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Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention.

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Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention.

Mental health

Setraline 50mg for PND

45 replies

glowfrog · 17/10/2016 21:59

So I have been prescribed this. I've been going to a support group and the mums there who take it are positive about its effectiveness etc - but I am really nervous about taking it, even though I am equally desperate to get myself out of the hole I'm in.

So I was wondering if anyone had experienced of this medication to share and how it helped them. Similarly if you had a bad time of it, it would be good to know as well - forewarned is forearmed.

Haven't told DH yet and I am quite nervous about telling him. He will worry about it a lot, I think. When we talked about it before, he thought I should try to do without antidepressants- he worries I will then never come off them.

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gingerboy1912 · 17/10/2016 22:09

Hi op there are lots of people on Mn that have taken sertraline I am currently on 150mg a day for depression. It will help I'm sure of it but I would start with 25mg for two weeks then go up to 50mg as the nausea can be quite overwhelming. I would also recommend taking it at night just before bed so that you sleep through any side effects.

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hannahpan · 17/10/2016 22:13

I agree, the nausea isn't the best and going up in small doses is a good idea.

I've gone up to 150mg now and I've found that it's not really done much for my depression but is making a real big difference in the anxiety.

Good luck, I hope they help you

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Mummamayhem · 17/10/2016 22:17

It's great stuff, I was anxious about taking it (prescribed for anxiety) but it did help once I'd moved to 100mg, only thing I hated was initial weird jaw clenching. It got me over a dark time, I needed it but as soon as I felt better after 5 months I stopped. Cold turkey. I was worried I 'enjoyed' it too much. Don't do that mind.

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glowfrog · 18/10/2016 06:28

Thanks all! Sounds like nausea is likely. My only concern about taking it at night is that I am having to get up a lot as my DD2 is a terrible sleeper. Am worried that feeling sick plus super sleepy won't be a great combo?

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Narnian · 18/10/2016 06:39

I've been on varying doses of Sertraline for 9 years now, like you it was prescribed for PND. I currently take 50mg.

The first 5 days of taking it were horrible. Like others have said there was nausea, I also had the shakes. So glad I persevered though, it's probably saved my life.

I originally started taking it at night but I found that I couldn't sleep. I now take it in the morning and have done for years.

Best wishes frog

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Gizlotsmum · 18/10/2016 06:48

I took it. Had headaches for a few days ( started on a lower dose as I am tiny) was on it for a year before weaning off it. Best thing I ever did

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glowfrog · 18/10/2016 07:06

Thank you, all - v useful.

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EasterRobin · 18/10/2016 07:14

I'm on that dose for PND. It does what it needs to. I feel a whole lot better from very bad PND so would recommend. I don't remember any particular side effects when I started so I guess that varies by person. I find it wears off before 24 hours is up, so I take it in the morning.

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twojumpingbeans · 18/10/2016 07:15

I've been taking sertraline for anxiety for the past six months - it has helped so much. I feel like me again.

Do bear with it to start with, it takes a good few weeks before you start to feel better and it's not a radical change, I take 50mg daily at night time. Must admit I never felt sick with it, just a little spaced out, not so much that I wasn't able to get on with stuff though - don't worry! If I have to take it every day for the rest of my life I will, I'm not going back to feeling awful again. Really hope it helps you too.

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glowfrog · 18/10/2016 10:09

Very encouraging, thank you.

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CarrotPuff · 20/10/2016 08:29

I'm on 50mg here too.

I had bad nausea on first day, but none after that.
Horrible insomnia for 4-5 days, I was shattered!
Ringing ears/buzzy feeling in my head, feeling spaced out - took about a week to go
Jaw clenching took a couple weeks to go, although I still get it mildly now (6 weeks in)
The sweating is still here, but I think it's getting milder now.

It took about 5 weeks for me to notice the difference.

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MrsRaymondReddington · 20/10/2016 08:44

I took it a few years ago and was terrified about being put on medication. I started with half a dose a day for the first week then went up to 1 tablet a day. I had to take it in the morning because it made me a bit jittery and hot so there was no way I could go to sleep on it. I didn't get any nausea at all, so I guess it's different for everyone. Give it time to work though, it does take a month or 2, but it was worth it, I can't even put into words how much it helped me through such a bad time.

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Wadingthroughsoup · 20/10/2016 08:54

I take 200mg a day for anxiety and depression and have had a great experience with it, and very few side effects. Previously I took Citalopram which didn't work as well for me.

I don't recall getting the nausea with Sertraline, but I did get weird jaw clenching and occasional night sweats (which didn't help my health anxiety!) All settled within a few weeks though. The only other thing has been a small amount of weight gain- I can't be certain that's down to the Sertraline, but the timing fits. Nonetheless, it's a small price to pay for feeling sane and stable 🙂

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glowfrog · 21/10/2016 14:15

Thank you both!

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Gilly0812 · 21/10/2016 23:41

I've been on sertraline 150mg for 18 months for depression and anxiety and for 18 months I've had daily consistant emergency diarrhoea. I am fast tracking coming off it. The docs will not relate the two but I am convinced. Also Initially jaw clenching. Ongoing vivid unhappy dreams. On the up side I've lost weight.

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glowfrog · 22/10/2016 06:15

Gosh - that does sound like it is not right for you! That's awful to go through that for 18 months.

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RoastChickenDinner · 24/10/2016 09:55

If you need medication, then take it! Don't worry about what your DH thinks, it's not him who has to suffer what you're going through. It's highly unlikely you will need to be on them forever, but if you do always need them so what? If you were diabetic no one would have anything to say about you taking insulin for the rest of your life!

Also my understanding is that, at least initially, Sertraline are more like to cause insomnia than drowsiness, so getting up shouldn't be a problem.

IME, the first couple of weeks are hellish, but the benefits are so great that it is worth battling through them.

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glowfrog · 24/10/2016 19:16

Thanks, Roast. I have told DH and he is being very supportive. His worry stems from seeing I am unwell enough to require medication and also he has experience in his family (as I have in mine) of long term mental health issues so he worries about that, too.

I will start it end of the week when he is home for 2nd half of half term.

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WitchesGlove · 24/10/2016 19:19

Love some of the user names here-

Especially EasterRobin and glowfrog

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RoastChickenDinner · 25/10/2016 08:05

You're welcome, and I can understand why he is worried, but hopefully they will just rebalance the chemicals in your brain and help you get back to being you again, xx.

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Mackers123 · 25/10/2016 21:28

hi, i am on 50mg at present, i never felt sick and it's greatly improved my insomnia and anxiety. my only problem (i have just posted about this) is i find it affects me sexually so Dr is trying me on Mirtazapine

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glowfrog · 25/10/2016 22:05

We are having no sex whatsoever at the moment so won't be a problem.

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Purplebluebird · 25/10/2016 22:11

I felt very nauseous for about 2 weeks, then it was fine apart from a random weird side effect I had. If you get bad side effects for a long time, you can swap to different ones :) good luck!

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WaitrosePigeon · 26/10/2016 20:47

I been on Sertraline for nearly 2yrs now and it's been the best decision I've ever made.

I am very prone to having severe 'down days' and anxiety over things I cannot control so was prescribed 50mg to start off with. It then increased to 100mg, then I went to 50mg. I'm now back to 100mg where I need to stay for now.

The nausea and clicky jaw was very annoying for the first few days but it soon passed.

Sending love your way

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unlucky83 · 27/10/2016 00:15

I've just changed from 40mg citalopram to 100mg sertraline.
Part of the reason was I was still very depressed and also jaw clenching (which the psychiatrist told me was uncommon on citalopram). I've been on 100mg sertraline for almost a week now (was on 50mg for two weeks, first week with 20mg citalopram) I am finding the jaw clenching even worse --almost constant - so am cheered to find it should get better in a week or so - was thinking I would have to change back/onto something else as it is constant. However it is only side effect I am having ...
Mood wise - not really any better but I know I have to give it more time.

As to taking ADs -you have nothing to lose really ...you won't turn into a zombie or a different person, they don't have that big an immediate effect - they should just help you get through your current bad patch. Like taking a paracetamol for a headache.
They should also help you to be able to do other things to help lift your mood like exercise/fresh air and look at way you think about things.
I have been suicidally depressed in the past and know when I am starting to get down and can make changes to get out of that -but not this time - so I am taking the ADs to get me to a place where I can do the other things. But if I need to be on them for ever - I need to be on them.
If you are depressed you find it hard to do things that can make you less depressed, so you become more depressed - a downward spiral -the AD can stop that and can help you turn it around...they are a positive thing.