Sertraline 14 days positive stories please

@Jackwilliam1 absolutely i started on 25mg and increased to 50 mg after 2 weeks. It might be worth taking it at night instead of the morning. Everyone is different so find out what works for you. Give it a bit longer, it's honestly a game changer for many.

The side effects were awful though, lasted about 3-4 weeks but its worth sticking with the higher dose and battling through the initial side effects. They do dissapear quite quickly, even though it doesn’t feel that way when going through the initial couple of weeks

I’m on 50mg. It started to kick in about week 4 to 5. Made a huge difference

Hi lovely mums and ladies and anyone
else. I started 50mg on Boxing Day.

I felt all the side effects so badly … nausea, indigestion and the worst headache. Frankly I’d rather feel depressed than all these intense side effects.

However, I am struggling, do we think taking half a tablet and building up would be better…?

Hello, hope it’s ok to jump on and ask how people found the first few weeks of taking it along side having a baby? Ive been prescribed 50mg for anxiety/panic post partum. Also having therapy and other support form maternal post partum team. I’m really worried to start and feel aweful while trying to care for my 6 month old girl. I’ve asked in other forums and go no response yet. Hope your feeling a bit better now @Francis24 . Xxx

@Francis24 @Firsttimehopful how are you now?

I found the first 3 weeks very hard also on 25mg, but after that the side effects wore off and I went up the 50mg for 9 months before reducing. I'm not sure if it ever had much of a positive effect, but I don't have any side effects after the initial period.

Same for me. 3 weeks in and something clicked. I felt new.

That's good, I'm glad it went well. I'm doing reduced hours too for the next couple weeks

Hi there - I’m back today after 8 weeks off and it’s been fine. I’m on reduced hours for this week, and I’m sorting out a health passport too.

Hello it's Frances24 here 😊i due back at work tomorrow after 11 week's off. I'm just looking for any words of encouragement and I'm getting anxious about it now. Has anyone else been off work for a long time due to mental health. Was everything ok when you went back to work?

Hi op one thing I have been prescribed over the last 6 months to help my anxiety which had spiralled beyond everything was Propranolol.

Never heard of it or had it before now and I've been on antidepressants for 20 odd years.

I have taken just 10mg in the morning and occasionally when I've felt panicky over my journey and it's definitely helpful to me.

Might be worth asking about

What effects were not good? Please don't scare me though as I'm as already anxious

Yes, it did help, at a time when I really needed it. The good effects were life saving, but there were also some effects that were not so great. At the time, they didn’t bother me as I just needed my head to be in a better place but, as time went on, they became less acceptable to me. However, I did also have a shit load of trauma therapy which was what I really needed.

I’m not sure I needed to be on the sertraline for 11 years - I do feel I was largely forgotten after a while, and there was no review of my medication, or mental health, really from Covid onwards. I changed GP last year, which is what prompted my discussion to come off them. Coming off has not been easy, but I have managed to do it using supplements and A LOT of the other techniques I’ve learned over the years. How long I stay off is a big question mark and only time will tell how that pans out. My message is to use them as appropriate, as part of a fuller suite of support, and make sure you have regular reviews.

Takes a few weeks for meds to kick in. I was on a few antidepressants until them found right one for me. Now on Venlaflaxin 300mg a day. It absolutely is a Good send though I do feel tired but small price to pay for feeling human again.

It’s tricky because I changed drugs so not sure if my depression was withdrawal. But it did get worse before it got better

Did you ever get increased depression as a side effect?

Hi I’ve just increased to 200mg now in the last week and no side effects yet. I’d say my anxiety has pretty much gone first thing but I’m not sure how much of that is down to being on the right dose.

Thank you how long did it take for the morning anxiety to go? Are you still adjusting to the medication?

Sertraline has helped me - I started at beginning of March swapping from another anti depressant. Routine is crucial for me - once I’m up I feel a bit better. Then a shower makes me feel a bit better than a cup of tea etc. I’m finding I’m getting better as each day goes past but the morning anxiety has been the last thing to go.

Thank you so much. My GP has suggested counselling which I am going to look into. I definitely need to be back at work next Monday, these 8 weeks have been so long. I have no routine on an evening either. Did sertraline help you?

Apologies for quoting, just wasn’t sure you’d see response given username confusion.

You’ve hit the nail on the head regarding lack of routine. I really struggled (and still do) without a clear purpose to my day, whether at work or not. Medication is a useful and important part of treatment but it’s not the whole answer. Are you being offered any other support, behavioural or physical, as an adjunct to medication?

I’ve just withdrawn from sertraline (after 11 years) and it’s those non pharmacological interventions that I am now relying on. Your GP should be advising you of these types of resources as well.

Sometimes getting a night time routine established (same time every night you get lights on low, warm drink, warm bath / shower, bed, lights out then same up and out of bed next day - same time EVERY SINGLE night, whether you sleep or not) then helps you to create a daytime routine.

I am, of course, only speaking from my own experiences. But being able to have a checklist of things that help me function takes me out of my default panic state, where I attribute anything and everything to my funky brain or need for medication.

Things will get better, but they might do sooner with other interventions added in to the mix.

Hello is Frances24 here. In day 5 on 75mg. I'm doing ok. The mornings when I first wake up are bad still, is that normal? I guess I'm only 5 days into a dose increase and I know it takes times to level out. Did/ does anyone else feel really bad when they first wake up? Also I've been off work for the past 8 week, it''s the longest I've ever not worked, and I don't think it's helping now. Once I'm up, I start to feel better, but I have no routine at the moment

That's true. You feel less alone knowing how others have felt and gotten better. My appetite isn't as good today but I'm still eating. I don't feel nauseous, I just don't feel hungry. I hope you're feeling ok, other than the appetite xx

Yes try to keep that in mind.
I'm on day 4 of 75mg. Seems to have lost my appetite a bit.
The less scared you are of this journey knowing others are also around I think the more calm you can be.
Xx