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’m on day 7 today, feel so low, spaced out and weird. I don’t think I can hack it much longer, all I’m doing is going from bed to the couch and back

Hang on in there.

Day 10 for me, the anxiety has finally improved a bit and feeling a bit stronger.

OP how are you doing?

I felt worse when I started taking it, and to be honest it took 3 - 6 months for it to really make me feel better. The doctor said 2 weeks which was unrealistic. Hang in there, it’s not a quick fix but I found it did work really well once I was settled on it

The claim it takes a 'few weeks' for this med to work is grossly underestimated by healthcare professionals: it took me exactly six MONTHS to the day of starting my full dose to be anywhere near back to 'normal' (whatever that is!). During that time, my anxiety got markedly worse and I had every side effect going - loose stools, next level nausea, shakes, muscle tension, disorientation, you name it, I had it.

Mentally, I am in a WAY better place now - so clearly the drug is doing its job, so I'm glad to be on it for that reason. But it was quite the journey to get there, I can tell you and, IMO, doctors need to provide a LOT more information to people before starting them on these meds. But I highly suspect they don't because, if they did, no one would take them!

This. I've actually heard from people who take it, that it takes a minimum of 16 weeks. But no official will tell you this when you start to take it, just that you'll 'get a little bit worse before getting better'. Yeah, no shit Sherlock!

In my experience, you cannot 'raw dog' this med; I couldn't have got through it without taking Ativan/Lorazapam alongside, which I rate highly. Luckily, I didn't become tolerant or addicted to it but doctors don't like to prescribe it for this reason. Which is shit because it REALLY WORKS! 🙏🙏

How are you OP? And are you having any therapy alongside the Sertraline?

I’m on the other side of my Sertraline journey (I hope) but I 100% would not have got here without CBT. Expensive? Yeah. But knowing what I know now, I’d encourage any sacrifice you can possibly make to be able to afford it.

Hi everyone, I've been very up and down..mostly down.

I had a review today and agreed to taper off sertraline and start Mirtazapine again. I'm really not sure about it as I did not like being on Mirtazapine. I felt very sedated and I'm sure it gave me knee pain.

I'm 14 days on 50mg now, 22 days in total. I feel I may turn a corner soon, I've actually felt pretty ok since this afternoon. I cannot go on feeling like I do most of the time though.

So torn as to what to do.

I’m on day 14 and the last two days I’ve turned a real corner.

There’s no harm trying something different. Certainly I didn’t have anything like the reaction you’ve had to sertraline.
Mirtazapine was good for me but I put on two stone in 6 months so I came back off it.

That's great! Are you on 50mg? How is your sleep?

I know GP's don't like prescribing benzodiazepines, but when my psychiatrist put me on fluoxetine (another antidepressant) he gave me a small prescription of diazepam alongside so that I could treat the worsening anxiety before the antidepressant finally started working.

Yes 50 now. Took 25 for first 5 days. Sleep is now ok. I gradually moved the time to 11am and that helped. First 10 days or so were hell. I am still taking it one day at a time.

I really hope you do turn a corner, OP! Keep us updated.

I'm on day 12 of 50mg, I feel properly rubbish. Yesterday was awful. No interest in anything, I'd happily sleep the whole day away! Not felt this low for a long time. Hoping it starts to feel better soon, or I'll have to quit these/try something else.

Give it 4-6 weeks

I couldn’t continue, the panic attacks and the constant feeling of fear and dread were unbearable for me. Having some time to let it get out of my system and then discuss next steps with my doc.

Same reaction as me. I'm sorry it's not worked out for us.

I actually feel a lot calmer today but woke after only 1.5 hours last night and ended up taking 7.5mg zopiclone at 2am (think I'm still out of it now) but that gave me less than another 4 hours.

I think I'm going to have to go back on the mirtazapine tonight and pray it doesn't cause the joint pain again.

Sorry you're feeling low. I would say stick with it. The low feelings did get better for me.

My main problem is I just can't sleep. How is your sleep?

I hope it keeps improving for you.

I'm feeling stronger today, my head feels quieter too. Hopefully a corner turned but I'm fully expecting more tough days!

My sleep is getting much better, apart from waking up with night sweats and having very vivid dreams.

But I'm feeling like I'm getting good enough sleep, I'm very lucky I usually sleep well.

If you're still sleeping badly that must be unbearable, I really feel for you. It's like you can't get on top of anything being so sleep deprived.

Hey OP, how are you doing? I hope you're doing loads better.

I wanted to update just in case anyone reads this thread (I know I scoured many old threads!)

I'm almost 4 weeks into 50g Sertraline and feeling better; the awful side effects started to lift days 14/15.

I definitely feel calmer and a bit more myself, I know it'll take more time for 'full' effect but I'm glad I stuck it out through the rough bit.

I'm also seeing a clinical psychologist which is proving to be hugely, hugely helpful, she believes I'm neurodiverse (pending diagnosis) which would help explain a lot of my anxiety.

Sending lots of well wishes to everyone who needs them!

Some years ago, when life was very difficult for a number of years, I started on it 3 times in the space of 5 years or so (crisis points).
I simply could not get over the spaced out feeling, and had to stop.
The actual issues went deeper than something which could be chemically masked. I'm through all that now (thankfully) but I couldn't handle sertraline

Pelvic how are you feeling now ? Just come across this thread and I’m scrolling the internet searching for hope , I’m on day 4 today and constantly anxious can’t eat a thing and not sleeping , it really is the pits I’ve also got a 2 year old to look after. 😭

@Pelvicpaininthebum how are you? Hopefully you are feeling the benefit of sertraline now?

Hopefully some of the ladies come back to share how they are getting by on an I could do with a virtual hand hold that’s for sure. 😞