go out, go on holiday and am a useful member of society again. I am very happy to stay on it forever tbh.

Thank you I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences

My son (15) has been on it since he was 9 (severe OCD autism-related). No side effects.

Next time you take a painkiller read the packaging.

I was on it for severe panic and anxiety. Very normal to have these reservations, I had them too. The first week was a bit wobbly - didn't make anything worse but felt a bit spacey. After that I felt great. Calm and back in control.

I've been on the maximum dose for a decade, having previously had every SSRI in the BNF. I'm still here, so it must do something.

The withdrawal can be a bit brutal, hence the term 'sertraline zaps'.

I had a rough first two weeks, I persevered and honestly it's saved my life. I was in such a bad place and now I'm a person that I don't recogise. I would go through the first two weeks all over again just to get in the place I am now.