Sertraline - how long does it take to kick in?

[MoonMagic]

I have been taking Sertraline for 4 weeks now, and it is doing absolutely nothing. Anyone else had this experience? I am very very down.

Also, what is the difference between depression and deep unhappiness? ADs won't work for the latter will they.....?

People say different things. I found Sertraline worked immediately. You should maybe go back to your doc and tell them. It doesn't work for everyone and you may need to try different things to find one that does. Are you getting psychological support? Again, from my experience, it has helped in the long term to shed light in dark places. I hope you start feeling better soon.

Are you on 50mg? Many people need a higher dose.

I am on 50mg - just checked. Is that the normal starting dose? It really is doing nothing, since starting the tablets I have just sunk farther and farther. I can't do anything, can't cope, and just don't know how much longer this can go on.

What do you DO when you just can NOT cope any longer? This has been ongoing for years now, and I have little support. I have been seeing a counsellor for a while now, she is great, but it just isn't enough to dig me out of this.

It's the normal starting dose but it needs to go up I'd have thought. Have you an appt with your GP?

50mg is a starting dose. Pretty much everyone needs more than this to have an effect, though many will come back down to 50mg as a maintenance dose later.

When are you due to be reviewed by your GP?

I'm worried that you say you CAN'T cope? If you really feel you can't cope, then you need to contact someone asap to talk - GP (say it is a mental health emergency), your counsellor, the Samaritans or just walk into A&E. You might not have meant it as immediately as this, but I wasn't sure.

When you see your GP, if you have no other support you caould ask to be referred to the Community Mental Health team who will visit you at home and see if they have anything to offer in the way of help or see where you could access support.

Take care.

What exactly is meant by "support"? My HV (whom I hate) talks about this, but does nothing. I have had counselling many times, but the thing is this - I need HELP. Help with kids, with house, I need someone to talk to, to help with my overwhelming loneliness and isolation. I try very very hard to help myself, am studying OU, I try try try, but it's just not working.

Gah, when will this end....

You need a higher dosage, sertraline can work wonders but 50ngs is fuck all, you prob need at least 100mg. I was on 150 before.

Go back to gp and discuss upping dose. If that doesn't help you you might need to try a dif med, like paroxetine or prozac. Not all work for everyone.

Hang in there, you're already on the right road. Do you have sure start in your area? Or childrens centre? There may be places to get practical help (sorry not in UK, not sure about these)

Thanks for your replies. Spoke to GP this morning, who was very unhelpful, but has increased dosage to 100mg.

This is hell. I am just not coping at all.

IF it doesn't work, don't give up on ADs. Sertraline did nothing for me but Fluoextine (Prozac) helped a lot.

Where are you in RL?

I'm on 50mg, which works great for me, but I'm small and also bipolar so my psychiatrist is very wary of giving me too much in case it causes a manic episode.

Maybe you do need more? I had never been on anti-depressants before but found a 'warm fuzzy' feeling on sertraline that I don't think I've ever had in my life!

oh and for me I noticed a difference within a few days...

I have started to take 100mg as from this morning, I hope it works soon.

Life is just too hard at the moment, am worried about my mum (in her 80s) am moving house, and regret this as my mental health isn't up to it and am not getting enough support from anyone.

I have no close friends nearby, and am desperately homesick for my parents.

I am BF, so can only really take Sertraline or Citalopram - the latter rendered me unconscious within 30 minutes, and although I know this is only temporary, I can't be in that state and look after 2 DSs, age 2.9 and 13mo.

I'm sorry you feel so bad - depression is truly awful. I hope the higher dose helps you.

Ive just started taking sertraline today how long before it starts working

Hi I’ve been taking sertralibe for 2wks now. 100mg but still aving fast heart rate n not feeling myself at all. I av to take sleeping tablets other wise I can’t sleep due to my mind not shutting off. And soon as I’m awake I can’t go back to sleep. How long do they actually take to kick in x

Mine took about a few days but everyone's different.

How many msg woz u taking? N cud u sleep ok? X

They can take even up to 6 weeks to work, so don't give up hope if they haven't worked yet. Do talk to your GP though, and see what they advise.

Hi it’s the fast heartbeat that’s really scary 😢and not being able to switch off to sleep properly x

Worth having a chat with the GP about that, in case they can suggest something to make things easier

I have just been given sertrazine 50 mgs for very bad anxiety. How long will it take to kick in?