Hi there!
i;ve been taking sertraline, 50mg per day for a wee while now. First side effects were nausia, funny spasmy jaw thingy, bit spacedy out, not able to orgasm BUT mentally I felt sooooo much better! I began to not sleep and stopped taking them...
But the anxiety came back.....
So I started taking them again but discussed side effects with doctor. Since starting to take them again around 7 months ago I have felt much better with them. the longer I am on them the less side effects I have. I also got some anti nausia tablets which really helped. the jaw spasms and spacey ness felt much better after around 2 weeks and gradullay the sleep has got better. In fact, I think becuase i am not waking up anxious I am sleping more and if anything am finding it more difficult to get up in the morning. Again, instead of stopping the tablets I decided to combat the side effects so now set alarm for 6.00 and have an hour extra to wake up with lights on, TV news on, DD bouncing round the bedroom and this helps too.
The main thing though is, for me, the sertraline has made a real difference to my mental health. i feel much more like me!!!! Much less anxious, self concious and unable to make decisions. I also feel more ' hard skinned' and able to watch the news without being devestated at every story whilst feeling empathy etc.
I also take codiene for long term pain and after several months and tinternet research that the sertraline takes away aprox 15mg of codeine dose. Again I discussed with doctor and now take 15mg more codeine as I wish to say on sertraline for the short term future.
Best of luck, and hopefully with patience the sertaline will work its magic!