Sertraline for Generalized Anxiety Disorder User Reviews (Page 2)

• Jam...
• December 17, 2019

"Some history: I was initially prescribed 50mg of Sertraline about 7 years ago after being diagnosed with GAD & SAD. It helped me manage the anxiety. I had no side effects. Eventually I got lazy & would forget to take it for days, weeks, or months. Again no side effects. About 5 weeks ago I restarted the meds (after months off) & was fine for the first few days but started to feel EXTREMELY anxious. I was awakened in the middle of the night with feelings of deep panic which I'd never experienced before. I went to my doctor to discuss coming off the meds again but he persuaded me to continue. The next few weeks were a nightmare. I thought I was going mad and would never recover. It was only through the support of my partner & reading others' experiences here that gave me the strength to push through and have some sense of hope. Week 4 I finally started to feel mostly 'normal' again, and now in week 5 I have not experienced any of the terrible anxiety of previous weeks."

• Nol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 19, 2024

"Firstly for anyone who has ever left a positive review on this drug, thank you! Along with lots of others on this forum, I have read and reread the positive reviews on the harder days, and they really kept me going. For anyone just starting-please please stick with it. I had every side effect but I expected this. Things that really helped: snacking on ginger biscuits when I couldn't eat, reading to distract my mind, and I borrowed the family dog for 2 weeks to force me out into the fresh air! The anxiety and intrusive thoughts were bad in the first week and would come and go between week 2 and now, but on the more wobbly days, I am patient with myself and remember the good days I've just had! I also spoke with my doctor for reassurance during week 1. Asking for help is always difficult, but well done for starting the journey. We should all be proud of ourselves! Take each hour as it comes, and then it moves to days, and before you know it, weeks. You've got this!"

• cjb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 22, 2019

"I had been living with CRIPPLING anxiety for around 3 months after a break up. I was having horrendous physical symptoms of anxiety such as CONSTANT nausea. I felt sick all day, every day. I knew I needed help but I was simply TOO ANXIOUS to even get out of bed to go to the doctors. Now onto my experiences with the sertraline itself. I’m not going to lie. The first 2 weeks on this drug were the hardest 2 weeks of my life. One thing I would recommend is taking a few weeks off work or whatever you are doing when first starting this medication. My symptoms were worsened. Around 3 weeks later, I finally started to feel the first ounces of happiness I had felt in months. Every week and every month things got better for me. On days I feel particularly anxious I take a propranolol (a beta blocker) and an anti-sickness if I feel sick from my anxiety. I truly believe this drug saved my life. Also, the reviews helped me so much, so I'm so happy I get to write my experience months later."

• Rog...
• October 12, 2019

"I started taking sertraline after many years of untreated generalized anxiety disorder were made even worse by a new job and a major life change. My life had turned into a nightmare, I was literally shaking most of the time and didn’t have a single positive thought in my head. A psychiatrist put me on 50 mg of sertraline. I’ve been taking it for over 6 months, and my life has changed in a way that I had never thought possible! I only experienced some nausea and diarrhea during the first 4 days of treatment, and after about 6-8 weeks I started feeling this huge weight lift off my shoulders. I now feel good for the first time since age 13 - I’m 31! I’m also in a very happy relationship for the first time in my life! Sertraline has given me the life I never thought I’d be able to live. My psychiatrist told me that approximately 70% of people that take sertraline experience good results, so it won’t work for some. But if it does, it’s amazing what it can achieve."

• Ari...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 16, 2021

"I have been dealing with manageable anxiety for a few years until a few months ago, then my allergy to pollen caused shortness of breath that triggered a few panic attacks. I tried for a few weeks to stay away from meds, but my anxiety and racing thoughts got worse. I started with 10 mg of Escitalopram but couldn’t take it for more than two days due to the horrible reactions, i.e., increased blood pressure, trembling hands and legs, and heart palpitations. I switched to Sertraline 25 mg, and my anxiety started to fade slowly, and the appetite is back. I’m on day 10, and since yesterday, my mood boosted significantly, and racing thoughts almost disappeared. I am still dealing with side effects such as mild insomnia, dizziness, and low energy. It’s probably very early to judge, but I am glad the med gave me some relief so far."

• Clo...
• April 18, 2019

"I have had anxiety for years but have now transitioned into severe anxiety. I ended up on citalopram which only touched the surface. I struggled on for 6 months hoping the medication would work. I was advised to switch various times but was so worried. I moved to sertraline 50mg which hit me like a ton of bricks. The side effects were so bad I was unable to work, which hurt me. Crying, shaky, headaches, fatigued, feeling sick, and worst of all, the anxiety was unbearable. I went onto 100mg after 4 weeks which brought on the side effects but milder, with more uncontrolled anxiety. 3 weeks on the higher dose and I can definitely say I have seen the light! My head is clearer, I am more positive, I don’t wake up with dread! Something has clicked, changing for the better. Hang on in there anyone who is feeling rock bottom as it will get better!"

• Tan...
• March 20, 2017

"I'm gonna start by saying do not read all the negative reviews! I was iffy about taking this and read the reviews, huge mistake... I had anxiety about taking the anxiety medicine. I waited a few days before taking it, and after speaking to a few people who have been on it and a friend of mine who is a pharmacist, I decided I would try it! I am so surprised at how different everything is. It is so different I can't believe this is normal for people. I often catch myself thinking about how clear my mind is and I'm not freaking out about car accidents, fires, natural disasters, or death. I'm not living in fear or anything. Although it has only been a few days, I can definitely tell a difference. The only side effect so far is cotton mouth. Good luck:)"

• jus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 6, 2016

"I've been a 'high functioning' depressed/anxious person for 10+ years now. After college, the depression eased up, but the tremendous guilt and the irritability/anger remained. Then the anxiety started to wreak havoc on my professional life. I felt I could do nothing right, thought about quitting my job, and was self-harming. One week I was so anxious I only slept 3-4 hours each night. I went to my PCP and asked for an SSRI; she put me on Zoloft. 12.5mg for the first 3 days, then 25mg for 2 weeks, then I upped it to 37.5mg and then 50mg. It's changed my life. So many fears and guilt have significantly lessened. I feel like I can cope with life again. I had all the side effects for the first 2 weeks, but it was worth it! Now I feel so much better!"

• DrS...
• May 14, 2015

"My panic attacks started a year ago after a period of really bad events in my life that made me very gloomy, bitter, and hopeless. All of a sudden, my entire being just collapsed. I started having panic attacks on a daily basis and became homebound, then depression set in. When I started disassociating and thinking about taking my own life, I knew I needed to get help. I was referred by a good friend to a wonderful psychiatrist who prescribed 50 mg to start with, and some Xanax as needed. Well, one year later I'm just at 25mg, no panic attacks, no depression or anxiety, and I feel awesome! Sometimes you have to admit that you need help."

• Plu...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 24, 2018

"I started on 50mg. This drug took me to hell, so I snapped the tablets in half. I was only having 25mg. This was still horrible, but after 3 weeks and 2 stone in weight lost, I started to feel my old self. However, I still was not 100%. The dosage was upped to 100mg, which was also a problem for me. I don’t give up easily, so I was having 75mg one day and 100mg every other day. This regimen worked. A year on, my life is fantastic, and I don’t worry much about anything. Don’t give up when you first start, it’s tough, but it does get better. Three weeks can feel like a long time when you are at day 1. I was scared of leaving the house and being sick, could not eat."

• ben...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 16, 2024

"SO GRATEFUL - HANG IN THERE! Diagnosed with GAD in early 30s, always catastrophizing, worried & at 38 had full-scale breakdown with panic attacks & inability to function. Discovered OCD was playing a role. Doctor signed me off work for 4 weeks, referred for CBT & prescribed 50mg Sertraline. The first 2.5 weeks were hell. Worry turned into terror - I was shaking, scared of everything (even my house), couldn't sleep, felt sick for the first few days & could only lay on the sofa or in bed. I read these reviews daily of others' experiences to keep me going (& you should too). By week 3 I suddenly felt more positive & started doing a few jobs here & there, wanted to start facing fears & putting ghosts to rest. By week 4 I felt (and still feel) absolutely amazing. Returned to work a week early. The drug allows me to rationally acknowledge fears without obsessing & I see the world clearly again. Hang in there if you're in early weeks - it really is worth it."

• van...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 1, 2015

"Sertraline has been a life-saver for me. I started getting panic attacks just after Christmas and had probably been mildly depressed for a year or so. I'd also started to become anxious all the time and convinced myself that I was on the verge of a heart attack. Basically, I could go for a whole day with stomach or chest tightness, fighting back tears and desperately trying to cling on to a sense of normality. Antidepressants were the only option I hadn't tried, but it ended up really working well for me. The first 2 weeks were really hard as the drug makes you worse before it makes you better, but if you stick with it, the zombie-like state passes and I would say after 3 weeks I was 50% back to normal, 4 weeks 80%, and 6 weeks 100%."

• MsA...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 18, 2021

"I have been dealing with extreme anxiety, depression, and panic attacks for years, thinking I could manage on my own, I refused to take drugs. But these recent years, a lot happened. I got COVID, which left me traumatized, and recently my father passed away. I got to a dark place! It started affecting my work, going back to the office really did it for me. I didn’t want to go anywhere, and any little thing I felt, I thought I was sick. Taking it made me feel better immediately. I didn’t get any bad side effects, maybe some stomach pains the first week, but immediately my mood changed. I didn’t cry every day like before, I was more patient and smiling again. I do have to say this past week I did start feeling anxiety build up. I notice it happens more when I’m about to start my monthly. I mentioned it to my doctor and upped my dose from 25 to 50 mg. I haven’t started on them, I will definitely update. But I felt the need to write this review. If you are hesitant like I was for years, please know things do get better."

• Mka...
• November 12, 2015

"This drug has changed my life. I went from not being able to leave my house for almost a year to living a full life again. It took so many medications before my Dr. decided to try Zoloft. I started at 25mg which didn't really work and then moved up to 50mg. This was better, but once I got on 100mg, my life has transformed. If you are doubting if it is working, don't worry, I did too. Give it months, not weeks. It took a long time for me to feel better on it, but I am so glad I waited. I highly recommend this drug. It has minimal side effects the first few weeks with it. The worst thing was probably the drunken feeling during week 1. Seriously, don't give up."

• lil...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 10, 2021

"I was started on sertraline when I was 18 after 4/5 years of anxiety, depression, and panic attacks. I was so scared to try it, and my mum and I read through hundreds of these reviews. I’m now 21 and still on it, and all I can say is wow. I started on 25 mg and slowly worked up to 100 mg over a few weeks, by which time I started to feel better! I now have so much more confidence, I can relax, I rarely have panic attacks, low moods, etc. I feel like the best version of myself. I have struggled with some minor weight gain and fatigue since starting it, but I also have an underactive thyroid, so I’m not sure I can even blame sertraline. Please give sertraline a chance, it saved me in so many ways."

• Kc1...
• April 5, 2016

"I have suffered on and off with health anxiety since having my kids, and it really got a hold of me a while back. I was constantly crying and having panic attacks. I truly thought I was dying and was obsessed with checking my body and spent a lot of time at the doctors. My GP prescribed this medication 50mg, and it has saved my sanity. The first few weeks were not good, and I felt even worse. But by week 4, the anxiety lifted, and I could rationalize things. If I hadn't taken this, my life would've spiraled into a scary, deep black hole. X"

• Amb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 7, 2024

"I have OCD and generalized anxiety disorder. I was on paroxetine for 4 years, then back in June I quit because I'm trying to have a baby. It was okay and I thought I was off meds. Then the end of December came, and I was back to my daily panic attacks, worrying, and being restless. I went to the doctor straight away because I know myself and I did NOT want to go into that dark place again. The doctor immediately prescribed sertraline 50 mg to me. I'm not going to lie, the first week of taking it my symptoms worsened times 100. I could not sleep for a week, I lost 9 pounds and couldn't even take a shower because of my anxiety. It was horrible. I had to take Xanax every day to slightly function. After the first week, things started lifting up. I'm now on day 12, and I feel SUCH a big improvement. I call this the miracle pill, it's truly amazing. If you're reading this, know that this drug will work amazing and really help you. Just hold on a little longer, one hour at a time."

• Lou...
• November 17, 2019

"Wow. This drug has completely changed my life. I've had general anxiety and panic disorder my entire life, but I started it after a rough couple of years and an especially rough couple of months when I was willing to try anything if it would make me feel normal again. For me, Zoloft has taken away the feelings of anxiety almost completely. I still feel anxious in some long-term situations that are hard for me, but for the most part, I can do so much more than I used to be able to because I don't constantly feel plagued by fear anymore. I've had two panic attacks on Zoloft in a period of about a year, and both were much easier for me to recover from than the panic attacks I had when I wasn't on medication. I do have some sexual side effects (mild), and I have a much lower tolerance for alcohol than I used to (and I get worse hangovers). I'm really, really happy that I tried this medication, and I would strongly recommend it to others with generalized anxiety and panic disorder."

• Sam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 13, 2023

"I've been on sertraline for about 7 weeks now. In the past, I've been on escitalopram and fluoxetine. First, let me say the reviews on this website gave me so much hope. There were times in the first 6 weeks where I doubted the medication or my anxiety got worse. I read the reviews and held out hope that it would begin to work soon. Now, I am on week 7 and I can say I am so grateful I stuck it out. I finally feel like I have control of my anxiety, and I feel like a functioning human again. I still have moments of anxiety, but I can cope with them, whereas before I could not. Please take this as a sign to keep going and don't give up the treatment even when it gets hard. Thank you to everyone who shared their experience. I am so excited I get to share my positive experience too."

• sha...
• April 8, 2012

Sertraline "This medicine has been a lifesaver. I was to the point where I thought I'd be in a constant state of panic (heart palpitations, increased blood pressure, hyperventilating). My symptoms initially got more intense once I started Zoloft, but after about 3-4 weeks, I started to normalize. I started at 25mg daily, which helped side effects, and gradually worked my way up to 50 mg. I found taking 25mg in the morning and 25 mg at night helped keep the side effects to a minimum. After 2.5 months on Zoloft, I no longer need Xanax, and my blood pressure has decreased dramatically. Whatever you do, don't hold up in your house while starting this medication. Get out and about, put yourself in uncomfortable situations."

• Ell...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 22, 2018

"This medicine is insanely good. You don't realize how much anxiety controls your life until it's gone (or at least minimal, I still get natural anxiety)... I finally feel like I can start living my life to its full potential. That said, the first month or so on sertraline was a bit of a nightmare, and it did heighten my anxiety quite a bit for that period. But thankfully, after about a month or so, that went away, and it actually started working really well! I'm only on 50 mg, and it's made a tremendous difference in my life. For people considering trying it-definitely fight through the increased anxiety at the beginning, it does get better and it's definitely worth it!"

• Smi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 7, 2019

"I have been taking 100 mg of Zoloft for 2 months now. I am 22 and I struggled with generalized anxiety disorder and panic attacks for years. Within the last two years, I started to undergo depression for reasons which I won’t explain, developed into major depressive disorder. Because of this medication, I no longer have suicidal thoughts, I am no longer struggling from being underweight (not able to eat because of anxiety), I look forward to the future like I did when I was a child, and I am able to continue my studying at a faster pace than before because I can finally make it through a paragraph without anxiety taking over. I rate this a 10/10 because of all the positive side effects compared to no noticeable negative side effects. Please be strong and don’t be afraid to ask for help. This medication turned my life from pessimistic to being optimistic about life. Mental illness is more than just 'in your head.'"

• esg...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 13, 2025

"Please give sertraline a chance. I have used it three times now, and every single time it’s changed my life. I was plunged into insomnia, anxiety, and depression seemingly out of the blue 7 weeks ago. I started sertraline knowing from previous experience what I was in for. I had every side effect under the sun: nausea, vomiting, explosive stomach, severe insomnia, weird awake dreams, uptick in intrusive thoughts. The first 4-5 weeks were a living hell. I was on zopiclone every night just to get me two hours of relief. I had diazepam when the side effects got too much. Then, in the 5th week-50 mg and two days into 75 mg-the lights came on, and my life was saved. Give this drug a chance. You will get better. It takes time, patience, and courage. The end result is worth all the pain."

• Ame...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 8, 2023

"The first medication I tried for my severe anxiety (+ eating disorder) was Lexapro, which worked for a short while but had some unpleasant side effects and then eventually made me want to unalive. Switched to sertraline without a break between medications because my doctor decided it was urgent. Sertraline has been so effective for completely halting any anxiety. I've increased doses a few times, and each time the benefits just keep increasing, and I'm now on the max dose of 200 mg. The only side effects I've ever had and still have on sertraline are an occasional very minor twitch when I sit still and vivid dreams (not nightmares). I'm able to use healthy coping mechanisms, and I'm getting way more out of therapy. Please don't suffer any longer. Life is beautiful, and you deserve to be able to enjoy it."

• Wor...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 22, 2023

"Sertraline gave me my life back after being diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I was started on 25 mg, and I slowly increased my dose to 75 mg under the care of a qualified doctor. I started off with anxiety attacks day and night, which kept me from going places, from eating proper meals, and from sleeping well. I was also unable to complete basic tasks such as showering daily. I was very tired and depressed all the time. After around 4 weeks of taking sertraline at 75 mg, I was sleeping again, eating 3 meals a day, and getting along with my family. No more anxiety attacks. No more stress. Surprisingly, sertraline also helps with my migraines and mild epilepsy. A major side effect, one that doctors will not tell you about, is weight gain. So. Much. Weight gain. Other than that, this is an awesome medication. It works!"