Sertraline 14 days positive stories please

[Francis24]

How long before sertraline made you start to feel better depression? I've been taking it 14 days 25mg positive stories please

Hi @Firsttimehopful your cortisol levels are highest in the morning and so anxiety can be more intense then. 5.5 weeks on a 50mg is still early days but it did kick in for me before then. Speak to your GP on Thursday about taking it in the evening before bed to see if that helps the mornings. It only effective for 24hr so if you're taking it in the morning it might be waning when you wake up.

Thank you. Do you know if a brand change can affect you? I Started a different brand around 3 weeks ago so I'm not sure if it could've that?

Hi would you say my improvements are not enough after this length if time?

I highly doubt it's down to a brand change but I wouldn't know for sure. I think you should talk to your GP about what time you take the dose to offset the anxious mornings. It might be that you need to go up to the next dose of 75 or 100mg. My DH and my SIL needed 100mg and more to feel the benefit whereas I managed on 50mg. Everyone is so unique.

@Francis24 how are you?

I'm really confused! I put the post out earlier but my username is different? Firsttime hopeful? Instead of Francis24?

Yes I didn't know it was you!

It sounds like you're doing a bit better than when you originally posted...although i understand you are still struggling and that's really hard. I think ask the GP about increasing your dose again. By the time you see them you will have been on 50mg for as good as 6 weeks and that's a decent time.

Yes I think she may increase it to 75mg. Were you very up and down in the beginning? Also I have been taking a different brand for the last 3 weeks and I'm wondering if that has contributed to it. What dosage are you taking?

Yes I was mixed to begin with. I started on 25 and then went up to 50 and after a few weeks felt so much better. That's why I think you probably do need a higher dose as 5.5 weeks is a good length of time. Once you hit the sweet spot you will know. You just have to have faith and keep going until you get there. It will be worth it.

Hello 👋 I have been to see my doctor and she has put me upto 75mg. She wanted to do 100mg but I said I'd rather go to 75mg first and see how I get on. She can see an impressive but it's noy quite where she would like, but she feels with the improvements I am going in the right direction, albeit slowly! But she's not concerned for where I am, as my anxiety to begin with was off the scale x

This is progress OP. I know it is slower than you would like but it's progress. When are you seeing her next? Maybe try and seen her a bit sooner, say within 2 weeks...

She's wants to see me in 3 weeks, but she's going to get in touch next Thursday just to see how I am doing

It's Francis24 here. Well I have just taken my first dose of 75mg and I am scared! 😔 Anyone else been on 75mg and was it ok?

I've been on 50mg for 4 weeks and just started 75mg.
It's ok so far, I understand how scary it is, I've always been very sensitive to any drug.
I've no idea if going from 50 to 100 would have been ok so just decided to do 75 for a couple of weeks to minimise any possible problems.

I was on Prozac for 20 years, but after increasing from 20 to 40 and being totally anxious on the 40 for a few months I decided to ask about switching my antidepressant.

It's a really difficult thing as if you've been going through trauma and loss you don't know what's causing what.

Taking a leap is scary but I think just trying it slowly is the best way.
My doctor tries to increase things quicker than what I've read, so I decided to trust in my way.

Xx

Thank you so much for your reply, I really appreciate it! Yes my GP said most her patients start 50mg for a week or two then straight up up 100. She wanted me to do 100 but I said no, I'll try 75mg first and she was really supportive. I'm the same as you and worried about side effects. I started 25mg for 2 week, 50mg for 6 week, and it's now day 1 of 75mg. I hope you're starting to feel some relief now? Although it's early days for us both xx

I think going up to 75mg is less of a leap and will help you feel less anxious increasing the dose. You might need to go up to 100mg so be open minded if 75mg doesn't quite do it. You will get there.

Thank you. I'm hoping I feel more relief soon. Yesterday was better and today has been the best day (nearly all day) I have had, so there are improvements. I need to keep in mind I may feel rough on this increase for a little bit

One day at time.

Yes try to keep that in mind.
I'm on day 4 of 75mg. Seems to have lost my appetite a bit.
The less scared you are of this journey knowing others are also around I think the more calm you can be.
Xx

That's true. You feel less alone knowing how others have felt and gotten better. My appetite isn't as good today but I'm still eating. I don't feel nauseous, I just don't feel hungry. I hope you're feeling ok, other than the appetite xx

Hello is Frances24 here. In day 5 on 75mg. I'm doing ok. The mornings when I first wake up are bad still, is that normal? I guess I'm only 5 days into a dose increase and I know it takes times to level out. Did/ does anyone else feel really bad when they first wake up? Also I've been off work for the past 8 week, it''s the longest I've ever not worked, and I don't think it's helping now. Once I'm up, I start to feel better, but I have no routine at the moment

Apologies for quoting, just wasn’t sure you’d see response given username confusion.

You’ve hit the nail on the head regarding lack of routine. I really struggled (and still do) without a clear purpose to my day, whether at work or not. Medication is a useful and important part of treatment but it’s not the whole answer. Are you being offered any other support, behavioural or physical, as an adjunct to medication?

I’ve just withdrawn from sertraline (after 11 years) and it’s those non pharmacological interventions that I am now relying on. Your GP should be advising you of these types of resources as well.

Sometimes getting a night time routine established (same time every night you get lights on low, warm drink, warm bath / shower, bed, lights out then same up and out of bed next day - same time EVERY SINGLE night, whether you sleep or not) then helps you to create a daytime routine.

I am, of course, only speaking from my own experiences. But being able to have a checklist of things that help me function takes me out of my default panic state, where I attribute anything and everything to my funky brain or need for medication.

Things will get better, but they might do sooner with other interventions added in to the mix.

Thank you so much. My GP has suggested counselling which I am going to look into. I definitely need to be back at work next Monday, these 8 weeks have been so long. I have no routine on an evening either. Did sertraline help you?

Sertraline has helped me - I started at beginning of March swapping from another anti depressant. Routine is crucial for me - once I’m up I feel a bit better. Then a shower makes me feel a bit better than a cup of tea etc. I’m finding I’m getting better as each day goes past but the morning anxiety has been the last thing to go.