First time on sertraline!

Hope your okay but starting on 100 mg is really high. I started on 50mg and had so many bad side effects for 8 weeks. So bad I've not been able to drive or work. I've now reduced from Monday to 25mg and although a struggle I've been able to work this week so far.

They obviously don't work for me. And they may do for you. Keep a dairy that helps to see the good and bad

Goodluck

Hi Megan, im only on 50mg and have been on them for just over 5 weeks, the first few weeks are a bit of a roller coaster, i had nausea, the shakes, headaches and my appetite was poor, but most anti depressants make you feel a little worse before you start noticing that you are levelling out and feeling a bit better. My advice to you is be kind to yourself, get plenty of rest, listen to self hypnosis CDs as they really help when you feel particularly anxious, and when you feel stronger try and keep as busy as you can. Good luck.

Hi Megan, I have been on Sertline for 8 months now, the first 4 days on 25mg then 50mg thereafter. Then my GP recommended I upped my dose 2 months ago to 100mg. With this drug it'll probably take 6-8weeks to fully start working into your body. The first few weeks for me made me extremely tired: which is one of the side effects off this drug! I suffer with daily Migrane's and acid reflux it took abit of a toll on my body as it did make my symptoms slightly worse BUT I persevered Mainly because of my mood swings as I was entering into PERI ( premenapausable) and my mood swing were erratic low and out of control ie one day I'd be ok next down and really miserable!!!!!!. Sertline really helped me its helped to control myself in regards of my mood swings I'm certainly no more a miserable cow well not as much now!!!. Hope I've helped in one way or another for you. Keep intouch and let us know your progress. This site is amazing the ladies and gents are lovely and we are all here to help one another take care x

Hello!  Let me start by wishing you well!  My hope and prayer is that this medication works well for you.  Please be carefull with the 100mg dosage.  A family member was increased from 50mg to 100mg and startied experiencing chronic diarrhea.  He was on so many other medications for other issues that we did not make the connection with Sertraline until he had suffered tremendously with this condition.  Please be aware that this occurs with some people, but surely not all.  Whishing you heath and happiness!

Hi Megan

I'm on week 4 of 50mg, for anxiety/depression.

I've been on this in before and would recommend you either start 25mg or 50 mg then increase.

It can in some cases aggravate your symptoms a bit, and you need to give it about 6 weeks to really gauge how it will work for you.

It does work for me, 4 th week now and I'm sleeping better, depression not too bad and anxiety.

For me it never seems to go completely but sertraline seems to help me deal with it.

As for coping strategies, try and have a brisk walk for half hour every day (more if you can) cut out all caffeine.

Get plenty of rest and sleep, take it day by day and don't be hard on yourself on a bad day, just accept it.

Eat as healthy as possible.

Good luck with it. Hope you start feeling better soon.

Wow, thanks everyone for your comments! It's really good to know that the sertraline is working for some and improving day to day life! I'm waiting on a call back from my GP to discuss dosage but at this point I'm willing to try anything!

If I were you I would not go near them. Been on them for 15 months. Side effects are worse than the problem you are setting out to alleviate. I have started to come off them. One of the 'published' side effects is depression! I believe due to effects like flatulence, dizziness, increased sweating, weight gain, dry mouth, muscle cramps (not funny when you woken in the night) lethargy, libido fallen through the floor, irritability, lethargy, fogetfulness, kidney stones - need I go on. Get some CBT instead. Look at mindfulness (Google Jon Kabat-Zinn). Look at Equine Assisted Therapy. Best wishes