A few months ago I was checking Mumsnet daily, desperate to read positive reviews of Sertraline, and I promised myself that I would leave a post for anyone else doing the same when I felt better. So here is my story...
I have suffered with generalised anxiety disorder and health anxiety since I was a child. These developed into a panic disorder around 3 years ago (I am in my forties). I made lots of lifestyle changes e.g. dietary, sleep, exercise etc. I also did CBT therapy and read lots of books about anxiety/panic. These changes helped a bit but eventually I had to give up my job as the anxiety was too much. Things improved for a while...
Then I developed a very annoying symptom of anxiety - difficulty swallowing and obsessive swallowing. When I had to swallow, for example when eating, I just couldn't do it, I couldn't get my body to swallow (sounds weird I know); but when I didn't need to swallow, for example when talking to someone, I would swallow constantly. It was really annoying, worrying and upsetting. Eating became really difficult, especially with other people. I started to restrict the type of food I ate and worried about it all constantly. This became all consuming and my anxiety rocketed.
After about 6 months of coping with it I decided to ask my GP for medication and was prescribed 25 mg of sertraline. My anxiety and panic went through the roof for the first two weeks. I couldn't get out of bed or even speak and my husband had to take time off work to look after me. I went to the GP after the first week as I thought what I was experiencing couldn't be normal but she was absolutely fantastic and encouraged me to keep going. Eating and drinking became almost impossible and I lost a load of weight (I was already slim). Other side effects weren't bad - my appetite changed (reminded me of being pregnant), I had bad reflux and I felt spaced out. I slowly went up to 100mg seeing gradual improvements and benefits from about week 5. Side effects gradually went away over the first two months.
Now at about 4 months I am feeling so much better. I still feel anxious thoughts but I can manage them and they go away very quickly. I am feeling happy and enthusiastic about life, a LOT less irritable and more confident. I feel like a version of myself from the past - optimistic and more relaxed. I am getting on so much better with my husband too - it is lovely! I still have physical anxiety symptoms e.g. I am overly conscious of swallowing, but they are not scary and don't bother me any more. I would recommend sertraline - it has been really great for me - and the initial spike in anxiety was worth it. I still need to manage my anxiety with lifestyle etc. and the improvement has been very gradual and quite up and down, but it has been a really big help and made a huge difference to my life.
I hope this might help anyone else out there who is wondering whether they should take this drug or not. It was one of the scariest things I've ever had to do - taking medication is often terrifying for people with health anxiety - but I did it and am so glad I did. Wishing you all the best - anxiety is just horrible but there is help out there - it does get better.