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Sertraline and any other ADs support thread

990 replies

hathorinareddress · 31/03/2012 11:13

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.

OP posts:
Loopymumsy · 06/04/2012 21:05

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BustyDeLaGhetto · 06/04/2012 21:06

Hi Pozzled and welcome! I've been taking Sertaline (realised I have been calling it Setraline all through the thread!) for six days now and hope to see some real improvements soon.

Like you, I was very anxious about taking them, and really didn't want to need to take anti depressants but as I mentioned upthread an imbalance in your body is not a weakness in your mind, so don't feel as though you are 'failing' or 'giving in'. If you could just snap out of it, I'm sure you would have by now. Sometimes things are a little more complicated.

MoodGym and any other CBT type thinking is really useful and is a great tool when used with ADs, so definitely keep up with that. As Nicholas says, and as you can read from our experiences here everyone reacts to them differently so try not to anticipate anything with the side effects and know that you'll be grand. Good luck and keep posting!

NicholasEggcupkozy · 06/04/2012 21:06

Hello Pozzled and welcome. :) Your first step was phoning your GP to make an appointment. That is your own sub-conscious talking bollocks at you yes. It's natural to feel nervous about taking these meds, mostly, IMO, due to the unfair stigma that still surrounds mental illness. When people see that the brain gets poorly too and sometimes needs medicine to help it get better is surely not far away.

I'm glad you've found this thread helpful. And it's great that you're using MoodGym. Using your online methods in conjunction with your meds will help you get better. Don't forget, we're here if you get wobbly.

NicholasEggcupkozy · 06/04/2012 21:07

Busty said it better than me! :o

kerstina · 06/04/2012 21:13

Hello Pozzled Smile If you are interested in reading self help books I am reading Dont sweat the small stuff and am finding it helpful in my thinking.
Am really in two minds about carrying on with the anti depressant medicine i started to take a month ago it worked years ago but now i keep getting headaches and other side effects so I am going to make more of an effort to try and raise my serotinin levels naturally. I know easier said than done and probably not what this thread is about.
Good luck with the sertraline that is supposed to be one of the gentler ones I think which is good. There are lots of people on this thread who usually have great advice and words of encouragement and am sure they will be along soon . Thanks to people who responded too my post earlier in this thread.

deleting · 06/04/2012 22:33

Thanks nicholas, i don't want to push my luck but also feel i could easily wallow in this. Need to find the right balance. I think a walk sans kids so i can just relax (and run home if need be!)

Hi pozzled. It's difficult to know what to do isn't it. Do you try to sort it out without meds / hope it will go away and risk missing out and not enjoying your new baby or take the plunge and try the meds. I had pnd with dd and basically left it to fester and now i'm having to deal it and it's a more complicated prob, so i think it's good if you can nip it in the bud.

Not sure what's going on with me. Anxiety has pretty much gone (don't want to talk too soon though) and have entered a sort of don't give a monkeys stage with a slight headache. Can,t be arsed to move off sofa and have no motivation to do anything. Am wondering if it's just me taking advantage of being on light duties (quite capable of that!) or what. Prob just knackered.

Am going for a doze. Hope everyone gets a good night's sleep.

NicholasEggcupkozy · 06/04/2012 23:32

Sleep well Deleting. That's what I'm saying, don't push things, just keep doing what you're doing. Go out tomorrow on your own for ten minutes or so. Like I said upthread PND is evil, the cruelest of illnesses.

Kerstina, do what you think is best for you. Before you dismiss the ADs please have a word with your GP about safe ways to come off them. Good luck.

WorldOfMeh · 07/04/2012 00:12

Just to say, thanks everyone. Failing to go to bed early like I promised myself, but have a 'day off' tomorrow, so maybe I can get a snooze during the day instead.

Funny you mention Mood Gym. I came across it when living in Australia years ago, and used to tell folk about it a lot (did CBT at the time as well). Had forgotten about it.

Hope to be more 'present' soon. It has been a fuzzy day.

Night!

Loopymumsy · 07/04/2012 05:53

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WorldOfMeh · 07/04/2012 07:12

Glad you got some sleep Loopy. Sorry you feel like pants. :(

Hope you get some sleep later on when you get back.

Have had a rubbish night with my daughter, probably a couple of hours sleep in total! Just waiting for her dad to get his arse out of bed and take over for the day... so luckily I will be going back to bed. Getting my hair cut later today, so hooray for that...

deleting · 07/04/2012 09:01

Rubbish night here too. Woke up with strange panic attack that was only in my head, no racing pulse or anxious feeling in chest, just mind racing. Difficult to describe. Opened window a bit and stood looking outside at the street to calm down. Tense and anxious. Boo

BustyDeLaGhetto · 07/04/2012 09:27

Ack Rubbish night for me too. Had a three hour sustained anxiety attack last night - not sure if part of it is the actual panic disorder or the ADs at work. Finally fell asleep then DD woke at 5:30am, and I awoke anxious and clammy. Just had to ask DP not to go out today. I hate this. I hate it. I'm 35 years old and am having to get people to babysit me. Just about to call my ma who lives over 300 miles away to see if she can come next week when DP back at work, as don't think can cope alone.

Its horrible. I feel like I'm thinking about nothing else and just feel so on the verge of losing control or going mad. I can't bear to be around DD as feel so panicky and foggy, I hate it. I tried to remember who I used to be earlier and the things I used to enjoy and I couldn't do it. I can't remember. :(

deleting · 07/04/2012 09:54

Oh busty, i know exactly how you feel. Mornings are the worst for me usually, i hate that feeling of waking up anxious. I was looking on my phone the other day at photos of when my life was normal. It wasn't actually that long ago but feels like a lifetime. I feel shit today as well, thought i might be improving because yesterday was fairly good. Hate the fact i can't fight it off, in this weird limbo. Hope your day improves.

keithlemonsbackdoors · 07/04/2012 15:46

I'm in a pretty much constant state of panic still, really thought I'd be feeling better by now! Thanks for the drugs info but the health centre's shut til Tuesday now so I think i'll just have to sit it out...

Loopymumsy · 07/04/2012 15:51

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deleting · 07/04/2012 16:18

Keith (sad).
Have JUST started to calm down! My mum is coming on train. she lives 200 miles away. I'm 41 and need my mummy. Feeling very teary.

deleting · 07/04/2012 16:22

Sorry keith. The sad smiley didn't work. Thanks loopy, looking forward to that. How was work?

BustyDeLaGhetto · 07/04/2012 16:23

Keith Me too. :( I have just taken another quarter of Diaz and come for a lie down. My heart is pounding. Think this is my panic disorder excerbated by the ADs, and I feel so helpless. Hope you are coping alright. Distraction, distraction, distraction!

deleting My mum is coming tomorrow too. I burst into tears on the phone to her this morning and asked her to come and help me.

deleting · 07/04/2012 16:36

Busty, that's nice that she's coming.

WorldOfMeh · 07/04/2012 16:46

Hi everyone. Second day in, and although it may not just be the meds (I had little sleep last night) and feeling very jittery and sick and out of it. I think this is the same as a lot of you have reported?

Does it take long to pass? A bit concerned about my ability to look after my daughter properly if this is going to last for any length of time...

mumtothreeeeeeeee · 07/04/2012 18:49

Hi everyone, wondered if I could join? I started sertraline last night and had an awful night. Was sick, upset tummy, didn't sleep all night, numb hands for a bit plus felt anxious. Really scared about taking it tonight, I might give up I'm not sure what to do. I've been in bed all day, partly because I'm so fed up but also because I feel so light headed from not eating much today. I've got no appetite. I don't know whether these side effects will settle down or if I'm really not suited to it.

How lovely that some of your mums are coming down. I am on the verge of asking mine to do the same. Would have to tell her everything though, think she'd be very upset :(

Loopymumsy · 07/04/2012 19:10

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deleting · 07/04/2012 22:03

Hi Worldofmeh. I'm day 4 and still feeling it. Not sure what's me and what's meds though.

Mumtothreeeee. Hi, i was advised to take it in the morning too. Try to give it a bit longer, we're all hoping it gets better!!

Loopy. Sorry to hear you've fallen out with your mum.

WorldOfMeh · 07/04/2012 22:44

Thanks, deleting. Fingers crossed it starts getting better, then, eh? I don't feel quite so bad now I've had a veg out for a few hours. Don't want to be a blob, but maybe it's best to relax a bit more. Was rushing about a bit today.

Loopy- so sorry. Do you think your Mum would want to be there for you now, if you would let her? Obviously I don't know the circumstances of your fall-out, or what she's like. But if you miss her, and you aren't still angry with her, would it be possible to send her a 'Late Mother's Day' card or something?

mumtothreeeeeeeee · 08/04/2012 02:40

Anyone else wide awake? Argh! If I takevthem in the morning, should I take it before or after breakfast?