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.

I clearly remember sitting on the side of the bed wide awake and frozen in anxiety while my husband snored away next to me. When you've already been anxious for so long and then do something to try to feel better and then it makes you feel even worse, it's so tough. I was really white-knuckling it at some points and trying to cling onto hope that it would get better. I remember repeatedly googling for stories of people in similar situations where it had then improved, which is why I want to reply to you now! Obviously we're all different, but what you're experiencing is common for starting SSRIs and a lot of people do find they work if you stick with them.

Thank you.

Try and eat before you take it, to ease heartburn. I also find it better to take it at night.

I went from 50mg to 100mg but didn’t like how I felt - I couldn’t cry!!! So went back down to 50mg.

Thank you, that's exactly it..I started the sertraline as I was at the end of my tether with it and felt I couldn't go on, and now I'm feeling worse and hopeless.

I am repeatedly googling stories too!

You got better?

Thanks @Blueuggboots I take it at night but haven't had heartburn luckily.

I'm on sertraline and I remember being told it can take a month for it to work fully.

Didn't for me, gave it 8 months, anxiety and side effects were too much.

Got put on Mirtazapine which has far less side effects and it's been a miracle for me. Still cross with my doctor for throwing the big guns at it straight away without trying the less side effect heavy meds first.

That's interesting because I feel the opposite. I was previously on Mirtazepine a few months ago and constantly felt I was drugged up and also got knee pain. I hated thinking I was taking a sedative every night to sleep, basically.

It did work for me though. I think if sertraline doesn't work I'll have to go back on it. How long have you been on it?

8 months. The first couple of weeks were rough while I adjusted to the sedative but then it's made my anxiety so, so much better.

That's good to hear. Are you planning to stay on it? I only stayed on it 2 months as thought I was ok and heard coming off it is tough.

Yes - every time I’ve felt a lot better by 2-3 months in. I’m now just staying on them long term as they work for me, although I have quite complex OCD as well as general anxiety. Therapy has helped loads as well (acceptance commitment therapy specifically), but I would struggle to put the strategies in place without medication.

I'm glad you are doing well.

2-3 months seems ages away 😭

The first 6 weeks were the worst bit for me.

Luckily I work from home and my hours are flexible so I'm just doing the best I can. It's getting harder to distract myself!

I had to go out and post a parcel for work earlier, it was torture - anxiety, nausea, high alert, I jumped when someone walked by me. So embarrassing.

When the anxiety does lift a bit, depression replaces it 🙄

I really hope you feel better tomorrow, crossing my fingers for you. How are you feeling tonight?

Ah that's good.

Yes I'm very on edge too, the postman put a parcel through the door earlier and my heart lurched. It's ridiculous.

I have exactly the same that in the day I'm alternating between anxiety and depression. I asked Chatgpt who said it's not real depression but is exhaustion from the anxiety and adrenaline crash.

I'm feeling a lot better in myself this evening. The same happened yesterday evening. So may be a good sign.

I'm bloody knackered though all day at the moment. Though I am sleeping badly. How is your sleep? (I also have a high temperature).

It took 100mg and about 6 months to work for me. You need to give it a lot of time.

It look me 2-4 weeks to feel better and I felt worse initially. I had headaches and I was exhausted for a while. For my anxiety and depression it has improved my life significantly. 4 months after my first dose and I feel like a ‘normal’ functioning adult after many years of feeling like I was on the verge of a breakdown.

Thank you, that's encouraging.

I'm so sorry you had to go through years of feeling like that.

How are you doing, OP?

Still much the same with me - super high anxiety, or flat/low!

Sorry you asked before about sleep, I didn't see the post; normally I sleep really well but since starting sertraline, my sleep is awful. I'm alert and jittery so can't sleep well.

Past 2 nights I've had drenching night sweats, which is apparently another side affect, as serotonin affects temperature regulation.

I hope you're through your adjustment period and are on the up!

I came here to see how you are op. I’m on day 8 and I had a good day after an anxious start. Glimpses of light are coming through.

Nice to hear from you! Sorry you're still feeling like that, it's so horrible.

Touch wood things have calmed down a lot. I'm feeling a bit anxious but nothing like the feelings I was having a few days ago when I felt I couldn't go on. I'm feeling more positive now it's actually going to work!

My sleep was already awful before the sertraline, I would wake up with my heart racing and feeling anxious. Now it's still the same plus I feel all trembly and go hot/cold and sweaty.

I phoned the doctors yesterday and have been prescribed some zopiclone (well I begged, they were reluctant) to help me sleep a bit better as the lack of sleep was defo making my anxiety worse. I took it last night and slept 7 hours with a few short wake ups, so much better than before.

I'm hoping once the sertraline works fully it will calm the stress hormones that have been waking me at night.

Also to note, the last 3 evenings I've felt pretty good!

Hi! Yes glimpses of light is a good way to put it.

I'm still having anxious thoughts, like what if I'm never going to be able to do my job again? (I work in quite a stressful job with people in crisis a lot of the time and thinking of those situations is making me feel so anxious right now).

Will I always be wondering if I'm suddenly going to have a mental breakdown again at any given moment?

I know it's too early to be having these thoughts as I'm not even better yet!

Well after a better morning and my post earlier feeling more positive I've now been getting sharp spikes of anxiety. It's horrible. I don't know if it's because I changed from taking it at night time to morning today (thought it might make me sleep better). I'm worried about how I'm going to survive worse anxiety again now 😭

Did you just change abruptly? That might be why you’ve gone a bit haywire. I read you’re supposed to take it at the same time every day and gradually change times. Hopefully tomorrow you’ll be feeling calmer again.