What was your experience with Sertaline?

[themarchare]

Just that really. Particularly worried about weight gain.

And any other experiences of treatment for PND welcome.

Thanks

[themarchare]

Sorry - title should say Sertraline

[Ingvermama]

I'm on sertraline since last July. I had lost weight due to anxiety and depression, I was quite poorly. Initially started on 50mg sertraline, had CBT, which helped, but I really struggled when the sessions ended as I felt I had a bond with the therapist which I didn't have with anyone in real life. I was referred for counselling due to what the CBT therapist managed to tease out of me. The counsellor wasn't very helpful and made me feel worse. I went off sick from work feeling really bad and the GP increased the sertraline to 100mg. This is what I still currently take. I had a new counsellor and have learned so much and feel so much better.
The only side effects of sertraline I had were drowsiness but these are resolved now. I have put back on the weight I had lost but now look a bit more healthy!

[RefuseTheLies]

I've been on sertraline for a few years. I have gained weight, but I don't want to kill myself any more and that feels like a reasonable trade off for me for now.

[SneezyGonzalez]

I took it for about 3 months when I was going through a really upsetting and stressful situation, it did help to dull my emotions and keep me on an even keel however I stopped (cold turkey) because I felt out of it, like I was on drugs, lost motivation to get things done and was so so tired. I also put on weight because my appetite increased. I had huge problems with my sinuses which was either a side effect of the medication or possibly connected to coronavirus. I was so desperate to get better I just stopped taking them. I think sinus issues can be a side effect though. My PMT was non existent which was such a sweet release, back now with a vengeance 🙄

[EcoCustard]

I took it a few years ago for post natal anxiety & post natal depression. I only took it for about 3 months though and stopped ( without gradual reduction in dose) as I felt very strange, as if I was there and the lights were on but that’s it. I had no inclination to do anything, completely numb and I didn’t feel comfortable so I stopped. However initially they helped my anxiety and mellow me a little but it felt short lived. I also had CBT which started about a month after the sertraline, group sessions and several over the phone individual sessions. I found them to be very helpful and 3 years later I still use some of the techniques.

[Thighdentitycrisis]

Made my anxiety much much worse, I was taking Valium on top of it to manage the side effects- I gave up after about 8 weeks

SSRI’s don’t suit me

[Isitgonnahappen]

I started taking it last year for depression which I had had for a few months and also anxiety which I had had for about 6 years. It works really well for me, I didn't have any side-effects at all which I was pleasantly surprised by. I think it also reduced my appetite a bit. It was totally life-changing in terms of treating my depression and anxiety as well. I'm on 50mg.

[Dollsandfoo]

I have just started it again for the second time. I was on it about 2 years ago for about 8 months and it really helped me so much so I came off it as I thought I could cope with out it and I have for ages but things have started to get on top of me again lately so started it again last week and hoping it helps again like last time. I did put on a bit of weight with it last time but I would eat anything and everything so trying to watch what I eat this time. My sister has been on it for about 8 months now and has lost 3 stone because she finally has the motivation to exercise because she is feeling so much better in her self since being on it xxx

[themarchare]

Thank you for all the above replies, mixed experiences it seems.

[Notable]

I’ve been taking it for about a month.

So far I feel just a bit more level headed which is lovely. More patient and measured. Fewer panic attacks and those I do have are less intense.

Can’t orgasm Appetite slightly reduced.

That’s my assessment

[Brendabigbaps]

I had no side effects at all but it didn’t really work, just took the edge off. I only know this tho as my new one does work and I know what it’s like not to feel depressed all the time

[dangermouseisace]

I was on it for a few years. I didn’t put on weight. It made me lose my libido for about a year. It helped with mood but made my poor sleep even worse. But I was told to stay on it because the benefits outweighed the fact I couldn’t sit still and stay awake during the day.

[LittleMissnotLittleMrs]

About 6yrs on 200mg a day. Weight gain - I’ve put on weight but that’s because I’m lazy! Mood improvement - unknown. As it turns out, my depression could well have been a symptom of a much bigger problem that is still ongoing (brain tumour) so Doc and I aren’t looking at changing the dose till everything settles down. Not aware of any negative side effects

[IslaMann]

Made me numb. Unable to experience joy or upset. Completely killed my sex drive. I couldn't orgasm.

Came off it. I'd rather use CBT for my anxiety than feel emotionless all the time.

[WishingHopingThinkingPraying]

I'm on 100mg and find it totally fine. I'm perfectly back to myself on it. It's invisible, no side effects or dullness or numbness. Just relief to feel like me again.

[Januaryblue2020]

I've had a pretty positive experience.Started on it nearly 3 years ago for very bad PND. Initially it made me feel worse, and a lot more anxious, but after a few weeks (and a dose increase to 100mg) I started feeling a lot better and a lot more like my old self (in conjunction with therapy). I was going to start tapering off last year but the pandemic hit so I didn't want to rock the boat. My only slight reservation about it is that I sometimes get the sense that I'm not quite feeling ALL the emotion I used to, that I'm happy but not overjoyed if you see what I mean. But, compared to being suicidal, it seems like a good trade off.

[SneezyGonzalez]

EcoCustard I can definitely relate to the numbness and lights being on but no one home which I also had at approx 2 1/2 month mark....I wonder if we’d both have continued we would have got past those symptoms? I’m still trying to get the house in order now, it’s a total mess as I literally didn’t give a sh*# while I was on them and just let everything slide.

[DSisSad]

DS has just been prescribed with sertraline but Im worried about suppression of emotions as hes a bit like that anyway. Had a bout of poor MH a few years back, treated with CBT but seemed to drain him of feelings.

[Usernameisgone]

I've been on sertraline for 8years. Started at 50mg and have worked up to 200mg.
I had horrendous symptoms at the begining of taking for around 6weeks. (Felt drunk, slurred speech) never had any weight gain.
I find they keep my depression at a even level.

[Roomba]

I didn't gain any weight on Sertraline. It did make me feel sick as a dog for a few days at first - felt like that horrible swirly spinning feeling you get when laying on the floor very drunk. That passed, it helped me quite a bit for a few months. At which point I tapered off, as the external stresses which made me depressed were much better. Didn't have any issues tapering off slowly at all and haven't needed anything since. Maybe I did feel a bit numb for the first few weeks, but that was welcome tbh. Didn't feel like that long term though, I just felt normal but a bit more resilient of that makes sense? And I slept much better as I wasn't a ball of anxiety and stress.

[HairyJBilge]

I’m just about to start Sertraline and I’m very worried about weight gain as I’m already overweight. I eat mindlessly due to boredom/procrastination/stress so I’m hoping that if I’m in a better place mentally I may be able to control that.

[WishingHopingThinkingPraying]

@HairyJBlige, that may well happen, it's a possibility. Be brave and if the medication doesn't work for you at least you've taken steps to try and improve your health!

[partyatthepalace]

50mg since c Sept.

Good, just stops my mood dipping v low. No side effects no weight gain