Sertraline side effects

Posted , 14 users are following.

How long does it take to get used to the side effects?

Not having a good time at the moment.

0 likes, 55 replies

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  • Posted

    Hi all. My advice to you all would be to stick with it. It does get worse before it gets better on these. I have been on sertraline now for just over a yr, and I was petrified of taking them ( I was anti med and thought I could do it on my own) from experience And advice, it takes  between 6-12 weeks to feel any benefit and that is the amount of time you should wait before upping any dose. Sertraline takes a while to kick in but when it does it really helps. I had  the horrid side effects but they eased within 4 weeks but I would say I started having good days around 8-10 weeks then had a few blips. Its normal to have good and bad days in the beginning, but  you feel like it's not working as you feel like your going back, but it's just sertraline levelling out. On my bad days I used rescue remedy which really helped, and also the time you take your med has an impact on feeling the benefits of sertraline. I take mine just as I am getting in bed and have done from the start so I slept through most of the side effects. I also had trouble sleeping at the beginning so I brought an eye mask and took rescue remedy which helped. I wish you all well on journey to feeling ( normal ) it does take time and you will feel like giving up as it's not working, but just take everyday as it comes and try and keep busy to take your mind off things and to stop the negative thoughts. I found knitting and crafts helped as my mind and hands were busy. If you need any advice or incouragement  then I am here xx
    • Posted

      Thanks vikki for your positive comments, it really helps.  I'm on week 8 of the Sertraline and was feeling much better after 5 or 6 weeks, so much so that I decided to stay on 50mg on advice from my dr.  It's interesting that you said 8 - 10 weeks to feel good days, that does give me hope as I have started to feel jittery again, think it's Christmas and dental stress  (having just had a root canal done).  I thought I'd cracked the jitters at the 6 weeks and thought the Sertraine had now stopped working for me.  So, I will be positive and just treat this as a blip.
    • Posted

      Yes there are a lot of up and down days and weeks until you hit the 3-4 month mark. I had so many but the good outweighed the bad by then so I stuck with it and stayed positive. Just remember everyone has bad days in life. I wish you well x

       

    • Posted

      Thanks Vikki, your comments are so helpful and positive, it's a bit scary when you start to feel bad again isn't it?  You feel like it's all coming back again.  I've been into work today, first since before Christmas as I work in a school, got a little jittery but coped well and just gone on with it.  I wish you well too and thanks again for your support, don't hesitate to message me if you need support in the future. x
    • Posted

      Thankyou. And well done for carrying on today at work. Have you tried rescue remedy? It helped me on my bad days and very handy to carry around and take as and when needed, and it us totally safe to take along with sertraline x
    • Posted

      I tried rescue remedy when I was at my worst in the early days but it didn't seem to work for me, maybe it will now I'm not quite so bad, still have it in my bag so will give it a try again. Feel OK at the moment and hope you do too. Sleep well x
  • Posted

    I just had to give up on this drug 5 weeks in it was just not worth it, how can something ment to make you feel better have so many awfull side effects. So glad I am nearly off it now only a week to go.
    • Posted

      I guess it depends how bad a person is before they start the drug!
    • Posted

      week 5 was aweful for me, but stuck with it and started to feel so much better at week 8 and now at 90% back to normal, so glad i stayed with it.
    • Posted

      im almost on week 3 seeing a little improvement smile
    • Posted

      I was not good my last drug stopped working after a rough year, two family deaths and a car crash. I rue the day I ever put that drug in my mouth it took away 5 weeks I will not get back lol. Started to feel better on new years day when I got my appitite back. 3 stone weight loss over 5weeks. Never again will I put a AD in my mouth, but that's just me after sertraline.
    • Posted

      Hey Tammi. How are you doing so far?  I'm only a week into it and feel absolutely awful. 
    • Posted

      hey doing ok just dealing with weakness now rolleyes how ru?
    • Posted

      Doing a bit better now.  My nausea seems to have mostly lifted.  I can eat again without a fight.  I started having that since before sertraline but was worse when starting it.  I think it helped me with that now the past 3 days.  Guess I should take advantage of the 40lbs lost and keep it off haha.  

      Starting to have some decent partial days too.  Mornings kinda suck since I take these then but a bit after lunch I seem to level out to at least being functional.

      Hope your weakness feeling subsides... I know that feeling.  My legs would shake as I walked down my staircase.  Still do sometimes.

    • Posted

      thank u Adam hopefully means we'll be feeling better soon.

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