Sertraline for health anxiety

[Desperate30]

Hi everyone
I’ve been having health anxiety on and off since January. It’s not getting any better and I’m due to start CBT in the next month or so. I’ve felt so awful I spoke to the GP. She prescribed Sertraline although said I didn’t have to take it. I’ve read the side effects (stupidly) and one of them is a racing heart. This sent me into a spiral of anxiety as that’s the cause of my HA. Had a heart attack a couple of years ago and although I got the all clear I panic about it happening again. Should I take the sertraline? Or wait for CBT? I can’t go on like this - I’m in despair. Thanks for reading. Any reassuring words appreciated.

Anyone?

DH was on sertraline for anxiety. It did him wonders and he didn't get any side effects apart from a bit of a woozy feeling to start wjth. He took it for a couple of years and I think it was wonderful. He just said he would take it again in a heartbeat if he felt he needed to.

Awful place to be in. I know I've been there. Panic attacks and raging anxiety, generalised and health over the years. I have tried sertraline and it did help a lot. It's normal to want to know the side effects but this does not mean you will suffer from them. Everyone is different and the medication helps some and not others. There are many different medications to treat anxiety but it's finding the right one. Sertraline has been around for a long time. It is your choice wether to take it or not but if your anxiety is controlling your life you need to address this. Good luck and you will get there. It's learning how to live with anxiety is the key. Go for the CBT, it will help

Thank you for your helpful replies Hedgehog and Smile. Spoke to pharmacist today too and she was very reassuring. I’m having a better day today so still not sure if I’ll start taking them yet but I feel more informed now.

I’ve just been prescribed this by my gp...I read the side effects and decided I’d rather manage as I am

The side affects I had from this were it made me pretty emotionless and killed any sex drive I had ... but i wasn't as depressed or anxious so it did help?!

The pharmacist told me not to worry too much about side effects as the leaflet has to list any side effect that anyone has ever had. It’s been a bad day for me today so think I’m going to have to start taking them.

I've been on them for two years now. Best thing I ever did.
First few weeks can be rough with the side effects but more than worth it now.
My only regret is not doing it years ago.
I'm on 50mg and I take them last thing at night with lots of water... worst of side effects are then whilst I'm asleep

The only side effect I had was heartburn/indigestion for the first couple of days when I took it and also when I increased the dose. I take it in the morning as I found that was better - heartburn at night is horrible lol. It doesn't make me sleepy or anything. I am so much calmer and able to deal with stressful situations better. I still get stressed occasionally but much less than before!

Thanks for replies Aria and Barcelona - reassuring to know.

Hello how are you all doing on the Sertraline?