Sertraline - experiences

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I've just been diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety. Didn't think I'd ever get to this state but here I am and I've asked for help. GP today gave me Sertraline 50mg, advice was to take half a tablet for a few days to get used to them. I've been warned I could feel worse before feeling better! I'm signed off work but still have things to do, how bad will it get? How good will it get?

Experiences please, Thankyou.

@aimlesslypurposeful

So sorry to hear about your diagnosis.

Just taken other half. I've been tired today but I do have a lot of 'stuff' going on at the moment.

I’ve been on them for 4 months. The first 2-3 weeks were a bit rough but it was really hard to tell if that was the tablets or the anxiety. Once they kicked it they’ve been life changing. I’m now taking 150mg a day, the depression is loads better and the anxiety is gone.

I've had a similar experience with Citalopram. I'm assuming it's very similar to Sertraline?? I only had anxiety (no depression) and I'm on my fifth week and feel LOADS better. I didn't really have any bad side effects, no increase in anxiety. The only thing I had was jaw clenching at night and a bit of tinnitus.

I hope it works as well for you OP.

@aimlessly purposeful, I have no words as I can't imagine how tough things have been for you. I'm glad to hear you're feeling better mental-health wise.

I'd say the first 4 weeks are the worst in terms of side effects - nausea, dizziness, crazy dreams, bit foggy, tired. But do stick with them. I take mine at night with plenty of water.

Good luck! I just got told to take mitrazapine even though I told the GP I could not afford any weight gain and that was in known to put weight on people. I didn't take it at all and am now just suffering along.

So suddenly my tummy has been upset, don't know if it's related to the medication, I've only taken half a tablet yesterday and the day before. Not sure if I feel any other effects, possibly a bit slower to react I don't know. I did cut my finger today chopping veg, I never do things like that. Is it possible to be feeling the side effects so soon? Due to take my 3rd half now. Got a few easy days ahead so can afford to be off my game.

They started working for me within a few days and had me almost back to normal after about 6 weeks. They have also helped me be more sociable / less anxious in social situations (which wasn't actually what they were prescribed for but a nice side effect!).

I find they make me feel a little sleepy, so I take mine at night. I sleep fabulously well on them though.

I did have some side effects initially. Shaky hands and what I can only describe as wandery legs. Just the urge to wander really. This passed in about a week. Oh and nausea for a day or two too (I went straight onto the 50mg). I do feel a bit more 'numb' / far away than I did on Citalopram but I've always had issues with disassociation.

I had an upset tummy from 1 hour after taking my first tablet. This continued every day...no relief at all. Whilst not a good side effect, the pros still outweighed the cons for me.

I had such restless legs last night, don't know if that's related?

Restless legs, diarrhoea, nausea, headaches, 'flitting eyes', mad dreams, or unable to sleep... all side effects and all happen almost immediately.
Equally, I found that I started to feel better within a week too! Not singing and dancing, but definitely more able to cope with things.

I have a very stressful job and currently I hardly get stressed at all. I let things go over my head much more. I also sing a lot and laugh a lot more. I kind of drive to work feeling happy with my lot.

Definite game changers for me.

But after about two weeks they all dissipated.

The side effects dissipated - not the good stuff.

I get so tired about 2hrs after taking the medication, I'm struggling to keep my eyes open by 8.30pm. Woke at 2am thinking it was time to get up but felt so relieved when I looked at the clock, still felt very tired and had no trouble getting back to sleep. I'm trying to stay positive and not let things get to me. Not easy when DH is being particularly difficult at the moment. I'm aware the medication could make things feel worse so I'm just trying to ignore all the bad stuff until I'm settled on theses pills.

Very tired this evening. Tummy still a bit dodgy. I'm a bit more clumsy to. Tomorrow I start taking whole tablets, wonder what will happen?

I was very tired for the first couple of weeks, am 7 weeks on now, the tiredness has gone and I feel so much better.

I like ok forward to feeling the same.

Not ok I meant look, I'm not quite with it

Just taken my first whole tablet, hope this tiredness doesn't get twice as bad!

I'm sure it won't. I've just picked up my repeat prescription earlier.
I'm so positive nearly all the time. Much more able to cope. I'm happy.
Give it a month and if you're no better than sack it off, but I'm quietly confident that you will be.

Headache this evening and very tired. Could be because I've had a lot of anxiety today.

Sorry to hear this. I didn't have any anxiety as a side effect, was just so very tired and a wee bit jittery. All physical symptoms- dicky tummy, headache and nausea etc.
I actually felt better mentally really quickly.
Hope you get a decent night's kip.
What time are you taking yours? I take mine just before going to bed, with lots of water, usually after a snack - stomach seems to be less affected if have eaten something before taking.

Doctor recommended I take them just before bed as then the worst of the side effects occur as you sleep.

This is all very normal symptom wise. Give it a couple of weeks to get over the low bit. Then a couple of months for the sertraline to be fully in your system

I've been taking it at around 6pm before I eat. If I sit down to long I fall asleep. By the time I've eaten, washed up and got kids to bed I'm ready to flop. I struggled to stay up until 10pm last night to give DH some company for a change. All week I've been in bed by 8.30/9pm.

I had some nausea this morning but that could be because of the horrible headache I had last night.