Sertraline- Please share your honest experience

[ACCx]

Hi, so I suffer massively with health anxiety. I feel like it is starting to make me depressed also. Currently having CBT for my anxiety. Currently I’m having muscle twitches all over my body and convinced myself it’s MND or something like that. Dr has tried to reassure me this is just anxiety and has told me I should consider taking sertraline. (I had it prescribed to me a couple of months ago but was far to scared to take it) it’s just sat in my cupboard and I just need to make a decision. I know I should take it, but I’m terrified of it having a negative effect on me. I heard people just feel numb on it and that’s not what I want. Please share your experiences if you don’t mind. Or if you can think of anything alternatively please share.

I used to take sertraline. It really helped me, especially with anxiety. I didn't have any side effects even on a high dose.

I took it for anxiety a few years ago. I didn’t find it made me numb - it took a few weeks to make any sort of difference and tbh I felt worse during the first couple of weeks but my doctor told me that would happen so I expected it. Once it kicked in I found it very very helpful - it helped me manage my anxiety and take back control. I wasn’t on it very long because I fell pregnant and decided to stop taking it while pregnant - had no issues gradually reducing dose, no withdrawals. It’s different for everyone of course and I was really scared to take it but I think you have to balance the hypothetical risk of the drug along with the severity of your anxiety. Good luck xx

I was on it for a few years. It made me feel more me. No side effects until I got to a very high dose. It just took the edge off the anxiety related symptoms so I could function a bit more normally and gave me the headspace to be able to engage in therapy and other helpful behaviours.

I would also say that it’s one of the better drug’s out there for anxiety. One of my friends suffered from post natal anxiety and took sertraline for several months. She said it saved her life.

It helped my anxiety massively - I’d probably go so far as to say it changed my life after a breakdown in September of last year. I didn’t sleep as well for the first week after taking them (could’ve been anxiety not the tablets) and they do give me heartburn if I don’t take them with plenty of water! Otherwise, I function so much better than I did without them. I had CBT too, which was good to gain clarity but I feel it wouldn’t have been as effective without the sertraline. I was nervous about taking medication, but for me I was lucky that these helped and I’m hopeful that one day I won’t need them any more. If you don’t get on with sertraline there are lots of alternatives. I hope if you do take them they give you the help you need x

Wow thank you all so much. I’m just going to take them. I suppose if I don’t agree with them after the first month or 2 I can just stop??

Hello I don't want to hi-jack thread but I have had a very sad and stressful summer which followed lots of other difficult events, and I am contemplating taking sertraline too. In fact I am going to the doc this afternoon about it so I'm interested in this thread and was about to start my own when I saw yours op! I hope that the meds work for you if you decide to take them, and that hey help you with your health anxiety Anxiety of any sort is the pits.

The things I am worried about apart from side effects is that sertraline will make me sleepy, when I am already feeling sluggish. (I am more depressed than anxious, although I do have some anxiety, and depression seems to have affected me physically eg I have no motivation and can't seem to bloody move off the sofa. I can't face social events. Can't make decisions! Can't prioritise at work. Everything is an enormous effort from brushing my teeth to sending an e-mail. I can sleep for England too!)

Also I am worried about weight gain as I am already four stone overweight and if I put a load more on, I will find it very hard as I am trying to lose it.

Finally I am worried about withdrawal when I stop it. I have seen it mentioned on here that Sertraline isn't easy to come off as you get weird brain zaps and other side effects which terrify me.

I'd be very grateful for any advice and again sorry to hop on to the coat tails of this thread!

Please don’t just stop if you decide they’re not for you @ACCx, it’s important to taper off safely and chat to your doctor. I took sertraline and it helped me massively, much better than other antidepressants Ive had in the past but of course everyone is different. They worked quite quickly for me too, although I did find that I started to grind my jaw a bit for the first week or two as a side effect.

@Barewires I personally didn’t find them hard to come off or experience any brain zaps or sleepiness. I took them for depression and they made me feel optimistic and energetic again.

[quote FrangipanFlower]@Barewires I personally didn’t find them hard to come off or experience any brain zaps or sleepiness. I took them for depression and they made me feel optimistic and energetic again.[/quote]
Thank you so much Frangipani that is so good to hear!

@Barewires hey, I’m sorry to hear you’re struggling. So I plucked up the courage and took my first one this morning after the lovely replies I had on here. I’m also worried about side effects and coming off them. However i have hit an all time low and I just think it’s worth a try now. It’s taken me since May to put one in my mouth. If the dr prescribes you some and you’re worried feel free to send a PM. It could be helpful to speak to someone that is also starting x

@FrangipanFlower thank you. I would definitely discuss with a dr before coming off them because I would want reassurance that any side effects of coming off or reducing are normal. The joys of health anxiety. I have finally taken one in this morning!x

Aw ACCx that is really kind of you thanks! And well done for taking your first one! I'm the same in that I have been dithering for ages but I think I need to take the plunge.

My gp appt is in an hour so if you have any extra questions you want me to ask then shoot and I'll report back!

Thank you :) good luck for your appointment. I think I asked everything this morning other than the ‘numb’ feeling some people get! You also mentioned potential weight gain which I wasn’t aware of. I hope that isn’t the case as I could really do without that lol x

Hi op,

I’ve been on sertraline for a few years after anxiety that was sparked off after my DD was born. I was on a different medication before the Sertraline but it stopped working for me. I’ve found it great, no side effects.

A couple of months ago I felt at the stage where I’m ready to wean off it, so I've been tapering gradually (I’m being quite cautious!) and have had no side effects.

I would suggest you give it plenty of time to give it a proper chance to work- your dose may need to go up to find the dose that works for you, and I think it can take a few weeks to kick in.

All the best of luck with it and I hope it helps you feel better

Ps I don’t feel ‘numb’ on it. I think it just lets me shake things off easier, or let’s things that happen flow over me a bit more - rather than something happening and me delving into a state of anxiety about it :)

It’s also massively helped just always being in a state of general anxiety

Avoid if you have cardiac issues.

@AnotherLongDay thank you very much. I’m glad you feel much better now. I have had lots of reassurance. I don’t know if it’s to early but I already feel a little nauseous. x

It has worked wonders for a family member of mine. They felt worse for the first few weeks, as many do, but then felt so much better. Been on it for years with no side effects

@iamprobablynotyourcupoftea

Avoid if you have cardiac issues.

Interesting you say this!

My update is that I have seen gp who prescribed Escitalopram (she prescribed that in preference to sertraline) but as it is associated with arrhythmia issues, and I have an unexplained arrhythmia, for which I take beta blockers, so I have to see cardiologist first. Even though gp says the risk occurs when it is taken in association with other medicine. I am gutted tbh because I am nervous of seeing cardiologist because I haven't been exercising because I am depressed! So I am in a bit of a Catch 22! Gah!

I second what a PP said. I feel more like me and living without constant anxiety is wonderful.

@ACCx

Thank you :) good luck for your appointment. I think I asked everything this morning other than the ‘numb’ feeling some people get! You also mentioned potential weight gain which I wasn’t aware of. I hope that isn’t the case as I could really do without that lol x

I don't think weight gain happens to everyone by any means ACCx especially if it helps you to be more active.

It's kicking in for me and I've only been on it for a week or two. I had a few headaches and some indigestion, but I'm sleeping much better and feel a lot calmer as I go about my day. Today I wondered if colours are actually looking brighter, but it might have just been the light/weather. Good luck OP.

Has anyone suffered d&v while taking this? I was prescribed it but too scared to take it as the doctor said it can cause sickness. I was prescribed it for anxiety and one of my major stressors is health anxiety and emetophobia

My dh takes sertraline. He's very happy to take it. He's a GP himself and decided together with his own doctor to give it a try. He's feeling so much better on it. Only side effect is his bowels are a bit loose.

I was also on it years ago, even took it breastfeeding x 3 and pregnant x 2. Eventually it stopped working for me but that was after years. I really didn't have any side effects at all.

Give it a go - what have you got to lose?

It’s really helping me. I feel like a new person! I did have mild nausea and a headache for 2 days and insomnia for just the first night and a bit of diarrhoea but nothing major.