zoloft/sertraline: is anyone on zoloft... - Anxiety Support

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zoloft/sertraline

meegoon profile image
27 Replies

is anyone on zoloft (sertraline)? i just got prescribed but i haven’t started taking it yet bc i’m afraid of the side effects...

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meegoon profile image
meegoon
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27 Replies
Lovisa profile image
Lovisa

I started sertraline 50mg roughly two weeks ago and my GP upped the dose to 100mg on Monday. I'm really paranoid with side effects from meds but this one hasn't given me any side effects.

meegoon profile image
meegoon in reply to Lovisa

that’s good to hear!! thank you!

Anxiety_Aunt_ profile image
Anxiety_Aunt_

I was super worried about trying sertraline because citalopram gave me horrible side effects but I haven’t had any that are unbearable and I feel normal, calm and happy again - finally!

I had very mild side effects only for the first 2-4 days I was taking sertraline - sweating in my sleep, vivid dreams, felt slightly nauseous, couldn’t yawn (?!). All have gone away apart from I do still have quite vivid dreams - or maybe my mind is more clear so I actually remember my dreams now!

Either way, I’m super glad I finally took them and hope they are just as successful for you :)

SammieXo profile image
SammieXo

Hey yeah I felt the same about side effects after taking citalopram it was awful for me. Ive been on Sertaline 50mg for 8months and they have helped me deal with my anxiety alot.(more social phobia and constant worry) I did feel more slighty anxious and a little nauseous for 2/3 weeks but honestly you should give them a try Im glad i didnt give up on them...just keep your mind busy first few weeks. im sure you will be fine.:)

I had very severe panic attacks, headaches with it so i had to stop it immediately.Now i am on escitalopram.

MST1974 profile image
MST1974

I have been on 50mg for a good few months. I have been on Sertraline before as well. This time the side effects were not nice and lasted for a good 5-6 weeks - then returned for a while! Headaches, weird sensations in my head, dizziness, nausea... but they subside as others will tell you. I think they’re good for anxiety - however, my mood is low at times and I’m not sure they manage my depression that well - directly, anyway, although the tackling of my anxiety obviously helps. Good luck - they’re worth sticking with, if you can get through the side effects.

stephanxiety profile image
stephanxiety

I started it 5 weeks ago and the first 2 weeks I felt great no side effects but now my anxiety is back but think that’s just because I need to up my dosage but too scared to, I was scared of side effects also took me 6 months before I took it

Mouseofhope profile image
Mouseofhope

Yes, I have been prescribed this as well...But I haven't started taking it either as I am aware of the side effects and also afraid of them, I did use to take a drug called Fluoxatine,Which is basically prozac and I felt fine with them and a lot calmer thn I do now that's for sure,But my doctor(s) haven't reconsidered this one yet...

Cstod profile image
Cstod in reply to Mouseofhope

Start with half if you do. I take before bed so I don’t get any side effects.

valentin77 profile image
valentin77

I take maximum dose of sertraline,200mg a day.

I have taken it for 3 years.Before this I Also took sertraline at 50mg 8 years ago then up to 75mg.

I have deep disabling depression with psychosis.

Sertraline has been my saviour and I would not stop it now.

I was very scared of negative side effects.A friend of mine who is a pharmacologist gave me great advice.He said start on half the minimum dose (25mg)or even 10mg if you wish as any side effects will only come with higher dosages and I will still be doing myself good even starting on such a low dose.

I gathered my confidence and took 25mg a day and hoped for no side effects.After a few days,maybe 4 or 5 days my severe depression felt sliced in half! I could not believe the power of the results,no side effects at all.

Lm92 profile image
Lm92

Zoloft was the mildest antidepressant I've ever taken. I wish I was still taking it, but when I became pregnant with my son, my OB changed it to Lexapro because she felt it was safer during pregnancy.

The first week I did have some nausea and some electric zap feelings at night in my legs when trying to fall asleep, but the relief from my constant anxiety was almost immediate and was very much worth those temporary side effects. I hope you decide to at least give it a try.

Cstod profile image
Cstod

Yes intake this medicine . My prescription is for 25 mg but I cut it in half. I take at night @9 . I was hesitant to take this I had it for almost a year in my cabinet. I have anxiety and panic issues due to a virus I caught three years ago. Was from a tick. Shut all nerves down and anyways this is my outcome from it. I would take Xanax her and there not everyday or barely any . Was worried to get addicted to them etc. I had to find my triggers of anxiety and mine is health issues from the virus . Because I went through so much that anytime I don’t feel well , panic and anxiety would kick in. Last year I lost both parents talk about pushed me over the edge . I take it for ptsd from losing parents ,I didn’t think it would work cause they said it would take @ 3 weeks to kick in , nope took 20 mins! It’s been about 6 weeks and I wish I would have taken this sooner. So far has been a saving grace for me. My sister goes today to ask about this med because she is in my shoes and she said she can see how it has worked for me. Sorry long rant but all the panic and anxiety dwelling worry etc has gone away! Praying each day for this relief 😇 good luck. FYI I took at night because during the day it made me feel sleepy a little so I switched to before bed - no side effects so far

in reply to Cstod

Is it still working well

Cstod profile image
Cstod in reply to

Yes it works for me just fine with no side effects . I’m still at half and have noticed such a huge difference with the calm of the anxiety issues ! No more hospital visits second guessing all that crap that comes with it. I feel finally normal like how life was before all of it

Message me any time !

shadow45 profile image
shadow45

Well , I took Zoloft a few years ago. I was on a very high dose for about a year then. So my advice would be try it... if it has some nasty side effects then stop taking it. One to stay away from in my opinion would be citalopram... that stuff just makes any feelings of anxiety worse in most cases. I say the old standard Proxac worked the best for me (20mg`s)

Tamka39 profile image
Tamka39 in reply to shadow45

I was on Prozac for 2 weeks and had terrible side effects and had to stop it my depression was worse than ever glad it work for u

shadow45 profile image
shadow45 in reply to Tamka39

Hi... Yes its tricky finding the right meds.... I`m off everything now. Well, I smoke Pot ( legal now in Canada) and drink beer. Live is good right now so that helps a lot. I know what triggers the anxiety and I stay away from those situations now as well..

Much love Tamka39.

Steve.

Tamka39 profile image
Tamka39 in reply to shadow45

Am an alcoholic and self medicate off alcohol for year’s and I got a medical marijuana card and smoke sometimes marijuana gave me my first panic attack as a teenager and I really still don’t know my tiggers yet because I was us to numbing my depression and anxiety and PTSD am happy u off everything am praying to find something that helps me soon than one day be off everything

shadow45 profile image
shadow45 in reply to Tamka39

Its a journey....We all self medicate whether we realize it or not. The Martini at Lunch or the Pint with the lads on Friday night. Some of us use other forms of distraction to heal or cope with whatever is causing stress and anxiety in our daily lives. I used to cycle for hundreds of miles a week. A form of meditation for me as the body takes over and the mind can wander. Exercise can also help the body manufacture more of the more positive chemical(s) that naturally occur in the brain...

Much Love....

Steve.

Alis6552 profile image
Alis6552

Everyone is different but I have been on setraline, 200mg (highest dose) for almost two years and it’s one of the best I have been on. It’s been a while since I started but I don’t remember any really crazy side effects. Sometimes I sweat in my sleep or have crazy dreams but honestly my dr, myself and My fiancé say I am the best they have seen me in years. I’m so much calmer, I still get blah some days or get slight anxiety sometimes but overall this medication worked for me after a lot of trial and error with other meds I tried. I have depression and very bad panic disorder and gad.

Lhchapa profile image
Lhchapa

I have been in it for about five months and it has truly been a life saver for me. The side effects had me paranoid as well, but my Dr. said to try to get through the first four days if I could, then it would take approx 2 weeks before I felt the full affects. I did get some mild side effects; night sweats, muscle twitching, RLS, vivid dreams, loss of appetite, gassiness (😨🙊) and a weird sensation of always needing to stretch, but the good had WAY outweighed the bad. I did have a friend who had an adverse reaction with heart palpitations, paranoia, and extreme panic, so she had to cease taking them, so everybody's different, but try them and see! Keep us all posted

djol profile image
djol

I have been on sertraline for a year now, between 100 and 150 mg. the first couple months were hard because I found it super difficult to orgasm, and I slept a lot. However, after those initial months it really started to help me. Honestly it helps my GAD so much. But seriously, it isn't for everyone. But it is worth trying it out and getting through the initial side effects.

I also got prescribed zoloft and it's been sitting there for 4 months I'm scared to take it! But get weird supmotoms everyday and feel like shit it's ruining my life!

Agora1 profile image
Agora1 in reply to

Hi Chrispal07, it's about deciding which is worse, dealing with the daily symptoms or taking a chance with the unknown and open the bottle of Zoloft. I use to do the same thing until I had my own little pharmacy of unopened meds on the shelf. You will feel better in just making a decision to go forward whether it be to not take the pills and suffer or take a pill and hope for the best. Anxiety is reduced when we have a plan of action. Good Luck Chris x

in reply to Agora1

Another problem I have is I'm afraid of taking it an creating side affects in my head that I will feel.. I've done that before with freakin tylenol synuse medicine! I took one and got every side affect I could thinking from it... I feel like I am such a loser in every accpect of life .

Cstod profile image
Cstod in reply to

Like the girl said above here , I was over it all so I tried half at night and didn’t look back . Give it two weeks but I noticed right away the relief!

I have four beautiful children I can't even enjoy because of my health anxiety I always think in dying... in ruining there plans all the time because of my anxiety so basically I'm ruining there life too... like the other day on the way to the playground turned around cuz I got a hotflash.. ruined my kids day, I feel like such a loser

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