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SERTRALINE EXPERIENCES!!

Posted , 5 users are following.

Blu02
Blu02

I'm reading many posts where people worry about things like... how long does Sertraline take to work, the side effects, how much to take, different brands, coming off......

I thought those of us who've been on Sertraline for a while, or come off, could give our experiences in this thread to help new ones as they are just starting.

1 like, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Blu02
    Blu02

    Posted

    I started taking Sertraline early in December. The first couple of days were really bad with panic attacks, feeling dizzy, suicidal feelings and not able to sleep. Went back to the doctor and he prescribed propanalol which stopped the panic attacks but still left me with the other side effects but they were bearable!

    4 weeks in and I could feel some improvement but still had a way to go. However my next box of Sertraline were a different brand!! Didn't think about it at the time but after 3 days I was feeling bad again. On checking some of the posts on here I noticed others had experienced adverse effects when changing brands so went back to the doctor to get another prescription as the chemist had said they can give me the same brand. 2 days later I was back on track.

    After about 7 weeks I was feeling quite good and now after 8 weeks I feel exceptional.. Sertraline certainly has helped 😃

    • natalie16973
      natalie16973 Blu02

      Posted

      This is a great idea! Thanks for your story, so glad you are feeling better, it's a horrible thing to go through but sounds like sertraline is pretty beneficial xx
  • Digsby
    Digsby Blu02

    Posted

    Great post Blu. I'm about a month behind you: started on 50mg on 1st Jan and increased to 100mg after 4 weeks. Side effects have been minimal (compared to my previous meds). I still have a healthy appetite and my sex drive is still intact! I do have the added benefit of weekly therapy which has helped me turn the corner with my suicidal depression. I'm not out of the woods yet, but I'm taking one day at a time, trying to achieve something each day, not beating myself up when I have a less productive day. There is light at the end of the tunnel but as others have posted elsewhere, drugs alone are not the answer. Listen to your body and find what works for you. Good luck to all & keep sharing!

    Digsby x

  • james8206
    james8206 Blu02

    Posted

    My story is a very short term one. The doc gave me 50mg of sertraline for mild anxiety since I was stuggling to concentrate on my work (from home office). I was told it would take a week or two before I would feel any benefit and that I might feel a bit sick in the first few days. Well he was wrong about the benefit. I felt totally normal with no issues at all after about 8 hours! Days 2 through to 5 after which I could take it no longer were a progressive hell involving feeling sick, force feeding, hyperactivity and increased anxiety!. After adding tinnitis onto the ever increasing list of ailments and increasing madness I came to the conclusion that perhaps my brain was being overstimulated. I didn't take a tablet on the morning of day 6 or day 7 and after about 60 hours I felt well again and what a relief!

    I wouldn't wish that few days on anyone and I am sure that there are others out there who are overdosing like I was because they started on too high a dose. Start off slow! You can always up the dose if it's ineffective.

    • Blu02
      Blu02 james8206

      Posted

      Hi James thanks for the post. Many folk go through very bad side effects before they feel better so it's a relief to hear you are feeling better after missing a couple of doses.

      As you say "Start off slow" Possibly for some with bad side effects starting on half a tablet (25mg) would be a better option until the body has become accustomed to the med.

      Hope you continue to feel good, take care 😃

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