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.

@Lndnmummy no weight gain. I was also worried about that.

No weight loss mind due. Not that I've tried that hard.

Oh yes, and to add, I used to be on Citalopram which also worked and I felt far more clear headed, but after a while I got uncontrollable jaw clenching. And I didn't feel I needed them anymore anyway, so I stopped for a year or so until November when life went wrong.
But no side effects at all with the Sertraline which I was surprised at.

@Cissyandflora

This is really interesting. I’ve taken fluoxetine for around 25 years now. It definitely changed my life but I still am extremely stressed and anxious. I’m wondering whether to have a change of meds? Hadn’t considered until reading this. I’d love to feel better

What dose of fluoxetine are you on?

@LookToTreblesGoingTreblesGone - I call my lorazapam 'mother's little helper' - dark humour! Before anyone worries I know they are addictive and am managed on them by a psychiatrist. The first time I was given them I'd not slept a wink for 3 months. Most blissful sleep I've ever had! I do worry that I can't sleep without medication. But it is what it is. More dangerous to not sleep atall.

@HoollyWugger I’m on 20mg a day. So one tablet.

I was on the highest dose for almost 5 years.
Worked amazingly for me.
I was living for years with low level d & a (new acronym!) But after having a child a few other factors converged, things went out of hand. I truly believe me and my children would have been one of those tragic stories on the news - and im not generally dramatic . But that was the trajectory.

I'm off now for a year.
My libido left, as and I started drinking more. That hasn't left me but it's still more manageable than the way I was.

My life felt like grief before. Like when a loved one has a terminal diagnosis and you're just waiting for the phone call. Wedding anniversaries, first days at school, having a cup of tea with mum on an ordinary Tuesday felt like those unbearable days when you know it's the last time. No one knew, not even my DH.

Counselling helped me separate out the doom feeling from ordinary feelings, of love or humour or annoyance.

Sertraline removed the doom feeling altogether.
Tuesdays are just Tursdays now, and whether they bring good or ill I respond appropriately

@GameSetMatch

I couldn’t get on with Setraline , Citalopram has helped me somewhat but nothing will be as good as Tramadol, I took it for extreme backache but it made me feel a million times better than I ever have, shame it’s not an antidepressant.

Tramadol is an SNRI as far as I know

@Straightomyhead

I've just started yesterday. Having some bad side effects of nausea today but hoping it's not here for long. Hopefully will start to feel it working soon.

I took in the morning with food and the nausea did stop fairly quickly

@Imaginetoday

Gingeeerpussy

I will also add that I’m sorry you are struggling with mental health problems. If you look at my other posts on mental health threads you’ll see I am carer for my DH with severe and enduring mental health problems. He takes sertraline and antipsychotics. Has done for 10 years. He needs then

But the point is, which I’m sure you’ll agree with, they have nasty side affects and therefore I get worried when there’s a feeding frenzy of people raving how great they are..and “great..how do I get them” comments.

You're detailing the thread and repeating yourself.

@willstarttomorrow

For those saying this thread encourages use of anti-depressants JUST FOR THE BLOODY HELL OF IT. Get over yourselves, there is a huge stigma accosiated with mental illness and most people are bloody reluctant to get helo. This thread is a celebration of having a medication -in 21st century- that allows people to live more normally. Poor mental health is a thing, just like physical illness. I know this, I used to work a a mental health nurse. Lots is situational as well, I get this as I had a difficult childhood and was suddenly widowed as a parent of young DC.

I now work in child protection and lots of parents I encounter have suffered horrific abuse themselves- hence self medication with alcohol and drugs. Talking therapies (which really do not exist at any level, let alone a sustained involvement) are only suitable for those able to open up that wound. Most people do not walk towards pain. These drugs are not addictive and can really change lives through stabilising mood and addressing constant anxiety.

Hear hear!!

@Kona84

Can I ask what dosage you are prescribed? My partner is on setraline 50mg per day and he is thinking of increasing it but not sure what a normal dosage is

Starting dose is 50mg some people increase, some don't. Trial and error

@Lndnmummy

Can I ask if any of you have experienced weight gain on Sertraline? I have had them in the past and I think I probably need to go back on them but the possibility of weight gain worries me as I’m already overweight.

There's no evidence to suggest that sertraline makes you put weight on itself, but can make you feel more hungry. This hasn't happened for me, and because I'm happier I feel like I want to look after myself more. I've actually lost weight.

@FanOfTheCheese

What strength op and how long have you been taking it?! I’m 8-10 weeks in 100mg and less teary, on edge but I don’t feel ‘happier’ yet? Will it come?

I'm on 50mg and it's been 6 weeks only. Shame it hasn't worked for you yet, perhaps you need a different drug?

My dad was on mirtazipine for years and the doc changed him to sertraline due to insomnia. He was suicidal within less than 5 days of taking it which he has never ever experienced before it was truly terrifying to see. Doesn't work for everyone but glad it works for OP.

@20viona

My dad was on mirtazipine for years and the doc changed him to sertraline due to insomnia. He was suicidal within less than 5 days of taking it which he has never ever experienced before it was truly terrifying to see. Doesn't work for everyone but glad it works for OP.

That's a shame, sorry

I also can’t take SSRI’s, awful side effects. So I was initially put on venlafaxine. Then I suffered a traumatic event and the GP suggested switching me to mirtazapine as I wasn’t sleeping and apparently it has a sedative effect.

I was supposed to taper off the venlafaxine while starting the mirtazapine, but when I was taking both I just felt so good! I’ve had suicidal thoughts for most of my life (even had a plan to end it for good at 60! Didn’t want to before then cos of DCs). All my suicidal thoughts just went, life felt good for really the first time ever. Spoke to the GP and he agreed for me to carry on with both.

Having since done some research I have read that combo is apparently good for “treatment resistant depression” which I guess is what I had. I have lived with depression (at times crippling) for the first 48 years of my life. Finally I know how “normal” people feel. I’m not giving that up. I’ve been on them 3 years now and will fight anyone who tries to suggest I stop taking them. I deserve to be happy in my remaining years. And my DC deserve to have me around as long as possible, not secretly planning how soon I can get away with killing myself.

@Gingaaarghpussy

The good thing about antidepressants is that you can't get them over the counter or online. I do agree that anyone tries to bypass a doctor is a Fucking idiot. The only reason I changed my tablets is because after 25 years of being fucked in the head it's all in my notes and I also kinda know how my brain works.

Actually you can. Illegally. That’s the problem.

I feel sad with these threads. On the drug yes, the brain is telling you it's great. But it's a drug. Not a healed, naturally better you. I was on ssri's for two years. They did help but I came off them very gradually by myself and am so much happier and realer for it. I've actually worked on improving my life and my 'self' rather than glossing over it all with a pill. I agree for really tough times they help but it shouldn't be the emotional crutch if society.

Sertraline literally saved my life after having my daughter and having PND. I came off it after 6 months without any issues and haven’t looked back.

My anxiety which has been kept at bay massively in adulthood from CBT and talking therapies has come back with a vengeance during the pandemic and this thread has given me the push I needed to think about making an appointment and getting back on sertraline for a while.

I started taking it last year, depression symptoms went in a couple of days (crying every day, thinking about death etc). The anxiety got worse. GP put me up to 100mg and I now feel normal.

GP said I had to be on it for a min of a year and I had to continue with therapy but I feel very good and it was worth it going it to give myself a break.

I put off taking citalopram for years as I was worried about how it might make me feel. When I finally slipped so low I took it and it turned my life around.

I was on them for a few years and have occasionally gone back on them for a year or so to help with stressful periods.

the drug yes, the brain is telling you it's great. But it's a drug. Not a healed, naturally better you.

I was so depressed I couldn’t feel any love for my child. I wasn’t bonding with her, wasn’t eating, I couldn’t sleep at night and every minute felt like an hour. I knew I couldn’t do it any longer and fantasised about dying, all day, every day. Sertraline got me back on an even keel and allowed me to rebuild my life.

The drug didn’t feel amazing, I had some side effects and vastly prefer not being on medication.

When the depression subsided, after 3 weeks or so on sertraline I felt the love for my child that I should have done. I loved being a mum, I ate food and gained weight again. That very much was a healed me. That’s the nature of a chemical imbalance and using an SSRI to fix it. All the talking therapies in the world and nice walks wouldn’t have helped me.

When you need it, it gets you back to a point where you can pull yourself out of it.

It's changed my life. If I had taken it about 10 years earlier it probably would have saved my marriage

It's been my life saver!

Now 42, suffered with pure o, a form of ocd for 23 years, to a low dose of magic sertraline, and I'm good... I'm sad at the wasted years too!

I recommended a few friends to take it but all are resistant due to the stigma of taking tablets... more fool them, I feel great!

I haven't told anyone except one friend who is also taking it, and my husband.

Guess there is a stigma. Plus it's just no one else's business in my opinion.