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General health

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Original poster

Sertraline, your experiences please?

24 replies

Jessy111 · 11/06/2019 12:36

I've just been prescribed sertraline for anxiety and borderline depression, can I ask for some opinions and experiences on the drug? A little nervous about starting on it as I'm worried about side effects.

OP posts:

Original poster

Jessy111 · 11/06/2019 12:36

Most importantly, did it work for you?

OP posts:

Deadheadstickeronacadillac · 11/06/2019 12:42

Been in and off it for 15 years or so at 200mg p/d.
Some side effects but copable, allows me to function.

Original poster

Jessy111 · 11/06/2019 14:25

Thanks @Deadheadstickeronacadillac what were the side effects you had?

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pumpastrotter · 11/06/2019 14:37

Sorry, didn't work for me. I have depression and GAD. I suffered from nightmares, the sweats, nausea/sickness, headaches, insomnia, loss of sex drive, cotton mouth and still suffered intense panic attacks. I couldn't cope with the side effects and I wasn't able to work whilst suffering from them.

bibbidybob · 11/06/2019 15:59

Ds2 (18) was prescribed sertraline and didn't get on with it at all. He managed 2 weeks, but it was making him feel worse. He said he felt as if he was in a dream and very disoriented. GP switched him to Fluoxetine and that worked better for him. He's feeling so much better now.

Original poster

Jessy111 · 11/06/2019 17:07

Oh dear those aren't good experiences, I was worried i'd hear things like that which is why I haven't taken my first one yet. They're in the cupboard and might end up staying there..

I have health anxiety too so I panic when anything feels 'wrong' with me. I had a negative reaction to antibiotics a few weeks ago (just the usual side effects) but I really freaked out.

I don't think I would be able to persevere if these made me feel worse. I'd likely throw in the towel before they had chance to do their job.

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bibbidybob · 11/06/2019 17:20

It might work for you though. I've read about plenty of people who were the opposite to my ds2...didn't get on with fluoxetine, but sertraline was great for them. I did far too much googling!

bibbidybob · 11/06/2019 17:21

Plus there's a thread in chat about someone who's just started sertraline today. Perhaps you could buddy up with them and help each other.

Original poster

Jessy111 · 11/06/2019 19:57

Thanks bibbidy I'll head on over there and take a look.

I really should bite the bullet and start the course. I'll give myself a kick up the backside.

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KittiesInsane · 11/06/2019 20:01

DS has tried both Sertraline and Fluoxetine. He is 'steadier but duller' on sertraline, but says you do have to be more careful about taking it consistently and preferably at the same time of day. Now considering escitalopram instead of either.

mollpop · 11/06/2019 21:52

It works for me. It tends to make me a bit drowsy so I take it in the evenings. I was very nervous about taking it but it really helps me. Good luck

Winebottle · 11/06/2019 21:55

It was live changing for me. Only side effect I really notice was lower sex drive.

supercee · 11/06/2019 21:55

I've just given up after 6/7 weeks on it, which I'm really disappointed about as I had high hopes (anxiety and not really depression here). It made me feel worse even after upping the dose. I've just got some CBD oil so hoping that will have some positive benefits as I'm reluctant to try another drug and wait a further 4 weeks for it to kick in.

Original poster

Jessy111 · 11/06/2019 22:44

Thanks guys. I chickened out today but have promised myself to start them tomorrow, 25mg to start with then 50mg after one week. I can only hope for the best and cross my fingers that I'm not one of the unlucky ones who feel worse.

@supercee can I ask where I could get CBD oil? I know Holland and Barrett do some type of capsule but I've also heard that they're rubbish so I'm not too sure whether to buy them or not.

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goose1964 · 12/06/2019 01:49

I've been on it for years and I have never had any side effects from it. I feel a lot better on it too

readinginthechair · 12/06/2019 01:56

I have been taking it since December (came off of citalopram) and no side effects so far.
150mg and it's been fine.

supercee · 12/06/2019 02:30

I ordered mine from Simply CBD. There's a support group on Facebook which advises on right one to get, dosage etc. Apparently the H&B stuff is rubbish, too low a dose to be effective.

EileenAlanna · 12/06/2019 02:43

I've been on sertraline for several years now, 100mg per day with no side effects. It works well for me. I've been on several different types over the years, with dosage adjusted as needed. When I first started many years ago ( on Prozac initially) I felt really sick for the first few days as my GP had warned me might be the case but that ended & they've been nothing but very positive in improving my quality of mental health.

Violetroselily · 12/06/2019 07:54

I started on 50mg which didn't go much so increased to 100mg after about a month. I had terrible, terrible nausea for the first week or so, and it also heightened my anxiety but that subsided after the first couple of weeks.

It certainly lifted my mood but made me feel a bit numb at times

mynameiscalypso · 12/06/2019 07:56

I've been on it for nearly 2 years; no side effects at all and it's saved my life.

Spaghetticarbanana · 12/06/2019 08:15

Started on 50mg about 6 months ago. 2 weeks of nausea (I took promethazine to counter that, which I was prescribed for morning sickness), headaches and generally feeling stoned.
No side effects when upping to 100mg.
I do have night sweats but other than that everything is fine, no loss of sex drive, nausea etc. The change has been dramatic and if the children would let me sleep then I would definitely be a functioning person again. For me they have been very good at combating my depression and anxiety. I was very reluctant to start and year and a half ago I took one pill and the side effects put me straight off. I wish I had persevered then.
Good luck OP

Original poster

Jessy111 · 12/06/2019 10:43

Thank you ladies

Really glad to hear of some positive experiences. I think sometimes I just have to push myself and step outside of my comfort zone if I ever want to get better.

What frightens me the most is the potential for them to make my anxiety worse for a while, the way my health anxiety is at the moment I'll be back and forth to the doctors thinking I'm dying again.. oh god.

Right here goes nothing

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FurryTurnipHead · 12/06/2019 10:47

I had two weeks of side effects, flu like symptoms, tiredness, nausea, and oddly tinnitus, but they all disappeared almost overnight. It was a tough two weeks, but I'd taken them again in a second if I needed to, even with the side effects, as they saved my life.

KissMeBunty · 12/06/2019 10:47

I was anxious about taking it, like you are now. I was given citalopram to begin with, which was horrible- like taking speed. I was off my face, even on a low dose. So I was dreading starting another type of tablet. But it has been amazing for me. It has made me into the best version of myself, and I don't feel any horrible side effects at all. I had an eye twitch in the first two weeks, and felt slightly sick at times, but nothing significant at all. Have been on them for about 2 months now, still on 50g, and I thank God I was brave enough to take them.
Good luck! x

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