I have been on 50mg sertraline g or 5 weeks and 3 days for anxiety which started after the flu. I thought by now I would start to feel better but I don't. Today I have been in bed all day. Heart palpitations and fast pulse and generally feeling really anxious about everything. I am worrying all the time and after weeks I still have no appetite. I just want to feel normal again. I am due back in work on Monday after 4 weeks off and just dreading it feeling like this. Sorry for the long rant but would love to hear from anyone feeling the same. Lisa
Hi Donnelly,
I can attest to the fact that I feel just like you but a few other symptoms thrown in. I am also on zoloft 50,and also on week 5. My anxiety gets really bad as the day goes on. When its super bad to feeling like I might have an attack I head for my bed. My doctor gave me ativan for the attacks so I pop one and lay in bed. I also have dry mouth, shakes, aches and pains that I never had before,dizziness, I could go on and on. But this is what it is for me with this anxiety. I hope you and everyone else starts feeling better. Be strong.
Hi Brenda
Thank you for your reply. I have been reading lots of the reviews and a lot seem to suggest it can take 8 to 12 weeks for the tablets to start to work fully so I guess we will just have to hang in there. It's do horrible and I feel like I am letting my family down.
Lisa
Hi Lisa, hang in there love! It can take up to 6 - 12 weeks for the anxiety to go away. During that time it can be very up and down as your body is adjusting to the medication. For me personally it took 5 weeks for me to feel somewhat normal, my close friend took 10 weeks. During those 5 weeks I felt extremely anxious and was constantly monitoring every sensation in my body…heart, breathing, every twitch and spasm. If your still not feeling any better by next week I would speak to your GP, I think the stress of going back to work is probably making your anxiety worse, its hard when you have to put a time limit on your recovery. But just remember these things take time and you will get better! For me going back to work actually helped because it took my mind off anxiety.
Hang it there, it will get better!
Hi Lisa,
You not alone ! im on week 5 as well, on 75mg for anexity. One pattern I've noticed on this forum is the ppl are looking for this wonder drug, 15 years ago I woke up with the most terrible anxeity, I thought I was going mad ! I want onto effexor and sort help with CBT. Drugs are only a small part of the solution. However the increased anxiety is just the drug, remember it's you brain tell you lies, your not going to die.
The drug takes about 8 wks to get in, if you are not getting some good times on the drug then perhaps it's not right for you. Effexor was amazing for me, but it caused high BP and weight gain for me so after 15 years I come off it, and boy oh boy that was not at all fun !
Remember that avoidance is only going to make you anxiety worse and remember your not alone at all !!
Hi Christie
Thank you for your reply it is good to hear that you do get there. I too constantly monitor every sensation. I am especially anxious about my lack of appetite as I know I am not eating enough. Today has been particularly bad and I have no energy at all. I hope being in work will help take my mind off things. I just can't wait to feel like the old me.
Lisa
Thank you. I am going to hang in there. Last weekend I felt quite good and i even eat more. Probably need to give it a bit longer I think I am expecting too much too soon.
See, that's awesome, more and more the good times will shine through, untill you are back to your old self. I to had no appetite for three weeks, it does come back. I spoke to my gp about it and it's caused they think, but a really low level neusea what you don't feel but your brain does. Hang in there, I am too, it does get better, I had a terrible day yesterday but today I feel great 
We will hang in there together and wait for the good times to return. 😁👍
Hey Lisa, I was worried about my appetite too, forcing yourself to eat is really important. If you still cant stomach solid food I would suggest protein shakes for energy and multi vitamins, just as long as your getting some food in you.
My friend suggested eating a lot sugary foods because it helped increase appetite and also increase dopamine in the brain, it did help and I eventually got my appetite back...Skittles, Starburst, Gummybears...Stay away from chocolate though because of the caffeine... But try and work your way towards eating healthy again. I know its hard love but your not alone! Stay strong!
Hi Donnelly, everything you’ve said sounds exactly like what I’ve been going through, I’m nearly 5weeks In on 50mg and I feel I’ve got worse but apparently it will get better you just have to stick with it, I stated back Work this week and I was dreading it... but it actually made me feel a lot better, getting out the house really helps for me too, otherwise I just sit around all day feeling sorry for myself. With the not eating situation try fourcing yourself to eat because it will make you feel better, try eating a banana every morning because they have a lot of potassium in them also have things like milkshakes and hot chocolate with lots of cream it will fill you up a little bit, keep me updated, hope you feel better soon.
Hi.
It's nice to hear when someone else feels the same. I have been having complan shakes during the day and forcing myself to eat something at night. I am hoping being back on work will help as, like you say, I have been at home all day feeling sorry for myself and not wanting to do anything. I am Hoping the normality of going to work will help. Hope you feel better soon too.
Lisa x
Hi Christie
Thank you.
I have been having complan shakes but will definitely try sugary foods. How long have you been on sertraline and is it helping?
Lisa
Thanks Lisa, I will get back to you in a couple of weeks to see how you are getting on and let you no how the sertraline is working for me, all the best starting back at work, just remember there is a light at the end of every tunnel. X
It's been about 6 weeks now. I've been struggling with anxiety since I was 7 but I only started taking medication (I'm 30 now). Its been a rough couple of weeks to say the least, its very up and down these initial weeks but its worth the wait. I still have a few worrying thoughts but with each episode the anxiety lessens with severity until eventually I wonder why I was anxious in the first place!
It takes time, but it does get better!
I am on sertraline at 150 mgs and have been for years. I started off on 100 mg but that didn't help so had to increase it. This might be the case for some of you. Or not everyone can tolerate this med or it doesn't help at all. Unfortunately it's only trial and error.
I wish I could lose my appetite as I eat far to much unhealthy food and am over weight. This is probably due to a borderline under active thyroid and giving up smoking! x
Hi Lisa,
Ive been trying to deal with my anxiety on my own for 4 years, back in Nov I had to take my 9 year old son to the dentist and had a really bad panic attack I knew then i needed to get help. I've been on 50 mg Zoloft end of Dec for a week and then upped to 100mg in Jan and off from work for 3 month. I was a long scary road this forum helped me alot and made me feel like I was not alone. It does take time I really didn't feel like myself until middle of March. I wasn't even able to drive and take my kids to school my husband had to do everything. I'm very thankful I stuck it out the other thing that really helped is going to a psychologist they help you talk about anxiety and breathing techniques all these really helped me with my panic disorder. If your not getting therapy now it would be helpful to look into it. There is a light at the end we are all in this together! Good luck and stay strong xo❤
Thank you for your reply. I had a good few days last weekend but went down hill again during the week. My stomach is in a constant knot. I have no appetite and for last 2 days have just lay on the settee with no energy and heart palpitations. I am due back in work tomorrow after 4 weeks off and think this is making me anxious. I realise 5 weeks on the medication isn't long do I am just going to have yo be patient. I also wish my appetite would return as this could be contributing to lack of energy. Will hang in there.