Sertraline - does it get better?

[livbethe]

Hi all

Basically I'm on Sertraline 50mg for anxiety.

I started 3 weeks ago on 25mg and did 25mg for 2 weeks and I've been on 50mg for nearly a week. Things are definitely improving but I just wanted to ask how you felt once it kicked in? I'll list my side effects below. I had a terrible day yesterday with nausea and heightened anxiety (could be due to the dose increase?) Mornings seem to be particularly bad with heightened anxiety (the whole reason I went on them in the first place).

The first 10 days were really really rough - absolute hell!

Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Heightened Anxiety
Weak Aching Shaky Legs
Adrenaline Increase

I'm just wondering if it did get better for people? Did the anxiety calm down (especially on a morning?)

Thank you!

Hi I also started Sertraline but 12 days ago and have felt terrible since taking it, my anxiety has been a million times worse, trying to persevere as read so many reviews it’s worse before better but never felt so bad in my life, I rang the doctors this morning and they recommended upping the dose to 100mg which petrifies me! Desperate to feel myself again

So sorry OP- I had to come off it. The first 2-3 weeks I started getting suicidal thoughts which I have NEVER had before in my life. I stopped it immediately which probably wasnt sensible but the thoughts terrified me so much I couldnt continue.

I have found other ways to manage my anxiety now but I wont ever touch it again.

I think you need to discuss this with your GP- dont do anything drastic of course but explain how you're feeling and ask for advice from your GP

I started 50mg over a year ago and remain on this dose. I also struggled so much for the first couple of months with increased anxiety, nausea, insomnia etc and thought I would never feel better but please trust me when I say it does and I am a different person now and feel like I have my life back. I am so glad I went on them. Give it plenty of time, it took me around 6 months to feel consistently better but so worth the wait.

I started on 50mg 2 months ago, am now on 100mg. It took a while to feel the effects, however we are slowly getting there. DP has seen an improvement in my anxiety, and I do feel slightly better but it's very early days.

Also had nausea, lots of shaking hands, headaches etc. but they stopped after a week or so.

Stick with it OP!

Hello,

I'm on week 10 ( I think) of sertraline, and I thought I had turned the corner but this past week I have experienced a lot of lightnheadness/palpitations/ dizziness in the afternoon.

I went to the GP and had chest listened to, blood pressure and oxygen checked etc, heart listened to ..he wasn't unduly concerned, said it was probably all part of the anxiety/ medication cycle. No obvious medical reasons anyway.

Has anyone else started experiencing side effects can far into the Sertraline journey?

I'm sorry but in my experience, no. I had to come off it as I was just a gibbering wreck after a month. I was on it more for depression than anxiety but it flared the latter to ridiculous levels (which is common). If it works it is brilliant, but if it doesn't, it can be awful.

Yes gets better. I take just before bed.

Yes it should get better. I've been on it for various periods of my life and it's always really hard for the first few weeks (and when increasing your dose) and then coming off is awful too. You could ask for another medication alongside the Sertraline just while the anxiety is unbearable.

Same. I had to come off it too. Same symptoms as you but also.... falling asleep all the time, even sat up...fell asleep with pan on once..... Black smoke etc...we were very lucky. I hated sertraline, but everyone is different xxxx

I could have written this myself. I wish I'd known it could trigger anxiety this badly. I've swapped to fluoxetine and had suicidal thoughts which I've never had before but seem to have got through the worst of it now

I will be coming off this thread but just an update in case anyone reads it and is in my position… one year and a bit on, my life is completely different in every aspect and I am happier than I’ve ever been. I’m just content but have also implemented different things alongside the medication. Stick it out if you can because on the other side is a gorgeous calm life! You’ve got this xxx

That's so wonderful to hear! Sertraline didn't work for me. What else have you implemented alongside it?

I had to stop sertraline as it gave me such bad diarrhoea I couldn’t leave the house. If you are taking it in the morning you can try switching to bedtime. It sounds like it is really effecting you so I’d speak to the pharmacist or your GP and see if you can switch to something else.