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.

@Holdingonforlife thanks for your reply it's good to hear from someone who has been in a similar situation, I've struggled massively with the changeover and will be 3 weeks tomorrow on the 50mg sertraline, can I ask was it that you lost your appetite? I've always had slight anxiety about choking when eating but this has increased massively which is my main concern at the minute but it could be the added effect of loss of appetite but I'm dwelling on this constantly, did your thoughts calm down after a while the doctor has said phobias can heighten initially. Like you I'm looking for answers on here constantly, I hope you are doing well

@Daisy829 that's good to hear that it was a positive experience for you and helped I'm hoping for the same outcome if I can get through these hurdles

@BadSpellaSpellaSpella thanks for replying did you have side effects at the beginning and when did you feel you felt the benefit of them? I to suffer with anxiety and again it's good to hear positive feedback

@Wookey123 aww I feel your pain I also started on a half dose and certainly did feel out of sorts I think the problem is we overthink things as I'm constantly thinking of how I feel, you should feel a little better shortly apparently our bodies need to get used to them

Hey, I created this thread being soo nervous to take sertraline and now I can honestly say it was the best thing I’ve done. The only complaint at the moment is that a few weeks ago I started having really vivid dreams. I’m assuming this is down to sertraline? It’s every night and it’s unusual for me. Has anyone had this where the dreams just randomly start after a few months of being on it?

@FreddyP
I completely lost my appetite at the beginning, felt nauseous, not a fear of eating as such. I ended up just drinking Complan for a couple of weeks. I'd recommend that if you are struggling as it's a meal replacement drink.
My anxiety massively increased at the start and then one day, after about three weeks, it gradually settled. I suspect that's what's going on in your case. It should settle eventually. I still have bad patches now but they don't last long and I have to remind myself it's just a phase.
@ACCx
I had very vivid dreams and night sweats when I started so wouldn't be surprised if it's the sertraline. I sometimes get them now, mainly around the time of the month

@Holdingonforlife thanks for replying it's so reassuring to know that someone else wasn't eating and living off shakes as I've been worried sick about this one than anything ATM but now I can remind myself you were the same and not eating it will help massively, your reply has come just at the right time as I had a goodish day yesterday but I'm rough again today and obsessively worrying that the not eating will do me harm! Thanks again!

I started 2 and a half weeks ago on 50mg. Haven't had too many side effects bar keeping waking up, that settled a bit but was bad again last night. I was also tired for about first 3 days but not feeling that now.
I had heightened anxiety for 2 days in the first week and started feeling it again yesterday but feeling slightly better today. Hoping it will settle a bit more in next few days.
I had no appetite before going on the tablets as was so low but that lifted after about a week of being on them.

I'm just posting as my GP has suggested this drug. My concern is that I have cardiac issues and take a beta blocker too.

Is anyone else combing the two meds? I would be interested to hear of any feedback please!

Thank you

I have had crippling health anxiety for 12 years. I've been taking Sertraline for nearly 8 weeks. Around weeks 4-5 I was worried they weren't making a huge difference but now I am feeling SO much better. I don't catastrophise about things and now I'm feeling more settled it has made me realise how many of my behaviours (eg going on Rightmove 10+ times a day) were anxiety-related. Wish I'd been advised to take it 12 years ago! The effect has been gradual for me whereas a couple of people I know have had effects within the first week or two - everyone's different. I have restless legs, vivid dreams and sometimes diarrhoea as side effects, but that is all so much better than the anxiety I was coping with before!

Oh and @FreddyP my anxiety was so much worse in those first couple of weeks and I felt like my eyes were out on stalks - it used to come in waves and make me worried the Sertraline wasn't working. It wore off for me around 5 weeks.

@sulkysukey thank you so much you have given me hope as I'm coming up to my 4th week on Monday and am feeling defeated as I have to push myself to get dressed or go the shop ATM as my anxiety is high, I am having a slightly better week than last but still very restless and agitated especially in the mornings, thanks again I'll keep pushing on!

@FreddyP I think Sertraline is definitely one you have you stick at - if you're not feeling better after 6-8 weeks it might be worth upping the dose but it's amazing how different how I feel now at nearly 8 weeks compared to 4-5 weeks. I think a lot of people struggle around 4-5 weeks. I hope you get some relief soon - unless you've experienced it I don't think people really understand how crippling anxiety can be {fbiscuit]

(that was supposed to be !

@sulkysukey thank you I'm hoping this will be the case for me as like you say anxiety is definitely crippling and I think unless you've suffered with it it's hard for people to understand the impact it has on us, I'm consumed by it ATM and thinking about it constantly but hoping this dies down in the coming weeks, I'm glad they worked for you eventually and you're feeling the benefits 😊

Sertraline saved my life. I found I could eventually get off it by consuming a lot more animal fat as I believe I was missing EFAs. I also learned to get control of my breathing and thus the anxiety and that helped me get off it.
The brain zaps went after seven months off it.

Hi there
I’m currently trying to come off them and I feel absolute horrendous. If I’d known how hard this would be I would never have gone on them in the first place. I have had Prozac before and felt it was much ‘kinder’ to my body. I would read about sertraline withdrawal before taking anything. This does not mean I’m saying you shouldn’t be on anti depressants - just that you should know all the facts first

@Happyharry2003 yes I was the same coming off chlomipramine after 27 years it was horrendous and wasn't aware it would be like that so I do feel for you it's not a nice experience

[quote FreddyP]@Happyharry2003 yes I was the same coming off chlomipramine after 27 years it was horrendous and wasn't aware it would be like that so I do feel for you it's not a nice experience[/quote]
Sorry to hijack but can I ask how long it look for you to feel ok again?

@Happyharry2003 it's hard to say really as I've now started on sertraline and going through a hard time adjusting to them but coming off my previous meds I suffered terrible electric zaps, vertigo, dizziness and massive panic attacks the last one being the reason I was ever on them. Things did settle for the other symptoms about a couple of weeks from taking my last tablet and I thought I'd be able to cope without any AD but unfortunately I couldn't so back to square one, are you tapering off gradually?

Hi I'm really sorry to be posting again but I just need some reassurance (again) 😔 I'm coming up to my 6th week of sertraline on Monday and there has been some improvement but I'm massively worried to the point of obsession as I'm still not eating properly, I'm eating small bits but find even though I'm hungry I just don't want to eat and its frightening me, I've also been having meal replacement shakes to help but today I'm again filled with anxiety and fear have no motivation and just feel really really sad flat and weepy, christmas has been a write off this year which has made me feel even worse

@FreddyP might be worth speaking to gp if not much improvement after 6 weeks .

@FreddyP sounds like you’re still pretty anxious and the eating thing is completely normal! Could you maybe up your dose and see if that helps? X

@ACCx yes I think maybe I do but he is reluctant to up the dose until the 8 week mark so it's a waiting game right now but if I can assure myself the eating issue is normal I'd possibly relax a bit better I'm just worrying I will never eat normally again, thanks for your reply x

@wendz86 yes I think I will it's just he's not the most understanding doctor unfortunately unlike my previous gp