My experience of Sertraline (Some encouraging words to those who are afraid)

I was prescribed sertraline in December 2016 having suffered for many years with anxiety relating to my health- what once would have been called hypochondria I suppose. The health anxiety led to all sorts of physical symptoms, many of which focussed on my heart rate, palpitations, constant awareness of heart beat. This was accompanied by feeling faint and dizzy, feeling very hot, obsessing over my heart rate etc.

The spur to seeing the doctor was that for the first time ever my anxiety and accompanying symptoms interfered with my job I am a priest in the Church of England and one Sunday I had to go home because of, what in hindsight was a panic attack, at the time felt like I might expire on the spot.

At the GP I expressed all my fears and symptoms and was prescribed 50mg of sertraline, which I duly took. I remember the first day I felt completely out of it and disassociated at times and over the week that followed I had spikes in anxiety but nothing worse than I had experienced before. Sertraline takes weeks to fully function so for the whole month of January I managed to do the bear minimum that I could work wise and spent a lot of time laying still in bed as I was still plagued by palpitations etc. (I should mention that I have in the past been diagnosed with benign ectopic beats and a harmless sinus arrhythmia which can cause occasional odd sensations but pose no danger.) 

After the first month I felt a little better and requested to up my dose to 100mg- I didn't really notice any side effects from doing this. 18 months later (and a 6 week course of telephone CBT) and I rarely experience any of the old symptoms of health anxiety. Today I started a reduced dose of 75mg with an aim of reducing to 0mg over the next few months. I have felt no different with the reduction so far.

The only persistent side effects that I have experienced have been insomnia (though I suffered a bit in the past before the sertraline from this) and a gain in weight of around a stone, which I hope to shed. Health anxiety being what it is does mean that I avoid strenuous exercise- just in case! Though I am working on increasing the exercise I do.

My reason for saying all of this is to try to encourage you, dear anxious reader, that there are so many horror stories of anti-depressants. To begin with I read accounts on forums like this, which made me more anxious as well as consulting Dr Google. Take it from me- quit reading up on others experiences and try to relax. I know how hard it is but filling your mind with scary stories will not reduce your anxiety levels.

I have come back to write on a forum like this to bring words of encouragement- that if you are just starting out on your journey on sertraline I urge you to have courage and hope. If you read the little leaflet in the pill box, or focus on bad experiences online or trust in Dr Google you will merely be stoking your anxiety and will no doubt feel worse.

You might feel a bit more anxious when first taking the pills, you might not feel like they are helping, yet I urge you to persevere as they can and do work for people. Obviously if you are worried go and see your GP but if they assure you that you are ok- trust them. I know it is hard sometimes but circular thinking really doesn't help us suffering from anxiety to break free from the bonds that tie us.

 I have written quite enough now- however do feel free to ask questions of me for support and clarification.

God bless.

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