Sertraline 14 days positive stories please

Francis24 · 2025-04-23T12:25:15+00:00

How long before sertraline made you start to feel better depression? I've been taking it 14 days 25mg positive stories please

Hillsmakeyoustrong · 23/04/2025 13:28

Hi 👋 I started on 25mg like you, for a few days, but it was when I went up to the normal dose of 50mg that I felt better, maybe after 2 or 3 weeks. Initially I felt seasick and like I was wearing a really tight swimming cap but one day I woke up and the side effects had gone.

Best thing I ever did. I've been on them 5 years now.

Dotjones · 23/04/2025 13:31

People noticed the change in me after three or four weeks. I didn't really feel any different but other people saw the improvement, people commented on it who didn't know I was taking it.

You might find like me that the dose needs to be increased before you feel a difference yourself. This is normal, doctors start you off slowly and build up to the level you need. It was particularly noticeable when I went up to 50mg, not noticeable when I then went up to 100mg, but noticeable again when I went to 200mg.

It's not a "quick fix" drug in that it takes time to build up in your system and doesn't bring on a sudden dramatic change to your personality or thinking behaviours. But that's also a benefit, it doesn't feel like you're "drugged" or anything, which some antidepressants can do.

Stick with it.

vincettenoir · 23/04/2025 13:32

I started on 50 and it worked for me literally from day one. I don’t think it can actually take effect that soon so it may have been a bit of a placebo effect at the start. I hope things turn a corner soon. Hopefully in a week or two you might just suddenly notice the difference. Good luck,

Original poster

Francis24 · 23/04/2025 13:36

Thanks all for your responses. I've been in 25mg and the doctor mentioned it is a low therapeutic dose so that's maybe why I'm not feeling the relief yet? Also it's only been 14 days

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Milly16 · 23/04/2025 13:40

Changed DPs life but took time to grt the dosage right. He's on a much higher dose than that. Hang on in there. Also, sadly it can trigger suicidal feelings in the first few weeks. If that's you, please let your doctor and people around you know asap

Original poster

Francis24 · 23/04/2025 13:46

I have my mum and partner with me nearly all of the time. I do think I have felt more depressed but I've read your can get worse before better. I'm at my GP tomorrow I'm think she may up to 50

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MrsPositivity1 · 23/04/2025 14:33

Sertraline changed my life but it took about a month to kick in. I just woke up one morning feeling alive again

loveyouradvice · 23/04/2025 14:36

Doctors are always cautious and say it takes 4-6 weeks to kick in - different people react differently.

For me, I noticed no difference at 6 weeks. They then upped my dose moderately (and I wasn't optimistic) - Lo and behold at exactly 5.5 weeks from the increase, I woke up feeling very different and the effect has continued since.

Original poster

Francis24 · 23/04/2025 14:47

What does is everyone on?

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Original poster

Francis24 · 23/04/2025 15:11

I meant what dose?

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Original poster

Francis24 · 25/04/2025 10:58

Hello, I've just upped from 25mg to 50mg as my GP Said 25mg is such a low dose and I would feel the benefits I need. I told her I feel so low still. Any experience going from 25 to 50mg positive stories please

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Hillsmakeyoustrong · 25/04/2025 22:20

That is good news OP. When I hit 50mg I felt the benefits hut my SIL had to increase even further. Its very individual. Keep us posted and good luck x

MarxistMags · 25/04/2025 22:32

It was 3 weeks and I woke up and it was as though a weight (literally) had been lifted from my shoulders.
I still take them, 10 years now. No one has asked me if I want to stop and I'd be wary of doing so now. 50mg.

Choccy11 · 25/04/2025 22:46

I started on 25mg for a few days then up to 50mg. I may have been lucky but I had no side effects and after 2 weeks I realised I no longer felt like I had a gun to my head. Still on 50mg years later.

Moomoo75 · 25/04/2025 22:58

When do you take your dose? I take mine at night as I was warned I could feel drowsy. I start work v early and was afraid if that happening. But how do others find it? I started on 50 and was upped to 100.

Jumpingthruhoops · 26/04/2025 02:05

For me, five months at 150mg and I was back to normal(-ish)...

FishyMcFishyfingersFace · 26/04/2025 04:10

It really does depend on the individual taking it for how well it works.

Unfortunately for me it hasn't helped hugely, have been on it over a year and am on 200mg a day. It is better for me than the previous 2 kinds of antidepressants I have tried though. What has been better for me is quetiapine, but that had to be upped to 300mg (150mg twice a day) to have a noticeable effect. (I have a meds review next week and will see what the doctor does with the medication.)

Just give it time and make sure you go to your GP or other suitable health professional if you have undesired side effects.

beachcitygirl · 26/04/2025 04:11

I’m on 100 mg - it’s keeping me alive. Hang on in there if you can.

whatisforteamum · 26/04/2025 06:59

Following as I have SAD so feel ok in the spring summer but dreadful in the winter.
I want to take them but dreas the side effects.

Devonmaid1844 · 26/04/2025 07:25

For all the people who have been taking it for years can I ask are you very forgetful on it? I've been put on sertraline for other hormonal issues but I've found I've become extremely forgetful on it and I'm now about 2 months in. So all of the other side effects have subsided but this seems to be sticking around

Skade · 26/04/2025 07:29

I’m on 50mg and definitely remember starting to feel better after 3/4 weeks. I tried going up to 100mg but lost the ability to orgasm (libido was not affected!) almost overnight which I couldn’t tolerate, so went back down to 50mg which seems to be the sweet spot for me.

Hillsmakeyoustrong · 26/04/2025 08:10

@Moomoo75 i take mine around the kids dinner time (so 6ish) and find im less tired in the day. I took it at night at first so I'd sleep through the side effects but the Dr said to take it in the morning going forward. I was feeling more tired than usual after lunch (and would sometimes nap) but that is much less now I'm taking it late afternoon.

@Devonmaid1844 I am forgetful but always have been dippy so it's hard to tell. Also, peri and menopause definitely muddy the waters as forgetfulness is a very common symptom.

Original poster

Francis24 · 26/04/2025 08:21

Thanks everyone. The doctor said it may be 2 weeks from starting 50mg. She kind of dismissed these last two weeks on 25mg. Did anyone get extra side effects going up a dose?

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Original poster

Francis24 · 26/04/2025 08:23

Moomoo75 · 25/04/2025 22:58

When do you take your dose? I take mine at night as I was warned I could feel drowsy. I start work v early and was afraid if that happening. But how do others find it? I started on 50 and was upped to 100.

I take mine in the morning as I've not been able to sleep at all. I do feel drowsy in the daytime though I was hoping that would wear off?

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FarmGirl78 · 26/04/2025 08:40

Issues with sleep is typically only temporary, it might get worse for a bit as that's a phase of recovery. In a phase of anxiety/depression your body expends tremendous amounts of energy in dealing with that, then when you start to come out of that your body catches up with itself so you might find you soon hit a patch of complete exhaustion.

25mg isn't actually considered a therapeutic dose, ie it's too low to usual do anything. It's just a "weaning on" dose to deal with any side effects gradually and check you cope ok with it. 50mg would be the standard minimum so you'll soon start to see improvements. I'd say another 10 days hopefully for noticeable tangible results. Hang in there, it'll get better.

At very most you might get a bit of gastro issues like heart burn or indigestion, vivid dreams and small sleep issues, but these will pass.