Ive been prescribed sertralineIve on several occasions but have never actually taken them due to panic. I imagine having really serious/terrifying side effects. After months of horrendous anxiety & hardly being able to move out of my bedroom, I've decided enough is enough and think starting meds is probably beneficial for me.

I've been working on the anxiety & phobia workbook and it suggests for people suffering panic disorder sertralineIve should be started at 12.5mg. So tonight I quartered a 50mg pill but I'm still too scared to take it. I don't know what to expect. Rationally I know that quarter of a pill is hardly going to do anything but I'm scared of what happens after I take the pill and my irrational thinking comes on. How do you know what are actually side effects from the pill and which ones are caused by your anxiety?

The last time I tried an antidepressant I ended up in the hospital which is why I'm so scared to take this one.

Thanks

Lisa