Sertaline help pls

[Binny36]

I got prescribed 50mg for PTSD, anxiety and depression but just after one day I stopped as I was shaking so couldn’t hold my baby and felt really sick so couldn’t function. I just phoned dr to discuss maybe 25mg and his reaction was it’s no difference between 25 and 50 and will make no difference to me. Surely this doesn’t sound right? I’m very sensitive to medication. He said stick to 50mg.

I had shakes, sickness etc for a couple of weeks before things settled down with Sertraline - it’s common to have this. It really helps me and was worth it but if the side effects are too much for you after only one day perhaps another form of medication would be better.

Hello my lovely, how are you feeling in yourself? I take Sertraline albeit a higher dose, did the doctor mention that your body takes around 6 weeks for it to properly function? They can also make the symptoms worse before they get better. How old is your baby? As the hormones may play a roll too.
Sending you lots of love and hugs 💜

Thank you purple. @WizenedFilly I’m not too bad today thank u. How long you been taking sertaline for? Baby is 1 years old.

You have to push through with Sertraline and most other antidepressants - took me a week for the really strong side effects to pass and then a couple of weeks to feel settled, but it's definitely been worth it for me.

I've been on sertraline on and off for about fifteen years (now settled happily on it on a 50mg dose) but have always struggled for about a week with nausea when I've re-started it. I've also always been recommended to start with 25mg for a few days/week and then start the 50mg dose. I do think you should try the 50mg dose as your GP has recommended but would it be worth asking if you can work up to it a little - say 25mg every other day and 50mg every other day for a few weeks? I'm only saying what works for me. Also as others have said don't expect to see the benefits for around 6 weeks. But I have found it to be a really helpful drug and hope it proves the same for you.

That's definitely wrong. I started on 50mg, got through those side effects but wasn't doing much. Went to 100mg which was too much, and went down to 75mg - that 25mg made the difference between unbearable side effects and being able to get through it, though I am now up to 100mg.

Not ideal, but if you can, snap it in half and do a couple days of just one half, and then a couple more days of two halves and spaced between the day.
My sickness was helped immensely by taking lanzoprazole - maybe worth enquiring

You’re supposed to snap the tablet in half and be on 25mg for the first week or two before going up to 50mg. Just do that... you don’t need the docs approval (although I’d find a different doc as a supportive one is important). You do have to push through the first few weeks though as side effects can be pretty strong. I felt like I had a virus for two weeks and was in bed a lot. Worth it in the long run though.

@ChocoholicMama

You’re supposed to snap the tablet in half and be on 25mg for the first week or two before going up to 50mg. Just do that... you don’t need the docs approval (although I’d find a different doc as a supportive one is important). You do have to push through the first few weeks though as side effects can be pretty strong. I felt like I had a virus for two weeks and was in bed a lot. Worth it in the long run though.

I wasn’t told to snap the tablet in half and start with a half dose, nor was anyone else I know who takes sertraline.

The tablets are scored so perfectly safe to take half and get 25mg.

You shouldn’t break non-scored tablets as they don’t necessarily have the same dose in the 2 halves whereas they do if scored (plus some are processed differently in the body and need a complete coating).

I was started on 50mg four months ago and told that was the starting dose.

I really struggled the first 10 days, I felt so ill and anxiety was worse than before however it's been fantastic for me and I'm so much better now.

I had intense nausea when I started on 50mg for 2 weeks, and again for 2 weeks when I upped to 100mg.

Can you self do 25mg to see? With scored tablets as PP said

I was told to start on 25mg and move up to 50mg after two weeks. I’m 4 weeks in now and the side effects have only been a bit of sleepiness and slight nausea on a couple of occasions.

I.e. I had a prescription for 50mg and was told to snap them in half for the first two weeks.

I've only ever taken the 50mg.

The side effects can be pretty dramatic for the first three weeks or so, but they do calm down. I got the shakes really badly when I first started it and I don't think it's that uncommon. It soon faded to chattery teeth and slightly shaky hands, then disappeared completely. It just takes a bit of time for your body to settle.

The only long-term side effect I have is yawning a lot, which is apparently very common.

I take 150mg (which now I read the rest of your doses makes me concerned!!) - I started on 50mg and found it made little difference, went up to 100 and felt i wAs nearly there but not quite, then went up to 150 and feel fab. Each time I started/ changed dose I had a week of pure suffering but am so glad I persisted. Def worth it. Hubby otoh is on 100 and it look him at least 6 weeks to get over the side effects

For me sertraline takes a good 2 to 3 months to feel the benefits. But when I do, it is life changing.

The side effects you mention are v v common and for most tend to subside a few weeks in.

@PenelopeCleary I was also told to snap the (50 mg) tablet it half for the first few days. Odd that different doctors have different advice...

Yes it is weird about doctors giving different advice you would think it would be consistent. I am going to cut in half then. I hope side affects are not too bad as I will have to stop as I cannot imagine looking after my youngest if I’m feeling like that for a few weeks.

@HeechulOppa don’t worry about your dosage it’s right for you even tho it’s higher than others are taking. Some people are very sensitive to medicines like myself so we need less for it to work.

I just remembered - if you do snap them in half take them with a big glass of water as they give me a wierd feeling in my throat that seemed worse than when I started taking them whole - I guess because the coating is compromised? I’m still glad I did taper in though

I'm on my 6th week of 50mg sertraline and found the first two weeks really rough - nausea, diarrhoea, palpitations, cramps, couldn't eat and lost half a stone in a week. I thought about stopping the meds so many times but I did turn a corner very quickly around 14 days in and am feeling so much better physically and mentally. I was told by everyone that it unfortunately makes you worse before you feel better. Keep going if you can - one day at a time. All the best!

@Flopjustwantscoffee Absolutely, different GPs will have different approaches. I was merely reporting on my personal experience. The packaging often changes between prescriptions, but I don’t remember any of the tablets being scored.

Sorry everyone last question! Can you never drink whilst taking this? I know in scheme of things it’s a small price to pay but I’m going to miss my glass of wine on weekends. Is there any way around this?

Hi I have just started sertraline and took my first tablet last night and have woke up feeling so bad shaky sick and high as a kite to point I feel sitting in bed is best place as when I stand up I going all dizzy , is this normal ? Or should I ring doctor and come off them ? There is no way I could drive my car or function off these

I was on sertraline for around 3 months. I got side effects of throwing up and diarrhoea from day one. After two weeks, it did not get better but steadily worse. The doctor kept saying it should settle down, but by the end of the second month I was literally in the bathroom using the toilet most of every day and night. I lost 30% of my body weight. So the doctor finally agreed to take me off. So I warned off for a month and now take flouxetine instead.
So if side effects do NOT settle down don’t be shy about requesting a different medication.

@Binny36

Sorry everyone last question! Can you never drink whilst taking this? I know in scheme of things it’s a small price to pay but I’m going to miss my glass of wine on weekends. Is there any way around this?

I drink while on Sertraline (200mg), it doesn't cause any problems other than the usual ones if you drink too much.

I think the main advice is avoid grapefruit juice, as that combination can be highly dangerous.