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Original poster

Sertraline for anxiety?

119 replies

ItchySeveredFoot · 24/03/2020 17:21

Has anyone else used it for anxiety? I've suffered my whole life with extreme feelings of anxiety and feeling really down. I've managed it by not doing anything. I avoid doing lots of things and didn't really finish school and don't work. I've annoyingly been too anxious to seek help.
Today after having a panic attack last night i finally reached out and am feeling quite proud. I told the doctor how I'm feeling and she suggested antidepressants. They're coming in the post as we're quarantined at the moment. I'm just really nervous as I've never taken anything before. But totally desperate for something to work. I feel like I'm wasting my life. Has anyone had positive results?

OP posts:
Original poster
ItchySeveredFoot · 31/03/2020 10:07

I took it at half 8 this morning. Would the side effects start fairly quickly because I suddenly went very warm about 20 minutes ago and now i feel crappy.

OP posts:
swimster01 · 31/03/2020 10:26

Hi there, I've been on 150mg of Sertraline for the past 12 months, started out on 50mg and increased until my anxiety settled.

I've had no side effects at all, other than feeling calmer - it stops my thoughts having a physical effect on me.

Original poster
ItchySeveredFoot · 31/03/2020 10:33

I'm feeling dizzy and sick.

OP posts:
whoknew87 · 31/03/2020 12:52

My side effects started very quickly. Not sure about straight away but definitely in the first 2-3 days. Xx

Camouflage · 31/03/2020 13:05

@ItchySeveredFoot I'm not dismissing your symptoms but be aware that your anxiety about taking them is most likely the cause of your 'side effects' than the drugs themselves.

Do your breathing exercises and focus on your breath rather than how you feel x

IamDisappeared · 31/03/2020 13:12

@ItchySeveredFoot stick with it, it will be so worth it, the symptoms might be a little unsettling but not too severe. I'm rooting for you here! Thanks

mossberry · 31/03/2020 13:15

I've been taking Sertraline on and off for a few years to treat anxiety.

I've just started on them again and currently experiencing nausea and dizziness, but I know from previous experience that this will pass.

It takes about 4 weeks for them to kick in but they absolutely work for me so it's worth soldiering through the initial side effects.

In terms of chest pain - for me, this has happened a few times about an hour after taking it and by process of elimination, I realised that I wasn't drinking enough water with the tablet. The chest pain feels like extreme heartburn, as if the tablet has got stuck and lots of water seems to mute this a bit.

I also avoid all acidic drinks (you aren't supposed to take with grapefruit juice anyway) as I find that any fruit juice seems to aggravate the 'heartburn'.

Good luck.

Elsiebear90 · 31/03/2020 13:15

I tried them for a few months, had terrible side effects, insomnia, lack of appetite, feeling completely numb down below and no sex drive, they made me feel numb, but not any better. Switched to Mirtazapine and found them amazing, they got me out of a very dark place, but haven’t really helped my generalised anxiety.

Original poster
ItchySeveredFoot · 31/03/2020 13:35

I'm feeling a little better for lying in bed all day. But I can't leave my dp with the kids every day for weeks.

OP posts:
IamDisappeared · 31/03/2020 14:14

For what it's worth, mine was only for about five days and started to taper off during that period, not to mention as the tablets wore off throughout the day.

lottieloop · 31/03/2020 14:18

The sicky feeling is what I had when I first started them, along with diarrhoea ( TMI ) my eyes were huge like I was high on something & I generally felt like I had been drugged.

Not pleasant what I've described there... But ... the side effects gradually wore off & they changed my quality of life : )

TwoCatsSleeping · 31/03/2020 15:47

I've just had yo up my dose and the side effects are horrendous! I feel like I'm having a bad trip. Been like this 6 days. Don't know if I can do it. I've just taken my dose but want to get it out of my body. Think I'm done with sertraline to be honest x

TwoCatsSleeping · 31/03/2020 15:48

Sorry OP I don't mean to be negative. Perhaps this one just isn't right for me , or at least this dose.

lottieloop · 31/03/2020 17:42

My side effects when I started taking them were horrendous too @TwoCatsSleeping.
I felt like I was high & drugged up so I totally get what you are saying.

But op please don't panic, side effects differ for each & every one of us.

I weaned myself off / stopped taking mine at Christmas & I've just started taking them again with no side effects this time.

chocolatespiders · 31/03/2020 17:46

Your post could have been me for the last 20 years since leaving a DV relationship I have just existed. Managed on a daily level to work and kept together for my children but just felt empty inside.
2 months ago I went to GP for first time in 10 years apart from smears and I broke down. I have taken sertraline since with no side effects and I feel so much better and have even lost much needed weight!
Give it a try and see how you get on.

Chrisinthemorning · 31/03/2020 17:56

Just starting on sertraline as well. I had been taking in the evening but will switch to morning now.

polkadotpixie · 31/03/2020 18:06

I re-started Sertraline last week (I took it previously about 10 years ago) as my anxiety about COVID-19 was spiralling

I felt sick and really tired for about 3/4 days but I'm on day 10 now and feel back to normal

I take them in the morning because they give me insomnia if I take them at night

I'm already feeling a lot calmer. Hang in there, they do really help

Welshgirl10 · 31/03/2020 18:08

I have taken sertraline for years- the side effects at the beginning for me were tough (nausea and insomnia) but it is so worth it in the long run because it has helped my anxiety so much! You have to persevere and keep trying with them

Original poster
ItchySeveredFoot · 01/04/2020 08:55

Well we can add insomnia and an elevated temperature to my side effects. But I've just taken another one. I guess this is the only chance I'll have to take them where I won't be expected to go anywhere for days.

OP posts:
lottieloop · 01/04/2020 10:18

It's worked in your favour starting them now OP due to most people being house bound.

I had to work with my horrific side effects, it was hell looking back & I honestly don't know how I did it! Being at work full time when you feel like you are on a bad trip ( as previous poster described it ) was no joke ConfusedConfusedConfused

MsGee · 01/04/2020 10:25

My DD takes this and had two days of tummy cramps (and running to the loo a lot) and feeling a bit nauseous, then she was ok. It took a few weeks to work and they increased her dosage (now 50mg) - within a couple of weeks of the higher dosage there was a massive difference.

I honestly do not believe she would be coping with the current situation without it. Stick with it - it will be worth it, and take care of yourself.

Mumofcats5 · 01/04/2020 10:27

I have been on Sertraline for the last 3.5 years. Increasing my dose slowly as I started on 50mg.
I definitely found that it helped take the edge off of my anxiety.
Side effects last about two weeks and then you should be fine. I take mine at night as they make me feel groggy and help me to sleep so do check with your GP what they recommend.

Original poster
ItchySeveredFoot · 01/04/2020 15:12

Still feeling crappy but better than yesterday. Hopefully I can get some sleep tonight. Before the insomnia set in last night I was actually feeling quite positive so fingers crossed it's a sign of things to come.

OP posts:
babasaclover · 01/04/2020 16:02

For those of you with the insomnia have you ever taken sleeping tablets with it? I'm debating it tonight as I've been sleeping terribly lately but don't know if they mix well

lottieloop · 01/04/2020 16:56

I've taken melatonin for years, no side effects that I've noticed with the Sertraline