I need your honest opinions on Sertraline

[Elisabeth3468]

I have been battling anxiety and depression for a while now. Kick started by a second baby, less money , an extremely tragic family bereavement which the grief seems to be getting worse. My baby is now 1. I have been offered anti depressants over 4 times and declined. I believe I didn't need them and prefer self help. I joined a gym and a spa and try my hardest to go.
I am sometimes ok for a week and then get these very dark spells. I can be angry and shout and I do scare myself sometimes where it comes from. I feel like my brain is going to explode.
my mental health has impacted my physical health, I've caught so much this winter and been unwell. I've lost lots of weight due to lack of appetite. I can't face work yet and I was meant to return after Mat leave but have been on sick. I did return but shortly after just couldn't cope. Baby doesn't sleep great so lack of sleep doesn't help.
anxiety is debilitating it's even stopped me driving now: I can't get behind the wheel without an intrusive thought. I have an amazing supportive partner but he does feel exercise, sun and time alone would be more beneficial. But he will support my choice.
I want to feel happier, i am trying my hardest.

I am scared of the side effects of sertraline-
weight gain?
loss of sex drive or inability to enjoy sex?
dizziness etc?
please enlighten me.

I only stayed on it for 8 weeks because I gained 25lbs! I was laying in bed waiting for DH to fall asleep so I could get up and binge! It wiped me out so much, I lost all interest in the exercise and healthy eating regime that I loved. That contributed to not wanting sex. No dizziness though. Of course, it will affect everyone differently, I know plenty of people who have had no ill effects at all. Hope you get a good balance of experiences here.

It's winter. Awful time.

I couldn't see property when taking them

You could be ok.

I take for pmdd

I took it for years. A little bit of nausea when I started but totally manageable. Saved my life. No weight gain, in fact, I lost weight because I was able to take better care of myself and do basic things like go for a walk. I know lots of people who are on it/have been on it with no issues too.

On it for 12 years.. no weight gain.. no dizziness.. ( libido l dont know.. no partner) l do get the urge.. keeps me on an even keel and stops me getting " the black cloud" of depression.
Only thing is the very vivid dreams.. ( its well known for the dreams).

I’ve lost 2 stone since starting it so there’s not always weight gain!

I used it alongside talking therapy/CBT and the combination saved my life.

I’ve been on it for years, no side affects apart from some dizzy feelings in the first few weeks. The biggest thing it helped with was the social part of my generalised anxiety. I could finally walk down the street without feeling like everyone was aware of me.

Sometimes I think I’m okay to come off it because I haven’t had any anxiety for a long time but through trial and error it turns out I become a bit of a bitch and get tearful about stupid things in the week before my period without it. Back on it for good now. I’m a better person with it than without.

My partner found it gave him upsetting dreams so switched to citalopram. A friend of ours said she felt “a bit crazy” (her words) on it so also switched.

Different ones work better for different brains.

I have been on it for a year now. Started really small and gradually built up to 100mg. It really kicked off after four months and now I am feeling well. The only side effect is the loss of the sex drive

The problem is when you try to come off it . If you can manage without do. It took me 18 months before I felt better on it all the side effects were interpreted as symptoms and the dose kept being increased. In hindsight it was not the right decision for me to be on it in the first place.

I found it quite brutal to start with. Very spacey, disrupted sleep, bizarre visuals when trying to sleep, strange dreams. Anxiety and panic attacks increased temporarily, very hungry all the time which lead to gradual weight gain over the 3 years that I was on it. It didn't affect my sex drive or ability to orgasm at all. I started to feel normal about 6 weeks after starting it, much better than when I wasn't taking anything. Eventually, I changed to fluoxetine, and I found that much gentler with the side effects and I was able to lose the sertraline weight. I don't take anything, now.

TBH It's different for everyone so none of us can give you a heads-up about what to expect. You won't know how it'll affect you until you try.

DH took it for a couple of years. It saved our marriage, gave him enough self belief and positivity to believe he could get a better job which is what ultimately improved his life, let him interact positively with the kids so he had an actual relationship with them, and just took the edge off the depressive episodes.

He took it for a couple of years until life improved enough that he felt he no longer needed it. But his life improved because it enabled him to him to take a break from his misery for long enough to fix what was fixable.

In terms of side effects, he lost weight overall. He was massively comfort eating which lessened on medication, and he had the motivation to be more active (plus he got a more active job, tbf). It did affect his sex life though. He found that a worthwhile payoff.

No weight gain,100mg for anxiety depression it stopped the 100mph thought patterns.Anxiety is creeping up so I'm looking to go up another 50mg plus I'm in therapy to help with coping strategies etc.

It saved my life. I was living on a complete knife edge. It took about a month and I woke up one day feeling so much clearer

I've heard lots of good things but it wasn't for me. Completely deadened me. Flat, just felt I was existing even though the anxiety did go a bit - well, it didn't go but it changed. Worst thing was the dizziness though - fainted, broke my ribs, still in pain 😞

I took it for several months without any issues. It helped me at a time when work and home life were difficult.

I have been taking it since October. I was feeling increasingly anxious and low. It’s absolutely amazing. I feel back to my old self, really cheerful and just able to get the joy back in life.

Thank you all. One of the main concerns I have is being able to come off it in the future. Also the side effects like tiredness etc. I am tired enough without added tiredness. I do feel like it's got to a point though where I really need some extra help. I have been going swimming and walk lots and it does help lift my mood but it's the anxiety that's absolutely debilitating. The intrusive thoughts etc.

I was scared, like you. Even when I got the prescription I didn't take them straight away through fear.

I plucked up the courage and had a few days feeling a bit off colour then that settled down.

They were life changing and after a few weeks I felt so much better. I was able to deal with things much better, bonded properly with my baby. It stopped the constant merry-go-round in my head which was such a relief. I was able to start getting on with life again, took up running and went back to work. After about 18 months I discussed coming off them and GP supervised a gradual taper. Because I gradually reduced, honestly coming off them wasn't a problem. It only took a few weeks.

I didn't put weight on, they actually helped me lose it because I had the feeling of wanting to do things again.

If they don't agree with you then you can stop them but you need to give them a few weeks to let things settle. There are lots of others that can be tried if they aren't a good fit.

I would say you could give them a try with an open mind, if they don't help you then you can think again.

Thank you so much for this. I'm so glad they helped you and it wasn't an issue coming off them. I think I'll collect the prescription today. 🙌

I'm glad I could help, I wish you all the best. Remember that you aren't alone, so many of us know what you are going through ❤️

It’s sounds like you’ve exhausted all options in self help and know you need more.
I’ve had these. I remember staring at the script (back in days of paper scripts) for ages and fearing them. But it was ok and the best thing I could have done.

Feels a bit odd to start but you work up to the therapeutic dose. And same in reverse if when you need to come off.
There are side effects but many many take it without a big issue. Some of comments here are unhelpful as it’s not that likely to be your experience.

Give yourself a chance and take the help the pills are very likely to give you
and if they don’t see doc again. There are lots of options - you don’t need to suffer more than necessary.

you’ve done amazing so far for sure , time for some help.

you will be ok

It nearly killed me. I’d never touch SSRI’s again.

I think it's worth trying in your case OP and keeping an open mind. I'd been suffering from low mood and anxiety, especially since the birth of my first child and I was managing it as best I could.
However when Covid hit, at which point I had another child, a small baby, I couldn't cope, my anxiety and intrusive thoughts were terrifying. I was immediately prescribed sertraline and went on to to take it for 5 years, I reduced down last summer.
It helped me immensely in that time. It meant I was on an even keel, had better judgement and my moods were balanced. I did put on weight, nothing crazy and felt a bit bloated. Those were my main side effects, they were manageable.
I'm OK without it currently but would go on it again if I'm depressed.

Sertraline after PND and PNA was a game changer! I also had lots of reservations but felt that the way I was feeling, I needed help. I took it for 2 years and tapered off. Yes there may be side effects but it does miracle things. Give it a go and if it doesn’t help, you can stop. X

I had no problems coming off. I just stopped it.