Sertraline

[traintoskaville]

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?

[AstridAv]

Thats amazing I read far too many thread on here and now I'm too scared to take them. Today I've had 2 panic attacks. Never happened to me before. Im so glad they helped you! Well done.

[Waveysnail]

Two weeks side effects disappeared. Felt like a new woman. Not the quivering wreck I was when I started them

[AstridAv]

@Madein1995 hi, how are you getting in the the sertraline? I have been prescribed them today but too scared to take them. Also scared to carry on the way that I am just now

[Madein1995]

Thank you everyone, I'll persevere with them . Am taking before bed at the moment and hopefully theyll work soon, am currently on 50mg which is ok I guess. For me the anxiety is linked to my self esteem. Manager can send an email asking me to do something, I will, shell email back saying 'thanks'. Becsuse she hasnt said thanks and a shortening of my name (think bec for rebecca, lou for louise etc) and a smiley face, I panic I've upset her. Have I not done the job quick enough? And then I'm thinking of little things I can do over the next few days to make it all ok! Absolute craziness and its really horrid. Whenever my landlady speaks to her husband I'm worried they're speaking about me etc

[LucyAutumn]

Yes! I felt like I was on the hangover of my life for about 2 weeks and then suddenly I was fine and so calm, keep with it, it will get better!

[livsmommy]

What dose have you started on OP? I have been taking sertraline for several years now, started on 50mg and now take the maximum dose of 200mg. For me, when I started and each time I have upped my dose, side effects have been absolute exhaustion, diarrhoea, generally low and lacking motivation. But after a couple of weeks it’s settled down. The first time I realised they were actually working, it was the night before we were due to take a trip to the farm with my family, usually I would be an anxious mess the day before, worrying about not being at home, what if I have a panic attack, what if I need the loo and there isn’t one available, and I was almost trying to get myself worked up, and I realised wait, I’m not worried about it, I’m actually looking forward to it! They’ve changed my life. I would say though, they definitely help more with my anxiety than they do my depression. It’s almost like it’s numbed down if that makes sense? My GP recommends I take them at night as they can still cause me some tiredness and dizziness, but I actually don’t, as if I do take them before bed I get terrible night sweats and restless legs. If I take them in the morning on an empty stomach they still give me tummy cramps and diarrhoea, but if I take them around mid day after eating that seems to work best for me. Significant weight gain has also sadly been a side effect for me.

[Jetwashingsquirrels]

As PP have mentioned they can work absolute wonders but if the side effects continue after a couple of weeks then don't be shy of talking to your doctor again. Every person is different in how they react to anti-depressants and anxiety medication and sometimes it takes a few attempts with dosage and type to get things right for you, they are an absolute godsend when they are right though. I'm on fluoxetine now, after previous attempts with sertraline and mirtazipine, and it has changed my life.

[MistyIsland]

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

[terriblyangryattimes]

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

[Badmemorieshouse]

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

[BloodyCat]

@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.

[NotEverythingIsBlackandWhite]

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.

[MrsBobDylan]

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.

[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?

[Iwantacookie]

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

[Merryoldgoat]

Zero side effects here - absolutely life changing for me.

[Madein1995]

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

[DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou]

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]

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

[donquixotedelamancha]

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.

[ThisShitCrazy]

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

[Meatshake]

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!

[BurMaMa2]

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.🙂

[BloodyCat]

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.

[CaptainButtock]

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.