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Menopause

Sertraline 200mg

6 replies

Bookworm13 · 09/11/2016 12:40

Can anyone give me their experiences of being on Sertraline 200mg dose please?
I have been on 150mg since March and was doing great up until about 3 weeks ago. I noticed that my anxiety kept rearing up and my DH said I definitely wasn't myself.
I went back to see my GP yesterday and she advised me to increase my dose to 200mg and gave me the prescription.
I asked my GP about side effects but she said as I've been on it for a while, I should only feel tired.
I'm 47, definitely menopausal and would appreciate any advice. How long does it roughly take for an increased dose to kick in and did you have any side effects? I am really suffering with anxiety, which I am certain is hormonal (My GP agrees).
Thanks!

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PollyPerky · 09/11/2016 15:18

If your anxiety is caused by hormones, then the treatment is hormones not anti depressants.

The NICE menopause guidelines which came out a year ago state this very clearly and GPs are supposed to be following them. There is a lot of concern amongst menopause specialists about the way GPs are medicating women with ADs instead of hormonal treatment.

I suggest you find the NICE guidelines online (I've linked to them a million times here but they are easily found via search engines) and print off the section on 'diagnosis and treatment'. Anxiety and low mood is mentioned as is the guidance for GPs not to prescribe ADs. SHow your GP and ask why she is doing this!

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PollyPerky · 09/11/2016 15:22

This is the relevant part...for GPs


Psychological symptoms

1.4.5 Consider HRT to alleviate low mood that arises as a result of the menopause.

1.4.6 Consider CBT to alleviate low mood or anxiety that arise as a result of the menopause.

1.4.7 Ensure that menopausal women and healthcare professionals involved in their care understand that there is no clear evidence for SSRIs or SNRIs to ease low mood in menopausal women who have not been diagnosed with depression (see the NICE guideline on depression in adults).

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Cherylene · 09/11/2016 15:30

Do you have any other menopause symptoms? www.menopausematters.co.uk/symptoms.php

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Bookworm13 · 09/11/2016 17:46

Yes Cherylene I do! I am having night sweats and irregular periods.

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Cherylene · 09/11/2016 18:09

I would definitely do what Polly says, and make a list of your symptoms and ask to try hrt instead. There are a few people on the MM board who take ad's for anxiety and hrt for meno.

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Bookworm13 · 09/11/2016 19:09

I will do - thank you! X

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