Early side effects of Sertraline - POSITIVE STORIES ONLY PLEASE

[StunnedCrab]

Hi all,
Started sertraline yesterday morning for anxiety and panic attacks. Obviously not expecting it to work overnight and GP told may I may feel worse for 5 days until it improves. He also said usually helps in 70% of people. Still feeling panicked a lot but had awful insomnia last night too, which obviously I'm worried about. I also feel nauseous and worried about not eating as much.
Does anyone have any reassurance of similar experiences? Just want to know that things likely to settle and I will feel more myself again. Got a call with GP in 2 weeks. Have 2 young DC and just feel so guilty.
Thank you

Should have added GP started me on half dose for a week (25mg)

I’ve been on sertraline for years. It really helps my anxiety. I found when I started I felt a bit worse at first then had a couple of weeks of just not feeling any effects. By week 4 it was like a switch had flicked and I felt so much better!
Im on 200mg now, 25mg is a small dose so you shouldn’t have too many side effects I think x

Keep going! I remember reading a thread on here when I started saying they felt sick for 2 weeks so I literally had a 14 day countdown in my head reminding me it would be over.

It was a weird combo of feeling drunk and hungover for me but it didn't last and it was absolutely worth it. I think it probably saved my life in many ways. So stick with it and if you get to a month or so and you don't feel any benefit from it then you can look at changing drug maybe.

Hope things are better for you soon :)

Also please don't feel guilty..you are getting yourself help so that you can be the best version of you and therefore the best mum you can be..there absolutely nothing to feel guilty about.

My daughter takes it for anxiety and panic attacks too. She felt nauseous and ate less for the first week, then fine. It has really helped her. Good luck.

I've been on it for fourteen years! It can be a bumpy start but then for most people it's like switching anxiety off like a light. If it doesn't work, don't worry, there are loads of other options too.

Thank you so much all.

I knew I wouldn't feel better immediately but the nauseous, insomnia and continued anxiety is grim. I will keep going. Great timing with Christmas!

The first couple of days it made me feel panicky, and then for a week or so I felt slightly sick (not enough to bother me). Since then it's been fine, including when the dose has increased.

It did take a few weeks to start to work, though.

Don’t feel guilty - taking meds for mental health is no different from taking it for physical health

Thanks all. Day 3 and feeling truly awful this morning. So nauseous and anxious and panicked. Had no idea they could do this.

It will improve, I promise! When I started I had 1 bad week, but I’m glad I stuck to it. 3 years later I have been able to come off it, it was incredible help. Good luck xx

I didn't have any side effects apart from being incredibly tired. That's with being on a 150mg dose too!

Now I do get side effects if I miss a dose, feel incredibly down and depressed even though I'm taking it for anxiety.

It's changed my life, stick with it.

I started 50mg in May whilst going through crap with my divorce. The first two weeks were pretty bad, but i persevered and honesty it has been a life saver. I feel a million times better. I can't see myself coming off it for a long time

Try and stick with it, you are at the absolute worst stage but it will get better xx

I started on 25mg and the first week was pretty rough. I didn’t experience mental side effects but was drowsy, had a dry mouth and no appetite. And sweated buckets. Sertraline has been an absolute game changer for me though and 6 months on I don’t have any side effects, only medicinal effects. That being said, it’s not for everyone so keep talking with your doctor and don’t feel bad - there’s still an unnecessary stigma around mental health and antidepressants but better to accept the issues and get help than carrying on unwell.

I've been on it for nearly ten years- I was nauseous at first but that went within a week. It's changed my life and I honestly wouldn't be alive without it.
It really does get better.

Thanks all. These messages really help. Been in bed all morning but will try to get up.

Hi. I’ve just started Citalopram 20mg. A different SSRI but similar warnings about feeling worse before feeling better. I felt nauseous, dizzy and a lot more anxious for about 10 days and considered giving up the pills. But around day 11 I started feeling a lot better and the side effects have gone. Keep going, hopefully the positive effects might kick in by Christmas. Best of luck.

100 this
I know a few people who aren’t on them but probably should be !

I was on it a while ago. I felt a bit spaced out for a few days but it worked really well for me. When I was ready to come off it I weaned off as directed and that went well too. Good luck. I hope it works for you too.

Glad the messages are helping. Go easy on yourself too. If you don't have to get up, it's ok to stay in bed for a few hours. By this time next week you'll probably be feeling much better; just get through these first few rough days whatever way you can, and they'll soon be over.

Hi. I just started on Setraline too. Day 5 & I'm feeling pretty rough. Nauseous, lethargic & no appetite. Hoping these are the worst days. Kind of regret starting them so close to Christmas as I've two young kids too but hopefully will be worth it in long run. Hope you're feeling a bit better today

It does get better. The early days are pretty hideous I found napping helped. I’ve been on it over a year now and don’t have any side affects any more. I’d say it was by about 3 weeks that I felt fine.
It has really helped me. I’m in a much stronger place mentally now and my anxiety is much more manageable instead of controlling my life.

Can I join the club? I've taken 2 days so far, and only a tiny dose (a quarter of a 50mg tablet, as suggested by my GP). I don't feel great today and am worried about increasing the dose in case I feel worse. The countdown suggestion was helpful - I'm going to try that.

How are you doing @StunnedCrab

Following as myself and DH have been prescribed them.