1. Community
  2. Mental health
  3. Sertraline

My Sertraline Story!!

Posted , 182 users are following.

dani32
dani32

Hi im a 32 year old female. Im married with 2 children. About 12 weeks ago I started to get awfulanxiety, I was stressing about the least little thing and turning small things into massive over the top things. I started doing breathing exercises and taking herbal remedies, reading books and going onto websites. Nothing seemed to work and about 6 weeks ago I couldn't take the way I felt anymore and felt like I wasn't coping with normal everyday situations like the school run and seeing my friends and even watching a film with my husband. I have never suffered with anything like this before and that in itself is very scary, I felt out of control with my thoughts, I wasn't sleeping or eating.

I went to see my GP who prescribed me 50mg of Sertraline, I was also given 10 days worth of diazepam (2mg). After a few days of deciding if I should take them I went for it, I had the most awful side affects, sickness, diarrhea, headaches, night sweats, shakes. I couldn't even get out of bed for a couple of days. I was having panic attacks and Insomnia.

After a week or so the side affects eased off and I was able to cope again although I was still left with the awful anxiety. After 2 weeks I started to feel 50% better and then into week 3,4,5 I seemed to go downhill with my anxiety again but I stuck with the Sertraline as the doc said it could take 6-8 weeks to see the benefit.

The last few days I've started to feel 90% my old self again. I think this drug seems to take a while to work but i'm glad I've stuck with it as I feel like i'm getting my old life back again. I really hope this is a helpful and positive story if you are just starting out on Sertraline, I know I have a long way to go but I feel with the help of this med I can get my life back on track.

Reading all the positive stories on this forum has helped me a great deal. Im also lucky to have great family and friends I can talk to.

52 likes, 461 replies

461 Replies

Prev Next
  • kirsty00970
    kirsty00970 dani32

    Posted

    I have took my 1st tablet today and scared and excited. can i ask if you had time off work while taking these tablets.
    • amber54889
      amber54889 kirsty00970

      Posted

      Kirsty I haven't had any trouble working, I've been on Setraline for three weeks in incremental doses.  I wake up a little tired, but once I get going I'm fine.  Just slightly tired through the day, but more just like after a bad night's sleep, I can still work.  I'm just avoiding taking on anything "big" or "extra" at work until the medication balances out - but if I needed to take on something, I could, it would just be a little more unpleasant.  I eat something healthy every three hours and that is helping the steadiness - I noticed the first week if I let my blood sugar drop I get more tired, cranky and hungry than usual.
    • kirsty00970
      kirsty00970 amber54889

      Posted

      Thank you for that advice. I keep looking forward to be the old me again.
  • rachel62244
    rachel62244 dani32

    Posted

    I don't know what to do I was OK but at week 4 if slipt but with pnd abs serve anxiety where I'm in panic 24/7 I would increase but I'm scared as when I increase fluoxetine I went crazy. I'm on 50mg sertraline. Any advise? This split as been 5days now x
  • miklos20337
    miklos20337 dani32

    Posted

    I am a 48 year American with a wife and two children ages 10 and 14.  I recently lost my job, the second time in two and half years.  This is after a wonderful 22 year military career, retiring as a Colonel.  I am depressed, lost my confidence and an gripped with anxiety about the future. So, I tried Zoloft.  It made me feel more depressed and anxious, plus the added nausea, insomnia and loss of sex drive.  So I stopped for a few days and tried again.  Same bad results.  Zolft is making me feel much wose.  I know it takes weeks to get the full good effect, but for me it is not worth the suffering.

    I think meditation, exercize and counseling is the answer for me.  I would love for a pill to help me, but when what depresses you is based on loss, grief or trauma, I beleive that time and effort are the only lasting cures.

     

    • rachel62244
      rachel62244 miklos20337

      Posted

      I believe it your depressed for a reason u can work on this but for me its postnatal for no reason but my body playing up. I have a lovely family and im very happy normally I just get this after children . I won't be having any more that's for sure as much as I love them dearly
  • rachel62244
    rachel62244 dani32

    Posted

    I was OK week 2to3 but come week 4 I was mess again, really bad anxiety/panic very low mood dream like state. I'm on 5weeks now and I'm so up and down through the days its awful. I fear I'll never be me again! Any advise. Im hoping tjat maybe its just too early at week 5. There is some improvements but I was so so bad before with postnatal anxiety sad
    • natalie99981
      natalie99981 rachel62244

      Posted

      It took me till the 7 week mark to feel good again so hopefully not too much longer x
    • rachel62244
      rachel62244 natalie99981

      Posted

      I hope so hun its so dishearted at the moment it's getting me so so down. I still feel so anxious and dizzy and nothing like me at all! Did u still feel like this at 5weeks? Xx
    • natalie99981
      natalie99981 rachel62244

      Posted

      I was back at the doctor getting scripts for sleeping tablets at 5 weeks ..It was around 7 weeks I noticed I hardly had any anxiety although had a couple of days here and there especially around that time of the month ... I am 5-6 months in now and feel so good I can't believe how awful I was just a few months ago.. Feel free to pm me my whole journey with this awful illness started as post natal 3 years ago . I was put on meds back then but took myself off when I felt better after a few months and silly me did that twice so here I am again back on the meds smile
    • rachel62244
      rachel62244 natalie99981

      Posted

      Would u mind messaging me so i can replybon the thread as I can't see how to do it. Your story seems very much like mine. I was on them 5years and come off them once pregnant but at 30wks it came back. Was a flu and was OK till baby was 7 weeks then in crept back so they upped the dose and it turned me crazy to the point I was looking at been in a mother n baby unit but as the meds came out my body the crazy lady did thank god I went straight onto the sertraline from that.
    • Bun1975
      Bun1975 natalie99981

      Posted

      Hello. How are you doing?'I was wondering if you are still on medication.

  • carmita50811
    carmita50811 dani32

    Posted

    I am 36 female and started 25mg of zoloft six eight days ago. This morning I was bumped to 50mg. My mornings are so horrible. Cant get out of bed, shaky, no appetite, need it quiet. Then around noon I start feeling better and can eat something small and I will be OK for the rest of the day. I will go to bed and about 5am the shakes and everything start all over again until noon. Does it get better?
    • natalie99981
      natalie99981 carmita50811

      Posted

      Stick with it Hun the first 2-3 weeks are horrid but it does settle down. I am your age too mornings were the worst for me also then by the evening I felt a little better . I couldn't eat almost anything for a few weeks but it all settles down and now I feel great smile
    • isabel21513
      isabel21513 carmita50811

      Posted

      Have the same problem, but I know it will pass, is a question of being patient, and take a day at the time.....
Back to top
Prev Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.