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.

Hello Orange, welcome. It might be a good idea to talk to your GP and get your dosage reviewed, as you might need to be on a higher one. Don't alter your dosage unilaterally (this is for all of you), always discuss it with your doctor.

Foxee, those feelings of self loathing are self defeating. You can overcome it, you need new tools to help you. I'll have a little look round, see if I can find owt.

Hi orange good advice re talking to the gp again....though im trying to find the balls to go do this myself!
Thanks nicholas i realise the thoughts i have are helping no-one least of all my dc,oh and myself. Any new tools to help would be greatly appreciated.

Have had a bit of a dig, is this link any help?

Also, have a think about CBT, that might be able to help.

Thanks for the link nicholas havent read all of it yet but the first section really spoke volumes to me and some things seem to add up iyswim.
Cbt? Whats that entail? Have had counselling and been under a cpn bout 7/8 yeard ago but found it really hard going. dont think i was quite ready to spill my thoughts and feelings at that point.

Intro to CBT. There's an Australian site that does an online version, but I can't remember what it's called. There's a slim chance I bookmarked it.

Right. Have had another look round and can't find that site. It was linked to an Australian University. Anyway, one thing I've found out is CBT is tailored to you and you personal condition. There are different techniques for treating anxiety, ocd, depression etc. As I have very low level ocd and anxiety it may even be of use to me. :)

Busty I would LOVE some diazipam but I'm breastfeeding so I'm pretty sure I can't have any! So sick of it now, the only way to hold off the panic is to stay in my flat on my own (DH's presence is still setting me off, it's gonna be a long weekend...) On the plus side, I'm sleeping ok now (aside from DS's 4am wake up calls anyway).

Hello worldofmeh I've been taking mine at night and seem to be sleeping thru the teeth-grindy sickyness. Good luck, whatever time you decide to take it!

Thanks for the links...got some bedtime reading
Think im finally in a place where i want to be proactive in finding ways beyond ads that can help resolve the feelings i have.
Im also low level ocd and with ongoing problems with depression/pnd, i think i would definitly need some thing 'tailored' to suit!
Hope everyone has a good night...i have reading to do

MoodGym is the one Mary, thanks for that! :o I'm going to bookmark the fuck out of that site now :o

I was going to say MoodGym - I think I found out about it on MN as well. I echo CBT - it really gives you useful tools to manage your way of negative thinking, and I found it very grounding. Also agree that you may need to discuss your dose with your GP oranges, as there may be something you can do about your anxiety levels.

foxee Thinking about yourself in a positive way is very difficult if you're not used to doing it, I really struggled at first. It sounds like you're having a very stressful time so make sure you give yourself a nice treat tonight - a bath or a movie or whatever - and congratulate yourself on getting through.

keithlemon I have been in the flat now since last Saturday bar trips to the shop. Determined to get out tomorrow though, even if just to park and then scuttle home again. I am really concerned about my agoraphobic tendancies and while I am enjoying shutting myself away in my case it isn't very healthy. Are you still struggling with the panic ? I'm finding it hard to tell what is 'me' and what is the side effects. Today I noticed an improvement when I cut out caffine (Which is hard for me as I would mainline decent coffee if I could) and had a few cups of camomile tea instead. Dull but neccessary, maybe worth a try ?

WorldofMeh Welcome, and well done! I have a found this thread really helpful and supportive so make sure you use it if you need it.

deleting How are you finding it ? Hope you're alright and getting stuck into your macaroons. I have snuffled my way through more Green&Blacks in the last five days then at any other point in my life!

hathor You poor thing. Hayfever sucks, you must be sick of taking all these pills.

Today is my 5th day and I have to say I have noticed an improvement - an uplift in my mood and interest in things - I even joined in with a game of hide and seek with DD earlier, and I feel generally a bit more positive. Especially now side effects seem to be weakening. Also didnt take any Diazepam today so that may have helped.

I have a question; how can I expect to feel when the meds kick in ? I realise that certain factors - dosage, tolerance, etc - can affect this but in my case generally is it just a general improvement in mood ? A lessening of anxiety (Please!!) ? A nice buzz ? I'm swinging between wild optimism about how much better I might feel and a bit gloomy that Im going to be overcoming and struggling with fucking Panic for the rest of my life.

Just typed out a long post and Mumsnet went offline so I lost it.

Right. Here goes. Busty, re your question: read the first sentence of your previous paragraph. In fact, read the whole paragraph. You may be one of those for whom they kick in early.

Foxee, have a look at CBT tomorrow on Mary's link.

Loopy, reading that link I would say from my layman's position that Diazepam is a no due to its long half life (how long it takes to metabolise, I think) but Lorezepam is ok due to its short half life.

Hello again, folks- and thanks for the welcome.

Have just taken the first tablet (I waited, on your advice, Nicholas - thanks). Only ten minutes ago, and I feel weird but am sure it's just anticipatory. Haven't been sleeping well as I have a bad cough, so that's more than enough to explain feeling 'out of it'. Will just mainline coffee today. Coffee is my friend. :)

Hi again World, the feeling you're getting is most likely your mind playing tricks. Not everybody gets the bad side effects. As I said, you won't know how it's going to affect you till you take it. Are you on these for anxiety?

Also, there were reasons for suggesting taking the meds in the morning. A couple of other posters found it hard to sleep on these, but did ok if they took them early on. Another thing: try to take them at roughly the same time every day.

If you still get feelings of anxiety after a couple of weeks as Oranges does, speak to your GP about adjusting the dose. This goes for feeling too spaced out too. Do not adjust the dose without medical advice In the short term, think about using Diazepam or similar as an extra aid.

You can all do this. Take the meds, and when ready, click on mine and Maryz's links to access proper online help.

Have a good Easter, leave some chocolate for me. :)

On them for depression/PND. :)

Morning all, just went to the park for coffee with DP and DD - first trip out the house in 5 days. Was lovely and sunny and I felt okay - bit spacey, bit anxious but okay. DP taken DD to her grandads today so am taking advantage of that and watching a film with a family sized bag of Kettle Chips. Hope everyone feelng okay this morning.

Nicholas Thanks for your help - I was starting to worry that I might not notice any discernable difference in my anxiety and I hate the thought of living like this.

Too many 'okay's in that paragraph!

Well done for getting outside Busty, and you are welcome. Keep doing what you're doing, it appears to be working, and take things at your own pace.

You have my sympathy World, PND is the cruellest of illnesses. To suffer at a time you should be happy is really vile. You've made a start now to cure your brain and get you back to being you. :)

Hi all, well done world of meh, if you do feel strange and a bit anxious remember it's normal at first, so don't panic about the panic.

Busty, well done for getting to the park. Of course you'll feel spaced out after being in the house for 5 days. I think that would happen even without meds. Four walls to wide open space.

Oops i took diazepam when breastfeeding a couple of times. Have finished now though. (bfeeding) Do you all have 5 mgs?

Yesterday was a good day really. After a lot of panic in the morning about taking another one, from about 11am i was relaxed. Actually a little bit too relaxed, was slightly zombified, but was preferable. Had a fairly good night's sleep and woke up feeling better than i have done for ages. Dp took kids to pils so had a quiet day reading and watching telly. Had some slight anxiety about an hour ago when kids came back (surprise surprise), but was snapped out of it by ds2 handing me what looked like a stone. I took it wondering where he'd got it from. After studying it, realised it was a small poop! He's potty training and keeps taking his nappy off.

I'm still thinking about the things that make me anxious but not getting anxious which is weird. I know it's still bothering me but am sort of numb. Still getting anxious about mealtimes, but not so much and have lost dry mouth and actually felt slightly hungry today. Am going to try outside tomorrow, even if it's just walking round the block. Got to start living again, need to visit parents on train and just get enjoying holidays with kids, although the thought of nat hist and science museum with anxiety probs is making me feel clammy.

Genuine :o @ your DS2 handing you a poo! As for the numb feeling thing, that is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about. Yes to getting out, ok it will feel weird after being cooped up, but I'm willing to bet you'll enjoy a stroll either with or without your kids.

Just take things at your own pace, don't let yourself be rushed into anything you're not ready for. If you can't do the museums, then don't. Of course, you could well be feeling well enough to go, only you will know that.

To all of you: keep buggering on.

Hi everyone. I hope you don't mind if I join. I've been prescribed sertraline for pnd, haven't started yet but I plan to take the first one in the morning.

I could really do with some encouragement because I feel very nervous/unsure about taking them. I feel like I should be able to snap out of it, and that I should be able to cope with life if I just worked a bit harder. Does/did anyone else feel the same? Logically I know it's the depression talking but it's hard to get past it.

I'm finding this thread very useful for knowing what to expect, and I've also been doing the MoodGym exercises, which are helping me to see how messed up my thinking has been. So at least now I feel like I'm taking the first steps.