Scared of how it (sertraline) will make me feel

[Fibromum247]

I would really welcome anyone's experiences on how it made you feel, please, from taking that first tablet to where you are now.

Please tell me both good and bad as I need to get as accurate a picture of possible.
I appreciate everyone will have different experiences/ degrees of side effects, but for me it is very much fear of the unknown.

I am close to building up the courage to accept the prescription my GP has offered me, but I have no idea what to expect.
The thing that scares me most is the thought of feeling dizzy (one of the possible side effects listed) as I just can't cope with that feeling.

I am going through a sad time in my life and feeling very low and tearful at the moment. As my name suggests, I also have fibromyalgia and experience a lot of physical pain which also gets me down.

Will sertraline cause emotional numbness?
I have no idea, and as I say it is that fear of the unknown that is making me afraid.

I have taken sertraline for a few months twice. The second time was positive throughout. I took the first tablet in the evening, and woke up to a day where I just didn't feel anxious any more. It was as if the spaces in my brain full of dark terror of what could go wrong were all full of pink cotton wool and a feeling of 'I'll do my best and it'll probably be all right.' It was extraordinary. I was able to function at work. I went back into therapy for a bit.

I didn't really have any side effects, starting or finishing. I went on a sunshine holiday 5 months after starting, forgot a couple of doses and then just stopped for good. I had a few brain zaps, which were odd, like a moment of touching a microfibre cloth, but not really dizziness. Then I was fine. Kept on with therapy for another few months after that.

My first episode was pretty good too and I definitely felt much better for taking it. I wouldn't say I felt emotionally numb, just that the anxiety and depression lifted to the point I could feel other things. I had more brain zaps then because I did occasionally forget doses. As long as I took it regularly, I barely had any trouble with it. I stopped with GP advice then and tapered down ok. I'd take it again.

I really hope you will try it 💐

It's been very positive for me. The only side effect was tiredness initially. I switched to taking it at night and that helped. No dizziness. Anxiety was gone within a day or two, and the low mood lifted within three weeks.

Have they offered you to start on 50 or 25? I am sensitive to medication so started low on 25 and took 12 weeks to build up super slowly to 50. I went up by quarters.
My main side effect was an upset stomach…
My best friend went straight onto 50 and had no side effects at all. Moved up to 100mg, again no side effects.
You may well be one of the lucky ones who take to it really well and quickly with no side effects.
I’m on week 15 and doing really well.

I’ve been on 25 for about 7 weeks ( low dose as I reacted to two others )
for the first few days I felt much worse ( anxiety, crying and couldn’t sleep ) but it soon cleared and now I just feel like me again - my head feels clear
I take mine in the evening

I’ve been on Sertraline since March this year. I initially started on 25 working up to 50. I feel so much calmer and I’ve experienced no side effects luckily. I still get the occasional pangs of stress and anxiety but I can cope as it goes very quickly. I take mine every morning 😀

I felt sick/naucious initially when I took them. It was quite bad so did put me off a lot. However, within 2 weeks it stopped and all back to normal.

Honestly, I couldn’t function without it any more!! I don’t feel emotionally numb - what it gives me is the ability to bounce back much quicker rather than getting stuck in feeling bad. For me it is a massive help.

I don’t take it at night because of insomnia. Just take it first thing.

Honestly if you are worried cut the pills in half and build up slowly.

X

I've taken for over a decade and on a high dose. They're life changing for me. No significant side effects. I still struggle with life but not in the bleak way as before. I work in healthcare and so ma y people are on them.