Hi im a 32 year old female. Im married with 2 children. About 12 weeks ago I started to get awful anxiety, I was stressing about the least little thing and turning small things into massive over the top things. I started doing breathing exercises and taking herbal remedies, reading books and going onto websites. Nothing seemed to work and about 6 weeks ago I couldn't take the way I felt anymore and felt like I wasn't coping with normal everyday situations like the school run and seeing my friends and even watching a film with my husband. I have never suffered with anything like this before and that in itself is very scary, I felt out of control with my thoughts, I wasn't sleeping or eating.
I went to see my GP who prescribed me 50mg of Sertraline, I was also given 10 days worth of diazepam (2mg). After a few days of deciding if I should take them I went for it, I had the most awful side affects, sickness, diarrhea, headaches, night sweats, shakes. I couldn't even get out of bed for a couple of days. I was having panic attacks and Insomnia.
After a week or so the side affects eased off and I was able to cope again although I was still left with the awful anxiety. After 2 weeks I started to feel 50% better and then into week 3,4,5 I seemed to go downhill with my anxiety again but I stuck with the Sertraline as the doc said it could take 6-8 weeks to see the benefit.
The last few days I've started to feel 90% my old self again. I think this drug seems to take a while to work but i'm glad I've stuck with it as I feel like i'm getting my old life back again. I really hope this is a helpful and positive story if you are just starting out on Sertraline, I know I have a long way to go but I feel with the help of this med I can get my life back on track.
Reading all the positive stories on this forum has helped me a great deal. Im also lucky to have great family and friends I can talk to.
Thank you for your story. What really me was the anxiety side effect that one gets in the initial stages of taking Sertraline. My Doc started me on 50mg then increased it to 100 after 3 days and then increased it again to 150mg. So my anxiety went through the roof, and he put me on a tranquilizer until the Sertraline kicks in, Yes its a scary drug, but I never want to go back to the place where I came from, hope fully Sertraline wll get me back on track and to start enjoying life. Just hang in there and dont stop.
The anxiety is awful and I can see why people could give up after a few weeks it's hell but now I've seen a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel I'm going to carry on. Good luck in your journey and I hope you get back to your old self soon😉
i had to stop after one day the tremors were so bad i couldn't even control any part of my body. Thanks for your positive story, but I must tell how I feel about it.
I have been on this drug for at least 3 years,It has change my life for the better.Yes there are side affects ,for the first year I couldn`t sleep and I used to get nightmares,Hot sweats,dry month,after that things improved.
My only downside is I have put on alot of weight and sleep alot, as well as no sex drive or feeling But everything else has gone from strenght to strength.
The side affects are difficult to get through, I almost gave up Chris so I understand. Some drugs don't work for people, I'm pleased they are working for me. I hope you found the right drug for you.😀
Thanks Minxy!! I'm prepared to take the risk too with weight etc. I need to function for my husband and children😀 pleased they are working for you!!
Its been 18days since I started Sertraline, and there is a slight light at the end of the tunnel. The mornings are the worst, dont want to get out of bed, but cant sleep either. The anxiety is being controlled by Rivotril.
I am on 150mg, which I take in the morning, the side effects are better, and I am having brief moments of feeling confident and sort of ok. I was in a terrible space for the first 2 weeks, suicidal thoughts, terrible anxiety, no joy, all doom and gloom. This is starting to get a little better, say 10%. But hey 10% is something. At night I take 300mg of Seroquel and 200mg Epitec and 10mg Zolpidem, this knocks me out and I get 6hours sleep. I havent suffered any headaches as some patients do, the tummy trouble is better, the nausea is alittle better, and my appetite is still not good, which is fine as I need to loose some weight. The depression is lifting slightly, and I can honestly say that this bout of depression has been the worst pain I have ever experienced. So I will continue to hang in there and take the Sertraline, will keep you posted.
Hi rob!! Really glad you are starting to feel a little better and like you say 10% is better than 0%. Most of my side affects went within 2 weeks but I've only just got my appetite back the last few days. I'm taking my 6 week tablet tomorrow and I'm 85% better but I know it's still a long journey ahead of me. Please keep me posted on how you are doing. Thanks for posting😉
Hi there
I've been on this drug now for 21 days and I'm finally starting to get some confidence that I'm getting somewhere. After a period of diazepam and sleeping tablets failed to stabilise my anxiety, my doctor placed me on 50mg sertraline with diazepam 5mg as emergency backup. Almost immediately I was using my emergency backup!! Two days after starting sertraline I was back at the doctors after waking to a panic attack which I managed to control using breathing techniques. A different doctor told me to take three of the diazepam each day irrespective of how I was feeling to try and control the anxiety. Being quite aware of the addictive nature of this drug this caused me more anxiety as I didn't want to get dependant. I did though find that the anxiety was so bad at times I was taking the diazepam. Two further days later I was back at the doctors again this time being re scribed a beta blocker to work in the background with the diazepam to be used as and when required.
By now I was starting to get slightly concerned that this drug wasn't the right one for me. Two major panic attacks and two ambulances in three days saw me seen by the crisis team in my local A&E which was the first time in two really tough weeks that I saw some light at the end of the tunnel. Although a real nightmare the consultation I had made me realise that the massive spikes in anxiety I was having where down to the sertraline and not a worsening of my condition.
As I said I'm three weeks in now and feel like I've been to hell and back but I really do believe things are starting to settle now. If your feeling and experiencing similar, stick with it. I've just had a lovely weekend with family that a few days previously I would have never thought possible. Don't be afraid of taking the diazepam it really does help and initially you need to control the huge spikes of anxiety. I can understand why some stop this drug but be strong and stick with it. All of a sudden the anxiety spikes seem to drop off dramatically and you start to feel like your getting some control back
I just hope that if anyone is going through the same, this story will give you some confidence. I've never had an ambulance come to me before but hey if it helps it doesn't matter!!
I've suffered several episodes of this type of anxiety/depression before and taken anti-depressants for it. Whilst the initial heightened anxiety associated with sertraline is defiantly worse than that with any other tablets I have taken, after three weeks it seems to be returning my thought processes back to normal far quicker than I remember happening before.
In short, stick with it. It's horrendous initially but it's going to be worth it!!!!!
Hey Stewart, what dose are you on?
These postings have given me so much hope. I have been on Sertraline for three weeks, first week on 25mg, second week on 50mg and third week 100mg, not feeling any benefit yet only increased anxiety, physical
Symptoms that are draining. My doc has told me to be patient which is difficult as I just want to be me again but reading the stories above I realise I have some way to go. I'm so fed up with myself which then makes you think everyone around me must feel the same but rationally I know that is probably not true. Depression is crippling, debilitating, I just want my life back. Please continue to report positive reviews as it really does help. Thanks, Christine, x
Hi there
Sorry for the delay, but 50g dose. I'm into week 7 now and I've had plenty more episodes of increased anxiety but overall I have to be honest and say the general trend is definately on the up. You just have to accept and live with the bad days knowing that the good days are just around the corner!! I've had loads of additional stressful situations to deal with on top of my initial problems and I'm starting to feel better, so stick with it. I'm also really starting to get control over the panic attacks too which can be done with experience!!!!
Really recommend a book 'self help for your nerves by dr Claire weekes', it's really helped me. Everything your going through is in there and it helps you to feel normal. Having been on AD's before I just think this one is hard to settle with but I'm assured it works and like I said I'm starting to feel a lot better. Working solo again and having the confidence to cope with the anxiety, which although it's still there just doesn't seem as bad.
My dose hasnt changed either and I'm using far less diazepam so something is working
Good luck everyone
This sounds exactly like me. I started taking it and it seemed to help after about a week. Still had some panic flashes but definitely better. After a month I was feeling 90% better. Right about that month mark, though, I had a massive panic attack. I wondered if the medication stopped working and if I should try a different one.
I decided to continue. 2 months in and I was back up to 90%. 3 months in 95% and after 4 months I was at 99%. No more high anxiety and no more panics. I still think about it every day but it doesn't bother me like it did.
There is only one hiccup in the last 8 months I have been on it. If I have too much alcohol it seems to put a temporary pause on the medication as I start to sober up. It takes a few hours the alcohol to come out of my system and I am back to 99%.
I should also mention that I am on 150MG. My doctor said 50 was fine as I was easing into it, but it would take 100+MG for me to feel completely normal.
What a lot to go through, nightmares, sweats and putting on weight, sleeping and no sex drive? What is left that has gone from strength to strength?
i know you posted this 7 months go, are you still on here ? if so, i feel exactly the same where as not to go out etc or see friends 
This is giving me more hope as my story is similar so there. Started on Sertraline four weeks again with small doze of diazepam...trying to only take one of these a day. Felt i was making some progress after 3 weeks but this last week my anxiety is back and most days i feel awful. am also having counselling but this is over the phone and I don't think this very satisfactory although my councillor is supportive. I will beseeing my dr again tomorrow. The side effects of these drugs are unpleasant but I will continue. uke
Hiya dani,
Thanks for adding your sertraline story I feel better just reading it as it sounds just like me sending my thoughts into a whirlwind!! I have never had anxiety like this before and it scary I feel like am going mad :-(. It all got out of hand when my DD started school this yr I felt out of control like all my nuturing had be done and she was off into this big wide world. I also hated school and was bullied for being shy/quiet and I think it is brought bk awful memories. My DD is not like me thank god is v confident, fun loving little girl who loves school but I still worry everyday.
I've been on sertraline for 3 wks now and don't fee any difference just a banging headache all day and nausea someone pls tell me the side effects do go away.
Ps I take my tabs after the school run should I take them at night?
Thanks for reading just want to feel bk to my happy go lucky self :-) xx
Hi Louise, are you still on here if so how are you doing? I am starting my sertraline journey again and am 3 1/2 weeks in.