Sertraline 2- A second handholding thread

[freckles20]

This thread is a follow on to the original handhold thread- for those beginning or continuing their journey on sertraline. All are welcome.

This is a supportive thread, where all situations are unique and there is no judgement.

@Emilyh1986 they normally start to work around 4-6 weeks . I felt a lot better at 4 weeks .

@Chummy21 I never had too many awful side effects , hopefully you are also one of the lucky ones .

Day 4 of taking 25mg of Sertraline - and so far I think i've been lucky with the side effects. I'm pretty tired but the worst thing is the constant yawning, and they are really intense yawns!! Please tell me this goes away after a while and i'm not going to be yawning constantly forever!?

I wonder if anyone might be able to help me, dd is 17 she has anorexia and severe anxiety. She started on Sertraline 5 weeks ago. initially on 25mg for 10 days, then upped to 50mg.

The second week of 50mg brought a slight improvement. She was still very anxious but it was more manageable. The third week was not good, she started having panic attacks again and felt she was going downhill. GP increased to 75mg, today is the 5th day at that dosage.

Still no improvement in her mood and anxiety. The thing that really bothers me is that about 20 minutes after she takes it she goes into an almost catatonic state. I have tried all the recommended methods to distract her, but she just can't engage. This lasts for around 2 hours. Has anyone else experienced this? The range of side effects seems quite big, she doesn't have any physical side effects.

I was prescribed 50mg but I found the side effects too debilitating so I took 25mg for 2 weeks then increased to the prescribed dose. I found it really tough during the first 4-6 weeks, definitely felt it all got a lot worse for a while and even wondered if I taking sertraline was the right thing to do. 12 weeks later and I feel so much better. I’m enjoying life again, anxiety has gone and I feel in a much better place. So glad I persevered

@Lizzie I'd ring the doctor and ask what they think

@Rooses thanks for that positive review. I needed to hear it! What sort of side effects did you suffer?

The 1st week I really struggled to sleep and during the day I felt quite drowsy. My stomach was really unsettled. Then once the insomnia subsided I wanted to sleep all the time and I really do mean all the time! The anxiety got alot worse which was when I started thinking maybe I’d made a big mistake taking sertraline but something made me think I must try and stick it out. So glad I did

That's great news @Rooses

Day 5... yesterday my anxiety was awful and spent alot of the evening in tears.
Felt a constant need to clear my throat and as if my cough reflex was being suppressed.

Woke up this morning after a really good night's sleep - the best in a long time. But, one of my eyes is bloodshot.

Is this a side effect of the sertraline or a combination of tge sleep plus tears... I really hate, hate feeling like this. EVERYTHING is magnified.

Has anyone had eye side effects, should I be concerned? Also the throat clearing/cough thing??

Really wish I hadn't read about serotonin syndrome now. I'm really, really panicking!!!

I've got a horrible tickly cough out of nowhere. Day 12. I also had blurry vision last weekend

Hi long story short on 150mg sertraline still not right am having breakdowns and consuming thoughts I've seen the phyciatrist today and he wants me to try maximum dose 200mg before trying another AD,any success stories please in upping the dose doing the job?

Hi all well I’m about 5 weeks in now, just over 4 weeks on 50mg and I’m thinking I need to increase my dose. I was feeling alot better but a long way off right, and have had an absolutely terrible day today and still battling this evening. If I took 2 of my tablets so that I have 100mg instead of 50 am I likely to experience the side effects again? As it’s health anxiety that I suffer with I really don’t want to feel rubbish again but by the same measure I’m keen to get better asap so will jump straight to 100mg if that’s the best way to go, can anyone advise please?

They do say it can be like starting again when you up dose as you get side effects again but I personally didn’t struggle much. Some people go to 75mg before 100mg .

Thank you @wendz86 I have taken 75, really hoping I settle back down again soon I was feeling so good I don’t know why I’ve suddenly got so anxious again, assuming it is because 50 just isnt enough for me. How are you getting on?

I’m not too bad thanks . Been on 100 mg for around 9 weeks and seem be quite settled on it now . Do have a bit of anxiety every now and then but nothing like I had before .

Hi all, looking for a bit of advice.
I've recently started taking propranalol who h has been incredible for my physical anxiety symptoms
However one of the side effects is I've found it really hard to sleep
Does anyone know fi this improves/if there is something else similar I can take.

Hi!

I know this thread has been quiet for a while, but I could really do with something like this so bumping to see if anyone at same stage

I'm on day 4 of setraline 50mg for anxiety, pure OCD. I've not had any major side effects except feeling quite spacey at times, but my mood has dropped for the last few days and am struggling to get anything done. Just feel blank. I'm not sure if this is side effect or just life events and the setraline is not yet doing its work, but it's tough and I'm struggling to think there will be light at the end of the tunnel. Also keep waking up in the early hours and unable to get back to sleep (though had probs sleeping for a while ...)

Wondering if anyone can relate?

@BirdFriday I found during the first few weeks of being on sertraline my symptoms actually felt slightly worse. I have been taking 50mg for 6 months now and feel so much better. I’m glad I stuck it out but in the beginning I really did consider coming off of them

Thanks @Rooses!

My mood started to lift ever so slightly yesterday evening and I managed to get a full nights sleep (woke up twice but then did fall asleep again fairly quickly, which hasn't been possible for a while) so feeling a little more hopeful today.

I think my intrusive thoughts might be a little less sticky already too - though perhaps just placebo effect.

Bumping and updating just in case there are others who want to share.

Today is day 7 and another decent night's sleep after an ok day. Felt a bit zombified during day but evening I felt a little better again. Struggling to be productive this morning and was anxious first thing, but overall doing better each day.

Hi people
I took escitalopram for 15 years that worked a treat, it seemed to stop working last December, waited patiently for it to kick in again but ended up swapping to sertraline in match, currently just started week 7 with minimal improvement, still start the day with anxious / mildly panicky stomach and chest, hoping this ends soon. Evenings are fine and i can face anything, its so annoying how it starts again. A lot of posts talk of a least 6 to 8 weeks so got to keep going. Anyone relate?

@Bob202 I've only just started my second week so I'm not sure if we can compare, but I definitely feel better as the day goes on and I'm struggling in the mornings.

I've been taking them either first thing in the morning or around lunchtime. When are you taking yours?

Mornings for me..

I’m almost at 8 weeks on Sertraline. I went onto it whilst also coming off mirtazapine. I reduced to 150mg today after 10 days on 200mg as it just felt too much. I’m still anxious with ruminating thoughts and weepy. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

@alseb Replying as don't want to leave you hanging, but I'm only on day 9 so can't really help.

I've definitely read stories on this thread and elsewhere on MN about it kicking in after a couple of months, but it might soon be time to discuss with doctor?

Hope you're doing ok.