Sertraline and any other ADs support thread

[hathorinareddress]

Following on from a suggestion by LittleWhiteMice on a thread I have going on here, I am starting a support thread for anyone taking Sertraline or any other AD.

I started taking it yesterday after eventually plucking up the courage to go to the doc on Thursday.

I feel a bit weird but not too bad.

Hi Henwelly, welcome. :) Yes, you should go see your GP. You might need to up your dose (don't do this arbitrarily), or maybe switch to a different medication. Don't beat yourself up, you're ill. We're here for a hand hold or hug if needed.

Thanks, I will go just annoying as they were talking about cutting back and now im going to have to go through the whole I feel crap conversation again.

Also wanted to say my side effects went after a month, I take mine before bed.

I take mine before bed too, as I'm bf'ing DS so that's my biggest gap between feeds. Side effects have settled down though I have the odd blip and have a bad tummy.

Welcome, Henwelly. Sorry to hear you've had a setback. :(

Thanks, folks for the supportive comments. Have had a slightly better day today, although that's weird as I had F-all sleep. Baby has had a bug which made her v. restless and unhappy with a fever, and last night she was suffering with her teeth. When she finally settled (around half three in the morning) I got about an hour before I started coughing up a lung. Spent the early hours with my face buried in pillows, trying not to wake her. Yay.

Still, we got out for much of the day: took her to the creche where she managed an hour while I had a coffee, staring into space with poached eggs for eyes. Managed to get a couple of bits from the shops, including some nice baby books from a charity shop. Tiny achievements, but it does make a difference. Maybe I was too knackered & full of the cold today to get thinking negatively, too?!

Want to see this unicorn cake too, by the way! :o

Tiny achievements is the same as baby steps. And baby steps is how you beat depression. It can't be done in one giant leap. That day of yours sounds like a better one. :). One day at a time people, one day etc...

Here's hoping that everyone (inc respective children!) have better nights.

Xx

Poor you Loopy - 4 hours is a killer . Seeing counsellor today then play date at ours. Feeling stressed out as I told Dsis and DB re pnd (by email). Feel really vulnerable and suppose I'll have to talk to them about it today. Grr!

Morning Loopy, 4 hours is horrible. But, on a positive note you see a therapist. If this is your first appointment you might find it difficult to open up, so maybe writing down some key things is a good idea. Good luck.

Feeling vulnerable is normal Irish, at least they know why you can't see as far into the future as your DM's birthday. Hope the counselling goes ok and the playdate is fun.

Hallo
Can I join in? I started on sertraline (100mgs) yesterday - I have been on them before but not such a strong dose. Turned up at the GPs unable to speak, because of crying, which I have been doing all week on and off.

I have always suffered from depression intermittently, but relationship crisis is making everything feel awful.

I took a tablet then felt so nauseous I had to get off the bus and walk in the rain - and then had the wierd jaw clench thing.

I think I need to get signed off work - it's better to get signed off than to turn up and not deliver anything isn't it? Is it?! My career going into freefall is contributing to my depression, without a doubt

Hello Moocat and welcome to the thread. Yes, get signed off for a couple of weeks. By then the side effects should have stabilised and you can focus on starting to get better. Fingers crossed your relationship crisis resolves itself.

How long does it take to kick in - I remembered it being a fortnight or so, but the (fantastic) nurse practitioner I saw yesterday said it could be up to six weeks

Thanks Nicholas btw.

Hi everyone. Still plodding on! Yesterday and today have been good. MIL took two older ones to the museum, so met up with a friend and did a bit of shopping. Been out for lunch today, seem to be getting my appetite back which is encouraging after crying AGAIN at the doctor when I went for my review. I think being around a few friends has actually done me the world of good and made me feel a bit more normal again. had been hiding away for weeks. I agree that certain people should be avoided if they make you feel worse. In fact that would probably apply even without depression/anxiety!

Busty, have been on them for three weeks on wednesday so it's still early days.

moocat, I've been told the same about how long it takes to kick in. A friend of mine said more like 6 weeks to get back to 'normal'.

I am 4.5 weeks in just now and have had a couple of "good" days. By "good", I mean not as bad as the other days, but it's so long since i have been normal (my psychosis was in December) that I think I have forgotten what normal is!

I am finding it hard coping with the kids on my own, so my sister has been round a lot to keep me company which has really helped. I also find it hard to do anything when the kids are around, it's almost like i need all my concentration just to look after them. I found the school holidays hard with ds1 around all day winding ds2 up.

Housework and cooking has fallen by the wayside at the moment. I have decided that it won't kill us if we eat jars and packets for the meantime until I can face proper cooking again.

moocat Hello and welcome. I've heard the same although beneficial effects usually not 'felt' until around the three week mark.

deleting Awesome news. Glad you're feeling as thought the days are getting easier for you. I'll have been on mine four weeks on Sunday but already am feeling a little better, inch by inch.

Mawbroon I bloody LOVE the Broons. I used to read it as a kid. I have had to ask DP to take a weeks compassionate leave and next week off too - work have signed him off UNPAID until I feel capable enough of dealing with one child on my own so you have my sympathy, and its good that your sister can help. Bollocks to housework and cooking. I shoved a hoover around recently then had to have a little lie down. This is nothing to do with the PND though, just hate housework. Do what you can, not what you think you should, and accept what you can't change.

Real breakthrough day for me today, after nearly a month housebound I went to the shops, the bank, the doctors and the chemist. None of these places are too far from home but still, it was an achievement. Also took DD to the park for an hour or two which was lovely, in the sunshine. I am starting to feel much more positive. The GP has upped my dose to 100mg but am starting with 75mg initially as hate the idea of doubling my dose in one go.

Anyone know how increasing dosage works ? Do I need to wait another 2/3 weeks to feel effect of upping it ? Am hoping it'll make it work faster as we really can't afford for DP to be out of work at the moment.

I currently take 20mg escitalopram for anxiety. Are any other anti depressents better for anxiety specifically does anyone know?

Sorry, I don't know either krumbum, but welcome to the thread, and welcome to Moocat too.

Loopy , deleting and Busty- so glad to hear you're all feeling a bit better. I spoke to my brother for quite a while last night, which was really good, and he was really supportive and kind, which I didn't necessarily expect. I have a right old habit of not opening up tp my siblings and parents and then wonder why they don't support me, so this is v new behaviour for me, so I'm v glad it went well!

Here's to everyone having a good day. Loopy- I think you said your DHwas home this weekend, and that MIT be challenging, so good luck. Xxxx

Sorry- might be challenging

Irishexile, I'm glad your brother is being supportive. It's good to talk about it. I'm finding that the more people I talk to (bore) the more I realise just how common it is to have these feelings of anxiety, especially health anxiety when you have kids.

How's everyone's day? Went out with a friend for lunch and had a walk along the river. It made me realise I have actually come quite a long way since the last time we did this. I was in a right state, very distracted, anxious and couldn't eat without panicking and sweating! Today was so different. the anxiety is still there in the background, I can't totally stop thinking about my weight etc which is what I'm pinning my anxiety on now, but it's nowhere near as bad.

Am planning a trip with the kids tomorrow to watch the marathon for a bit. Not sure if they'll find it in the least bit exciting, but hopefully there will be someone dressed up as a canary to entertain us or a few minor celebs, who knows.

Nice day yesterday overall. Went to the gym in the morning (though got massively stressed getting all 4 of us out of the house), then took DC swimming. Home, then just pottered about till my Dad arrived about 6. We had a really nice dinner w him, but I'm awake now w indigestion fron Sertraline (almost like it hasn't dissolved in my throat iykwim?) and crying DS.