Experiences of Sertraline?

[Abbiejade3]

Hi after years of experiencing severe generalised anxiety, trying CBT and hypnotherapy, lifestyle changes etc and still suffering I was prescribed Sertraline 50mg last month. I didnt take it because the thought of taking medication makes me extremely anxious - as does everything but the past two weeks I have been so poorly making me unable to go to work for a week which my dr says is stress/anxiety. She has encouraged me to take the medication. She said she would sign me off work if needed but I think that might make me worse? How can I get myself to take the medication? When is the best time of day to take it?

Thank you

[bbanxiety]

SSRI's are very hit and miss. What may work for some won't work for others.

I can't remember the exact statistic but I think it's something like people find the correct antidepressant the first time 34% of the time, it's a process.

Personally I took Sertraline 50mg for six months and then had it upped to 100mg for six weeks. After discussing it with my doctor during a review we concluded that Sertraline probably wasn't working as I felt slightly less anxious but far more depressed. But as I said, someone else could take it and it works perfect for them.

Bear in mind that it takes a few weeks for Sertraline to build up in your system and as it states there are maybe some side effects to be expected, such as an increased low mood, anxiety as well as some physical side effects, such as nausea and dihorrea.

In terms of feeling anxious about this, that's again very natural, I went through it and it alleviated, but ultimately I found that Sertraline wasn't for me. If you do decide to stop taking them, please don't do this abruptly, speak to your doctor and you'll be weaned off of them. Again, don't worry. SSRI's don't have the properties to be addictive so you won't have life threatening withdrawal symptoms, you may just feel overral quite rubbish as your brain and body will adjust to not having the Sertraline.

I took the Sertraline in the middle of the afternoon through some trial and error. If I took it at night I felt very hazy the next day. If I took it in the morning, I felt lethargic throughout the day so I settled on late afternoon, again only you can find the best time to take it.

Overral, only you know how you feel, but I would take some peace of mind and go steady with yourself. What you've described is very natural and which ever way you look at it you're taking steps in the right direction, well done.

Edit: and just to add, with the time off work thing it can do you a lot of good. I took a month off work due to severe stress and working like a dog. It can be rough to not have some form of routine initially, but this is where you can take a routines approach to having time off. Do what you feel like for that week or two and give yourself space, but have some form of routine such as exercising every other day, meals, yoga, meditation, reading.

Don't be harsh with yourself if you feel like lazing around, be kind and don't place judgement on yourself for doing what relaxes you, every human being kicks back and does nothing a lot of the time to unwind!

[kenster1]

hi it should say on the package morning noon or night its usually at night.hopefully when you start taking them you don't suffer any bad side effects.

[laverdasf1000]

Hi, I have been on Sertraline for a number of years. I think it has helped me particularly when I was working. I had a lot issues with work and needed to take it in the mornings. I am now only on 20mg once a day which to be honest doesn't do a lot for me. I must really see the doctor and have a review of my medication. Not much help for you but at least a response from somebody else on it,

Best of luck, try walking and reading both good ways of escaping from Anxiety

Regards

Andy

[Abbiejade3]

Thank you everyone. Ive just took my first tablet today after being signed off work by my GP yesterday. I took it around 10:30 am and Ive felt fine all day but its 8 pm now and Im starting to feel unwell like the beginning of a panic attack Im hot and have blurry vision. I wonder if its the side effects or my brain playing tricks on me!

[Danzdanz123]

Just try and take one it’s not going to harm you I promise! I have this same fear of taking medication I’m not going to lie I took sertraline and it give me bad side affect not going to say what because I don’t want to implant that in your head but the doctor said it was a strange side affect and told me to keep taking them but didn’t, however my sister suffered for along time with a mental illness and then severe anxiety and agoraphobia and the sertraline has literally given her her life back! So you never know till you try!!!