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 went ahead and took the first one this morning. Will see how I go.

Ironically I work in MH so feel almost fraudulent today. I realise how ludicrous that is - we don't expect our GPs to be physical illness-free for eg but still, the feeling is there.

How are the pins and needles?

@ACCx how are you getting on today? Have the pins and needles gone? Hope you’re okay.

@LazyMareofEastown I was the same - I really resisted it and didn’t want to take them but I knew something had to give. I’m glad I did in the end. How are you feeling?

@LazyMareofEastown @naturemumma thank you for asking. They’ve not been to bad today but it’s night time I’ve noticed them the most so im really worrying about sleeping tonight. I’ve not been sleeping good at all. X

How did you sleep ACCx?

I started to feel a bit spaced out (cotton wool in my head?) last night watching telly with DP. Went to bed as normal and fell asleep fine but had a series of short and very vivid anxiety-based nightmares which meant I slept shockingly the second half of the night.

Took the second tablet this morning and am now at work. Have told my manager (and friend) what's going on and she's very understanding so that's good.

What strength is everyone on?

I’m on 50 and seem…. Settled and content
But then I wonder… would 100 be even better?? But I’m being greedy perhaps

@LazyMareofEastown

How did you sleep ACCx?

I started to feel a bit spaced out (cotton wool in my head?) last night watching telly with DP. Went to bed as normal and fell asleep fine but had a series of short and very vivid anxiety-based nightmares which meant I slept shockingly the second half of the night.

Took the second tablet this morning and am now at work. Have told my manager (and friend) what's going on and she's very understanding so that's good.

Did you get this reaction after 1 tablet?? What strength?

Really I'm only on 50mg and tbf have been having bad dreams/interrupted sleep on and off for a while now so can't wholly attribute that to the medication. Seems unlikely after just one?

But I did feel weird last night. Like I was super tired but in a very fuzzy way.

Day 10 for me and finally the jaw clenching is calming down. Still got a funny tummy, but that may be a bug as others in the house have it too.

Feeling less teary, and my dd said I'm smiling more. Day5/6 I couldn't stop grinning and felt really weird.

@LazyMareofEastown thanks for asking. I slept okay when the tingling settled, woke up with numb fingers on one hand which is worrying me. Glad you’re doing okay so far.

@LazyMareofEastown

Really I'm only on 50mg and tbf have been having bad dreams/interrupted sleep on and off for a while now so can't wholly attribute that to the medication. Seems unlikely after just one?

But I did feel weird last night. Like I was super tired but in a very fuzzy way.

Highly highly unlikely after 1.

It’s a very very slow creep

I should mention the numb fingers go away when I move them around abit. I don’t know if the tingling/numbness is a side effect or not.

@Reallyimeanreally2022 I had side effects after my first one. Nausea, jaw clenching, feeling abit shaky and weird. The doctor told me to take 25mg instead.

I had really strong effects even after 1 tablet, do had to cut them down. The anti-depressive effects aren’t instantaneous, but the other side effects can definitely happen after one tablet. They made me feel absolutely bizarre at the beginning! But that went off after a week or so.

@ACCx I’ve gone through phases of waking up with pins and needles / dead arm, but before taking these. Hope it improves soon.

The side effects aren’t nice for most but do pass. I found them to pass v quickly! Was on 50mg for a year, weaned off slowly last year then went back on during pregnancy. I am currently taking 100mg every night and can’t praise sertraline enough. It changed my life for the better.

@abitfunny

Did you notice difference between 50-100? What made you increase?

@Reallyimeanreally2022 - yes! To be honest I’d played with the idea of increasing but was too scared to for a while. Then during pregnancy I became very anxious so bit the bullet and went up to 100. From what I’ve read, it’s more effective at treating both anxiety & depression than 50.

Morning everyone. Hope you're all ok.
I started taking Sertraline on Tuesday, on 25mg for de prey and anxiety. Supposed to go up to 50mg next week. Feeling quite dizzy and lightheaded at the moment. Any ideas on how long this will last? I'm vomit phobic so anything that makes me feel a bit queasy ups the anxiety. Thank you x

Hi All,
hope you dont mind me joining and sharing my experience so far.
I'm on day 32 of sertraline at 25mg per day, taken with breakfast. I was having depressive episodes interspersed with rage for last year getting worse and worse - the last 3 months were unbearable - I had various mini stress related breakdowns where I couldnt control my tears, rage, anxiety for hours on end - horrible! . I strongly suspect PMDD. My doc prescribed 50mg but I halved it and have stayed on 25mg to see how it goes.
Here's my diary so far:

Week 1- within 2 hours of 1st tablet I felt relief from severe irritability- I felt a bit spaced out and quite serene for the 1st week. Tired, clenched jaw, nauseous, no appetite. No libido. Waking ups
a couple of times each night (I'm usually a verygoodsleeper).

Week2 - the serene feeling left and anxiety slowly crept in this week. By day 9 my anxiety was huge - this slowly reduced each day 10/11/12. Extreme tiredness by lunchtime.every day. Appetite still very low. Waking once or twice in the night but sleeping ok. No libido. Yawning all the time! Lack of motivation. Very difficult to work this week but I am wfh so very lucky in that respect. This was the most exhausting week.

Week 3: appetite coming back. Anxiety only for an hour on waking, pretty much every day - not very nice at all. Slowly getting energy back but still spending a lot of time on settee whenever possible. Very reduced irritability, dont feel down, dont feel ecstatic- just 'level' - it's a relief and a rest after a year of severe mood swings tbh. Libido slowly reappearing! Still yawning a lot. Motivation a little better. Feel a bit 'meh'.

Week 4 (I'm in the middle of week 4 now): energy levels almost back to normal. Motivation coming back. Appetite back. Libido back! Anxiety for 20 mins only on 2 mornings so far this week - none today or yesterday. Still yawning a little. Still resting as much as I can. I feel level, I feel calm, I feel mentally stronger. Massive, massive improvement since a couple of weeks ago.

I'm going to stay on 25mg for now as I feel ok on that.

I'll let you know how I'm getting on in week 5!

Good luck - rest lots and eat avocados, bananas, peanut butter to help that serotonin production!

Oops I'm in the middle of week 5 now - not week4! Week4 was similar to week 3- verysmall improvements.

Week 5 has been the much improved week. Hardly any anxiety or any other negative feelings.

@YetAnotherDay hi, I hope you’re finding it okay. I don’t have many tips to be honest. If you’re finding the side effects hard at the moment maybe stick with 25mg or do alternate days 25mg one day then 50mg the next. That’s what my doctor suggested for me.x

@specialsauce that’s really helpful. I’m glad you’re feeling much better now. I’m excited to see how I get on over the next few weeks. I’m snapping my tablets to and only taking 25mg but dr said to up it to 50mg next week which I’m nervous about. Good to hear you’re getting on well with just 25mg

Yes I'm reluctant to go to 50mg at the moment as the tiredness/yawning/nauseous week makes it impossible to work. 25mg is ok for me at the moment so I'm just seeing how it goes week by week-if the improvement stays I'll stick with it. Ive read its not in full effect until weeks 6-8 for anxiety and week 12 for depression so I'm going to wait and see how I feel on those deadlines before deciding on upping to 50mg.

Going to join this thread as I am on day 3 of 50mg sertraline. Have noticed reduced appetite, dry mouth and loose and more frequent stools. Sleep seems to be ok (I take it in the morning) feel a bit disconnected and low energy.

Morning all,

I found your post really useful specialsauce, thank you.

I'm on Day 4 and the only current side effect is tightness at the sides of my jaw, in front of my ears. Am trying to consciously avoid clenching but it's happening without me realising. No teeth grinding which is good.

I feel ok in general and my compulsion to pick/bite my skin has decreased so my poor fingers are getting a much needed rest.

Slept really well the last two nights.

Onwards we go.

Morning all. I have just increased to 75mg last night. I feel ropey today but not as bad as I expected. I slept fine 😊

I took sertraline verr briefly and it did not suit me at all. I felt like an absolute zombie, couldn't concentrate-it was like a I was lightly sedated and then has hallucinations/visual disturbances at night time so I came off it straight away. The doctor did say this was a very usual reaction though.
A friend of mine also didn't find it helpful they took it for 2 months I think and said they found it kept them low - although they do say it came make you worse before better.
Another friend of mine has been taking it for a few years now, even took it through pregnancy and found it made her feel like her old self again. So unfortunately there's just no way of knowing. The only thing you can do is try them and if you don't like the effect ask the doctor to prescribe you something else