Sertraline for Anxiety and Stress User Reviews (Page 2)

• Han...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 10, 2023

"This time last year I was reading reviews on here wondering whether I should start sertraline or not. I had previously had an awful experience with citalopram, so I was scared of taking another SSRI. The reviews really put me off. People tend to voice only a negative experience rather than a positive one, and I promised I would write a review if I had a positive one with sertraline, so here we go! Sertraline has absolutely changed my life. This time last year, I couldn't leave the house. I felt constant dread, my stomach was always upset, I couldn't sleep, and I would cry all the time. After being on this medication for 11 months, I am now in university, in a relationship, see my friends, don't cry over everything (I can still cry), I don't have any issues with orgasms, and my sex drive has actually increased! I can just nip to the shop like it's no biggie! I'm loving life again!"

• Zim...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 20, 2019

"When you start sertraline, you need to stick with it. It doesn't start working for 6 weeks. I've had anxiety all my life but 3 years ago developed OCD and panic disorder. The first 2 weeks of taking sertraline was awful. Horrible thoughts, racing heart, anxiety worrying if the pill would work, then there was a sick feeling, dodgy tummy, etc. You only feel rubbish for 2-3 weeks and then you feel just as you would before the pill. Anyway, I read on the NHS website that Sertraline takes 4 weeks to start working for depression and 6 weeks for anxiety. And true to word, I started feeling great after 6 weeks. I was patient and it paid off. I've been on it for almost 12 months and it's the best decision I've made. I don't care if I have to take this for life, if I feel better mentally, then surely my body will be healthier physically!"

• sor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 2, 2020

"My son worried constantly about having cancer. He had these thoughts for over 2 years. I hated to see him like this. Always crying, frightened. He smoked, so it made the health anxiety much worse. He was put on sertraline. He was very ill for 4 weeks, much worse than before he started taking it. But now he doesn't talk about it and is now happier. I can't believe it. How it's changed my 26-year-old son's life. He still has autism, he always will, but he is so much happier, and the anxieties have 90 percent gone. Thank you, sertraline. You are a magic pill. Mother of Luke."

• Joe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 9, 2015

"This has been one of the toughest medications I have ever been on. I've been on countless numbers of antipsychotics, antidepressants, mood stabilizers... Around 25 medications in total. I was wrongly diagnosed as borderline personality and suffered greatly as a result. Sertraline made everything so much worse for about three weeks, but then, it was like a switch had been pressed in my head. My racing, obsessive thoughts stopped, my constant headaches, insomnia, sweating, worrying, heart pains, vanished. I can think, I can feel, and I can, for the first time in a long time, be 100% completely myself without the pain. You don't get points in this world for suffering, and this has improved my life by about 100000000%. Stick with it."

• Jay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 21, 2020

"I’m on week 5 of sertraline 50mg and I think I’ve had every side effect which has been horrendous - but most disappeared after 2 weeks. I still have dreadful morning anxiety, a cough that comes and goes and ringing in my ear but all manageable. That’s the negative part. On a positive note, I haven’t had a panic attack since starting this medication and my mood swings are loads better. I hear myself laugh more. I’m keeping everything crossed that I will see more improvement with the anxiety. I have never suffered from anything like this until 7 months ago, and I refused medication thinking it will pass (it doesn’t). If you can get past the first few weeks, you will start seeing positive changes. I still have a few bad days, but nothing like it was without the medication. Good luck to all starting."

• Suz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 18, 2023

"For anyone struggling with the first few days/weeks/months, please stick with Sertraline. I was where you are now and I used to read all the reviews and pray that it worked for me. It did! I was no longer having racing heart, negative thoughts, and an absolutely crushing feeling of anxiety in my stomach every morning when I woke up, it just all went away! At the beginning, I couldn't even get out of bed, and now I am back at work, enjoying my family, my beautiful grandchildren. I started on 50mg and now take 100mg daily. Please stick with it, and I hope it works for you!"

• Lan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 10, 2021

"4 weeks ago I switched to sertraline 50mg as my other medication stopped working. I was on Lexapro for 6 years which changed my life! I found sertraline has really helped with my anxiety and depression, and I'm finding my daily living as a busy mom of 3, a caregiver for my husband, and a dog mom a lot more enjoyable. I am increasing today to 100mg of sertraline as this increase is needed to suit me. I found the first 2 weeks starting sertraline heightened my anxiety and depression, which Xanax helped ease the heightened anxiety for the first 2 weeks, but I held on and I am glad I did. I hope this helps someone else."

• Hea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 12, 2020

"I started 25mg sertraline at the end of June 2020. I was depressed as well as anxious. I used to feel like life was pointless as we all die anyway, and although I wasn’t suicidal, I didn’t want to continue living this way. The first few days I had an upset stomach and was waking up at random times through the night, but this quickly went away. I increased my dose to 50mg, which I am on now. My main side effects are vivid dreams and lack of sex drive. I still experience anxiety every so often, but it’s much better and easier to get over. I am considering increasing my dosage to 100mg to see if it helps with this. I am far less on edge and jumpy, I feel like I used to be on constant high alert, and that’s definitely reduced. My depression, I would say, is completely gone. I feel happy again and excited for the future, which I thought was impossible. I no longer think that life is pointless. I wouldn’t have thought that medication could help with these thoughts, but it definitely has."

• A86...
• April 24, 2019

"2017, I just started a new job after a year of unemployment. I began to feel anxious at work, and a few months into my new job, I had a severe breakdown. I went to my GP who explained everything to me in detail. She prescribed me anti-sickness tablets for my sick feeling, which did WONDERS immediately, but she also said that I need to give Sertraline a chance to work. Fast forward to 2019, and I wanted to write this review to anyone who was in my shoes in 2017, searching the net for the magic cure, anxious about the future, and feeling trapped and like they will never get better! THERE IS HOPE!! Give the medicine a chance to work, Sertraline saved my life!! I am still taking it at 125mg and now looking to lower the dose because I feel so much better, I feel comfortable. I am able to get on the tube like I used to (without anxiety), I can sit in meetings, and I can even present to a crowd now! I got a promotion at the start of this year and loving life."

• Jul...
• January 13, 2020

"I started taking this pill over 3 months ago, because something bad has happened in my life. I had very intense panic attacks and shaking, couldn't sleep, constant anxiety. If you are someone who just started to take these pills, brace yourself: the first 5 weeks are gonna be HORRIBLE. But hold on, it starts to get better afterwards if you keep taking them. I started with 50mg, which was soon raised to 100mg. I got almost every single side effect that was listed in the pill's warning: Shaking, worsening panic and depression, fear of death etc. These thankfully gradually faded after the first 2 weeks. The longest lasting side effect was that I kid you not, I couldn't sleep more than 45 minutes a night for almost a whole month! INSOMNIA! Now I have been on these for almost 4 months. The panic attacks are absent, and even on the worst nights, I can easily sleep 4-5 hours. On weekends, I can even sleep in :) A very tough medication, but in the end, it works like magic!"

• Jul...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 13, 2025

"I started on Sertraline just over a month ago for anxiety and panic attacks: 4 days on 25 mg, 20 days on 50 mg, 15 days on 100 mg. Starting on Sertraline has been an extremely hard journey, but I am here to tell all of you who are suffering that it is in fact working and YOU WILL FEEL BETTER! The first 14 days were absolutely horrifying: increased anxiety, horrible panic attacks, extreme sweating, nausea, vomiting, no appetite, depressive thoughts. I had to take Xanax some days to cope with it, but somehow I managed to go to (desk job) work every day. Increasing my dose from 50-100 mg initially made it worse again with the side effects all over, but about 5 days into 100 mg, I finally started to feel some relief, and from there, I have just felt better and better. It still goes up and down from day to day, but on a weekly basis, so much better. I felt absolutely horrible starting Sertraline, but if I could do this, so can you! THERE IS LIGHT AND IT WILL BE SO MUCH BETTER! :)"

• Mr ...
• April 30, 2019

"27-year-old from the UK, Carlisle, on 50mg Sertraline. This medication is excellent. I have tried: Prozac (impulsive & diarrhea), Mirtazapine (5-stone weight gain), Citalopram (severe depression resulting in a constant stream of suicidal thoughts, NEVER AGAIN!), Venlafaxine (severe anxiety and nervousness), Amitriptyline (sedation). I have been on this for 2 weeks. When it started working, I felt happy and calm. I didn't wake feeling angry and fed up with life. My memory has improved, and my sleep has improved. I can go outside, which I was unable to do before. I don't comfort eat, I don't ruminate over negative things, I'm interested in my hobbies again, and I am more outspoken and unafraid of confrontation. It is out of this world! Keep trying and don't give up. You will wake up one day out of this waking coma and see the color of reality again, just keep trying different medications. No matter what, keep going! I have been depressed and anxious for years, this has truly saved me from oblivion."

• Dav...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 30, 2024

"Further to my review on 2nd Oct, I've now been on 100 mg for three weeks, after being on 50 mg since the end of August, and I've got to say it's a miracle drug. Anxiety gone, panic attacks gone, much better sleep, clear head, and confidence is back in spades. Ever so small amount of shakes for first minute or two when I wake, but soon goes, and no agitation first thing. It's given me my life back, and I know I've probably got another couple of weeks before this dose fully kicks in. If you've just started, it will be a dark few weeks, but seriously, keep going. You'll be thankful you did."

• Mag...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 15, 2019

"I have been on sertraline since 9 days ago. I had all of a sudden generalized anxiety which progressed to panic attacks without any obvious reason. My doctor has prescribed me sertraline 50 mg once daily and told me that may make me sleepy. In those 9 days, I had the worst nausea and loss of appetite with internal shakes. The first day had nightmares. Elevated anxiety and panic attacks especially in the morning. Almost every day I refer to this site to reassure myself that everything will be okay. I will keep you posted. Please wish me luck."

• Cas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 8, 2016

"I promised myself when I was a wreck that I would post when I was myself again. Truth is these forums gave me hope when everything was hopeless and kept me going. I started on Sertraline 50 mg upped to 100 mg for severe anxiety that had been building up for a year. I focused on my anxiety all the time, life was not enjoyable. Word of advice-- if you are on Sertraline for anxiety you will feel worse beyond belief for a start!!! Please stick with it-- I never would have without forums. I felt much better after 6 weeks but has taken 11 to be me again. It is a slow process but the results are amazing. I needed a lot of time off work as I am in a surgical job-- don't feel guilty as I did. We have an illness like any illness. Don't ever lose hope."

• Jun...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 2, 2019

"I promised myself I would comment once I was feeling better because reading these comments gave me reassurance when I was starting Zoloft. I started having uncontrollable panic attacks and anxiety after a mild electric shock at work. For me personally, I had no positive effects for about 4 weeks. Then I was really up and down for the next 2 weeks, where 1 day my anxiety would lower for periods, and the next 2 days it would be back up. After around week 6, I started having longer periods of much lower anxiety, but still, anxiety would come on here and there. Now, 8 weeks in, anxiety is a lot less. I still feel it from time to time, but definitely feeling better. Hope this helps someone who is reading all the comments about people feeling better after just a few weeks and thinking it's taking too long, so Zoloft won't work. It does, just some of us take a little longer to feel the effects. Hang in there, good times are coming."

• Ann...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 17, 2020

"I wasn't feeling too good at the beginning of last year. Panic attacks, my body felt like I was overheating, breathless, stomach upsets, loose bowels, shaking. Feeling that I was hopeless at work and home. Very toxic work environment, overloaded with work. I had a breakdown which put me in bed for two weeks unable to function with daily tasks. I couldn't cook or stand the smell of food or walk. I felt dreadful. I was eventually assessed by mental health who diagnosed me with depression and anxiety. I was on a dose of 25mg sertraline for one week and slowly upped over 8 weeks to 100mg. I had every side effect in the book. But I thought, what the heck, I'm ill anyway so carry on. This is a slow process and not a magic overnight cure. Sertraline saved me. I am now able to handle stressful situations calmly and feel physically better, able to enjoy my life again. Hang on in and don't give up."

• IT ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 16, 2021

"Depression and anxiety for over a DECADE! Thought there was no way that a pill could make it go away or help… thought depression and anxiety were normal for adults. Really sad actually. Read the reviews…. The first 5-6 weeks SUCK SOOOO BAD! Horrible! Then no depression, I'm happy, I don't feel weird or unusually happy just how I did before I was depressed. Anxiety almost all the way gone but considering increasing dose since I still do get some anxiety but NOTHING near before. I used to have racing, neurotic thoughts COULD NOT STOP THEM. Now I feel like I AM IN CONTROL not crazy, unhelpful, worrisome, incessant, thoughts!! What a relief! Wish I had started the first month I got depression. I feel so bad that so many people suffer terribly thinking that big pharma can't help, when it completely does. No side effects after 6-8 weeks. Been on it for 4 months"

• Oli...
• June 6, 2014

"I have been taking sertraline since October of 2013 (eight months). I started out with a low dosage (25mg, I believe) and slowly worked my way up to 75mg. It did take some time for the anxiety to really be drowned out, but it has done wonders for me. I remember the day I went to the doctor, feeling fed up that my anxiety had really taken control of my life - work, school, relationships were all negatively affected by it. I was crying every day at this point. I lost my father to cancer, and the battle was very hard on me for three years. The sertraline has done wonders for me. I honestly feel like myself again - I do not feel any 'high' or anything that I would not want to feel. I honestly appreciate this medicine as it has saved my life."

• jud...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 7, 2021

"Just finished my 6th week on 50 mg Sertraline and wow. I feel like a new person. I'm 56 and started therapy several months ago to deal with a family issue. The other party dropped out of the sessions right away, but I decided to keep going. Through therapy, I started realizing I had some stuff to deal with, lol. I had lived with anxiety and depression for so long that I almost didn't realize I was doing so. I was self-medicating (alcohol and food mostly). Sertraline has changed my life for the better. Yes, the first 3-4 weeks had side effects were a little rough (best described as being tired, anxious and zombie-like) but nothing too outrageous. The best analogy I can come up with is the clouds have parted and for my whole life I had never realized it was overcast all the time. I'll try to check in at 6 months with an update."

• You...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 19, 2024

"I found this site bookmarked on my web browser today... and it took me back three years ago when I first started Zoloft for the second time. I came on this website multiple times every single day... praying that the medicine would work, and the side effects would go away. The first time I started Zoloft, I had absolutely no side effects. The second time that I started it was a few years later, and I had pretty bad nausea for about an entire month. I was honestly so ready to call it quits both on the medicine and my battle with depression. Honestly, it does get worse before it gets better. I remember thinking at least before I was depressed and not nauseous all the time. Every time that I was so tempted to stop taking the medicine, I would come back to this site and read the posts. I'm coming back here to let you know that it gets better. Three years later, I am married, have the cutest puppy dog, moved out of my parents' house, and my career is thriving... YOU'VE GOT THIS!!!!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 14, 2016

"Out of nowhere I got extremely depressed and had horrible anxiety! I was horrified. I even had to quit my job. I went to the doctor so many times, I just knew something was horribly wrong. I had blood work done, urine tests, CT scan on my stomach, and MRI on my brain. After all of that came back normal, I knew it was anxiety/depression. I tried Celexa 20 at first but it made me so weak I quit taking it. The doctor switched me to Zoloft and it gave me my life back. It took about 4 weeks to fully feel like myself again. I want you to know if you're reading this searching for answers, I was once you and I turned to these forums to help me. The Zoloft made me nauseous but it goes away, the side effects go away. Hang in there. I'm on 25mg."

• ter...
• October 22, 2013

"I began taking sertraline to help with panic attacks, depression, and anxiety. These symptoms were the effect of an unhealthy work environment and having lost 3 immediate family members within 6 months. I began taking 25mg and felt no change. After a month and a half, my doctor increased it to 50mg. I went from being angry all the time to crying all the time. We then increased the dosage to 75mg and that has done the trick. I cannot believe how well this medication works. I am more positive, HAPPY, and able to handle an extremely difficult working environment! I have not felt this good in years!"

• Moo...
• June 1, 2020

"I have been on Sertraline for 7 weeks. The reviews on this site gave me reassurance when I started taking it, so I feel it is only right that I should share my experience. For the first 2 weeks, I felt nauseous, so I ate little and often. I recommend that if you don’t feel like eating, make yourself eat as the feeling will go. I also had feelings of low mood, but again, these feelings did subside. The main problem I had for a month was insomnia. I took a low-level prescribed sleeping tablet for a month with help from my GP. This has to be taken with caution, so I weaned myself off after a month. The GP, after 3 weeks, suggested that I swap to another antidepressant to take at night, which may help me sleep. However, as Sertraline had helped my anxiety and I had overcome the other side effects, I said that I would persevere for another 2 weeks. I then tried a herbal sleeping aid after a month for 2 nights, which worked, and since then, I have slept naturally."

• Tro...
• February 14, 2020

"Debilitating anxiety, depression for ten months. Panic attacks and an inability to keep high blood pressure under control. Resisted doctor's recommendation to take medication, began more exercise, regular meditation, and prayer – to no avail. Sought out a therapist but I am as suspicious of that industry as I am of Big Pharma and found no one suitable. Gave in to taking daily sertraline (25 mg dose). First days difficult: head swimming in strange, desperate emotions. But by day five I felt remarkably better, much more my normal self, capable of thinking clearly. Blood pressure also restabilized. Side effects: some decrease in sexual drive and difficulty in achieving orgasm, but well worth it as sex has become more 'real' and less 'escape,' and orgasms far more powerful. Appetite diminished, I have lost three pounds in the last weeks, without effort. Temptation to have one more swig of whisky before bed gone! Would be dead of heart attack without it."