Sertraline

[Anxietysucks87]

Hi all,
Started 50mg of Sertraline 3.5 weeks ago for crippling anxiety/suicide ideation, for the first 2 weeks I had heightened anxiety and insomnia, the insomnia has settled down but I'm still feeling quite anxious (mornings especially) and I'm reading threads of people saying they felt better straight away and certainly within the first 2 weeks. Is this normal? Praying that they will work after battling through the last few weeks.

I felt worse for 3 maybe even 4 weeks but then one day I just realised I hadn't had a panic attack that day. It's totally normal, no one would feel better immediately (probably placebo) but keep going.

Sertraline did not work for me. I took it for 8 weeks and had massively increased anxiety and truly bizarre paranoia (which I have never had before or since). I stopped taking it and felt better quite quickly. Having said that, I know it works wonders for a lot of people. Maybe give it 8-12 weeks and see how you feel?

Thanks for you responses. I will give it another couple of weeks and fingers crossed it will start working. I do find I'm having odd moments of feeling good but it doesn't last x

Give it 6-8 weeks minimum in my experience. For me (and I may be unusual) it's taken this long both times I've been on it (and getting on it was hell for the first 2 weeks). You've done the worst bit so I'd give it a go for another few weeks yet. It is a good drug, despite how it feels initially!

Thanks @Closterfack Guess I've just got to be patient and keep the faith 💪

Yep I'm afraid it was a long haul for me but others have found the effects quicker.

Is anxiety new for you? Has your GP suggested anything else? I find exercise and just generally trying to do my usual thing helpful, otherwise it's so easy to retreat into my own head...

Hope you are doing ok

It took around 6 weeks for me to work properly. I felt slightly different around the same time as you but not fully, it wasn’t easy but I am glad I persevered. Hang on in there xx

@Closterfack I think it's going to be a slow burn with me too but worth it if they will help. I've always been an anxious person but had a couple of stressful events happen over the last couple of years and the anxiety has become unmanageable. I done an online CBT course late last year and as much as it was useful at the time it didn't really have a long-lasting effect. You're right about exercise though, it definitely helps and keeping busy. Thanks for the reassurance x

Thanks @Saucepot1985. It always helps when you hear other people who have been down the same road and finally got the benefits from it. I think just trying to relax and trusting they will work is the best thing for me x

Hi, Yes I’m nearly 3 weeks & still suffering anxiety but trying to stay positive. Can you tell me when your Insomnia started to get better please? I’m lucky if I get 3 hours sleep a night. Dr prescribed Zopiclone but nervous about taking sleeping tablets.

Hi, I would say it was about 4 weeks until I started sleeping better. I didn't want to take sleeping tablets either, maybe give it another week and see if it improves. I have started taking Magnesium supplements before bed too and I think they might have helped.

Started on Sertraline yesterday 50mg around 6pm I went to sleep around 10 and woke up at 12am with the runs!! Went back to sleep then woke up at 6am feeling sick and have severe anxiety! Is this normal?? Thanks

Yes, I honestly nearly gave them up several times in the first few weeks as I felt horrible!

Sertraline are a slow burn and will take a bit of time to level in your system but so worth it in my opinion. I'm 14 weeks in now and feel sooooo much better and motivated, haven't felt this good in a long time, if ever. I would definitely recommend them and is worth the few weeks of feeling rubbish initially.

Chlomipramine will not raise anxiety in the start up phase.

It only hits serotonin receptors. Fluoxetine hits noradrenaline and Sertraline dopamine. These are both activating and can raise anxiety.

Seroxat, citalopram and Chlomiprimine hit serotonin which is calming. Seroxat and citalopram are SSRI’s which can raise anxiety in the start up phase. Chlomiprimene is a totally different kind of drug.

please please trust me!

Hi, I’m currently on 10 weeks at 50mg, do you mind me asking when you started to feel better? Are you taking 50mg also? Thanks

Anxietysucks87 Do you mind me asking when you started to feel better please? I’m 10 weeks on 50mg, had few good weeks but seem to have dipped again. Are you still on 50mg? Thank you

@Jancotts of course, I started having some really good days after around 8/9 weeks but so many dips in between but I have felt more consistently better after 13 weeks (the 13th week was a bit of a nightmare but I think that could have been me levelling). I'm on 50mg too. You've done 10 weeks so you're so close, you got this 💪

The first two weeks were hell and I started to have good days week 4. I’m now a couple of years in and will utilise sertraline for another year potentially.

It has been such a strength to me when going through a difficult time

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow
@Marypoppinsnot

I have taken clomipramine a number of times over a long period. My experience is slightly different in that it did increase my anxiety initially (they all have no matter what I've tried.)
I'm not saying this to put you off because it's really helped me at different times but to let you know that I've taken diazepam short term to help get over that initial anxiety. Once it's settled I've then been able to stop the diazepam without any problem.

@Marypoppinsnot clomipramine didn't cause weight gain for me. And yes took diazepam at the start to help with initial anxiety.