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.

Hi all. I managed 3 days on 25mg and just felt awful. I am emetophobic and the constant light headedness and seasick feeling was just making me feel horribly anxious. Haven't taken any since the day before yesterday and I still don't feel right. Not sure what now... Good luck everyone.

I got prescribed these to help with adhd and being irritable but I haven't taken them due to weight gain side effects

I'm already over weight and can't deal with being more overweight

Is anyone about please.

I took first dose this morning, 50mg. I feel shaky since lunch then had a very upset stomach. I've now just been so so sick. I can't feel like this, I'm on my own with two little ones. I've never had a reaction to anything medical wise before. Is his normal?

@stripetop

Is anyone about please.

I took first dose this morning, 50mg. I feel shaky since lunch then had a very upset stomach. I've now just been so so sick. I can't feel like this, I'm on my own with two little ones. I've never had a reaction to anything medical wise before. Is his normal?

Vomiting?

You poor thing.

There is a chance it could be norovirus that is going around and fits symptoms

But certainly setraline is linked with nausea

However meant to ease up quickly

I escaped any side effects but apparently rare

@Reallyimeanreally2022 yes. I felt very nauseous for about an hour then threw up. Now feel ok.

I also started propranolol last week so maybe just all to much.

Hi all, I just want to suggest Lexapro (different to Sertraline) if you cannot tolerate Sertraline. I cannot tolerate Sertraline (dizzy, sleepy, nauseous) and find Lexapro easy to take - no side effects. Just in case you want another option.

@stripetop how are you feeling now? I started last week and had nausea, shaking and felt really weird on my first night with sertraline. I then started snapping my tablets in half and taking 25mg instead of 50mg. I’ve been taking 25mg and the side effects aren’t as bad. I will be upping to 50mg though and I am hesitant but I will see how I get on. Maybe snap yours in half and see if it gets a little better. X

@ACCx I feel ok I think. Slightly sick but nothing like before. Such an upset tummy. That's a really good idea. I might try that although I'm wondering whether I can face it again

@stripetop I was like that! When I had my head in the toilet I genuinely thought ‘I can’t take another and keep going through this’ but honestly once I’d snapped them in half and had them that way I felt sooo much better! Give it a go. X

@ACCx so you were also sick. I keep reading about feeling sick but I was so proper sick.

On my own with two under two and just can't do it.

Sorry to hear you are going through this, I too suffer with mental health issues and when it’s severe it is a very dark place to be.
Okay, so first of all, I will say that antidepressants have literally saved my life. If I hadn’t been prescribed them I would be dead by now, by suicide, of that I am sure. I was originally on citalopram for about 14 years. They stopped working after a long time (triggered by a situation, not to do with the tablets). I then went on sertraline… these were not at all suited to me! I was awful on them - overthinking everything, couldn’t sleep, lashed out at people, unnecessary lying to people, completely out of character. I know of other people who have been absolutely fine on them & have had no negative experiences. I have been on fluoxetine for the past few years and these are definitely the best for me. Life is much better. More manageable. Don’t be afraid to try medication. Some people really DO need it and it’s unfair of others who don’t have any experience of anxiety/depression to say things like “medication doesn’t do anything”. Do what is right for YOU. xx

I felt very nauseous for at least the first week, phoned gp and they gave me ani sickness tablets and if I’m honest I felt worse for first 4 days but it’s definitely getting better, I’m on week 3. GP also advised to snap tablets in half and then up to the 50mg after 10 days or so. I have zero appetite though and have lost well over a stone in weight so I guess every cloud!

Keep going ladies, it is SO common to feel particularly rough during that first week. Please don’t be put off by the side effects, unless they really are terrible. It does pass. Sertraline changed my life…

@stripetop a lot of good advice here. And yes I was sick. Try the tablets in half and see how you get on. X

I take Sertraline 50mg (amongst other meds) and honestly, I can't fault it. I think it's worked brilliantly for my depression. No side effects. I take it in the morning as it makes me quite alert, but apart from that, it really lifted me out of a dark place

Don't feel numb on it either. Just normal really. I've heard it can affect sex drive. It has a little, but not hugely and tbh I'd rather not be depressed and it affect my sex drive a little bit. Small sacrifice I'm happy to live with

Sorry just reading through the thread lol

I did feel a bit nauseous in the first week, not to the point of vomiting or anything, just a bit queasy, but after that, I felt brand new. If you can get over the initial side affects at first, if they're not severe obviously, then I would say it's definitely worth it in the long run

I did 4 days on 75mg and now on day 4 of 100mg. Feel weird but ok. My anxiety has been less today but when I first started on 50mg I’d have odd days of less anxiety then it would smash back in so m not holding out hope just yet that it’s having an effect but who knows!

Hi, can someone give me some advice, I’ve been on sertraline for nine ish days and my goodness. I’m super super dizzy and tired on them. Will this pass? It feels like it’s getting worse.

It does pass @BlueCookieMonster. It feels like it never will but day by day it eases back to feeling human.

I’m at the same stage with my increase and feel really spaced out but it did pass when I started initially. Keep going, you won’t regret it x

I wouldn’t mind, but I’m only on bloody 25mg 😬🤣🙄. I’m wondering if going to the 50mg would help, but then again would it make it worse?

Seriously, the world is a boat and my energy is zapped.

Mood , it’s so much more better! Well apart from driving myself insane with the side effects.

@BlueCookieMonster I’m also on 25mg and hesitant to go up to 50mg. But I do see some improvement with my anxiety already. So it’s worth it x

I’m so nervous about going from 25mg to 50mg. Sat here with the tablets deciding if I should take a full one or snap it. I’ve found my anxiety is a bit better already. So should I increase to 50mg to see if it gets even better? The doctor did recommend 50mg. Argh I don’t know what to do

Just stick to 25 for the first month, or even longer. Don't add stress by going up yet. Sertraline really helped me but it's a tiny dose. Just helps reduce the waves of emotion and anxiety. Keep going.

@ACCx I was nervous about going up to 50mg but it’s honestly ok (well it was for me anyway) - the way I saw it described is that the GP recommends beginning with 25mg to check you can tolerate it, acclimatise to the side effects etc, before moving up to the 50mg. I expected to have to go through all the side effects I’d experienced in the first week again, maybe even worse but it wasn’t like that at all - I guess as the medication was already in my system. I’ve been taking it for almost a month now and each day gets easier and I’m so glad I stuck with it. Good luck, I’m sure it will help you x