Sertraline…to ask if this is normal?

I spoke to a 2nd Dr who told me to give the sertraline a few months, and then to go back and demand HRT if my other symptoms hadn't gone (such as night sweats which aren't anxiety related). So for now, I'm tracking my symptoms and will go back in a couple of months to ask again. It's so frustrating though isn't it? We shouldn't have to fight so hard for medication just because of our age. My aunt and cousin both went through peri around this age so clearly it's not that uncommon in my family!

I'm glad your symptoms have improved x

Completely normal but took about two months to wear off for me. I used to take it before bed so I wouldn't forget and I could sleep until lunch time the next day then nap in the afternoon. Started experimenting with the times and realised about 5/6pm was best for me. Slept well at night and wouldn't be sleepy in the morning. If I took it earlier I was falling asleep at 6/7 on the couch and if I was later, the next day was a struggle. Still taking it months later and it doesn't affect me the same way now. Your body likely just needs some time to adjust. Remember your body and mind is also recovering from a constant fight or flight so will be more exhausted than you realise. I was actually signed off work to let me adjust to the medication. I couldn't have stayed awake never mind perform my job as I should.

Everyone is different and will have different side effects to drugs. A lot of people get the tired feeling at first but that wears off for most people after about a month or so. If you can't get on with it there are plenty of other antidepressants you can try. Give it a bit of time before you try and swop though.

I really think it's worth going back, it took me another 2 years before I was able to get hrt, (I stopped using the sertraline much sooner as the anxiety and mood swings were better than wanting to sleep all day!) and I felt so much better almost immediately. I was also having the worst night sweats which stopped within a couple of weeks.

I've just came off it after a few bad months trying it, and gone back to my old faithful venlafaxine

Took 8 weeks for me to have any energy on setraline

My Dr doesnt believe mine is related to peri either. I'm 42. Apparently they frequently prescribe sertraline with HRT, but my Dr doesnt think my symptoms require HRT too. Despite my frequent night sweats which have not stopped...

Your food pipe and stomach burn horribly. I was chugging gaviscon and freaking out. It did resolve itself while waiting on the second doctor callback but it was an unpleasant night!

Tried it once 25g never again.
I didnt eat couldnt sleep i was almost suicidel i was just not myself and in a constant state of panic.
My GP took me off it after one week id stopped taking it 2 days before hand and started to feel better.

Yes, it is normal, OP. It will pass!

I'm on 200 mg and was told that was the maximum dosage. I've found it only slightly helps my mood at this level. I wonder now if that's correct about the dosage

I'm also on HRT

I echo all of this. I was on a high dose of Sertraline for a while- I took it in the evening because it made me so sleepy.

Agree with the second point too- I once took one while on holiday in Spain just before bed and although I did swig a bit of water to take the tablet, it obviously wasn't enough, and then I lay down in bed straight afterwards. A minute later, I was in excruciating pain and had to get out of bed and spend the next few hours pacing the apartment and drinking milk. I honestly thought I'd burned a hole in my oesophagus. So yes- lots of water to wash it down and don't lie down straight away. I daresay it warns about that in the leaflet but possibly needs to be in bold and capital letters because I didn't remember reading or being told that before I started taking them.

My son takes Sertraline for anxiety and it has been a game changer. He had a wobble in the first few weeks but he is now a happy,successful guy .
He still takes Sertraline and it works for him.

Is it one tablet a day?
What time are you taking the tablet?

I am on a different SSRI, but on mine was really spaced out to begin with. It balanced out eventually, so I wouldn't give up. If you do decide they're not right for you, go off them with the help of your doctor rather than just stopping cold turkey x

Setraline started me bleeding on day 2 of it so i had to stop it

Same for me. I had to stop after 3 days the diarrhea was horrendous

@Mousespace this happened to me, it wasn't completely dry but not enough water and I think on an empty stomach and I thought I was having a heart attack it was so painful

I started on a low dose and had headaches that wouldn't ease so stopped taking it

Hi @Mousespace do you mind please sharing what happens if you do this?

Sertraline did this to me at the start of taking it, for two or three weeks. It also took the edge of my anxiety very quickly. Now I take it at night and sleep really well, and function fine during the day.

It gave me mild stomach ache for a couple of weeks

Ditto

Exactly this. Dr prescribed it for what I now know were peri menopause symptoms. Sertraline didn’t agree with me at all. I was utterly exhausted but wired and I had the most awful paranoia, which I have never experienced before and never want to again. I lasted 8 weeks then stopped. I know it’s brilliant for a lot of people but it wasn’t for me.

DB had this for several weeks but it did settle down. Much happier now