So I am sitting here thinking how weird I feel. I have a funny burning and aching in my stomach, my head feels foggy, my heart makes me aware it’s upset at being stimulated by meds and I generally just feel completely out of sorts. Now I am a very experienced user of sertraline. I took it for 4 years and had a break of about 6 months or so and now I’m starting back up on it. I am thinking wow I know exactly how this drug acts when I’m starting, I have done this before, but even for me, it’s quite unsettling so for those of you who are taking it for the first time, it must be even worse. I really am amazed that GP’s don’t spend more time explaining to you just exactly what to expect, it’s no wonder half of us feel frightened to death by all these overwhelming feelings. It’s really quite bad if you think about it, you are just handed a box of pills and sent home to cope with whatever side effects decide to plague you. Anyway, felt the need to share my thoughts and if anyone who’s starting up wants to chat about it or what they are coping with , well, feel free, I guess it has to help to talk. X
Hi Laura’
I agree with you entirely.
It was so bad for me the first two weeks my GPhad to give me Diaspam, then sleeping pills.
Now i’m Worried that I will not Manager without them.
Which will be in a couple days time.
I’ve tooken antidepressents In the past but never experienced side affects like Sertrilne.
Also it takes so long for them to work.
I’ve been on them for a month and still feel weird, yesterday was horrendous . Try to tell my GP that I need something to calm me down until the Sertline kicks in but he did not help at all.
Any advice would greatly be appreciated. God bless.
Find it very difficult to sleep.
Oh Laura
I forgot to mention he also gave me Beta blockers which was a waste time didn’t feel anything from them.
Anyway I will be hopefull and pray they kick in soon.
Blondey, hang in there. You are a month in so well on your way. A book that I read and go back to quite often is self help for your nerves by claire weeks, it’s very reassuring and helped me a lot. Also you can get free cbt if you go to living life to the full. It’s a good wee course and helps calm you. I’m sure if you go to your gp he will give you another prescription, just explain to him how you are feeling. It’s hsrd going but you have to keep telling yourself that this is temporary. It will get easier. Xx
HI there I have just started prozac 10mg today,, I have everything you have said, the funny feeling in chest, just came of escitalopram 5mg week 5, but prozac seems more stronger, I think I am going to struggle, I suffer from bad anxiety, and can hypoventilation at load noise, s and waking up at 2pm panicin and going into a sweat, I lost 10 pound on escitalopram no appertight down to 8 half stone, I hope prozac is for panic, did you lose your appertight on sertaline, many thanks
Hi Susan,
I took Prozac years ago and it was a great help to me.
What I found is the side affects eased more quickly than Sertraline.
Hang in there I know how you feel, when you feel so Axiours it’s horrunders, just remember it’s only a feeling it will pass.
Hope you feel better soon.
God bless.🙏
Hi Susan. I tried Prozac years ago but they made me feel so anxious I stopped. Yes defo lose the appetite with sertraline but it picks back up fairly quickly. They are all very similar with side effects but some people find different ones easier to cope with at the start. It’s just finding the one that you can cope with. Wish it were easier xx
Blondey I replied but it’s being moderated. Think it’s because I mentioned a book you might find helpful. Will see if my reply comes up once it’s been moderated. X
Hi laura how long did it take to kick back in properly? And felt more like ureself again? When upping the dose how long does it take to kick in please 🌹
Hi Debra. When I first took them I think I started feeling better in about 2 weeks or so it was really quick for me. I started at 50 and upped to 100 after about a month I think. It did take a few months perhaps to feel 90% better. This time round I hope it’s the same but only on 4th day so a way to go yet. Everybody is different though, some folk take longer to feel better, the best thing you can do is try not to think too much about when just keep thinking you are heading in the right direction and it will take as long as it takes. Xx
I found yesterday quite a hard day anxiety wise. I think it’s probably the sert starting to build up in my system. Hubby wants to go a drive with the kids today down the coast and go for dinner which I’m feeling anxious about which is so silly. Perhaps today will be easier than yesterday, that’s what I keep telling myself anyway. Hope you are all well this morning and feeling relaxed. X
Heya Laura,
I have a very similar situation, have been on Sertraline for the past 3 years and it was magic in that time. I stopped abruptly (big mistake), but have just started again.
I could swear the side effects were never this bad before, nausea, fogginess, intense anxiety, insomnia (from the anxiety), an I even vomited 3 times this morning. Also the brain chooses to sift through every negative memory you possess to feed your anxiety. It's a very bad place. The only comfort is past knowledge of what sertraline does and how it acts both short and long-term. It's pretty terrifying, but at least you come with knowledge of sertraline and what it does... I'm hoping I'll be able to get some sleep at some point, but right now that doesn't seem likely. If I put it in the context of past experience it's probably going to take a good 2 months to settle 
Be well
Alex
I’m on day 3 of 25mg sertraline. Today’s the worse I’ve felt. I feel like my body is buzzing and the rushes keep coming. I can’t sit still. Keep having to tense up. Jaw is going mad. Feel like my mind is going. It makes you want to stop. I just wish the horrible speedy feeling would go
Thank you Laura,
For your advice and kindness.
My GP is away this week so I have to speak to some other doctor who I don’t get on with.
Yesterday was horrunrs, so so sad and anxious and had nothing I could take to calm me down.
I have one sleeping pill left didn’t want to take it in the day otherwise I would be up all night alone.
My husband as he’s own issues to cope with without me going on.
I’ve never experienced a Antidepressent like it.
I ‘m trying to hang on in there .
Today still feel Axiours hoping it will ease. I can't understand Why doctors don’t reslise the side affects of some medications.
It’s bad enough suffering with Depression m, Axiety, and on top of that OCD.
I hope this doctors helps me, otherwise I will be at my wits end.
I really want to give these Antidepressent a try.
However , i’m having it really hard at the moment.
Lots of love and Gods blessing.
Thanks again Laura💖
I upped my sert to 50mg this morning. I don’t feel too bad today which is a surprise. I expected to feel really anxious and jittery etc but so far it’s very tolerable and actually calmer than when on 25mg. Perhaps it will take a couple of days to properly hit me. Bloody hate meds but they are so necessary and not taking them isn’t an option. We just need to keep on swimming’s guys. X
I feel the same, I don’t remember it being this bad first time I started it but prob just forgotten. It is a constant battle inside just trying to keep myself level and no tensing muscles or tapping feet or clenching teeth it’s exhausting isn’t it. It’s hard when it effects sleep, so far I’m able to sleep fine till about 4am and my eyes ping open and it’s a fight to get back over.
Hi laura when upping ure dose. How long does it take to kick in properly? Before you start to feel like ureself again
Hi Laura,
Just to let you know the Gp that I didn’t get on with prescribe me 5mg Diaspam for 2 weeks to take at night. Which helps, though.
I thought I would let you know, Gods on my side.
Thanks for caring once again.❤️
Must take back the negative thoughts on my GP. Lol
It really varies, if you need a higher dose then you will up it more gradually so will take longer. I have upped my dose from 25 to 50 today so perhaps I can answer this better in a few weeks. X
Hi blondey. Yeh gp gave me diazepam also but I am very careful to only use these when I really need to as they are so addictive but my god they can be a godsend! X