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Original poster

Sertraline

32 replies

traintoskaville · 16/06/2020 08:14

Jesus. Is the beginning always this rough?

Took my first a couple of days ago in the morning. Spent the whole day feeling like a zombie, trying not to vomit, can't eat, and was awake half the night. Took the next one in the evening he next day as doc said some people prefer this. Slept better but woke up this morning at 5, absolutely wired and feeling sick and spaced out. Anxiety is through the roof and can't switch off. I'm taking it for anxiety.

I have to lead a conference call later and not sure if I can as I can't think properly.

How long does this bit last?

OP posts:
Whatisthisfuckery · 16/06/2020 08:22

The symptoms should calm down in a week or two OP. These ADS take a good few weeks for the good stuff to kick in though, so stick with it if you can. I know it’s a drag so you have my sympathies, but hopefully you’ll get through it and it’ll improve soon.

SkylinesTurnstiles · 16/06/2020 08:24

They are amazing.
You will feel pants and if not a little worse for maybe a week - ten days but you will feel better after that.
Good luck

DeborahAnnabelToo · 16/06/2020 08:25

When I started them I was so bad I had to take a couple of days off work! Probably took around a couple of weeks for initial side effects to settle though they didn't stay as bad as in the 1st week. I'm so glad I persevered though as they've changed my life.

littlemissminor · 16/06/2020 08:26

I found it was a week or two, then I started to feel better. The side effects to start with were awful for me, but I am so glad I stuck with them. Hope it all works out for you Thanks

Original poster
traintoskaville · 16/06/2020 08:27

Thanks everyone. I'm convinced that they're not going to work and I'm going to be an anxious mess forever. Do they really help? Was anyone else sceptical? How have they helped you?

OP posts:
CaptainButtock · 16/06/2020 08:49

No side effects whatsoever here?

Well, ya know....unless you count wanting to be alive for a change.

BloodyCat · 16/06/2020 08:51

Yes. I felt like I was on the verge of throwing up every day for about a week and a half. Couldn't sleep, and my jaw was clenching like I was on some form of illegal drug!

It did calm way down though after that and then was fine and started doing it's actual job.

CaptainButtock · 16/06/2020 08:52

Sorry, that was a bit flippant.

OP, they saved my life...really.
Please stick with them. I guess I got v lucky with no side effects. Then again I'd been living on booze and fags for months at that point, so probably felt a bit shit anyway.

Sorry you feel so rubbish but yes....stick with it. They could transform your life.

BloodyCat · 16/06/2020 08:53

And yes I was sceptical. But they did work for me.

It wasn't that I just suddenly felt happy all the time or anything. But I was able to think more rationally. When I started going down a dark road in my head which I often did before, I'd be able to stop myself and shake it off quicker.

It didn't make me feel perfect or like there were no problems at all. But the problems didn't seem quite so huge anymore if that makes sense.

BurMaMa2 · 16/06/2020 08:54

I've been on them for years. They have helped me with chronic low mood and anxiety. Please keep going for a bit longer. Talk to your GP about your current symptoms. I also found Cognitive Behavioural Therapy really useful. I accessed it free via my GP's referral. Good luck.🙂

Meatshake · 16/06/2020 08:56

Took me two weeks of being a complete space cadet but once they'd kicked in properly they were wonderful. A year later and I'm trying to wean off them now!

ThisShitCrazy · 16/06/2020 08:57

I started on 100mg and felt nothing out of the ordinary

donquixotedelamancha · 16/06/2020 09:15

I had the dizzyness, not being able to sleep, diarrhea and sexual dysfunction. Lasted for several weeks but getting better each day after the first week.

As PPs have said, it's worth the unpleasantness.

Madein1995 · 16/06/2020 09:28

This thread is really helping me. I've been put on sertraline (am v embarrassed of my MH. Would never judge anyone else but I judge myself) and the first few days were vile with restless legs and feeling sick
My labrynthitis flared up and as the tablets make you dizzy I stopped taking it for a day to hopefully help the labrynthitis. Been back on them.since Sunday and not too awful. I do feel knackered constantly so am taking them in an evening now. I also feel sick first thing of a morning but once eaten I'm fine, am having to stick to 3 regular meals though or I feel sick. I can copf with feeling a bit sick and tired but not restless legs

DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou · 16/06/2020 09:30

I'm 8 days into citalopram (another SSRI) and the horrible symptoms have practically gone now. And my mood has lifted, my anxiety reduced.

Stick with it.

Madein1995 · 16/06/2020 09:32

And I'm finding the ahem (effects) on going to the loo quite helpful. I take subutex for opiate addiction (weaning off slowly) and they make it difficult to go to the loo so in that way the sertraline is helping

Merryoldgoat · 16/06/2020 09:33

Zero side effects here - absolutely life changing for me.

Iwantacookie · 16/06/2020 09:35

Keep going it gets better. Dont miss a dose either. I somehow managed to on sunday and suffered all day yesterday.

Madein1995 · 16/06/2020 11:15

This could be a silly question, but how does it help? I've never been suicidal luckily but get really anxious over tiny things. Will it stop.that, and make me calm?

MrsBobDylan · 16/06/2020 11:20

My best example is that before sertraline I spent most of my waking hours worrying about dying (amongst other generally anxious, repetitive thoughts).

Now I worry am mostly free from the depressing, anxiety inducing thoughts. I will just stay on them for life - I can't go back to life before sertraline it was shit.

No physical side effect for me op, but I felt even more anxious for 10 days before starting to feel much happier.

NotEverythingIsBlackandWhite · 16/06/2020 11:23

My relative has experienced no side-effects with it whatsoever. However, it doesn't seem to have had any effect on their depression and anxiety either.

BloodyCat · 16/06/2020 11:25

@Madein1995

This could be a silly question, but how does it help? I've never been suicidal luckily but get really anxious over tiny things. Will it stop.that, and make me calm?
My problem was similar, I was extremely anxious about everything to the point I couldn't sleep and would end up scratching my hands until they bled through anxiety.

The only way I can describe it is when my mind started spiralling down that anxiety rabbit hole, I found it much easier to talk myself round, to stop it in its tracks before it went off too far. I could think more logically and stop and ask myself 'why are you worrying about this? Seriously what is the problem? Stop'.

I could never have done that before.

Badmemorieshouse · 16/06/2020 11:25

Horrific side affects here for about 2 weeks but definitely persevere they are very effective once you are on a therapeutic dose

terriblyangryattimes · 16/06/2020 11:25

Give it time. I started taking them in March and felt rough for a week, then the tiredness levelled out and my only symptoms now are waking at 5am very briefly and dropping back off and more vivid dreams... but this latter one could be covid related. I take my dose (100mg) before bed

MistyIsland · 16/06/2020 11:44

My Dh takes these he was started on a really low dose which did absolutely nothing, after about 14 weeks they got the dose right and his mood etc has been so much better since

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