Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Mental health

Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention.

Flip

Original poster

Too scared to take sertraline

23 replies

Pollythecat15 · 18/08/2021 19:46

Just that really.
I've been prescribed it and am too scared to take it.

I've heard mixed stories and I know everyone is different and how one person is effected may not be the same for another - but I'm still scared.

I have heard of people actually feeling worse instead of better (although I can't imagine feeling lower than I do right now).

I just want to feel human again, but the thought of scary side effects is putting me off.

OP posts:

HelloMist · 18/08/2021 20:05

Have you been on other antidepressants before? My GP suggested sertraline today and I think he said it's the most common SSRI to try first these days. I haven't tried it and I went for something else but that's just because I've had certain side effects with other ssris and I thought it might be too similar.

Most of the side effects might wear off after a week or 2 if you're lucky, though it takes 4-6 weeks (depending on drug) to take effect, so it'll require patience. If side effects are too bad and not going away you can talk to the doctor about trying a different one, or if it's not helping to increase the dose perhaps first.

Lots of people are really helped by them, it can just be trial and error finding the right one for you, unfortunately.

Bubblemonkey · 18/08/2021 20:14

Made me manic. Although I have bipolar which had slipped through the net. Only lasted a week on it. Side effects settled after about 5 days though. Mostly nausea.

GuyFawkesDay · 18/08/2021 20:16

Oh I felt the same. They did make me feel odd for a little while (spaced out, achy jaw) but honestly, if you can push through that then it's life altering.

PlanDeRaccordement · 18/08/2021 20:17

Ask for an alternative one. I was put on sertraline for PTSD and the side effects were horrible. I had to be very close to a toilet at all times. It was no way to live. So I told my psychiatrist and they took me off and put me on another one. I had to try four or five different ones before I found one that worked and didn’t have bad side effects. There is no problem in trying and then deciding it’s not working, and getting something else. Everyone has different chemistry and so it’s often hit or miss with which one will work for you.

LookToTreblesGoingTreblesGone · 18/08/2021 20:18

I had no side effects at all, and started feeling better after only a couple of days. Wonderful stuff, it's helping me immensely.

GinUnicorn · 18/08/2021 20:20

I felt great within 2 days. Your doctor will know what side affects to look out for. I don’t think I would have survived my PND without them.

BouncyMonk · 18/08/2021 20:21

Hi OP, I know everyone is different but I can honestly say that taking sertraline was the best thing I’ve ever done. It changed my life. I felt a bit buzzy in the head and spaced out but for me it didn’t make the depression worse. I did get an achey jaw from clenching my teeth in my sleep.

As I say, I know everyone is different but for me any side effects paled in comparison to the huge benefits. I didn’t realise all the ways I was suffering until I wasn’t. Try not to be too scared and go easy on yourself

Chiffandbip · 18/08/2021 20:21

I felt brilliant after just a few days and wish I’d started taking them years ago. They’ve improved my marriage, my parenting and my ability to function. Absolute miracle drug.

vampirethriller · 18/08/2021 20:21

I take it and it's honestly saved my life. I would have been dead years ago without it. Side effects were insomnia, which went away when I started taking them in the morning instead of bedtime, and a little twitch in my fingers when I'm very tired. I can live with that to feel human though.

Imcatmum · 18/08/2021 20:25

I was so unwell I've no clue if I had side effects. But within 10 days I was recovering and I've had a great year on it feeling totally calm and happy again. Don't be scared. Getting better us a process and you don't get better doing nothing. You need to try it to know if it's the right one for you or not.

SoundBar · 18/08/2021 20:28

It sent me manic for 3 days and it was scary, hearing voices, racing heart, couldn't sleep.. but DH helped me through it. 5 days in I felt a lot better and it really helped me get through a rough patch where I had been suicidal. Take the tablets first thing in the morning to reduce chances of nausea.

sparklecrazy · 18/08/2021 20:29

Another one here saying it's changed my life, started it for anxiety and it's helped me so much. The only side effect for me was nausea for the first few days which I found tough but so worth putting up with it to get to the part when it kicks in. I started taking it at bedtime so the nausea was overnight rather than during day but it didn't take long to adjust. Ive been taking it over 2 years now. I'd say try it and give it chance. If for any reason you didn't get on with it, there are many other options your GP would suggest.

Atla · 18/08/2021 20:36

I used to take mine at night before bed so as to sleep through any side effects. I can remember feeling a bit spaced out and jittery at first but it very soon settled - 2 weeks maybe? And i felt much better mood wise very quickly.

Abitlikeabiscuit · 18/08/2021 20:42

It's been the best thing I've ever done. I had an hour or two max of slight nausea the first day, nothing from the second and nothing from then on. No lower moods and in fact I felt "different" in a good way from about day two. Probably a placebo effect but hey, I'll take it!
I now wake up every day feeling normal and not at the mercy of anxiety and low mood's whims. It's made me more confident, speak out more at work, I don't worry and agonise over things and I don't pick fights with my husband (as much hah!!), and am more patient with the kiddies.
To echo some of the previous posters, wish I'd done it years ago!
You might get on really well or not and only trying it can tell you. But if you get the worse end of the spectrum in terms of side effects you'll know to stop them and ask for something else.
Best of luck OP!

sausagepastapot · 18/08/2021 20:42

Saved my life too. Was worth a hard week or so, saved me from myself 100%.

popcornlover13 · 18/08/2021 20:45

I had side affects for about a week, mostly nausea but that's a little price to pay for how much better it has made me feel. Good luck op. Xx

catsmother · 18/08/2021 21:01

I felt a bit 'odd' for a couple of weeks but certainly not incapacitated or frightened. More a sensation of feeling somewhat buzzy/spacey every so often. And I kept realising that I was spontaneously clenching my teeth. But those minor side effects only lasted 2-3 weeks. Since then the effect on my anxiety has been significant - the gut wrenching fear and dread has gone from a 10 down to a 1 on the scale of how debilitating it was previously. I also had terrible sleep prior, waking up 3 or 4 times a night in a blind panic. My sleep still isn't 100% perfect but now if I wake up my head isn't immediately flooded with worries and fears. I did have to gradually increase the dose from 50 to 75 to 100mg daily before my sleep settled but the daytime anxiety improved even on the lowest dose.

I was a bit scared beforehand too and in fact hung onto my prescription for 3 weeks before starting because I made the mistake of googling people's experiences (which weren't all bad by any means but when you're already hyper anxious it's those you focus on of course ....) soon after I picked it up. But it eventually clicked that if I didn't try I'd never know and if I got adverse side effects I'd call my doctor back straight away. I figured I had nothing to lose because otherwise I'd have to carry on feeling so awful all the time and I'd already spent so long (years) in that state (and was getting worse). Luckily for me Sertraline suited - obviously it doesn't suit everyone, but you have to start somewhere once you've sought help for mental health issues, and thankfully I didn't have to trial various meds until I found one which helped.

BigBlackRose · 19/08/2021 19:23

What dose are you starting on OP?

They have worked wonders on my adult son. He started on 25mg then after 2 weeks 50mg. Pharmacist advised to take in the morning.
My son felt 'strange' for a week, dizzy, nauseous, shaky.
But after that it turned his life around, he still takes them 2 years later and is back to his old self. I would say it took 4 weeks for him to actually feel totally better.
Good luck.

EmotionalSupportBear · 20/08/2021 14:24

i feel the same about it, used ot take it, but i hated the side effects.. and i lost the ability to orgasm, which is a massive hell no for me.

my mood improved, so yeah it definitely helped in that sense.. but the side effects just totally ruined it for me.

Kittii · 20/08/2021 14:28

You won't know until you try it. See how it goes, if the side effects get too much then stop (with your GP's advice). I was scared to take them too but figured I couldn't feel much worse than I already was. I had headaches and nausea and twitchy muses but am 6 weeks on now and am so glad I persevered as I feel like I have my life back. No amount of CBT/talking therapy made the difference that sertraline has. And I'm only on 50mg.

Kittii · 20/08/2021 14:29

*twitchy muscles (although twitchy muses sounds intriguing...)

hellcatspangle · 26/08/2021 15:20

There's some encouraging stories here, I took my first one this morning and I'm feeling a bit nauseous now.

I'm going through a terrible time at the moment so I really hope they help me to cope without too many side effects.

ittakes2 · 30/08/2021 18:03

I took comfort in knowing sertraline can be used on children with OCD from the age of 6 years old.

Flip