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Starting back on Sertraline - should I?

1 reply

Serendipity09 · 25/06/2020 13:22

I was on Sertraline for about 18 months about 3 years ago, for PTSD and anxiety following the death of two relatively young people who were close to me (but not related).

When I started Sertraline I went from crying literally all the time, to not even being able to cry, but I really welcomed this because it helped me get on with my life and be a wife and mum again.

After an initial loss of appetite I then put on over a stone (which I lost immediately on stopping them!), but apart from that I don't think I had any adverse side-effects at all. I didn't feel I got any worse on them, I actually felt better within days, and I felt I became a much better person on them.

I've been off them for 18 months but have had a few upsetting and anxiety provoking things happen recently and I can feel myself spiralling downwards and getting a bit OCD and over analysing/thinking things again, crying over nothing, and it's starting to ruin my enjoyment of life. I have spoken to my GP who is happy to prescribe sertraline again.

I'm worried about getting worse before getting better as I have some important events in the next few weeks - is there anyone else here who hasn't got worse first? I know I didn't last time I took them but what's to say it will be that plain sailing again?

Just need some reassurance to take them again really.

OP posts:
Umbongo1 · 25/06/2020 21:36

Hello it's a difficult question really as everyone reacts differently to things.

I'm on my second 'round' of sertraline - and I can attest to the side effects being the same or similar to the first time that I took them. For me those were quite bad but it sounds like they were not for you so that's positive.

Why not start on 25mg for a week or so and see how you go, up to 50mg after a week or 2 when you know how the side effects are going (is thy your drs consent obvs).

Good luck!

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