Petrified of starting sertraline

[Maybepossibly22]

Hello,
I am currently under the perinatal mental health psychiatrist for anxiety, OCD and emetophobia. I have a CPN (or perinatal equivalent) however I’ve not seen her since January as she has cancelled every appointment that has been booked.

I’ve been prescribed sertraline to start, and I KNOW it will help, I’m just so petrified of starting because of the side effects. I tried duloxetine, but one tablet made me vomit which has set me back so far. If it happens again starting sertraline, I don’t know how I will end up.
does anyone have any positive words or guidance please? I have excellent support from DH luckily.

I've been on sertraline for 8 years now and I've have absolutely no side effects, ever.

I was scared to take sertraline too - speak to your dr and see if you can build up slowly. I had very little side effects.

I've just started it and the side effects really weren't too bad, and only lasted 4-5 days. I think it's worth it in the long run so try and bite the bullet OP :-)

I didn't get any side affects at all, apart from possibly feeling a little bit sleepy in the afternoons, and some vivid dreams. It took a while for me to notice the positive effects , maybe a good few months, but since then it's been an absolute game changer for me! I hope I can stay on it forever!

I sadly did have a side effect in the early days and had to stop it. I woke up and night, stood up and collapsed.

But many people get on well with it. Just be aware at the start and watch out for side effects.

The psychiatrist has started me on 25mg so hopefully that will make things easier. I’ve been sat on them for 4 weeks and I feel so frustrated that if I’d started when I was given them then I’d be over the worst now!

25mg as a start worked for me. Maybe take one when you know you can have a lie down or rest so you don’t feel under pressure. I didn’t have any bad side effects at 25mg

It does tend to cause nausea & sometimes vomiting in the first few days.
My doctor said if you vomit less than an hour after taking it then to take another tablet but if it's more than an hour then not to.
I found the vomiting happened quite quickly after taking it so take when you know you are at home for a couple of hours.
I think it was vomiting for days 1-3 with me & then mild nausea for an hour or so after taking it for another few days then absolutely fine within a week.

Fellow OCD, emetophobia and anxiety sufferer here. I started Sertraline just before Christmas after 13 years of OCD and I wish I had started sooner. I was prescribed 50mg tablets but started on just a quarter of one tablet - so 12.5mg. I was terrified I would feel sick, and even got the GP to prescribe me antiemetics in case I felt unwell, but I've slowly built up and now on 125 mg and I haven't had any nausea at all. It is making such a difference to my life.

I completely get the fear, I felt the same, but I'm so glad I started the medication.

Best of luck!

I’m about 2 months in to taking Sertraline for OCD and anxiety. I was really worried about side effects too. I started on 25mg for about 3 weeks and then switched up to 50mg. The only side effects I’ve had were an upset stomach for a few days and I felt absolutely shattered (sleepy rather than physically tired) for a couple of weeks. The side effects had gone by the time I went up to 50mg and I haven’t had any since. I feel SO much better, massively less anxious, but still like myself - wish I had gone to my GP years ago.

I take sertraline and have had zero side effects. I have never heard of anyone being sick with antidepressants so it can't be that common.

I've been on sertraline for years and had no side effects.

I'm on 200mg a day btw

I've been on 200mg of Sertraline (max dose) for around 6 years? The only side effects I get are the overheating/excessive sweating when the weather gets warmer.

Invest in a good fan for night times and keep hydrated with a good antiperspirant! But I wouldn't swap it for my mental health.

Thank you everybody. I really really appreciate all your responses. Thank you again.

Just to update - I’ve taken half of a 25mg tablet tonight for the first time. I say half, it’s a bit tough to cut a tiny pill into an even smaller piece but it was roughly half. Mentally I feel safer taking half of the tablet today, I’ll give this a go for a week and then move up to the whole 25mg tablet.
I just hope it works eventually.

Well done for taking it. I haven’t had side effects from it, I’m on 200mg.