Sertraline for anxiety

[lionhead1]

After a couple of years of trying to avoid ADs I've just been to pick up my prescription for sertraline. I've had severe anxiety on and off for a while and have managed to resolve it with exercise and distraction but I'm now at the point where I'm sick of feeling this way.
I don't know why but I'm scared to take them. Has anybody else felt like this?

Yes absolutely. Its a big step.
I've always tried to resolve things herbally/homeopathically if possible before resorting to allopathic medicine but some things cant be shifted with herbal stuff. I started it in April for moderate anxiety and couldn't believe the difference. Ironically I notice how much they helped much more now I'm weaning off them to TTC.

Don't plan anything for the 1st 2 weeks. You might feel crap or nauseous.

Anxiety makes you fear change and crave control, you're about to relinquish some control to change things. It's not surprising that you are worried, but it will be ok!

I took it for a while a few years back, I felt like I'd been living in a trench when everyone else had been wandering around a meadow. Then I climbed out of the trench to see what life was like without the constant badness.

Good luck!

That's exactly how I've tried to do things but I don't feel like it's working anymore. I'm so pleased that they helped you, did they take a while to have an effect? I almost feel as though they aren't going to work/I can't imagine feeling better if that makes sense? How has it been weaning off them if you don't mind me asking?

Sorry that was to @CuriousEats, do most side effects pass after 2 weeks? My GP had told me to take 50mg to start but I didn't know whether to half it for the first couple of weeks to try and reduce side effects.

@Dogtooth thank you so much for that, that explains perfectly how I feel and certainly makes it feel less daunting.

I started on 50mg and though it really helped with my depression, I couldn't feel any discernible effects on my anxiety after 6 weeks so I went up to 100mg. Its so gradual that I found it hard to realise my anxiety was much better, but I started to realise I didn't snap at my toddler anymore and tantrums weren't so overwhelming and the house magically tidied itself! It probably took a few months for me to realise this. Weirdly I didn't have any side effects going on them, but weaning off has been weird. I can suddenly see how much less patience I have. Side effects have been gastric and lots of dizziness, like my brain is 2 steps behind my eyes.

Take them, you wont believe how much you can do!

My SIL and her sister both take sertraline. One had awful nausea for the 1st week, the other didnt have any side effects at all. I didn't have any either.

Ok so maybe I'll need to up them at some point then? Thank you so much for sharing your experience, I'm going to find a good time to start taking them just incase. You've been really helpful 🙂

Yes, my therapist said you wouldn't feel the full benefit of them for up to 6 weeks, and then a few weeks later you might feel like they're less effective again, which means you need to up the dose. Then again, it can take 6 weeks to properly take effect.
Keep in touch with your GP/therapist and keep scheduling in appointments, and together you can tailor it to your needs.

Best of luck.

My GP said that it could take up to 6 weeks to take effect. I noticed a change straight away. Side effects weren't so bad, probably the worst was jaw clenching, but I just chewed lots of gum.
Made me come out of a bad place, I was only on 50mg which worked fine for me. You may find that that is enough.

It takes time to show even small changes depending on the severity of your condition.
Yes even i was scared about side effects and stuff. But after going on them, i feel stable and myself

I take them now after being cautious at first. There brilliant, it’s like it focuses you and you can actually see and then know how to sort your life out. It just brings clarity. I randomly get really relaxed sometimes too and that feels great as it’s a welcomed relief

I'm onto my third week - first week at 25, second at 50 and now 2 days at 75mg. So desperate for it to start working. I'm withdrawing off citalopram too and finding it all really hard. I just want to feel better.