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.

[hathorinareddress]

I took dd swimming this afternoon which is a positive.

Still feeling a bit meh.

{{hugs}} everyone.

I have to go back to the doc tomorrow for my review appointment. Strangely nervous.

[keithlemonsbackdoors]

Oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck...

Side effects still going strong!

How is it fair that drugs to stop my panic attacks make me panic??

[foxeeroxee]

Hi everyone. Hope its ok for me to post here.
Have been on citalopram (20mg) for 2 months and really dont feel any different. still feel as hopeless and lost as ever.
Trying my hardest to keep things going for dc but spent most of last week dreading the school hols and now cant cope with all 3 in the house. feel awful writing that down...im terrible.
Have been on citalopram 2 previous occasions and it worked really well. i just dont understand why now,when i really really need it, it isnt working?!? So frustrated.
Sorry everyone for the self-indulgent rant.

[BustyDeLaGhetto]

deleting Well done for going to GPs and getting something done. Its a brave thing to do, trust me. Hope you're feeling alright.

hathor VERY positive I'd say. Swimming ? I applauded myself for crossing the road earlier! Well done.

Loopy Big hugs. If its too soon to see a more permenant improvement then just embrace the days when its good - and for when its bad remember that This Too Shall Pass. Sending you love.

keithlemon how long have you been taking the Setraline ? If you're taking it for anxiety (as I am) it may be worth calling the GP and getting some diazepam at a very low dose to tide you over. Thats what they've done for me - I can take up to three a day but have found a quarter of one (so 0.5mg, nothing really) can take the edge of the horrible feelings long enough to get the drugs into your system. For now try distracting yourself. I have watched several entrie comedy series since Sunday, and am watching a shit film tonight. Its the only way, I feel like sealing myself off from the world till I'm better.

foxeeroxee No apology needed, it sounds very difficult for you. It may be that you need to up the dose or to try a different AD - your tolerances change, I'm told so you may just need something new. Three children is a realy challenge, I have one and I'm really strugglnig with that at the moment! Please call your GP and discuss how you're feeling with them.

I felt better today, even to the point of getting out of bed and doing some painting and having lunch with DD. Been swamped with panic this evening though, and wasn't sure if I was going to be able to sit through dinner. I triggered it myself by worrying about DP going back to work next Tuesday and how I'd feel if I still felt like I do now, and what if the drugs aren't working and I have to look after her alone and have no-one to help me ? Its fucking horrible, and completely alien thinking to me who loves being with DD and has done nothing but for two years so is no challenge. Please tell me the drugs will work :)

[foxeeroxee]

Thanks for the positive words busty i suppose im just worried about having to go back to gp and have 'that' conversation again...get the feeling that gp is quite judgemental.and almost flippant but maybe im been paranoid.
By the way it is fucking horrible that fear and panic, i really do sympathise, and yes in these situations i think we're all praying that the drugs work.

[deleting]

keith - you must be exhausted. It might make you feel better to give yourself a deadline and if you're still feeling panicky then to go back to the dr. It's a difficult decision when you've come this far to stop and start on something else, but you may find you get a quicker result with another.

Thanks Busty, am starting to feel slightly more relaxed at the moment after the panic episode. It really shook me because it came out of nowhere, so was on edge for a while in case it happened again (still am really). Also know what you mean about crossing the road. We live on a very busy one and I was so nervous crossing this afternoon.

Hathor - you sound like you're over the worst if you can swim.

foxeeroxee - a friend of mine was on citalopram and said exactly the same. first time was great, but isn't working so well now (third time).

loopy - hope you're feeling a bit better tonight. Relationships are under so much pressure at these times, hopefully when you're back on top, it will all improve.

Am in bed (again). I think it's the way forward, just to sleep through as much of it as possible. So far I think i've got off lightly, but it's only day 1 and presumably it's an accumulative effect, so will be gnashing my teeth in a few days. Foolishly watched The Wicker Man last night and can't get it out of my head now, so guess what i'll be dreaming about? Nervous about tomorrow and how i'll feel. Should have done all this before the holidays so that we could have enjoyed them. Don't feel like doing anything with the kids and so far all they've done is watch telly

[deleting]

My neighbour has just dropped off a big box of macaroons to help me through the dark days!

[BustyDeLaGhetto]

deleting A week or so of TV won't harm your DC - think DD is in seventh heaven with DP looking after her. With me its all arts and crafts and lentils. This morning she had chocolate chip cookies for breakfast and watched CBeebies before going to the park for an ice cream and the pub for a fizzy water

Shes having the time of her life!

Good luck for tomorrow, remember it affects everyone differently so there is a chance you could breeze through it. And watch something nice before sleep!

[deleting]

haha, yes they love all that don't they. Kids are actually loving it, watching the telly and dvds, just that dd has got a holiday diary to fill in for school with pictures etc, so will have to make a few things up, or just take a pic of me in my dressing gown lying on the sofa with my tongue hanging out, covered in toys and dirty nappies or even maybe just stick in the leaflet from the meds showing all the side effects. Although I do remember one holiday we did loads of stuff, went out most days to museums, farms, visiting friends, seaside etc and in the car home on the first day back i asked ds1 what he'd done at school and he said they'd all had to draw a picture of one thing they'd done during the holidays. He'd drawn us in the supermarket!!

[BustyDeLaGhetto]

Hathor Good luck at docs today, hope all goes well. Worryingly, I dont have a follow up appointment so may make my own in a week or so.

Deleting - Arf at DS drawing you in the supermarket. I went out with a friend recently who has an older DS and they had the class bear with them. She was propping it up in trees and things taking photos and telling me how competitive it gets with parents taknig extreme photos of the bear. It sounds hilarious.

I am feeling weirdly better today. Not well enough to go into town or anything but after last nights three hour sustained anxiety anything is going to feel better. Making myself spinach and puy lentil soup for lunch and enjoying having house to myself. Still bracing myself to have another panic attack but I feel like such a veteran of them now its more a pain in the arse than anything else now. I have put on a pair of cobalt blue tights which is the most colour I have felt like wearing in ages. Recently I've had a face like a Goth at a funeral so something good is hopefully happening.

[deleting]

Anyone around today? Hopefully you've all turned the corner and are out celebrating or are you all under your duvets.
So much for the sleeping through it. Had a crap night, felt like someone was sitting on my chest, very tense and just couldn't relax. Slept in fits and start. Felt better when opened the blinds this morning as usual, even though it's overcast and a bit gloomy, but very shaky legs coming downstairs and still jittery and tense. Went against all instincts to take another this morning, can't give up after just one night! Felt like sticking my fingers down throat to get it out though when i thought about more of this. Spoke to a friend this morning who's been on these for a while and she reassured me it was all normal (as we all know, but i needed a voice to tell me). Trouble is, I get side effects from paracetamol, so this is wreaking havoc. Such a sensitive soul! Why are my kids so hysterical in the morning? I think they're getting cabin fever. So am I. Hope everyone's well.

[deleting]

x post busty. glad you're feeling better today after a night of it. Panic attacks are vile, you feel so helpless and just have to wait for it to stop. Sometimes I can manage to stop it before it starts, as soon as I feel that prickly feeling, I relax, breathe and sort of switch off and as long as I can nip it in the bud it doesn't develop. I'm a veteran of the panic attack too!

Good luck hathor. Hopefully you will come out feeling reassured.

[foxeeroxee]

Hello everyone.hope you are all having a positive day.
Im exhausted.Trailed the kids to the drs to collect more tablets and then to asda for some bits.When i got back i HAD to vac up haha the crumbs were driving me to distraction. so now im feeling quite sore due to the fact i got sterilised on monday (hooray!)
dd and ds1 have just had to be seperated for playing at 'been deers that bang heads' and ds2 has been sick so many times he ran out of vests this morn so i think today can be marked down as a bad one. wish id nver bothered getting out of bed.

[hathorinareddress]

How's everyone else?

Foxee - sounds like you're having a very stressful day.

I went to the doc and came out with more flipping tablets.

Meh.

[NicholasEggcupkozy]

Hi Deleting, your friend is right, things will get better.

Foxee your day does indeed sound a bit shit! :o Surely it can't get worse?

Busty, colour is good. Your positive attitude will be a great help I'm sure.

[deleting]

Foxee, sounds very exhausting indeed. I only made lunch, so very impressed.
Hathor, did you get more of the same?

Feeling fairly normal at the moment, although really tired from last night.

[hathorinareddress]

Deleting - no. Anti-biotics and ear spray for an ear infection

Anti-hists for hayfever and a nasal spray

Different anti-spasm tablets for my shoulder

Iron

[WorldOfMeh]

Hello, another one here. Saw my doc this morning and am starting on Sertraline tonight. So... clenchy jaw and weird spacyness to look forward to, then?

[NicholasEggcupkozy]

Welcome WorldOfMeh. You might be best off leaving starting till the morning. See upthread for reasons. Try not to worry too much about the side effects, not everybody gets them all. You never know how these things will affect you until you take them. Don't forget, this is a place to come for support if and when you require it. :)

[foxeeroxee]

Well....its finally bedtime!!!

Its been a noisy, stressful but i think i bring it on myself....after dinner i decided id get some crafty stuff out for dd and ds1 in the hope they would be quiet. fat chance!!! Glue,glitter and sick (dont ask!) everywhere.
I really dont know why i seem to have an uncontrollable burst of energy that i have to get out of my system and then when whatever i plan goes tits up,im beside myself with self loathing and thoughts of why do i bother. but i cant help myself iyswim?
loopy glad to hear im not the only person who sometimes refers to dc as a tribe!
deleting have you eaten all the macaroons
Was just wondering how long have other posters been on their medication? Is it a recent thing or an ongoing problem?

[orangeandlemons]

Can I join too?

3 weeks for me this coming Fiday, am on it for anxiety. Had the worst ever anxiety last week on day 14. Mood definitely better, but still got very high levels of anxiety, but sort of don't care. I really don't understand this. Is this a side effect that will go away? Feel much calmer on one level, but much more anxious on another. Am hyper sensitive to all medications. This is my 4th AD in a row, and the only one I have been able to persevere with.

Hope the rest of you are bearing up