That sertraline makes me realise how mental I've been for the last decade (at least)

[glassecase]

Honestly never felt better, well maybe pre-18 years old.

Amazing stuff and I don't feel like I'm 'on' something.

For people saying that meds just mask the problem rather than solve it - please. My mother committed suicide. I went to all the counselling I could get, talked to SOBS, did everything I could to "feel better" - but nothing was going to make her any less dead or me any less devastated. How do you "solve" that problem?

So I ploughed on as best I could for half a year, until I had a nervous breakdown at work. Went to the GP, asked for and was given medication. Within a week I felt better, within a fortnight I was a human being again. It was incredible. It was a miracle. I was able to mother my child, be a partner to my partner, do my job again. The problems that could be solved, medication solved for me.

[quote Devoilmum]@LindaEllen I don’t think I felt too different after 3 weeks. I was still feeling heightened anxiety, trouble sleeping and a clenched jaw. I can’t say I’m on top of the world now, after 2 months, but I feel stronger and ready to face the challenges I have. Over busy Christmas period I’ve not noticed the change day by day, but took some time to reflect and realised it. I’m on 100mg a day and just starting pack 3.
I’d put off going to the doctors for years. In fact I’d been and tried before and been told I’d soon feel better, years ago. My surgery is doing email consultation so I got to write it all down, was so much easier. Now I’m just hoping I can stay on them until I feel the time is right. The doctor was talking only 6 months but I already feel I won’t be ready.[/quote]
Thanks for replying :). It's good to know that I might just be looking for signs of getting better too early! My jaw is aching due to clenching, too, but it's easing off. I'm only on 50 so perhaps I'll ask the GP whether I can go up when I next ask for my prescription.

The online consultation was what helped me finally reach out, too! I wrote a big message (which I'm fairly sure they won't have read in full) about how I felt. I know I'd never have done it if I'd had to go and see them in person, so this was a definite plus point of lockdown - it's good that I've found at least one good thing coming out of it!

My GP said the 6 month thing as well. I'd rather stay on them forever if they make me feel better haha but I guess that's something we can discuss with them nearer the time.

Took first one yesterday not taking one today.Thought I was doing ok headache and sleepy until bedtime then the side effects really kicked in never felt so bad mentally just constant panic attacks and racing horrific thoughts. Gp told me this can happen thats why I never started them when given them but no way I can cope with that again tonight. Any1 know how long it takes to leave your system still got a headache now thankfully the panic attacks have eased of a bit.

The elimination half-life (i.e. the time your body takes to get rid of half of the drug) of sertraline is a bit over a day, depending, but there are active metabolites that hang around a bit longer. I doubt you'll still be feeling this bad tomorrow tho.

Thanks for replying going to go out for a walk now try clearing my head hopefully that helps.

@Sweettea1

Took first one yesterday not taking one today.Thought I was doing ok headache and sleepy until bedtime then the side effects really kicked in never felt so bad mentally just constant panic attacks and racing horrific thoughts. Gp told me this can happen thats why I never started them when given them but no way I can cope with that again tonight. Any1 know how long it takes to leave your system still got a headache now thankfully the panic attacks have eased of a bit.

That's a real shame. Sorry. Would you try half a tablet instead?

I wished I just done half yesterday but because I felt so bad last night and not great today i just want it out my system. Am gonna phone gp tmz see what they suggest.

@Sweettea1

I wished I just done half yesterday but because I felt so bad last night and not great today i just want it out my system. Am gonna phone gp tmz see what they suggest.

Sorry it's made you feel rubbish!

My opinion is to carry on out the other side but I have no idea of your history or how you feel.

I felt dreadful on them to start with but the side effects gradually lessened. I found it helpful to keep a diary of how I was feeling as it made it clear that the anxiety was improving slowly each day.

Starting to feel a little better might just be over thinking it all. Hopefully I can get it sorted in time.

@Sweettea1 glad the walk helped — I bet after a night's sleep you'll feel a whole lot better and be able to think through what you want to do about the meds. FWIW having this kind of reaction to one antidepressant doesn't mean you'll react equally badly to another one.

Can I ask those of you who take it? I always assumed it was for depression. I don’t believe I have depression but I do have endless anxiety. I do have very stressful stuff going on in my life and think that contributes but it’s been getting worse for a number of years beforehand anyway. Do these meds help with this? Reading your messages it seems to help with anxiety but I’d always thought it was only for people who had underlying depression as well? Thanks

Thank you yes hopefully be back to were i was tmz atleast I can manage/cope with how I am normally. Today has been hard but think the worst is over. Am going to speak to gp even if its something that takes longer to work but without these side affects.

@Cotswolds10 its for anxiety panic attacks and depression can also help with ocd. I thought I only had anxiety suffered years with it until a recent phonecall with gp. Was quite Shocked I thought being so low with rubbish mood was just me turns out I might not be a miserable so an so after all just need to find something that works for me.

My GP prescribed it for anxiety alone - like you Cotswolds I have a stressful life in general ( something that can't be changed). The sertraline has helped me to cope with that so much better as well as relieving the anxiety.

@Sweettea1 and @LaBelleSauvage123 Thank you so much. I really didn’t know this. Guess I’m another one who’ll be on the phone to the GP tomorrow! It’s exhausting dealing with the endless knot in my stomach and racing heart.

@Cotswolds10 I take citalopram and it’s been a godsend for my social anxiety. I talk to anyone now, I’m also able to sleep better at night without worrying about everything.

I've just started taking it, I've started on a really low dose quarter a tablet then will work up the dose as the full dose made me feel horrendous.

But i finally feel relaxed and happy, not anxious and worried and crying all the time at everything. I've not laughed like i have recently in such a long time. I wish i had done it sooner

@gingganggooleywotsit Thanks. Such a relief to hear that there may be a way out of this. Honestly just thought all these sorts of meds were just for depression. And I’ve never talked to a doc about it. It just sort of creeps up on you over the years and you don’t even realise it’s not normal until suddenly you realise one day it can’t be right. I’m making a note of all the different meds people have mentioned on here so I can talk to the GP about options! Really appreciate it, thank you.

Also started aged 46
After over 25 years of ups and downs
And therapy galore
Life isn’t perfect
But my god I prefer life with it
The dark dark dips have gone
The death and suicide ideation , pof!

HeadphoneProliferation you're not wrong. Someone has to be seriously, seriously ill to be referred to a psychiatrist, and accepted, in my NHS Trust. My ex DH was one such person. He only got a psychiatrist after he almost managed to kill himself.

Cotswolds10 I've found it amazing for my anxiety. Was prescribed for depression and anxiety.

I commented on the first page Sertaline that has saved my sanity, but having read the full thread, and to give more personal information:

I was cross, cross, cross and irritable at DC (3 kids under 4 when youngest was born) and DH just did my head in. He’s such a sweet man but I could have willingly used him as a punch bag. Not physically! With words. Just his face, I had such irrational rage. I was so unhappy for seemingly no reason.
Truly believed that at one point that they would all be better without me, DH would move on and meet someone else and be happy. I was aware I was dragging everyone down. The fly in my ointment were my parents in their 70s who I knew even then that it would destroy them.
I craved the thought of disappearing without anyone I love being hurt but also knew that was impossible.
This was around 8 years ago and haven’t looked back.

Thank you to the those that have contributed to this thread. It gave me the kick up the backside I needed to ring my gp. I had an appointment today and she’s referring me for CBT and has started me on sertraline (25mg moving to 50mg with a review in a couple of weeks). She didn’t say if it’s best to take at morning or night...anyone for any experience of what is better?

@Peppermintgreen morning seems best for me, I can't sleep if I take them at night.