Anti-Depressants/SSRI's - what are your experiences?

[AngryFeet]

GP has just given me a prescription of sertraline as my anxiety is pretty bad as it my obsessive checking (of the body due to health anxiety). I have had anxiety for 10 years and always turned medication down and tried other things which have worked for a time but this time I can't really see anything I can change (life is pretty good really).

Planning to start taking them after my camping trip this week. Am concerned about side effects, coming off them, what they might do to my personality short and long term.

Any hints/tips/stories to make me feel like taking these pills isn't a mistake?

[AngryFeet]

Bump

[Shutupalittlebit]

They helped me, but only at a very low dose -25mg - any more feels too sedating. No other problems with it..

[hugandroll]

I'm on 100mg sertraline. Stick with it, power through the side effects because if they work for you like they do for me you will feel normal.

I hadn't felt normal for a long long time and its wonderful. I still get anxious (see my omg this can't be happening thread from yesterday) but its not as bad and its not constantly hanging over my head.

I am seeing my cmht next month to get therapy as pills don't "fix" you, just help you cope as you work through your issues.

[SkipTheLightFanjango]

I went on Seroxat for anxiety some time ago. It gave my head the time it needed to "shut up". After 2 months I felt calm for the first time in years nd a few months later I was ready to stop taking them. It can take a while for the effects to start but the wait is worth it!

[brighthair]

I'm on a v low dose (10mg) citalopram and also propranolol and they have helped massively

[Julialyne]

Hi I am on Sertraline & it is the best one for the least side effects as I sensitive to most anti d's & get bad side effects.

Break the tablet in 1/2 for the first 2 weeks then go up to 50mg if that is the dose you have. You might get a bit of diarrhea & mild nausea & headache after a few days of taking them but it's not that bad.

You will probably find that you will start to feel better in yourself after 4-6 weeks but it's a slow process. You will need to be on them for a while. When you get to the point of feeling well you wait 6mths then wean off slowly. I am on them long term as I have major depression. Sertraline has been the best tablet for me.

I hope you feel better soon.

[PackItInNow]

I was put on AD's (for my back pain to help relax the muscles) but all they did was make me even more depressed. I noticed this as soon as I started them but gave them the initial 2wk prescribed period, but I had to go back after that and explain.

I wouldn't go back on AD's again. Ever. If I am ever depressed, I take St John's Wort, which has helped massively. In fact, it's the only AD, albeit natural, that has improved my moods and depression.