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AIBU?

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Original poster

Sertraline is horrific

125 replies

spacetime · 02/07/2020 11:41

I've been taking it for a few days now. I have a constant lump in my throat which is very uncomfortable. I feel totally wired. Anxiety is really high. A bit shakey in the mornings. Appetite has disappeared. I feel hungry but he idea of eating makes me feel nauseous. I usually love food. Head is spacey. I wake up super early in the morning, whether I take the tablet in the morning or at night.

Someone please reassure me that this will all wear off and I'll come out of this fog? I feel worse than before I started taking them...

OP posts:

RavenT · 03/07/2020 08:08

Took it for 4 weeks. It made me feel horrendous. Switched to citalopram after pleading with my gp, which had no side effects and made me feel better within 10 days.

horizontilting · 03/07/2020 10:53

My GP prescribed a controlled course of diazepam to get me through the initial side effects of setraline. It really helped

DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou · 03/07/2020 11:00

I found setraline awful as well. It gave me horrifically painful heartburn. It would literally floor me.

And instead of suppressing my appetite it gave me insatiable hunger. A hunger ive never experienced, bloody horrible.

It worked for the depression fantastically but the side effects were horrible.

I ditched that mofo and use Citalopram which gives me none of the symptoms.

The weird shaky anxiety thing happens with most of them, that goes completely.

As mentioned above, diazepam helps that.

Iwalkinmyclothing · 03/07/2020 11:18

Are these drugs taken for life as many of you guys state you have been taking for years and I was under the impression that you only be prescribed these for a set amount of time until you feel better mentally

It really depends. You definitely don't stop taking it as soon as you start feeling better, that's the route to relapse. Usually (and there can be wide variation so this won't be everyone's experience) with a first course of anti depressants, the doctor will want to see you feeling and functioning 'better' for around 3-4 months before considering trying managed withdrawl. If you become unwell again and need medication again, you will likely be on them for longer; if episodes of mental ill health are repeated or continuous then you get into long term medication territory.

Lucy40ishere · 03/07/2020 11:32

It’s interesting as I was fine when I started on Sertraline but I had horrendous side effects with Citalopram. Waking up suddenly in the night feeling panicked, disturbing dreams etc. But I stuck with it & I felt a lot better after 2 weeks & noticed a significant improvement after 6-8 weeks. I read somewhere that if you have side effects initially that’s a strong indication that the medication is going to work. Not sure how accurate that is. Even with Sertraline I did feel a bit low & very tired for the first two weeks.

Maria1921 · 03/07/2020 11:32

@LadyMuck111 wrote:

I tried these a few years ago. I took one and after a few hours I felt awful. I felt like I was losing my mind, I couldn't think clearly and my anxiety went through the roof. I never took another one..

That was spooky! It could have been me writing these exact sentences - my experience was identical. Instead I gave up sugar, ate more healthily, took up exercise and made sure I got lots of fresh air and sunshine. Cured myself.

Vivana · 03/07/2020 11:33

I started on sertraline but did not get on with them at all and was changed over to citalopram which has worked and lower side effects. The worst was a dry mouth but soon went.
Side effects do go but finding the right meds takes time and you will find one which works best for you.

Couchbettato · 03/07/2020 12:27

Sertraline for me definitely felt horrific for well over the 6-8 weeks my doctor told me to take it for before it peaked but then somewhere around 10-12 weeks it felt loads better.

But for most of the time it felt like someone had roofied my drink at a party I didn't want to be at and it didn't matter when I took the pill.

My partner tried sertraline for a much shorter duration then moved to fluoxetine and even though his mood was better on fluoxetine he said he much preferred the sertraline because he felt better in himself and not just outwardly.

I think my doctor was a bit dismissive of me at first, and said all SSRIs work the same so another SSRI wouldn't make a difference, and lucky for her it did get better for me specifically and I agreed to persevere but every one here who's tried a different kind will tell you it's not the same to each individual. Absolutely request a change if you're not gelling with the sertraline.

adele19788 · 03/07/2020 14:23

All antidepressants take at least six weeks to take effect and those symptoms are side effects everyone gets at the beginning. You need to hang in there and it will get better.
I am on 200mg sertraline amongst others (I have bipolar disorder)

adele19788 · 03/07/2020 14:24

And take them In the morning! They will keep you awake. This is from my psychiatrist

adele19788 · 03/07/2020 14:26

I have been on it for eight years. I tried lots of antidepressants and this one works well for me. Took me along time to get diagnosis and get right meds

Mittens030869 · 03/07/2020 14:40

I remember that when I first went on Sertraline, I had very bad diarrhoea. But it did clear up, though it happened again a year later when the GP increased the dose.

I’m on a different medication now (not because of the side effects, as they did clear up).

But I would speak to your GP about your side effects; don’t suffer in silence as there are other options.

LHMBF · 03/07/2020 14:52

Sertraline gave me very bad diarrhoea, I couldn't eat, within minutes of eating I would have stomach cramps and terrible diarrhoea. I stopped taking them and the upset stomach stopped. I was put back on Seroxat, which I was on for over 20 years and finally managed to come off them last year but have ended up back on. Antidepressants don't actually make much difference to me but have been on them so long I can't manage to come off, imo they've done more damage and I wish I had never touched them in the first place

Fieldofgreycorn · 03/07/2020 15:54

Sertraline has really helped me.

Unfortunately it’s a hard thing that it usually makes you feel worse before you feel better.

But if you get suicidal thoughts definitely contact gp immediately

I8toys · 03/07/2020 18:08

It takes about 2 weeks to feel any benefit but the first few days are horrible I agree. I've taken it off and on for about 30 years and am on a low dose constantly now because the lows when I come off are not worth it. I've also got the menopause to look forward to.

Allstoppedup · 03/07/2020 18:10

I absolutely hated it and was put in it in conjunction with some bladder medication that caused some horrible side effects. It never got to that 'better' point. I've been on escitalopram (sp) for over a year now and haven't had any horrible side effects. It's the only anti depressant/anxiety treatment that's helped me but my GP did say it's not commonly prescribed much.

MHisNOTaTREND · 04/07/2020 03:53

It made me SHAKE like I had an intense fever for a few days, GP took me straight off it and moved me to an alternative.. side affects are different for everyone

Monty27 · 04/07/2020 04:12

OP reading this thread I remember now the trembling. My boss pulled me on it. I think she thought I had alcohol issues.
And the reminder on here of the diahorrea. I lost so much weight. I mean a lot. I thought I had ibs and my GP still monitors it.
I'm on venlafaxine now.

BobbyTheVet · 04/07/2020 04:27

Taking it just before bed instead of in the morning (as prescribed) made the world of difference for me, it helped me avoid the worse of the spacey sicky fatigue. Didn't help much with the runs though!

Monty27 · 04/07/2020 04:55

@BobbyTheVet me too. It was dreadful when I look back.
OP please go to your GP. Although you might settle into it in a few weeks. It seems to suit some people. I gave it too long to be fair. I can't quite remember how long. Maybe 6 weeks or so.

RabbityMcRabbit · 04/07/2020 05:25

I had awful side effects when I started on Sertraline, nausea and vomiting which flet like seasickness. It passed after a few days and I can honestly say Sertraline has changed my life. I have anxiety disorder and PTSD (have had EMDR for the latter which worked but PTSD never fully goes away) and I also suffer from bouts of depression. I can honestly say Sertraline has changed my life. I feel much more clear-headed and much calmer than I did previously. I was on Citalopram before and Sertraline has proved so much better. Different medication suits different people. Stick at it OP, it can take around 2 to 3 weeks to feel better. If you don't see a difference after that time then go back to your GP. Good luck

Drucy · 31/12/2020 16:41

Hey, how long did it take for the side effects to pass after taking one dose?

Drucy · 31/12/2020 16:43

After just one dose of 50mg I didn't take any more, no appetite can't sleep, 2nd day my anxiety was through the roof, still can't sleep, find it hard to relax, peeing alot, dry mouth, 14 weeks pregnant

Bluewavescrashing · 31/12/2020 16:45

I felt dreadful for 7 weeks with various nasty side effects. The only one I have now is very lucid nightmares occasionally but I'll take that as it massively reduces my anxiety.

1FootInTheRave · 31/12/2020 17:05

I felt abysmal for about 2 months.

They started working around 10 weeks in and side effects reduced.

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