To be scared of starting setraline

FishersGate · 2024-02-13T08:28:37+00:00

Be kind. I have had the last year from hell topped in January with some major health investigations, perimenopausal HRT was not helping. Chronic health condition, two young kids and my Dsis was diagnosed with cervical cancer last week. My work are useless more my boss. Last week finally broke down to GP who prescribed setraline however I haven't yet started due to being terrified of side effects. Any postitive experiences. Is morning better to start than evening ?

CeratopsofthePharoahs · 13/02/2024 08:40

Don't make the mistake I did and start on too high a dose! Felt like my head was bobbing around the ceiling like a lost helium balloon!
My own experience is that morning is better than evening as it seemed to give my brain a boost, like a caffeine hit about an hour after taking them until I got used to them. Perhaps start taking them when you've got a couple of days with nothing to do, if that's possible.

The first thing I noticed was the effect on my anxiety. I was able to relax properly for the first time in years. Took quite a bit longer to affect my general mood, but got there in the end.

Kelly51 · 13/02/2024 08:50

My eldest DD has this for her severe anxiety, the first two weeks she was a bit wobbly, constipation for a few days but all in all a total life saver, on an even keel now.

Original poster

FishersGate · 13/02/2024 08:55

CeratopsofthePharoahs · 13/02/2024 08:40

Don't make the mistake I did and start on too high a dose! Felt like my head was bobbing around the ceiling like a lost helium balloon!
My own experience is that morning is better than evening as it seemed to give my brain a boost, like a caffeine hit about an hour after taking them until I got used to them. Perhaps start taking them when you've got a couple of days with nothing to do, if that's possible.

The first thing I noticed was the effect on my anxiety. I was able to relax properly for the first time in years. Took quite a bit longer to affect my general mood, but got there in the end.

Thank you been started on 50 a day. Unfortunately with half term got a few things on and I hate my head feeling dizzy etc as it is but I know it will hopefully benefit me

OP posts:

NamechangingNelly24 · 13/02/2024 08:56

It saved my life, honestly. I take it at night before bed. For the first few days it made me feel like I was on speed, really jittery and my anxiety was awful, that had usually worn off by around lunch time. But that stopped after a few days, and it really rather quickly got me to a place of being able to cope with life again. Sometimes it can keep you awake, but it never did for me so I've always stuck to taking it before bed.

Be fully prepared for a rough few days, but know that it will get better soon 🤍

TheGoddessFreyja · 13/02/2024 09:01

Hey lovely,

I was on sertraline for about a year and a half as was experiencing a bout of depression and it was the best thing I did for me at the time.

The first couple of weeks are the hardest as it takes a while for them to start working. You might feel a little lightheaded and floaty (kind of as if you aren't totally here) but once they start working they make the world of difference.

They helped me actually manage to get on with my days and I eventually felt normal. I couldn't get through the day without bursting into tears before I was on them and I felt so low.

I eventually came off them with advice from my Dr (you need to taper them off slowly - don't come off them straight away!)

My only thing to add with taking them is be careful in the summer when it gets hot as you may find you can't regulate your temperature as well. Also they advise to stay away from Grapefruit - random lol.

You are doing the right thing for you by giving these a go 😊

TheGoddessFreyja · 13/02/2024 09:02

Also I took them in the evening before bed each night 😊

bted · 13/02/2024 09:05

Hi

I'm on 50mg, the first couple of weeks were really tough, I've never had depression, but that sent me into depression - couldn't get out of bed stuff.

After that, brilliant, I feel so much better in myself, and wish I'd done it years ago.

You might get no side effects, but if you have people who can help, please make them aware that you've started and in the worst case might need a bit of help.

I'm not trying to scare you, just make you aware of stuff, despite a couple of tough weeks, I'd choose to do it all over again, its changed my life

MindHowYouGoes · 13/02/2024 09:06

They disrupted my sleep when I took them in the evening so I take them in the morning. The side effects are only temporary - you just have to ride them out (within reason of course!) they might be horrible but the alternatives for me were worse. The biggest concern for me was that my depression would get worse and my self harm thoughts would increase so I briefed my DH on things to look out for to help keep an eye on my moods and spoke to him about how I was feeling

artfuldodgerjack · 13/02/2024 09:08

I was on sertraline for almost a year. Honestly, it saved me. The side effects weren't as bad as the doctor warned me about. I think it was probably a worse case scenario... they also said it could take a while to start working, but for me it was instant.

hookiewookie29 · 13/02/2024 09:14

My daughter started on it 4 weeks ago.
She's a changed person! The change in her is amazing! She's calmer,got more motivation, and is just happier! She started on a very low dose for 2 weeks, and it's just been increased slightly. After months and months of her struggling with her mental health, and sometimes not being very nice to be around, I feel like I've got her back x

KreedKafer · 13/02/2024 09:20

Side effects are minimal for most people and rarely last longer than a couple of weeks. I had some nausea (not terrible - it wasn’t constant and I was never sick) and very intense and vivid dreams. The side effects pretty much disappeared after two or three weeks.

I take mine at night but only because that’s when it’s convenient for me.

JinxandBinx · 13/02/2024 09:49

I started on sertraline about 18 months ago, initially started on 50mg then increased to 100mg about 6 months later. Haven’t really experienced any side-effects, but I had some awful ones on citalopram which is why I was swapped. Sertraline allows me to function at my normal, which is so refreshing!! I’m so much better mentally both at work and home. I had pretty severe health anxiety when I was put on them, do you think this could potentially be a contributing factor as to why you’re scared to take them?

scorpiogirly · 13/02/2024 09:53

I remember when I started Sertraline, the only real side effect I had was nausea to the point all I could manage to eat was fruit.

Just start them. It seems to be the only way forward at this point and the sooner you start them the sooner you will start to feel better.

AwfulSomething · 13/02/2024 09:55

I don’t want to put you off something that could really help but they made me very flat, unmotivated, and dramatically increased my appetite. I finally got off it after a couple of years but it wasn’t easy. My appetite has dropped back to normal and the weight gain is finally dropping off. In my case I need balanced HRT and not antidepressants but the GP wasn’t particularly knowledgeable. A specialist put me on the right path.

Daylightsavingscrime · 13/02/2024 10:00

I was at my wits end when I started Sertraline. I couldn’t have given a monkeys about side-effects. It was either that of hitting the bottle lol.

But in terms of what I actually experienced I was very lightheaded the first 2 days. I felt a bit “spaced” but after that nothing really. No nausea.

Started on 50mg,

Quitelikeit · 13/02/2024 10:05

When life gets to a point that you feel the way you do then please take them even if it’s for a few months only.

What they will do is dissipate your negative feelings. They come and they disappear in a flash. Then they stop coming at all.

Yes you might feel flat and a touch unmotivated but you also might not.

Feeling a bit flat is better than feeling that you are going crazy! Trust me.

As others have said take them in the morning or at night - see what works best then take them at the same time each day.

If they give you insomnia then bam take them in the morning and you’ll have a nice boost of energy!

Cyclebabble · 13/02/2024 10:31

DH on setraline as part of wider package of therapy to deal with dementia symptoms. Took a bit of adjusting to but no real problems after week 2. Seems to work well.

Caerulea · 13/02/2024 10:47

You'll absolutely not regret getting through those first weeks, I promise. Not everyone gets the side effects, I did get some & was especially worried about the dizziness as it triggers my panic. I didn't get that one though.

For me -

First day of taking - about 2 in the afternoon I had diarrhea that I thought was a pump - it was not 😂. I was standing outside my house talking to my father in law & my sneaky fart turned into a something horrific. So I'd take it on a day you're home & not out & about just in case.

Loss of appetite for about a month.

Awful sleep for a month or so (I sleep badly anyway)

Bout of night sweats a few months in (investigated by the Dr's & all fine. Obvs never ignore that though)

That was about it. About 4 weeks in I noticed a real change in myself, far less anxiety, palpitations etc.

For me, I can miss 48hrs max of a dose (50mg) before I start feeling very very weird. So don't miss them (my gp pharmacy can take over a week to fill prescriptions). The first tablet after that will give me diarrhea again.

The reason for not having grapefruit is due to it affecting the absorption in the intestines, so really do avoid it.

Take it around the same time every day & better in the morning then at night.

So you're BU but also NOT BU too, it's totally understandable 😊

Original poster

FishersGate · 13/02/2024 12:37

Caerulea · 13/02/2024 10:47

You'll absolutely not regret getting through those first weeks, I promise. Not everyone gets the side effects, I did get some & was especially worried about the dizziness as it triggers my panic. I didn't get that one though.

For me -

First day of taking - about 2 in the afternoon I had diarrhea that I thought was a pump - it was not 😂. I was standing outside my house talking to my father in law & my sneaky fart turned into a something horrific. So I'd take it on a day you're home & not out & about just in case.

Loss of appetite for about a month.

Awful sleep for a month or so (I sleep badly anyway)

Bout of night sweats a few months in (investigated by the Dr's & all fine. Obvs never ignore that though)

That was about it. About 4 weeks in I noticed a real change in myself, far less anxiety, palpitations etc.

For me, I can miss 48hrs max of a dose (50mg) before I start feeling very very weird. So don't miss them (my gp pharmacy can take over a week to fill prescriptions). The first tablet after that will give me diarrhea again.

The reason for not having grapefruit is due to it affecting the absorption in the intestines, so really do avoid it.

Take it around the same time every day & better in the morning then at night.

So you're BU but also NOT BU too, it's totally understandable 😊

Thank you this is reassuring

OP posts:

CanaryMary · 13/02/2024 12:46

I’d personally start on a night then hopefully sleep through the worst effects I had awful side effects
id also break into half and start on half a tablet for a week or two then increase to full 50mg
also the first week is the worst imo and actually the days 2 or 3 after starting were horrendous for a couple of days seemed ok by day 7

Supernova23 · 13/02/2024 12:47

Sertraline changed my life. Still on it now.

Bondibeechtree · 13/02/2024 12:51

My friend used to take this. She was a different person (in a good way) when she was on it. Without it, she wasn't coping with even the slightest of life's hiccups let alone the big stuff. On it, she's funny, kind and back to her old self. She found the first and last couple of weeks pretty tough but it was definitely worth it for her. She needs to go back on it and I really hope for her sake that she does.