Just wanted to hear people's journeys, advice etc of taking sertraline. I myself have been on 50mg for 5 weeks and 1 day. My side effects lasted for 7-10 days and included loss of appetite, heightened anxiety, tense jaw, fatigue. I'm still not feeling where I want to be but much better than I was. How long did it take other people to feel like the old them??
hi vikki i am on day 25 and last week I felt pretty good apart from a toothache not related. had a good family weekend but today woke up with headache and have had a couple of little anxiety wobbles. I need to keep reminding myself that I was given meds for anxiety and it won't just disappear but when it comes it frightens me again. today though I am dealing with it and carrying on so hopefully just a blip. gp said last week I can up to 100g if I need to but at Mo want to see how 50 mg works as still in first 4 was.
I felt good in week 3 but then I got flu and had a wobble with anxiety back and it's still there abit but not as bad. It's a slow one and a lot of people havnt felt better until week 6 or 8 or at the 3 month mark, so I'm giving it until week 8!then might up to 75mg but I am def hopeful as I do feel better. I agree that it is prob just a blip for u and might be because of your toothache last week, like me having flu I hope u feel where u want to be soon and pls keep in touch of how your getting on on with it x
Hi thanks for your kind comments, hopefully we will both be where we want to be soon. It's all so strange for me as before Xmas I had never had severe anxiety before. I just need to be ok for my two lovely kids and husband and I enjoy our busy family life. Let me know how you get on.
I haven't taken zoloft but am taking paxil now and my doc would like to switch me to become pregnant. I've only been paxil 3 1/2 weeks but am scared to change because I don't want to slip back in the state I was in. How bad was the anxiety when starting it because I heard the first week is miserable. 
Hi Nicole, well in the beginning It took me 3 weeks to get the courage to take sertraline as was so scared but I was suffering so badly with anxiety that I just took it as couldn't go on the way I was, the start up anxiety was not to bad as I was suffering badly anyway. I take mine just before I get into bed so I slept through most of the harsh side effects. The sooner u take it the sooner u will be on your way to feeling better. I am 5 weeks and it has eased lots but I'm still anxious every now and then but I have just had flu/chest infection which knocked me back, but I'm def better than what I was, also if u do get side effects the doc can give u something to ease into it until the side effects go, good luck and let me know how u get on x
Yes it's the same for me, it just came on all of a sudden and I thought I was loosing it!!! It's so horrid to go through, I'm also wanting to be better for my son and partner and like u I love the busy family life but that went out of the window when this struck me 4 months ago, keep in touch and take care x
Had 50 mg then up to 100 because it was not doing anything. Now been on 100 for 9 months and coming off slowl . I went from stroke like symptoms to feeling wel . Told by my occupational health dr I would never work again now back in work and function tip top with no probs. It took about 10 weeks to work with spells of muzziness before then keep going
Hey Jon how long was u on 50mg for before u upped to 100mg? Glad your feeling better and proved everyone wrong, u should be very proud of yourself x
hi vikki iam 4 weeks into my treatment and side effects have just about gone, and i can now just about see light at the end of a very very dark tunnel , xxx
Glad to hear your doing better Hun. I am 5 weeks in and doing better, I had a set back week 3-4 with the flu but last 2 days have been good, bit of anxiety but I think that will take a while to go x
Took me 8 weeks to settle then a month or two to stabilize 8 months on 100 mg and now coming off slowly. My advice is persevere good luck
So good to hear that u r feeling better, I am very hopeful I will get back to myself with this medication and positive thinking, did u start on 100mg Jon or get upped and if u were upped how many weeks were u on 50mg before being upped, sorry for the questions and good luck with coming off them x
50 to start 8 weeks to 100 now cutting down using a nutmeg grater increase shavings by odd numbers every 7 days. Now on 13 shaves and up to 15 next week less than half a tablet ie under 50mg
Morning! 4 wks and 2 days in. had a good week but today feeling a bit off hope this is normal. woke 4 am feeling anxious. not so bad now I am up and about but it feels like it's lurking in the back ground ready to turn into panic anytime! I got up almost waiting until time to take meds which I am sure won't help as in system anyway.
I found that the tablets worked well with exercise and or getting outside. Running worked for me but I was able to appreciate beauty in walking by the sea or countryside
Its easy to feel like a recluse because people treat you differently . They often avoid you or don't know what to say
Yeh your just having a blip, I've just had one to and I thought I was back to square one and the tablets weren't working, but I'm getting over that blip now, I'm a little ahead of u nat, I'm on 5 weeks 5 days now and starting to feel a lot better. Like u I feel it lurking. It is still very early days so we will both have up and down days but soon we should have more good than bad. X
Hi Vicki, I've been on Sertraline for 5 years and it has made a huge difference to my life. However the last few weeks have been really difficult and I'm beginning to think that it is becoming less effective. I have no enthusiasm for anything and find it really difficult to even get out of bed some days. I just want to hide away for ever and opt out. I know I need to speak to my doc again but I also know that he really doesn't listen and isn't interested. I may just try to reduce the dosage gradually myself and that may make me feel more like my old self and less like someone totally detached from who I really am.
hi Jon and vikki. I think your both right. It's just hard when you've been feeling ok then it creeps in. never had anxiety before Xmas and don't feel depressed. I went back to the gym thurs and really enjoyed it but took it steady. I feel a bit better now I am up and about keeping busy. I do have option to up to 100mg but as I was doing well on 50mg in only 4 wks I wanted to hold off a bit in case 50 was enough. I am sure time will tell. Thank you both of you the support is fab.
hi moria what mg are you on? maybe it needs to go up? Or as you said maybe time to change it. hope you feel better soon I am very early on in my sertraline journey.