Certaline

[dollygray2]

I have started on certaline just over a week now for generalised anxiety disorder with depressive symptoms. Never had mental health issues before so feeling a bit overwhelmed ive reached this point. Feel the past week my anxiety has got worse and feeling very teary. Believe there are side effects for the first couple of weeks. Can anyone share their experience of when “it kicks in?” Just want to be myself again.

Do you mean Sertraline?

It took a few weeks for things to stabilise for me and then it worked well for many years.

Hi Dolly
yes, the first couple of weeks are uncomfortable, while the sertraline gets into your system. Hang in there as it should smooth out and help you feel calmer.

Seems to spelt with a c and an s. Thank you for your responses. Thought it would take a while but didn’t expect such and elevation in symptoms.

Hang in there, it does amplify things for a couple of weeks, it's why many people give up at this point and don't continue taking them. Use us here for support if you need it, whilst you get through the tricky part, it will be worth it once your body adjusts.

Sertraline does take a few weeks to kick in, and the side effects in the early days can be tough as well. Hang in there, and don’t give up. I actually phoned the emergency doctor twice in the first two weeks it was so awful. They persuaded me to stick with it. So glad I did, its changed my life.

Im really struggling with it but want to keep going a lot due to work which I stop for 6 weeks this week. Not present at home for my kids and husband which is really getting to me. Always been able to work through things like this

Hi @dollygray2 you're over a week in so, in my experience, you're halfway there as it has taken me around 2.5/3 weeks to feel the difference. It is so worth hanging on for bevause they really are a game changer. Generalised anxiety here and OCD tendencies, especially around health.

Also I know this is your first time taking meds for something youve always been able.to work through previously. Just be kind to yourself and accept where you are and that sertraline can help and will help if you give it time.

It did wonders for my mood but I ended up with microscopic colitis, so I had to come off it.

it took me a good 2-3 weeks for sertraline to start working for me but it really did wonders for my depression. I was on it for just over a year and it really did help so much. I felt so much more calmer and no longer cried every single day. You wont feel this way forever Dolly 🩷 hang in there love xx

Just a couple tips:

• I took it right before I went to bed each night at the same time.
• make sure to look after yourself in this hot weather as SSRI's stop your body from regulating heat. (if its ever felt too hot I would run my wrists under the cold tap and stay in the shade)
• stay away from grapefruit
• if you feel ready after a while of being on them, make sure you speak to your dr first, they will likely get you to taper yourself off ie, they might ask you to take half a tablet or go on a lower dose. do not come off them cold turkey.