Starting sertraline or not - struggling to decide

[WorstCook]

Feeling a bit stuck. Wondering how you made the decision of whether to take medication or not? The doctor prescribed me 50mg Sertraline 3 weeks ago for anxiety but reading the side effects and potential withdrawal problems really put the frighteners on me and I haven't taken them yet. Doctor is phoning tomorrow to see how I'm getting on with them and no idea what to say to her.
As a bit of background, I've always been a worrier and suffered with mood swings, but since my son was ill a few years ago anxiety has taken me over. It's not so much panic attacks anymore but more a constant churning and fixating on a never ending list of worries. I'm so irritable and quick to lose my temper, I feel so useless at everything. Some days I feel like I'm doing ok, but then it comes and knocks me sideways. I feel so bad about it, I've spent this weekend either being narky and horrible to people or asleep in bed. I know I ruin the atmosphere in the whole house, and everyone hates it when I'm feeling low but I just can't hide it. My husband is lovely and tries to be understanding but I'm so horrible to him sometimes, I feel like I hate him when I'm feeling down (I definitely don't!)
I've had counselling (GP referred to the local psychology service) for the trauma of my son's illness, and it did help a bit in terms of dialling down the panic a bit but I think the mood swings are worse than ever.
Would sertraline help with the mood swings and general irritability/anger? I'm torn as on a good day I feel quite positive that I can manage without medication but this weekend in particular I've just felt desperate.
Sorry it's such an essay! Any advice/similar experiences? Thanks

I think it would help. I’ve been on sertraline for about 8 months due to anxiety and it has made a difference. Like you I was always worrying and fixating on things and it’s definitely taken the edge off that. I started on 50 mg but it was mostly when it went up to 100 mg that I noticed a difference. I haven’t really had any side effects apart from being a bit nauseated and headachy for the first couple of days.

I felt the same but honestly it was the best thing I did starting sertraline. I started at 25mg because I was so anxious about the side effects. I was on 100mg (after gradually increasing every 2 weeks) for about 8 months and then came off them as gradually with very few side effects. Sertraline picked me out of a massive hole. I didn't even realise how bad I was feeling until I started to feel better on sertraline.

Thanks both. Really helpful to hear that it's been useful (and the side effects weren't as bad as I'm imagining!)
@mondaymusing how have you found being off them? It doesn't just go back to how you felt before? Think I'm worried I'll never be able to stop once I start!

Each time I reduced my dose I had a little anxiety wobble but then it levelled out. I was expecting it so just waited it out and made sure I committed to nothing stressful if I could. I spent two weeks at each lower dose before going down again and told my self it was just to try. No expectation of coming off them.
I'm fine now. I've been off completely for about 5 weeks. My mood feels good. My pms was worse this month but that's it. When I started them I was having panic attacks, not sleeping and I was not coping with family life. I don't feel like that at all anymore.

That's great to hear, thanks so much. Spoke to the doctor and she has suggested starting at 25mg as I'm nervous about the side effects, just hoping it helps!

I'm in a similar situation. I've been feeling increasingly anxious over the last few months and it culminated in a series of panic attacks at work. I'm frontline NHS so work is obviously stressful but it's been particularly bad recently with poor staffing. I've just been signed off for 2 weeks and prescribed sertaline but unsure whether to take it. I'm debating seeing how I feel after a couple of weeks away from my main cause of stress... I think I've been suffering a bit of anxiety for years though, like so often having that nervous feeling. Would appreciate any advice.

Front line NHS must be so stressful, can't even imagine! Hopefully things start to feel a bit better for you with some time off.
It's the knot in my stomach feeling I'm hoping might ease, it's been so long I can't remember how it feels without it.

Watching with interest.

Well you can always stop if you hate it. My AD rarely gets prescribed anymore as its reputation precedes it for numerous and severe side effects. I'm on the highest dose now and you know what side effects I've had? A couple dizzy spells when first starting which resolved within 2 weeks and a dry mouth. That's it.

Not everyone gets them. Same with withdrawal symptoms, you just taper off slowly if you've been on them years.

Thanks @nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut, you've echoed what the doctor said to me in that I can try them and if I don't get on with them I can stop. Think I've just been overthinking it all (for a change!!) I'm on day 3 of 25mg and touch wood I'm feeling ok so far, certainly nowhere near as bad as I feared. Thanks for your help.

Oh that is encouraging worstcook.

Oh that is encouraging worstcook.

I've been taking it for a year nearly. Initially 50 mg but upped to 100mg at Christmas due to a set back. I have anxiety and depression and haven't felt so normal for a long time. It really helps me to get on with life, and apart from feeling sleepy for the first couple of weeks I have no other side effects. I haven't worried about the withdrawal when I stop it as I'm just so glad to be in a different place than I was before.

I started taking it last Thursday and have just been doing 25mg but suffering quite badly from the nausea. Until today I've been taking it in the late morning (except yesterday I took it about 2pm). Since starting it I've struggled to eat dinner in the evening and have also found it hard to get to sleep til around 1am. Today I thought I'd wait til bedtime to take it but I still feel a bit nauseous even though I've not had it since yesterday around 2pm. How do people manage these side effects with work? My sick note is due to expire next week (I only had 2 weeks off) and I'm dreading being sick at work (home working not an option).