Another Sertraline thread - please can anyone answer my questions? I will be eternally grateful!

[bettydaviseyes1]

I've read so much about sertraline but I think the best is talking to those who have actually experienced it. Theres only so much medical sites can tell you.

Have you read the list of side effects? Ironic to give those with anxiety a drug that has so many side effects! Lol trying not to analyse how I'm feeling too much, grateful it's not health anxiety I have.

When did you start feeling the side effects? I've heard the first two weeks are the worst and then you feel better. Day 2 and no side effects, its giving me anxiety waiting on them to "hit". What was the first side effect?

When did you start to feel better? Was it gradual or more a realisation that you suddenly felt better than you have previously?

How did it make you feel better? Was it a physical lowering of anxiety or quietening of anxious thoughts?

Anyone?

I found between a week to two weeks my anxiety was really bad. I had periods of feeling spaced out during the day. I struggled to sleep and switched to taking it in the morning which made a difference. Would also wake up drenched in sweat. Things started improving in the 3rd week for me. I am now 12 weeks in..still wake up drenched in sweat occasionally.

I also had awful sleep when I took it at night, and switching to the morning made a big difference. I felt calmer and more balanced quite quickly (maybe 10 days in) but don't make the mistake I did... always take it with food or a lot of water! Otherwise a side effect is it burns your throat like nothing I've ever experienced.

@Riser I also have the drenched in sweat thing, and I didn't realise this was the sertraline!!! Thanks!

I started to feel better about 2 weeks into taking it. But other than the night sweats I didn't have any side effects. I'm about 18months on now and feel really good. Although the night sweat thing still happens sometimes.

@Riser did you have any nausea? I've been totally wiped and sleeping really deeply which I know isnt the norm. When did you notice an improvement?

@Carrotcakefiend

Thanks for the tip. I've been taking it in the evenings after dinner. How far in did the night sweats start?

I cant describe how I feel. Out of it but not groggy. It's a really odd feeling.

@Lockdownbordem

That's good to hear you had no other symptoms other than night sweats. I've scared myself reading the other forums, people saying that the symptoms in the first 2 weeks are horrendous. I'm worried about symptoms affecting my work or people thinking I have covid.

Maybe TMI but how was your stomachs? Mine is really noisy! Not sore or cramps just incredibly gurgly.

Now that you mention it yes I did. Only for the first few days.

[quote bettydaviseyes1]@Lockdownbordem

That's good to hear you had no other symptoms other than night sweats. I've scared myself reading the other forums, people saying that the symptoms in the first 2 weeks are horrendous. I'm worried about symptoms affecting my work or people thinking I have covid.[/quote]
I was worried about the side effects but honestly it's turned my life around.

The side effects sound awful for Paracetamol too, but most people are comfortable with taking it. Any side effects are a worry, but most of the ones listed are rare, and if you do get any of them, that doesn't mean they will be strong side effects only. I think you are doing the right thing. Please give Sertraline, or any anti-depressant time to work, which is at least six weeks. I do get get night sweats, but the benefits of Sertraline far outweigh the risks for me so I am happy to continue taking it.

Do you have things to do to take your mind off this transition period? Try to distract yourself so you are not constantly looking out for side effects starting. It could be that you don't get any at all, and that would be wonderful, wouldn't it? I hope it goes well for you, OP.

I think I need to go back on mine but I’ve severe health anxiety so I stopped it like 2 weeks in as I didn’t think it was working firstly I think I felt worse and I was also paranoid at what was real symptoms and what was just the sertraline. I woke up drenched in sweat too, that was the main thing that made me stop it cz I didn’t know if that was the sertraline, my anxiety or if I was dying 🤦🏼‍♀️

What dose is everyone on?

For me the night sweating began about 8 weeks in but I also had a stressful life situation and I was going to therapy for trauma so I chalked it up to anxiety dreams. Turns out not! I also know that spaced feeling, like there's a glass wall between you and reality. I still get that a bit almost a year later.

Sertraline a supposed to supress IBS but friends said it made theirs worse

I felt terrible for about two weeks, weird feelings, spaced out, increased anxiety, nausea. Then I really started to feel better.

@Carrotcakefiend

For me the night sweating began about 8 weeks in but I also had a stressful life situation and I was going to therapy for trauma so I chalked it up to anxiety dreams. Turns out not! I also know that spaced feeling, like there's a glass wall between you and reality. I still get that a bit almost a year later.

Sertraline a supposed to supress IBS but friends said it made theirs worse

I think it helps IBS if you suffer with it due to stress and anxiety, however in the first few weeks you can have an upset stomach. That's not the IBS being worse, it's just your body adjusting to the sertraline.

I'm on 50mg and have been since the beginning of January. At the start I struggled to sleep, couldn't orgasm, clenched my jaw, had bad headaches and a slightly upset stomach. Nothing that stopped me living my life as normal, and within two weeks I was fine and started feeling slow improvements in my mood too :).