Side effects Sertaline

Hi,

I have been prescribed Sertaline for GAD. It's not terrible but bad enough that I have been off work. I've been on it for 2.5weeks now and I don't feel much difference (although I am not feeling particularly low). However I have a loss of libedo. My sex drive is part of my identity and I enjoy having a high libedo. I've read some scary reviews that even if I come off the medication that it might not return. I was on 25mg for the first week and then went to 50mg. I had horrible chest pain at 50mg so reduced back to 25mg for now (I tried to get hold of my doc but his PA just contacted me and said to pop a valium, didn't feel helpful!). I have an appointment with the doctor on Friday and will discuss it with him. I just don't think he really cares about the side effects. For him I'm just another patient that should take meds to make them feel better. My anxiety is so much worse worrying about not having a healthy sex life and not being me that I'm not really feeling any benefits. Even if I stay on them longer I'm worried that the effects will be permanent. I think that I might just ask him to come off them and try therapy Instead. I feel like I've just been told to go on them without actually really needing too.

Anyone's past experience or advise would be really helpful. Does your libedo come back if I stay on them? Will it if I come off?

Thanks.

[sachoo]

hi,

i am currently taking 200mg of sertraline and i don't experience many bad side effects.

however, from the medication, i would get small nose bleeds that would go away after a while.

every time the dosage of sertraline would increase, the small bleeds would come back. but they would always go away again after taking the new dosage for a while.

i also have got an increased appetite from sertraline which has made me put on weight and that hasn't changed.

you may want to wait it out and see if your sex drive comes back. when on medication, it normally gets worse before it gets better. if your sex drive doesn't come back for a few months then it's definitely worth changing medication or taking a different course of treatment.

for me, sertraline isn't working anymore and i am changing medication. but i hope it works for you. it just takes time.

i also despise doctors who treat their patients as just patients, and not people who are suffering - they suck

i hope this helps a bit - remember to be patient, even though it's easier said than done

i hope you have a good day and remember to smile, you're doing okay, i promise