Sertraline. Please hold my hand.... :(

[allthingsbright10]

I have suffered for years with anxiety.

I’ve always managed to control it with mindfulness / relaxation.

Since having my son last year, anxiety has been through the roof.

I’ve also felt quite depressed too.

I spoke with my GP last week and decided that I can no longer manage this alone and I need some support.

She has prescribed 50mg of Sertraline.

I’m terrified.

In scared of side effects, will I feel worse?

I’m breastfeeding and I’m worried it will affect my son (Dr said it’s fine to continue to breastfeed)

I really need something to help me but my anxiety is now causing me to think Sertraline isn’t safe / good for me.

Can someone please give me some positive stories.

Hi @allthingsbright10 I'm sorry I don't have any advice re breastfeeding but I have been on sertraline around 2 years now. It's the best thing that happened to me.

I ploughed on for so long trying to deal with my mental health myself but I had gotten to a point where I didn't see the point in living and finally went to the drs.

Tried a few different SSRI before coming onto sertraline and it has been the best thing. That realisation of "oh, is this how everyone else has experienced life?"

I have also had no side effects but as I said, I cannot comment on breastfeeding.

I just wanted to give you a positive story as I was also very reluctant to try it.

Also. Sending care and hugs

So sorry you're going through this OP

I'm currently on sertraline for anxiety and have been for around 2 years. It's the best thing I ever did.

The side effects I experienced where all in the first few weeks and have all subsided. They where extreme tiredness in the first few weeks and not being able to sleep properly so tossing and turning. Other than that Iv been great on them.

I hope this works out for you!

I'm sorry you're having a hard time. Sertraline really helped my anxiety. Unfortunately my depression has come back with a vengeance in recent months but I would still definitely recommend trying sertraline, especially for anxiety. Hope you feel better soon 🙂

My adult son takes 50mg sertraline. I honestly think it's saved his life.
It took a good 5 weeks to see any benefit but it works! The only side effects he had were a bit of nausea for a few days, and some insomnia but he now takes the tablet in the morning which helps.
He did try and cut down to 25mg but felt it wasn't working so is now back up to 50mg.
Incidentally 50mg is quite a small dose. You can take up to 200mg.
Good luck, give them a try, I think you will be glad you did!

Hi! I got prescribed it today. It’s the most common one prescribed to women of childbearing age as it’s thought to be safe for pregnancy and breastfeeding. My GP recommended I take half the dose for the first 7 days so 25mg (snapping tablet in half) as she said it’s the best easing in. I listened to a Caroline Foran podcast yesterday where she talks to a psychiatrist about different medications for anxiety and I found it really helpful. It’s one of the earlier podcasts if you can find it.

I’m not taking the SSRI yet as I have a team away day tomorrow and I talked it through with the GP and she recommended holding off for a few days and having beta blockers to offset the fear of the day then start on the other stuff. The 2 can be mixed but she did not recommend this in the early days. The other thing she recommended was NOT TO read the information leaflet in the packet….
Seriously, hunt for that podcast I mentioned above.

Also apparently ride it out for the first 3-4 weeks. So it looks like we’re going on this journey at the same time! Let me know how you go

I take it. I had minimal side effects when i started - slight nausea for about 5 days, that's it. It's really helped me - hope it does you.

My 18 year old daughter takes sertraline for anxiety as was having panic attacks at work. It has definitely worked for her. She started getting them again and the dr increased it to 100mg. The only problems she has is if she accidentally misses a dose. If she does she feels shakey and jittery and generally unwell until she takes the missed dose. Also she has occasional waves of nausea but finds this much more preferable than panic attacks.