I'm on 50mg and I've seen a improvement but have had 2 bad days of feeling down and sick and mussy head is this normal ?
How long before sertraline starts to work I have been on them for 3 weeks and have good and bad day?
Question posted by Teddydog2 on 7 April 2018
Last updated on 20 January 2021 by gardner75
5 Answers
gardner75
20 Jan 2021
My Wife has been on 50mg Sertraline for five weeks, now here doctor has put here on 100mg from last Tuesday. i would like to no how long will it take to work
Joyceysgay12
22 Dec 2018
Hello,
I was extremely anxious and depressed because of my anxiety for 6 months.
I couldn’t cope anymore I couldn’t sleep or eat.
I cried a lot.
I tried a couple different meds and they didn’t work (mainly because I googled and scrutinised every side effect.)
Then one day I said I need to just roll with it.
I was prescribed Sertraline 50mg.
I took my dose first thing in the morning before work at 6am.
As it can be quite stimulating and I really needed my sleep due to the anxiety.
I was only getting an hour per night.
Then about a week or so later I stopped crying in the morning.
This carried on for about 2 months as I continued the medication and I felt so much better but not myself.
So I decided to slowly ween off them (very slowly over a period of 3 weeks).
And I was completely back to normal.
For me I feel like your body and mind can get extremely consumed by anxiety or depression if not treated right away.
This was the case for me.
My body and mind only knew what it felt like to be anxious or depressed as I fought getting medication for six months or so, I wanted to do it myself but that wasn’t possible.
Anxiety began to be the only feeling my body was used to having.
The medication showed me that this can stop after a short period of time.
As I continued to take this my body began to realise what it felt like to feel normal.
I began to have a lot more normal days.
Then I decide d to ween off this medication as my body knew it could feel normal.
I came off this medication within 3 weeks after 2 months of usage.
I felt normal afterwards too.
Honestly Sertraline saved my life it’s a slow burner and doesn’t work straight away like benzos which are only short living meds anyway.
But please let go of the side effects they are a minor compared to how these meds will help you in the future.
I know everyone is different but these helped me so much!
Honestly please just let go of the fear and liase with your doctor you can beat anxiety or depression I promise you!
Xxxxxxxxx
DaddyMarco
3 March 2019
You've just described what I've been going through since start of December, was started on 50mg and after 4 weeks was put on 100mg which I've been taking for a week now, so 5 weeks all in i do feel better but not 100% - funny you mention not feeling yourself as ive been the same it's an unusual feeling and the strange headaches I've been getting as well like popping sensation it's strange, sleeping etc isn't great as well as i struggle to fall asleep & stay asleep - how did you wean off them as i plan to do that down the line. Thank you
deviantdancer
8 April 2018
I just started my Zoloft today with klonopin on an as needed basis and it should take 1-2 weeks to feel effects of Zoloft but you won’t feel the full extent until 6-8 weeks. Just relaying what my pharmacist told me after they made me switch immediately from Wellbutrin 150mg xl tablets because it was making my anxiety worse.
WildcatVet
7 April 2018
Hi, Teddy! Beautiful's right... it takes 4 - 6 weeks for antidepressant/anxiolytics to become fully effective. I'd try to be patient and give it a bit more time because you'll likely find it was well worth the wait.
Another thing, you might check with your doctor because if you're on a low initial dose a small increase might be helpful.
Teddydog2
8 April 2018
Hi wildcat I'm on 50 mg of sertraline. I have seen a improvement the first 2 weeks but I'm having a few bad days of feeling sick.
Beautiful95
7 April 2018
Hey, so I've been taking Sertraline for the last 4 years AKA Zoloft. It has helped me tremendously I would give it another week or so to kick in, as with any antidepressant they take a minute to work, for real!! But once it starts working you'll be amazed at the results. Just have some patience, because these kinds of drugs do not work right away. Good luck
Related topics
sertraline, anxiety and stress
Further information
- Sertraline uses and safety info
- Sertraline prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Sertraline (detailed)
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