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Mental health

sertraline oct 2015

42 replies

Student99 · 19/10/2015 09:37

Hi everyone
i have had a good look through the old threads but was wondering if there is anyone out there who has recently started who wants to compare experience?

im on day 7 now (started 50mg) and will be reviewed on day 10 by GP

im still feeling quite peculiar, like im 'on' something. im extremely tired, going to bed early and waking up early. i think my libido has been affected as only felt settled on saturday to be intimate.

im not sure what to tell gp (im taking it for anxiety) i dont feel less anxious yet, early days, but i dont feel much else part from quite hungry.

i find it difficult to concentrate for a length of time (im a full time student) and this is making me more anxious actually.

anyone want to chat about how they are feeling?
thanks

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Huntersmum15 · 19/10/2015 09:50

I used to take this for my anxiety which was a huge help. It isn't an immediate help.. Though the side effects kick in straight away.

I was on 20mg - 50mg seems extremely high. Has your dose been increased or was this originally offered to you?

If you are feeling like you are 'on' something I would definitely revisit the GP. These effects won't subside.

Good luck Smile

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Belle7688 · 19/10/2015 11:43

Sertraline was really helpful in treating my anxiety - I also started on (and stayed at) 50mg. For me it wasn't until about 8 weeks I started to feel the benefits and at 12 weeks when I felt consistently more like myself so my advice would be to stick at it for 12 weeks, be patient, and be kind to yourself.

It can and will help.

Huntersmum you must have been on another AD at 20mg - sertraline is not available at a dose of 20mg - the lowest dose is 50mg and thats the starting dose for most people

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Chocqueen99 · 19/10/2015 11:50

You do feel weird for a week or 2 that's normal. But for me they didn't properly work for about 6 weeks ish. . So keep at it. You usually av to go back to ur gp 2 weeks after to tell them how ur feeling. Stick with them.

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Huntersmum15 · 19/10/2015 11:50

Belle - apologies it was 25mg. I still have the packets here.

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Belle7688 · 19/10/2015 12:31

Ahh ok - I have heard that some people are offered 25mg - my GP would only offer 50mg as that is the minimum therapeutic dose however, I did break my 50mg in half for the first four weeks as I was so afraid of side effects! Would have been easier if the GP had just prescribed the 25mg tabs!

I am now back to breaking my tabs in half as I taper off - I don't want to come off suddenly as I don't want my anx symptoms to come back so after about 7 months on 50mg, I've spent the last month on 25mg and will prob stay on 25mg until spring.

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CloakAndJagger · 19/10/2015 12:59

I'm back on Sertraline again and I'd forgotten how rough the side effects are at first, but if they pull up my mood, it'll be worth it. I'm on 50mg.

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Student99 · 19/10/2015 13:32

thanks for all your replies!
todays my study day and i havent been able to focus at all, spent about an hour lighting a fire and surfing the internet and having lunch

im not sure what im hoping for, i have been dealing with anxiety for about 4 years and around the same time developed chronic eczema (lots of investigations...no allergies) but high anxiety makes it flare quite badly and it has been bad this week

the anxiety also makes me be emotionally detached to try to protect myself from becoming overly upset by things so i come across as quite flat

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Belle7688 · 19/10/2015 15:54

I would recommend you keep going with it - for me, my feelings of anxiety made it hard to to day to day things - I couldn't sleep properly, lost a lot of weight in a short period of time and felt so awful inside and totally numb.

After 12 weeks I started to really feel the benefits - I had my get up and go back, the physical symptoms got less and less and I just felt happier in myself and got the desire to go out and spent time with friends and family back

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mumtoblaire · 19/10/2015 17:17

I also am on day 7. Go said 50mg for 7 days then increase to 100mg. I have felt as if I am on something and cannot concentrate. I am on them for anxiety and depression but still working full time. Haven't told anyone at work but worried when I increase dosage in case I appear high! Also not sure if should take both tabs am or split them am and pm. Any suggestions or experience?

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Belle7688 · 19/10/2015 20:41

I've never taken more than 50mg and when I started for the first four weeks I split tab in 2 and only took 25mg a day, then weeks 5-6 I took 25mg in morning and 25mg after lunch and from 6 weeks onwards I took 50mg once a day in the morning.
I'm always surprised when people are told to ramp up to 100mg in a short period of time - I had to wait 12 weeks on 50mg to feel the consistent benefits and am glad I didn't increase the dose - even if at times I was seriously considering it but my GP asked me to wait for 12 weeks and she was right

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Mummamayhem · 20/10/2015 17:58

I've written this already but just in case anyone can help me here - I'm two months ish into 100mg sertraline but I've messed up my prescription meaning I'm going to go 4 days without...scared I'll feel awful?

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Chocqueen99 · 20/10/2015 19:47

Can you not ring the doctors and just tell them you really need them?? Because the withdrawal symptoms arnt supposed to be very nice at all.

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Mummamayhem · 23/10/2015 13:08

I didn't do that as I'm a wimp..four days was ok in the end bit bad tempered and a cracking headache but all ok!

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hiddenhome2 · 23/10/2015 19:57

On 100mg I experience palpitations and tachycardia. On 50mg, I'm depressed again.

Very frustrating medication, but better than the citalopram I suppose.

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MrsMolesworth · 25/10/2015 23:10

Hmm. Supposed to start Sertraline but keep taking one then putting it off. headaches and nausea. And one of the things I'm taking it for is to try and stop the excessive tiredness I get when down. So reading about how sleepy it makes everyone has put me off. Is it worth persevering with? I don't remember such unpleasant side effects with Citalopram - just dry mouth, spacey feeling and heightened sense of smell.

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Chocqueen99 · 27/10/2015 17:27

Does anyone take 75mg? Or have gone fr 50 to 75mg I was meant to take 100 but have just been snapping them in half because I was a bit worried about take 100mg

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Student99 · 27/10/2015 22:13

Day 15 here, still tired in evening, early waking has stopped, anxiety still high and my excema has been really bad, seeing dr in two weeks, not sure what I will say as initial side effects have calmed down but not feeling 'better' yet

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FluffyPersian · 27/10/2015 22:24

I've been prescribed 50mg of sertraline for antenatal depression and it's my 6th day on the tablets. I'm actually very impressed with the results already - I've never had any depression before, nor any mental health issues - However since becoming pregnant, my mood went down hill so fast - Like there is nothing good in life and my life is over... standing at the edge of a cliff and seeing nothing positive - it's been terrifying.

I went to the Drs 2 weeks ago and admitted I was feeling suicidal and the Dr was very supportive and prescribed me sertraline - however after Googling the side effects and the potential affects in pregnancy, I was really, really loathed to take them. It took me having a massive crash last Thursday, phoning one of my sisters, sobbing down the phone and her telling me that it's better to have me on tablets, than not have me at all.

I don't know if it's a placebo affect, however I've not cried for 4 days (I was crying 2-3 times a day before hand) and I've felt a lot more stable... numb... but stable.

I'm also very tired in the evenings (when I take them) and wake up at about 3am and can't get back to sleep... however I've been like that since I got pregnant so I don't think it's the tablets.

I think the only other side effect is waking up with a bit of a fuzzy head - Apart from that, it's been really helpful for me.

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HidingI · 28/10/2015 00:55

I'm glad I found this thread - I've been posting in the ante/postnatal depression area and can't even find that now, except through "threads I'm on". I've just been prescribed sertraline having been on citalopram before. I haven't taken the first dose yet. It sounds terrifying and the wait to feel better seems really long! Is it really worth it?

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FluffyPersian · 28/10/2015 06:54

I was prescribed it nearly 2 weeks ago but went home and Googled all the side effects and risks to the baby, broke down in more tears and decided to try and 'cope'.

6 days later I was feeling so low, didn't see why I was still alive and was struggling to function - I phoned one of my sisters in hysterics and she told me to start taking the tablets as surely that was better than feeling the way I did.

I have to say, I'm really impressed at how they've helped - I'm much more stable, still feel I've got my own thoughts and am not a zombie and haven't had any of the bad side effects that were mentioned. For me, it was the right choice - I'm hoping to only be on them very short term, however I'll see what the Dr suggests next week.

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mumtoblaire · 28/10/2015 22:39

Day 16. Most of side effects have passed now except trouble sleeping and waking up at 3-4am and not getting back to sleep. Feel extremely tired and would love to spend day in bed. Still working full time and looking after 2dc. Doctor wanted to sign me off for two weeks but I didn't want to as thought better to be busy. Currently on 100mg daily but I think may need increase when I see doc again in a week. Might also see about time off regardless of how much I am needed. Hope everyone is doing OK

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Pigzoom · 29/10/2015 15:42

Hi
I've just starting taking 50mg, on day 2. Headaches, thirst and feeling weird. My joints feel weird too. Might be overthinking it.

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MrsMolesworth · 29/10/2015 16:53

Also started recently. Thirsty, very wobbly legs for a couple of hours after taking and feel a bit woozy, but calm with spells of buzzing happiness (usually at night.)

Anyone been on it a while who can say if it's best taken night or day, and whether with food or on an empty stomach?

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Pigzoom · 29/10/2015 17:43

Mrsmolesworth- yes feeling the same.
Feel like my cheeks are now burning too. My head is fuzzier as the day wears on. I felt my friend noticed today that I was out of sorts, I wonder if it's obvious to the outside world.

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FluffyPersian · 29/10/2015 21:33

I've been on it a week now - I am still waking up at 3:00-4:00am and can't get back to sleep.

I definitely find it works for me taking it at night - the first day I took it at midday and I was so, so tired by 5pm.... Now I take it after my dinner at about 7:30pm-8:00pm and it seems to make me sleepy so I actually do get some sleep each night.

Not happy, but not sad - Still feeling like me with very few side effects.

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