not sure if to take sertraline PLEASE ADVISE!!

well iv just taken the first tablet and i feel so anxious...had a slight panic attack. iv read so many bad things about people hearing voices and having suicidal thoughts after taking it and i've never had anything like that. is this med really going to make me better or turn me into somthing im not. im so scared right now and already wishing i didnt take it. if snyone has any advise i would be so so grateful. thanku xx

I've been on 50mg for nearly three weeks now, i have the odd dizzy spell, feel shaky in the morning and have confusion and brain zapps sometimes but other than that i usually feel better than when i wasn't on them.

The first two weeks were awful but any bad symptoms soon fade.

I would say take them for three weeks and see how you feel, if you don't like them you can stop.

I was so worried about taking them at first, it took me about 4 months to pluck up the courage to put the first tablet in my mouth. I'm moving up to 100mg in a week and am a bit worried about it but at the end of the day no one is forcing me to take them so i can stop and try something else anytime.

Thankyou for ur advise. its been 3days now and i havent noticed too much. other than feeling tired and thinking about it all the time. im still scared taking the tablet everyday and get a bit panicky but i think thats all just me winding myself up. iv read good things about this med but the bad definately out weighs the good and that scares the hell out of me. im on 50mg a day aswell and have an appointment in 2wks to see how everything is going. maybe u could tell me what its like if u go onto 100mg??(if u dont mind).im really greatful for ur reply and any other advice u have would be much appreciated.take care xx

I have been taking various anti-depressants for the past 12 nonths with no effect. My doctor changed my tablets to Sertraline a few months ago. At first I felt that these tablets weren't working either. My dose was gradually increased and I am now on 200mg per day. The difference in me is unbelievable. I no longer want to kill myself and am able to chat to friends and family, something I was unable to do before.

I have read bad reviews about Sertraline but have not experienced these problems myself. I feel more relaxed and able to cope with everyday things.

Good luck to you and I hope they are the right tablets for you. If not there are many other anti-depressants you can try, just say to your doctor you feel as though the tablets aren't working. You can then either up the dose or change the tablets.

Hi Laura thanku for ur reply. i have been taking them for about 2wks now and i have already noticed that i am not so moody or angry and feel alot calmer. i went to the doc on thursday and have to go back in 4wks to talk about doseage. i am glad that i decided to tske them and i hope they continue to have a positive affect! i am only on 50mg a day and do find that in the early evening i feel lazy, tired(but cant sleep) have alot more thinking time that makes me feel down. id really like to hear of ur progress so plz continue to keep me updated with any advise, thoughts ir opinions u may have. take care and stay safe xxx

Glad you are taking the tablets. It usually takes a few weeks for the tablets to start working. I also go to councilling every 2 weeks. It's just me and the councillor, not a group of people. I felt stupid when I first went but have found it really helpful. I used to suffer panic attacks but the councillor has taught me how to do breathing exercises and this has helped a lot. I hardly have any panic attacks now.

Like you, I have to go to the doctors every 4 weeks for my prescription. They like to keep a check on you to see how you are getting on then after a few months they will put the tablets on repeat and you will only have to go every 3 months.

Good luck continuing with your tablets and I'll look forward to seeing how you are getting on. XX

I've been on 100mg of Sertraline for a week now after being on 50mg and feel no difference, i thought i would feel doped up but don't feel relaxed at all. Does anyone know what the usual dose is for depression and anxiety cause i seem to have an immunity to these tablets.

Hi Blue 54.

I changed my tablets to Sertraline in the middle of June 2010, after taking other anti-depressants, which I found did not work for me. I started on 50mg and felt even worse. I had previously been taking Venlafaxine, 225mg per day and felt that the dose was extremely low to what I had been used to.

I went back to my doctor who put the dose up to 100mg. I found that these didn't work either so my dose was increased again to 150mg and then to 200mg per day.

I started taking 200mg on 27th July 2010 and have only begun to feel a bit better for the last 3 weeks.

You need to get the dose of tablet right for you and will have regular meetings with your doctor to discuss how you feel you are managing with the tablets that you are taking.

Good luck and I hope the tablets start working for you soon.

i would just like to say how nice it is for people to keep commenting on these posts. its so nice to hear what others have to say and to feel like you are not alone! iv been on 50mg for 3wks now and am going back to docs in 3wks when i think the dose will prob go up to 100mg. if you feel like your meds arent working plz go back to the doc and be honest as there us the right solution for u....it just needs to be found. i hope everyone continues to share there thoughts and opinions and i hope we can all find a happy place! i still have panicky moments but nothing like before and i know it will take time to feel like \"me\" again. in the meantime i hope we all stay safe and remember there is people out there that share ur feelings....everyone that has commented on these posts has been a great comfort to me.....please keep it going!! take care and i look foward to hearing from u all and will keep u updated with my progress. take care xx

i have post traumatic stress and have had for the last 6 years, i`ve muddled through with a few visits to a theropist which stopped my panic attacks but changed it to anxiety(which i feel is worse) all this time i didn`t let it stop me doing things but about 3 weeks ago my anxiety finally got the better of me and me, my son and our 2 dogs have been staying at my mums ever since. i went to the doctors and she started me on citralapram, the first day i took it(in the morning) all i could do was lay on the sofa feeling tired and extremly \"stoned\" the second day was the same, i couldn`t walk my dogs or look after my son so i went back and she gave me lustral (sertraline) i started with half a pill (50mg) before bed (i also get anxiety about taking it and side effects) the first day i woke up a bit dizzy and stoned but not as bad as the citralopram and it wore off by the end of school, but even after the first day my anxiety had reduced, now on day 6 still have anxiety but on and off and not so bad i have even walked my dogs, so i`m hopeful for upping dose, i have seen alot of mixed reviews about this med but its been my saviour.

Hey guys, Ive been taking sertralie 50mgs for about two months now, and i really have noticed the difference! i havent had an anxiety attack since taking the tablets, and finally feel that i can relax fully. The side effects were awful at first, i had the shakes, and sickness, but theyve gone now. The only problem i seem to have are bad night sweats. has anyone else had this too ?

Hi hope you are all well. been taking sertraline for 2months now. apart from dizziness in the first couple of wks i felt good. however, the last couple of weeks my anxiety is creeping back up on me and i cant sleep at night. i spend all day sleeping, have become really unsocial and generally feeling down about everything. the doc gave me sleeping tablets which was the worst thing ever as i felt awful the next day and i was practically in a coma.....it took my partner hours to wake me up. im due to go back to docs in 2wks and im hoping he will up the dose to 100mg and i hope that will put me back on track. im still wondering if i done the right thing taking these. i feel numb and empty and thats just not me. i want to feel somthing again....anything....just care about somthing and feel passionate about it and have an opinion....i just dont. all i care about is my 2 children and luckily they are not old enough to understand. i love them and want to be better so they can be happy and have a good mum like they deserve!! Anyway, i will keep u updated i hope u are all well. Take care and stay safe xx

I have been on Sertraline for about 3 months, was started on 50mg for 4 weeks then was upped to 100mg, since taking them i have noticed that my anxiety has gotten better but i feel so numb ive hardenly got out off bed the past few weeks im just so tired all the time, And yes i also suffer with the night sweats which is the probably the reason im so tired all the time as im constantly wakin up through the night, the past few days ive felt ive had a little more energy so hopefully im gettin used to them if not I'll give it a few more weeks then go back to the docs.

Take care. xx

hi all,

well i have now been onsertraline for 6 weeks. started on 50mg but 2 weeks ago increased to 100mg.

really feeling much better in myself and my only real side affect is loss of appetite and insomnia - but if i weigh up how i felt orginally and the first 2 weeks of being on them those side affects are nothning at all in comparission.

although i always said i'd never take them i am glad i have recognised i needed the help - but i think you need to look deep down and also try to elminate possible triggers. So i have resigned from my job after 8 long years and truely fel like a weight has been lifted - it has given the feeling back of being in control,obviously start with baby steps like i did which was as simple as walking the dog or saying high to a stranger! and never forget each day to be thankful for something simple like a flower or loved one - as i am a true beliver that positive energy breeds positive energy :-)

also remember no human being is perfect and we will all come out better stronger people for living through these hard times.

stay strong and take care.

thank you for this forum and shining me another positive light to focus on.x ;-)