I've been on 50mg sertraline for 26 days (nearly4 weeks)

Hi Vikki, at nearly 4 weeks I'd started to feel better.... I'm just over 6 weeks now and feel really good but beware of changing brands when you get your next lot, it can have an adverse effect!

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/different-types-of-sertraline--338186

Hi vikki2303,

Actually no medication can take away all of our anxiety or depression, but give us a boost in the right direction. Therapy helps along with the meds and teaching ourselves relaxation breathing techniques helps too.

I know it is tough to change behaviors and thought patterns, but it is worth the effort. I hope you will find your happy medium.

Regards,

Dawn

The sertraline isnt going to completely rid you of anxiety. You will still get a bit of anxiety from time to time. The sertraline is there to get you to a place where you can confront your anxiety issues. Sertraline shouldnt be thought of as a long term solution.

Hi Vikki

It can take up to six weeks, but persevere as it does work.  I have been on Sertraline for more years than I can remember and it has the least side effects of any of the anti-depressants.  Only down side is that my feelings are not the same as in a sad film comes on and I do not cry, my husband says I have a swinging brick but funny thing is if film is about an animal I cry buckets!! Not sure what to take out of that.  I wondered if you had read any books on Depression, if not I have a few to recommend to you. The first is titled "The Curse of the Strong", best book I have ever read about Depression, author is Dr Tim Cantopher.  In this book he touches on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, a few years ago after having a complete nervous breakdown due to stress at my office, I was recommended by the Job Centre to go see a therapist, I was not keen, having gained my COSCA Certificate in Counselling Skills in 2002.  However I went along and it really does work, as in you really can change how you think.   Its all about how your thoughts are constantly racing all day and how you can teach yourself not to do this.  I struggled at first but then managed to master the technique 1) as soon as negative thoughts come into your mind - You change them right away to something which makes you happy.  2) Realise that ok there are things in life which are not perfect, but hey ho there are lots of things which are so good.  I tried to channel my thoughts different ways, a bad thought would flash through my head and straight away I changed it to the day my grandson was born and how elated I felt.

This may all sound like hard to achieve, but try it it definately works.

PS to go along with the book on Depression  by Dr Cantopher, get a copy of Dr Stephen Briers Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Second Edition.  My advice is to read Dr Cantopher first then progress to the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy book.  Good luck, if it means anything I have found that Depression and Anxiety usually happen to strong and capable people, eg. Mozart the composer suffered badly as did Spike Milligan.  regards rotweiler

Hi Vikki, I would agree that it took me about 4 weeks to start to feel the benefits, however through the last 10months I have felt better and better as time has gone on, I love Sertraline (Lustral) it is the best treatment I have had and now can do my job better and I am generally much more chilled, I hope it helps you too. Kate