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Interested in hearing your experiences :)

Posted , 5 users are following.

JGoodman
JGoodman

I was prescribed 50mg of Sertraline for social anxiety and depression, I'm on day 3 currently and the only side effects I've noticed are insomnia and slight muscle weakness. 

Was just interested to hear your experiences on sertraline (good or bad), is there anyone out there who's been on it for a long period of time that has actually benefited from it?

-Thanks 

1 like, 38 replies

38 Replies

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  • tracey11164
    tracey11164 JGoodman

    Posted

    Hi ya I've been on 100mgs of sertraline for over 10yrs been brill for me but had a set bk a mth ago so now been on 150mgs for 3wks still suffering side effects at the mo high anxiety and dizzy head and can't sleep but usually calms down in abt 6 to 8 wks x
    • JGoodman
      JGoodman tracey11164

      Posted

      Hi Tracey, it's good to hear that it worked for you for such a long time. sorry to hear about your set back, just focus on getting better again and don't beat yourself up about it. Take each day as it comes x 
  • lynwantshappy
    lynwantshappy JGoodman

    Posted

    Hang in there it's a road to travel but once you get there it will be like never looking back. I had quite a few of the start up symptoms and thought I would never get to the point I am but I am truly grateful for sticking in there.
    • JGoodman
      JGoodman lynwantshappy

      Posted

      Thank you smile I'm definitely going to stick to it because I really want to live a normal life and I'm hoping that sertraline will help me achieve this. 

      How do you know when it starts working? Like, do you feel happier? more relaxed? Just curious.

    • lynwantshappy
      lynwantshappy JGoodman

      Posted

      Right now I am relaxed and able to enjoy my own company. Where as before the anxiety/panic/depression/ocd weighed me down for over 10 years and was not able to enjoy anything.

      It was like a day happened and they kicked in. I was waiting for a bad day since it would be like a roller-coaster ride but this roller-coaster ride has smoothed out and yes I have bad moments but they don't last long. I feel normal and able to deal with things thrown at me. I am so glad I stuck it out.

      I started 50mgs on 6/18/15 and increased to 100 mgs on 7/18/15. Had to use zanax for the anxiety issues but not anymore smile x

    • JGoodman
      JGoodman lynwantshappy

      Posted

      That's fantastic! I'm really glad they're working for you smile I know there will be some hard times but I'm willing to stick to it. It's great reading about positive experiences like yours smile x

       

    • lynwantshappy
      lynwantshappy JGoodman

      Posted

      smile we are all here for you. If you need to vent or ever ask questions you can post here or private message me also. This group is fantastic for help and encouragment. It totally has helped me. I didn't feel crazy when talking about the issues and it put me at ease too. X
    • JGoodman
      JGoodman lynwantshappy

      Posted

      Thank you so much smile, it's great to have a group such as this where everyone is going through similar stuff,

      just a quick question that's kind on unrelated, have you ever had counselling for anxiety? My GP referred me and I'm just curious as to whether it's effective or not x

    • lynwantshappy
      lynwantshappy JGoodman

      Posted

      I had tried counseling for anxiety and they gave me tips on different things to try. I think my OCD mind and depression stopped me from being able to focus on those tips and such. Now I feel like I have forgotten how anxiety is lol. I have social anxiety too. It's still there a little but the more I am out there the better it gets. I swear I just could not get out of my own head and thoughts. But now it's smoothed over. Like an ahhhhh moment lol smile x
    • amanda_20283
      amanda_20283 lynwantshappy

      Posted

      Lyn, your story sounds so similar to mine. I just woke up having a horrible panic attack and decided to sign on hear to read some inspiration to help me get through. I'm closing in on week one on 50mg and the anxiety is so bad. I spoke to my doctor today and he told me to stick with it and said that the xanax will help. I took sertraline a few years ago and I remember the first week or so being rough but I don't remember them being this bad. The roller coaster of emotion did just slow down one day. It was like I woke up and felt better. Remembering what the felt like that day is what is getting me through the rough times. Did you doctor prescribe you taking 50mg for a month before upping it?
    • tracey11164
      tracey11164 amanda_20283

      Posted

      Hi Amanda I'm on day 25 of increase of sertraline frome 100 to 150mgs still got highten anxiety woke up with it this morning and light headed but they say can take up to 6 to 8 wks so I'm just keeping fingers crossed it levels out soon cause just had 2wks off hols but bk to work Monday cause I don't get sick pay plus I use to love my own company now hate being on my own my hubby working all wk end so I don't know what to do with myself today x
    • JGoodman
      JGoodman lynwantshappy

      Posted

      Hi, hope you're doing well today smile

      Social anxiety absolutley sucks, I'm only 19 and I can hardly live a normal life like other people my age. 

      Would you say that Sertraline helped your social anxiety then?x

    • tracey11164
      tracey11164 JGoodman

      Posted

      Yeah 1st time Rd this time with increase taking longer to settle ohhhh bless ya u r very young to have social anxiety
    • lynwantshappy
      lynwantshappy amanda_20283

      Posted

      Amanda I started 50 mgs on 6/18/15 then my dr upped my dose to 100 mgs on 7/13/15. The small dose of zanax totally helped and I made it smaller by breaking them down because I needed to be able to work and I am a single mom so I needed to be there for my 6 year old too. It helped me though those tough times big time. I am glad it worked for you before. I don't think I will ever go off them. Before I was in a dark place with pains in my chest and anxiety bad. Now I am like in a stage of ahhh like a breath of fresh air. I can enjoy things again which before no matter how hard I tried I just couldn't get in the moment. Now I can.
    • lynwantshappy
      lynwantshappy JGoodman

      Posted

      J yes it has helped me a ton with social anxiety. I was starting to have those issues in front of even the people I felt most comfortable with. Now I surprise myself and am totally in a better place. I pat myself on the back after hanging out with friends and being me with out constantly worring. It's nice to be proud of myself again smile
    • amanda_20283
      amanda_20283 lynwantshappy

      Posted

      I can't wait to get to that point where you are. It really gives me hope hearing you say that. I work in a busy restaurant and I am behind the bar for 8 hours at a time. It's so hard to function in this environment with anxiety. I am finding it so hard to go to work this week. It's a trigger for me. Thank you for the response. This forum is helping me so much.
    • lynwantshappy
      lynwantshappy amanda_20283

      Posted

      This forum had helped me though the struggles too. I wish I could push a fast forward button for you to get to my point. I know I wanted one lol. It will get there. It seems hard but once your there it will be like a walk in the park and you will never look back smile
    • tracey11164
      tracey11164 lynwantshappy

      Posted

      Hi Lynn on day 26 of increase frome 100 to 150 didn't feel to bad yesterday but for abt the last hr high anxiety is that normal xx
    • lynwantshappy
      lynwantshappy tracey11164

      Posted

      Yes it is normal until it settles into your system. Keep on going. That's the roller-coaster ride I was on too. smile it will smooth out soon.
    • tracey11164
      tracey11164 lynwantshappy

      Posted

      Thanku lyn cause I'm hoping to feel better soon bk to work tomorrow after 2wks hols x
    • lynwantshappy
      lynwantshappy tracey11164

      Posted

      You may find going back to work might actually help. I was in a new job when I started this up so I wasn't able to take time off. There were days I didn't want to be there. But I love going into work now. Enjoying the company now where as before when I think I should of had time off. I did call in a couple of days and I am so thankful that they understood what I was going through. Think of going back to work as a test to see how the meds are settling in. That's what I did to keep my mind off the side effects. I wish I wrote down the day I felt them kick in. x
    • tracey11164
      tracey11164 lynwantshappy

      Posted

      Yeah that would have been a good idea I'm to hoping work makes me feel better cause I work in such a busy shop hated feeling ill in there b4 my hols x
    • amanda_20283
      amanda_20283 lynwantshappy

      Posted

      Question for you lyn.. When you would take your xanax would you wait a certain about of time before or after you took your sertraline? Wondering if it matters.
    • lynwantshappy
      lynwantshappy amanda_20283

      Posted

      I took zanax when needed. I didn't want to get addicted to it. When I felt it coming on I would take like half to 1/4the if a pill so I could still function. It seemed to be needed about 3 or 3 hours after taking sertraline. Now I don't need zanax at all but I have them for those emergency back up moments. smile
    • amanda_20283
      amanda_20283 lynwantshappy

      Posted

      Thank you! I can't wait to get to the point where I don't need the xanax regularly.
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