Sertraline for mild general anxiety? Worth it?

[Bellablot2254]

Hi everyone.

im looking for some advice please. I’ve suffered with anxiety on and off my whole life. I’ve recently gone though some stressful events and I’m not feeling great. But I’m also not feeling desperate.

I have had a few episodes of desperation but always just rode them out. I’ve always been against medication because I’m scared it will change who I am, or I’ll get addicted.

Basically I’m not depressed (slight low mood) and I’m not ‘crippled’ with anxiety, however I am very irritable and have general underlying anxiety and health anxiety (last 2 weeks of my cycle seem to be worst). I can cope day to day. I still go to work etc, but I feel like having low lying anxiety means I’m not getting the most out of life. I’m scared of everything and I just want to be able to live day to day without overthinking every single thing and being harassed all the time. My brain goes 100 mile an hour nonstop.

I keep reading about how good sertraline is at reducing anxiety, and thinking about trying it.

I suppose my question to everyone who’s taking sertraline, is how exactly does it make you feel? and has anyone took it for mild anxiety? In other words, anxiety that isn’t ruining your life, but definitely having an impact and stopping you from living your best life?

any insight greatly appreciated :)

I've had the opposite as generally my cycle has been longer - 40 days ( think it's my age!) but this month it was back to bang on 28. In sure it's just a coincidence for me.
I'm feeling really good on the sertraline. How's everyone else doing?

I seem to be sleeping better. Have been waking with panicky thoughts at 6am the last month or so and now could sleep in all morning! Still feel anxious and have a real sick feeling in my stomach all the time which I’m hoping subsides if its linked to the Sertraline…

How long have you been on it?

I've been on it about 6 weeks. It has coincided with a change at work which I think has helped. I was really sceptical about sertraline, but my anxiety has gone. I was crying a lot and getting the feeling of a lump in my throat .... It's all disappeared.

How long till you felt the difference?

I think after 3 weeks I felt a difference. I wasn't sure if I needed an AD or HRT, but it seems to have worked. As I say my work situation has changed - working with someone different- and I now can see how stressed I was.

Yes same I have considered it might be HRT I need but GP not v helpful when I mentioned hormones

Hey

I know this is an old post but looking for some advice. I’ve been on 50mg of sertraline for nearly 6 weeks now. Don’t really feel any benefits as of yet. Maybe felt slightly better week 3-4 but have dipped and feel low, anxious and just not great. Dr wants to up me to 100mg so starting this on Saturday whilst my husbands at home over the weekend, just in case I get awful side affects. Anybody had a similar situation and can offer me reassurance that things will get better? Scared this isn’t working for me 😢 xxx

I can’t I’m afraid, I’m on 25-5but wanted to thank you for ressurcting the thread, very helpful. It does seem as if it would be worth a try.
good luck.

Thanks for resurrecting! Tonight will be my 4th tablet and tomorrow my first day in work since taking them. I've been lucky enough to be able to literally lie in bed and do nothing since the first dose which is good because they've given me nausea and dizziness and I feel exhausted. Feeling very nervous about work this week but knew that the first 2 weeks would be rough!

Hello, just wanted to offer reassurance, I thought it wasn’t working for me for a few weeks but slowly started to find things easier. 18mths on I have my life back. Stick with it!

Thank you so much for keeping the thread up to date @Yorkie177

It's so tempting to give up just under a week in - mainly because of the stomach-churning nausea. I can only manage a couple of dry crackers at lunch and at tea time and then I feel really sick. I'm so tired I wish I could just go home and sleep.

I also feel 'spinny' and a bit 'out of body' but I could deal with that if I didn't have the nausea and stomach cramps. I'm not giving up yet though.

Hi,

I just wanted to offer some reassurance for the people in the early stages of taking sertraline. I took 50mg for 6 weeks. Side affects initially were loss of appetite and a bit jittery. Week 5 I felt low mood, despite not suffering from this before - I’m taking them for anxiety. I upped to 100mg as per Drs instructions 9 days ago, and feel already better from this! If things aren’t working, don’t be hesitant to increase! I was so nervous to increase, and felt awful! But only wish I’d done it sooner. I feel like day by day the anxious flutters in my chest are going, and I feel more positive and less anxious! Keep going, and do what feels best for you! Never suffer.. if you need to increase do it 🥰 xx

I had mega gurgly stomach for the first couple of weeks, no nausea though. Watch out for upset stomach as in some people it can cause microscopic colitis and you should come off it if that happens.