Any one help?

Hi Anne,

I have been on sertraline now for almost 7 weeks (4 weeks on 100mg) and it does get much better but you mustn't give up. Sure the side effects have been awful, and I still have bad diarrhea. I can sleep better now (I had diazepam to help the first few weeks and now my GP has given me zoplicone to help sleep but i find half a tablet very good during the day to keep me calm if i'm having a bad day) and no more panic attacks and I feel incredibly calm most of the time. Until about 5 days ago I was so shaky and agitated but I found about about different generics having different effects so I found that using sertraline from Lupin or Accord stop a lot of the side effects and had a better overall effect. It does seem to take forever for Sertraline to work but most people say the same thing; after 7 or 8 weeks it suddenly starts to have a very positive effect and i have found that to be true after suffering awfully for the first 4 or 5 weeks. Some professionals say it can be anything up to 3 months before you feel the full effects of Sertraline but it seems more like 8 weeks from people's experience I have read. Give it a few more weeks

Hi Anne   I fully agree with Geraldinho   I have been on Sertraline for 16weeks and I would say it took a good 8-10weeks before it had a positive effect on me.  I suffered 5 weeks of constant diarrhea and stomache cramps  but my doc lowered dose from 100mg right back to 25mg to alleviate my symptoms and very slowly put me back up  I stayed on 50mg for 3wks then 75mg for 3 weeks and for past 3 weeks have been on 100mg with absolutely no side effects. Its about finding a level thay your body is initially comfortable with and can cope with  these meds are strong once you have got over your stomache pains (as long as its nothing else) you WILL feel much better.  Serotonin is what is lacking in most people who are suffering with panic attacks or anxiety and seratonin is made in the gut with receptors linked straight to the brain where its needed.  If you are really lacking in seratonin (like I was) it will have an effect on your gut.  Have you been back to yr docs and told him about your stomach pains?  maybe you should go down the meds  anyway check with him  Try not to  worry  what you are experiencing although its awful  is 'normal' within the range of side effects    Good Luck