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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for your experiences of Sertraline

67 replies

Bussells · 20/02/2019 20:28

I’ve never taken any type of antidepressant before but my GP has prescribed me a low dose of Sertraline due to PMDD (severe PMT). There wasn’t time to ask about side effects etc. so I was wondering if anyone who has experience of taking it would mind sharing how it affected you. I’m a bit nervous and hoping this is the right thing for me. Thank you

OP posts:
HopefullyNameChanged · 20/02/2019 20:34

I've been on it for about 18 months and have honestly had no side affects. I had PND, mainly anxiety rather than depression though, and it really helped me.

I am sure if your GP thinks it's what you need then it will be good for you. If you're concerned go back and maybe chat about alternatives?

Thingsdogetbetter · 20/02/2019 20:36

Loved it. Worked quickly: started to see the light within 2 weeks. No side effects at all. Worked well for my depression, pmt and anxiety. Allowed me to breathe again. Had no problem coming off it either when I decided I was ready to face the world solo.

Original poster
Bussells · 20/02/2019 20:38

Thank you, that’s great that you’ve had no side effects and that it’s helped you. I’m 40 and overweight so the GP felt that this was a better option than the pill. I think what I’m worried about is that I won’t be ‘me’ anymore. Although up until now ‘me’ has been an utter mess for 7-10 days of the month which isn’t what I want either!

OP posts:
Danuka · 20/02/2019 20:39

I started in January and I’m so glad I did.
Intrusive thoughts went within a week. I feel less irritable and can see a bright future.
Dr wants me to stay on for 6 months, I’ve had no side effects yet.
I’d really recommend, good luck.

Newadventure · 20/02/2019 20:39

Place marking.
(have just been prescribed these)

PleaseJustSayNo · 20/02/2019 20:40

Lower dose helped me when I needed it but the higher the dose got the more anxious and worse it made me feel

Original poster
Bussells · 20/02/2019 20:40

That’s so encouraging, thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
Bussells · 20/02/2019 20:42

@PleaseJustSayNo may I ask if you then went back to a lower dose and did the anxiety improve again?

OP posts:
Windinmyhair · 20/02/2019 20:42

I took it for PMDD - worked really well, no side effects, with support from dr i managed to take them only part of the month once I'd levelled out a bit. Then I just dropped them before starting to try for baby 1, and haven't needed them since. PM me if you want a chat about PMDD, it really is horrendous and I feel your pain

MrsJamieFraser2 · 20/02/2019 20:44

I think it's amazing. It made me feel human again.

Houseonahill · 20/02/2019 20:44

I took it for about 4 years. It was brilliant, no bad side effects.

HostessTrolley · 20/02/2019 20:45

My d was put on sertraline during her treatment for anorexia. It was a game changer for her, she still had mood fluctuations but the crashing lows were gone, she just felt more able to cope. It didn’t mess with her sleep the way that other meds had. She was on it for about a year, after which she reduced the dose then stopped it, with no adverse affects. She’s been off it for about 9 months now with no recurrence of the eating disorder stuff or the mood/depression issues that cane with it.

greatbigbushybeard · 20/02/2019 20:49

Just word of warning here, I went to the doctor before Christmas with anxiety & sleeplessness & I found it horrendous- it ramped up all my symptoms, made me wretch, sweat, feel prickles all over me & pace & pace- it was like being tortured. I only survived until day 8 as I just couldn’t cope with it. I think I am particularly sensitive to medication esp the SSRI type. I wish I had never tried antidepressants.

olderthanyouthink · 20/02/2019 20:51

I've been on it twice and both times occasionally I would get awful heartburn (once when I was in my first trimester and still on them I cried because of the pain and hormones and went home). Taking it with food when I wasn't going to lie down anytime soon helped mostly

That's the worst I had to deal with.

They helped me so much, like pressing mute on my misery and nasty thoughts so I could work on being human again

Original poster
Bussells · 20/02/2019 20:52

@Windinmyhair thank you, I appreciate it

To the other PPs, that’s great to hear!

@HostessTrolley your poor DD and you, that must have been awful. one of my worst fears is my DD developing an eating disorder - that’s absolutely wonderful that she’s recovered Smile

OP posts:
MaidofKent78 · 20/02/2019 20:52

I also take it (50mg) dose for PMDD. It enables me to function without wanting to kill myself or leave my job and husband every month. I did try the pill but that had no effect. I did discuss the option of only taking it for a few days in my cycle, but I have a short cycle and long period within that of feeling like shit, so take it every day.

Having said all this, I've moved into peri-menopause so as well as the extreme moodswings I now have extreme fatigue, night sweats and inability to focus to add to the mix. Having discussed it with my GP, sertraline is still helping manage symptoms so I will continue to take it.

Original poster
Bussells · 20/02/2019 20:53

@greatbigbushybeard I’m sorry to hear that, I hope you’re feeling better now Flowers

OP posts:
Jinglejanglefish · 20/02/2019 20:53

I’ve been on it about three weeks now for PND and honestly it’s amazing. It worked super quickly and I can now function and feel pretty much back to normal.

It terms of side effects I had nausea for the first two days and couldn’t sleep for a couple of nights, that was it. I know sleep very deeply and have very weird dreams about people I haven’t seen in years!

Jinglejanglefish · 20/02/2019 20:53

*now

PennilessPaladin · 20/02/2019 21:04

Made me totally unable to orgasm but as far as Anti-depressants go it was one of the better ones - and I have literally tried them all

MaidofKent78 · 20/02/2019 21:08

I had no orgasm when I took citalopram for PND. Sertraline has had no effect on that, thankfully!

Purpleartichoke · 20/02/2019 21:18

The first day I composed an ode to my little green pill and sang it for days on end. Even at a low dose, it was like a switch turned off the bulk of my anxiety. After a few weeks it gave me the perspective I needed to realize I needed a slightly stronger dose.

Only side effect I have had is making it slightly more difficult to orgasm. Only slightly though and honestly, I’m much more likely to be in the mood in the first place now that my anxiety is under control so it is worth it.

wickywilk · 20/02/2019 21:24

Sertraline really works for me. My only advice would be to definitely take with water. A couple of times I've taken it without a drink and I ended up with terrible heartburn!

FamilyReferee · 20/02/2019 21:31

Sertraline didn't work for me at all. I stuck with it for six weeks, as everyone said the side effects would pass, but they didn't. It brought my IBS on chronically, and I was getting up at least three times a night, every night, in pain and with a runny tummy, plus going several times a day.

I went back to the gp, who was happy I'd given it a good go, and swopped me onto Citalopram, which seems to have worked very well - been on that almost a year now, I think. Considering going up a level, but things are better than they were.

It took six months after the Sertraline for my stomach to settle back to normal.

buckingfrolicks · 20/02/2019 21:34

Turned me from a horrendously miserable dysfunctional person unable to get out of bed, to a normal (ish) person.

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