Will sertraline work? When?!

[Pelvicpaininthebum]

I've been having anxiety attacks and panic attacks.

I started Sertraline 11 days ago at 25mg and then went up to 50mg 4 days ago.

I feel my anxiety is worse if anything. I've got constant low level anxiety and am so worn out from it. I'm waking early and feeling panicky.

Will the sertraline end up working? I feel so desperate for it to.

From my experience and from the advice of my GP in the past, you can sometimes feel worse temporarily before you start to feel better. But obviously this will vary from person to person.
Once it was in my system, I felt a lot better.
Maybe have a chat with your GP for some advice.
Sending you lots of love, and hope you feel better soon. Look after yourself xxx

I just started on this, day 3 of 50mg.

I've had constant anxiety, two bouts of heartburn and I couldn't sleep well.

All really common in the first 4 weeks.

Apparently having these side affects (maybe not the heartburn...) are a positive sign that it'll work well once it kicks in.

Just got to ride through this bit!

Morning!

Yes it will settle and level out. It’s well known that Sertraline makes symptoms worse before they improve - pretty crap, I know.

Just keep reminding yourself that it’s all progress, even on the days where it feels anything but.

Also, give yourself time between each dosage increase. I’m currently on 150mg for OCD; and went up in 25 increments.

I stayed in each dosage for at least 2 months, otherwise you go through the start up effects non stop and you’re not giving yourself any chance to feel better. From what you’ve said in your OP, it seems pretty quick? Did the GP advise that?
If so I’d find another! Maybe ask for something like Propranolol alongside to help with the heightened anxiety for a while?

Good luck and I hope you feel better soon xx

@ZenithAndQuasar thank you. Do you remember how long until you felt better?

@HourlyTime did you start straight on 50mg? You sound so positive, I don't know how you are doing it! The constant anxiety is horrible. How are you coping?

@AmusedOpalShaker thank you. Yes I was told to go up after a week but I've read that 50mg is the lowest therapeutic dose so was keen to go up as just want to feel better quicker! I can't take propranolol as have asthma.

Yes it will, if you can just ride out these few weeks. I’m on 200mg now.

Thanks. A few weeks feels impossible. I don't know how to ride it out. Do you feel normal and happy on it?

Every time you feel like that remind yourself it’s just the Sertraline temporarily doing it, it isn’t you. It likely will improve and anxiety reduce.

I remember I was so keen to get started that I went on 50mg straight off, the effects were just awful. It takes its sweet time, but just stick it out. I know right now it mostly likely feels absolutely impossible, but trust me, it gets better and you’ll be back to yourself.

Something that used to help me was reading peoples reviews on medication.com. They’re all moaning about the side effects which helped reassure me that I wasn’t alone in it, also their positive stories were a big help in the moment!

Thats such a shame about the Propranolol, is there any other options the GP suggested for you? Xx

I don't really remember how long it took for me to feel better, I'm sorry. X

I was put on it last year. Took one dose and then stopped because of side effects. I tried online free CBT instead and I take propranolol on days I can feel a panic attack pending.

Thank you. No nothing was suggested.

I was on 100mg sertraline but found it too much so im now back down to 50mg, ive been on them for about 5yrs, i found propranolol helpful for my panic attacks, but yeah just give it a few more weeks to get into your system properly before you start to feel the benefits, hope you're feeling better soon xx

Another member of the 200mg club. I've been on it a good decade now - as part of a drug package it seems to work.

Getting off it is a bitch though, the 'sertraline zaps' are real.

About a month to start feeling the really beneficial effects but needed 100mg I the early days.
50mg is my maintenance dose

I think it was six weeks before I noticed a positive change. The first two weeks were awful. The next four were not as bad. After that it was all ok.
I found I got on better if I took my dose in the morning, rather than the evening.

It worked for me but unfortunately it gave need severe diarrhea uk to 8 times a day. This never went and still there after 5 months. I had to stop

For me, day 14 and I woke up feeling a little better.

Hang in there.

Unfortunately no one can tell you if it will work. It works for some but not others. A different one might work better, but for some they don’t work at all. this might not be what you wanted to hear, and I am sorry, but I think it’s important that you know it might not work, and most importantly that it’s not your fault if it doesn’t.
book another GP appointment and see what they say.

Hang in there. I remember waking up one day after a month or so and just feeling better - I didn’t have a ball of anxiety in my stomach. It’s worth sticking it out ❤️

Following with interest as I’m a week into 50mg per day and I feel awful. My doctor started me on it as I currently have a 13 year old daughter who I’m trying to support through as eating disorder but everything just feels hopeless.

Keep going with it, totally normal to feel worse before you feel better. Remind yourself that you’re closer to feeling better than you were yesterday and the days before, even if it doesn’t feel like it at the moment.

Thanks everyone.

@SendTheNextOneIn I'm so sorry that sounds awful. Did you start straight on 50mg. As well as the raised anxiety I feel so tired and spaced out. Do you have this?

I think I'm so used to having anxiety pretty much 24/7, I just feel accustomed to it anyway. It is at a high level though, right in my chest, it began pretty much immediately.

It's never stayed at this high level so constantly before, but I'm keeping myself distracted; I went for a short jog which helped for an hour or two.

I've done loads of research and lots of people say it does settle quickly so I'm holding onto hope!

It took about 6 months for it to level off for me. I started on 50mg and ended up on 150mg. I found it excellent when it did work. Im off them about 3 years now and fingers crossed I won't have to go back on them but I would if I had to

Well done form keeping yourself distracted. I'm finding it too hard, I'm just focussing on it all the time. And I'm so exhausted I couldn't imagine going for a jog. Is it not making you tired?