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 missed
A few days of it when I was waiting for a prescription never again I was a mess!!

I lost the ability to orgasm while taking it too.
It sounds like such a minor thing, but when sex is one of the few pleasures you still have, it was a deal breaker for me.

I started on it yesterday. Is it ok to have a glass of wine or should I avoid alcohol - which would be very difficult for me atm 😬

I take a low dose but I can honestly say I can tell how much of a difference it makes, and I know how different my mood is when I don't take it!

I totally get this ! I’m on fluoxetine and it’s changed my life. When I first started it and settled on it I actually thought omg ! I actually feel physically quite well and mentally on an even keel ! Glad it’s working for you !

Very happy with Sertraline too! I’ve taken citalopram in the past & had more side effects. Sertraline just makes me feel normal without the anxiety. My sleep is really good too & when my daughter wakes me up I find it easy to get back to sleep.

@queenjaneappro I’m pretty sure you can have a glass of wine. They just say that alcohol is a depressant so not to have too much. And the NHS site says it makes you more sleepy.

@Bicnod, I'm the exact same. I panicky over everything relating to health, I catastrophe everything. I have been diagnosed as having health anxiety, cbt didn't help. I have propranolol but the thoughts are still there. I really don't know if sertraline will help.

They (along with CBT) saved my life when I had PND. Came off them easily after a year when I was recovered but I am grateful for the GP who prescribed them.

I love sertraline. I was switched onto it in pregnancy and not look back. I have ADHD and anxiety and on sertraline I've been able to reduce the amount of ADHD meds as well.

I did have about 10 weeks of night sweats and struggled to achieve orgasm during that time too, which had never been a problem previously. Both side effects settled down and I feel good now, unrecognisable compared to before, I never really found the right balance of medication, and I always had to choose between anxiety or being hyperactive/unable to focus at all. I've been able to learn to drive even, so the change it made to my life has been amazing 👏🙌

@MrsSugar

I totally get this ! I’m on fluoxetine and it’s changed my life. When I first started it and settled on it I actually thought omg ! I actually feel physically quite well and mentally on an even keel ! Glad it’s working for you !

Fluoxetine here too - 40mg - and it's been life changing. So many friends were pursing their lips and effectively telling me to "have a bubble bath", "paint my nails", "go for a walk"; but then couldn't believe the difference in me once I'd started taking it.

@Bluekangaroo123 thank you! Hopefully when the meds have kicked in I can tackle reducing my alcohol intake!

Really great to hear all these success stories.

I've been on sertraline for about 8 months now I think but I'm still struggling and keep thinking about upping to 100mg. Is anyone else on a higher dose? I've discussed with my GP already and she says to do it if I feel I need to.

I'm definitely better than I was but still very anxious and certainly not feeling 'up'. But then the general situation is probably skewing things!

I feel the same about citalopram! It’s only now I’m on it I realise how low I was and how much more difficult life was. ADs saved me really

This thread is really tempting me to try it! I’ve always had anxiety. It’s got so bad that I haven’t driven my car in 3 years. I’ve been taking St John’s Wort and I do generally feel better ;and my scariness has massively, massively reduced) but I’m still constantly anxious.

Did any of you gain weight on it? I’ve just lost 4 stone which I’d hate to gain back!

All of those saying how great this drug is: question?
Do you also think vaccines are so great? Are you equally as keen to get your covid vaccine?
comments like “ how hard is it to get” really worry me...this whole thread worries me

Sertraline is a drug with significant side affects. Yes, it’s relatively safe as antidepressants SSRI goes. But it is not without side affects. Your GP and you must balance risk and benefits and aim to get you off the drugs as soon as poi leaves ( maybe 6-18 months). Except in severe and enduring mental illnesses these are not long term drugs.

My comment about vaccines is because vaccines are massively safer than therapeutic drugs. That includes sertraline.

Please do not make comments that encourage people to self medicate serious drugs ( as per searching on internet to source) or self diagnose. This is really irresponsible

*scattiness! I’m sure I’m still as scary. I mean my ADHD-like disorganisation has gone.

Ah this was me! It was only after starting Sertraline that I realised I had lived in constant anxiety. I just thought that's what it was normal to feel like.

Not going to lie, it was rough for a few weeks but after that it gave me a new lease of life. I remember thinking is what normal people feel like!

I was on 200mg and was wandering under a permanent dark cloud and having panic attacks towards the end of taking sertraline. I then got to the point where going outside was incredibly difficult. I was given fluoxitine which made me feel sick from the first to last tablet I took.
I am now on citalopram, which has dulled all the negative, I also had to increase because of covid. I think I may have to increase again because I don't think 14/18 hours of sleep a day is good.

Fluoxetine changed my life too! Couldn’t believe how much energy and motivation I had whilst taking it. Slept like a baby as well. Think I may need to go back on it as lockdown 3.0 is really affecting me now.

@Imaginetoday
So what do you suggest instead then?
I have been on various antidepressants for the last 25 years.
I have done counselling.
I have done cbt.
If I come off my tablets I can't function, disassociation takes over.
And comparing vaccines to ssri's is in my opinion completely wonky

I've been on it for 2 and a half weeks now and really crossing my fingers it works. Can't really tell yet which is a shame as so many people seem to feel the effects quickly :(.

@queenjaneappro

I started on it yesterday. Is it ok to have a glass of wine or should I avoid alcohol - which would be very difficult for me atm 😬

Bloody hell! Please discuss this with your gp or at least a pharmacist and NOT me You are advised to avoid alcohol If you can’t talk to your health care provider who is qualified not random strangers Please.

What are the side effects? I’ve just read this Wiki page on sertraline and the only scary side effect mentioned are a 100% increase in suicidal thoughts in adolescents. But over the age of 25, that doesn’t happen.

Otherwise it’s just nausea, diarrhoea, and some lowered arousal and orgasm issues.

Should be ask MN but that does include me anyway