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.

I've been told to take it in the morning.

Another morning taker here. Hope you get on well with it.

Most take in day I believe? I take at night but I have never had an issue sleeping. I just take it and fall asleep. I think if you struggle with sleep then take in day? X

I had 3 days feeling terrible on it, then about 10days of feeling functionable but not 100% normal and then about 18 days in, something switched and I felt like a new woman.

Hang in there. Rest. Eat well. Sleep. Just basic needs till the bad feeling passes.

Morning for me. Can't remember if that was advised or just what I thought would be practical.

I'm having a bit of a nightmare here!
This is my 2nd time on it. Side effects not too bad first time around but this time different.
I've had 3 nights of no sleep. It's 6am and I have not slept a wink!
Anyone else had that and how long did it last?! X

@HelenStewart77

I'm having a bit of a nightmare here! This is my 2nd time on it. Side effects not too bad first time around but this time different. I've had 3 nights of no sleep. It's 6am and I have not slept a wink! Anyone else had that and how long did it last?! X

Sorry you're struggling. Are you on the third day only? What time are you taking it?

@minibike I'm on day 4 now. 25mg
I got some sleeping pills from the dr so I'm hoping tonight will be better and the side effects will calm down 🤞🏻

Hi all,
I'm fast approaching three years on 50mg per day. I was prescribed them for depression, generalized anxiety - I lived for so long in a state of expecting 'doom' all the time.
I never knew what exactly would go wrong, but that something would.
Over the years I've had various counseling and tried other drugs.
Sertraline has been a game changer. I feel like 'me' again. I only wish I'd taken it years ago.
The first three weeks were awful. Struggled to sleep... shit my actual pants twice (sorry!)... clenching jaw... 'flitting' eyes... restless legs... little to no sleep.
Week four it evened out and I started to feel good, great even. Haven't looked back.
For somebody who asked earlier - libido was low for around six months, combined with an inability to orgasm.

I take a combination of sertraline 50mg and also a beta blocker and ace inhibitor for a heart problem. I've always taken them just before bed but the water makes me get up in the night to pee, so 3 days ago I thought I'd try moving the time I take them 3 hours forward, to around 8pm. Since then I've felt weak, dizzy and have struggled to sleep, though the first two have gradually got better. Do you think just moving the dose by this small amount could bring on the return of side effects. I've been taking the sertraline for 3 years and the others for about 8!

This is how I feel about Lisdexamfetamine.

It's sad really that my whole life could've been so much better if my ADHD was diagnosed earlier.

I'm on day 5 of sertraline and quite frankly am already wishing I'd tried it years ago.

@Lovingmylife

I'm on day 5 of sertraline and quite frankly am already wishing I'd tried it years ago.

I felt like that. I really felt the difference almost straight away

Not knowledgeable about sertraline, reading out of interest as my daughter is taking I think 125mg a day. She ran out of pills a few months ago and I was really worried, (tearing out hair, saying she wanted to die...). But from what is said here and by my friends who take it, it is a wonderful, life changing drug.

@Cotswolds10

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

I take CBD for the anxiety I’ve been having due to covid, and I realised it stops it really effectively and helps me sleep. Not for everyone, like any drug.

@Cotswolds10 I take it for anxiety

@freezingkalt it does make me wonder how I'll feel a few weeks down the line as some say they even feel better after a few weeks.

First off, if you have bi polar/psychosis you should NEVER be prescribed SSRIs. They will make you worse. You need mood stabilisers like Lithium.

And yes, you may experience withdrawal if you suddenly stop sertraline. Which is why when you and your doctor both agree it is time to come off them you taper.

They are life saving for many people. At first you might feel awful, and for some, it's not a drug that agrees with them, but for most you push through the temporary worsening and it gets better.

Suicidal ideation tends to happen in teenagers with this particular antidepressant. Very rare in those beyond the teenage years.

DD’s psychiatrist explained that the main reason they prescribe it for people her age dealing with anxiety is that it helps give them the perspective they need to engage with therapy.

CBT and medication is consistently found to be the best treatment in terms of good outcomes.

@glassecase
I just wanted to say a huge thank you for starting this thread. It's given me the courage and motivation to try sertraline. I've had a packet in my cupboard for years (!) but didn't take it at the time. I was anxious about side effects and wanted to try and manage without. I'm really struggling again now and I think it's time to give it go, but I don't know if I would have reached that conclusion without the positive stories on this thread. I still don't know how I'll get on with it but it's surely worth a try!

Thanks again

PS I should also point out that I spoke to the GP as well, I didn't just dust off my old packet of sertraline and start taking it without medical advice!

As anyone managed to conceive with a partner who is taking sertraline?

SSRIs don't affect fertility, Kona.

Ah I read somewhere that it can affect sperm volume and dna fragmentation. It was an old article though and couldn’t find anything later