Sertraline buddies - support for anybody taking Sertraline

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I eventually went to docs yesterday, been really suffering with depression. Is it possible the medication can result in side effects straight away? I'm feeling sick and no appetite today, however feeling better, clearer... I'm on 50 mg the lowest dose.. Anyone else share their experience please?

The headache hasn't been as bad today, just starting now really. But it has been cooler too.

Kazza. Glad it's not just me. If I get too worn out from work etc I get down and it really lowers my mood and then the anxiety kicks in. It's similar if I get very hungry as well. And it's shocking how quickly it can happen.

Journey. The nausea will fade I promise you.

susie I get really anxious if under pressure. Part of my job is to provide holiday and sickness cover and my boss expects everything to be ready immediately. When I get anxious my heart rate speeds right up and I feel panicky and then get chest pains. I'm trying to get to grips with it and trying to stay calm and tell him to back off. But I'm struggling.

Hi Kazza - thanks, day was ok thanks. Work was busy which is good because I have less time to think. I did feel anxious though - both times when I was put on the spot. Once by a colleague who wanted an instant answer about a project for tomorrow (I didn't have the answer), once when a manager was complaining about a problem apparently made by our team. I find it hard to stay calm.

Sorry your job sounds really hard with your colleague being off. Hope you manage ok. Doing your best is all you can do.

susie I agree about being hungry. That is a big trigger for me - as well as being tired. I felt better after lunch today. I'm trying to eat better breakfasts but snack too much. I'm going to ask for an anaemia test the next time I go to GP.

Bracing myself for kids maybe still awake when I get home. I'm so tired I could sleep standing up!!

Yes it's better when work is busy, the day passes quicker too.

Upping to 100mg tomorrow after 75mg ....

Let's see if I continue to shit through the eye of a needle!!!

Sorry TMI .....

Anyone else upping to 100mg recently/soon??

I should increase my dose soon, but still have this awful headache, so might wait a few more days.

I think I am calmer at work than I have been, given the current situation and considering my colleague who is there is going to pieces and also ill, so could be off any day now too. Also dh is struggling with stress in his new job and just wants to quit it.

Hope everyone's ok? Journey, is your stomach settling a bit?

I was surprised at how calm I stayed at work yesterday. I think the tablets are finally having some effect Also I have a feeling the fact that my (much more experienced) colleaguis going to pieces is making me feel a bit superior and helping me stay calm - I've got a what will be, will be attitude at the moment. We can only work as much as we can and what doesn't get done won't get done. As our boss is lazy and always out of the office dead on time (if he's in at all!), no one will expect us to do overtime.

Sorry for rambling on, it's just I have struggled so much with the stress of being back at work recently.

colleague is going to pieces

Hi kazza - sorry your work is still stressful. Good that you are staying calm though. I'm feeling the same - "trying my best" but not feeling as much like the end of the world when things go wrong. Thank you, tablets :-)

My work day was much better today. I was terrified yesterday - up till 1am - because I had an appraisal and I felt unprepared. But it went really well!

Are we married to the same DH? Mine wants to quit his job too! It doesn't help to have that added stress at home, does it?

Journey and others - hope you are doing ok. I will be reviewing my dose in a few weeks - may stay on 50mg or increase to 75mg?

Hi all

Yes ok, still nausea! But I am prepared for the fact they an take a good 6-8 weeks to settle in & as my dose has been increased I suppose it's extended if that makes sense.

Just one question I have .... what time of day do you take your pills? Is there a "better" time of day to take them or again does it differ how we all react to medication? I get a huge afternoon slump, tiredness. Tricky when one has a demanding 7 month old (lone parent)

Glad you are all doing ok, so pleased we have this thread, therapy in itself I think!!

Have a good day all, happy, positive thoughts

Ps ... Tell you one thing, don't drink on these god damn things ... woah did I feel mentally ROUGH for days (and pre baby I was one hell of a party girl!!!)

Hi Journey - good luck with the higher dose :-)

I take mine in the morning, when I am leaving the house. I find it hard to remember (forgetful/tired) so it helps to link the tablet to something I'm doing anyway. I was warned the tablets could make you wakeful, so to avoid taking them in the evening?

Afternoon tiredness - could be regular "parent tiredness" or also low mood. I hate any time after 3 pm as I am worn out and ready for bed! Food helps - healthy is good but I tend to have chocolate...

Thanks for the advice about drinking. I've stopped completely - which I hope will help my mood anyway. Didn't drink much but eg bottle of wine with DH on weekend. Always felt worse the next day - more shouty and irritable.

I'm glad we have this thread too

carrots, glad your appraisal went well. Things like that keep me awake at night too

My dh was out of work over ten months, started his new job nearly 2 months ago and hates it. It's very stressful and he felt really ill last week. The pay is really poor and he desperately wants to find another job. I just need him to stay there til he does.

Hi Journey

I take mine in the morning because I read that it can interfere with sleep. It only affected my sleep for the first couple of nights. Now I sleep well again and am having vivid dreams again.

Oh and I've stayed away from drink so far apart from twice having a white wine spritzer. I couldn't handle feeling rough.

(sorry for lots of short replies. Am on my phone so can't read as I'm replying. )

I had started to self medicate a bit with a few drinks in the evenings before I started taking the Ads, not lots, but just to numb my feelings, so I'm glad I've stopped.Instead now I'm eating far too much chocolate for comfort. I can feel the weight piling on but don't want to make it another thing I stress about (although I guess I already am)

Ok cool! Will stick to mornings.... I think you're right, afternoon slump is prob just baby, bad diet, not much exercise (proper) so I've taken note. Thank you

You all rock! We can win this dreaded stress .... I'm sure of it

It's a real help to be able to post here. Great thread.

Hi everyone - glad to hear you're all feeling ok

journey I also take mine in the morning - my GP said that it can interfere with your sleep if you take it later in the day, and I like the fact that it makes me feel a bit spaced out - having GAD and (pre the meds) being on a constant adrenaline rush, i needed something to slow me down a bit!

Oh and btw on the subject of alcohol, I avoided it off the first few weeks but now have a few at the weekend like I always did, and it doesn't effect me any differently than if ever did - obviously everyone's different tho...

Hi Chuffchuff

Feel awful today :-( Really low, worthless. Splitting headache. Shouting at kids, late for school (again), can't cope. Just want to not be here.

Hope the rest of you are doing better.

Carrots sorry to hear you're havin crap day.

Carrots, sorry you're having a rubbish day. Can you take 5 mins for yourself, put the kids in front of the tv or something and have a cuppa?

How you feeling Carrots? Hopefully you get a good nights sleep & you will different tomorrow :)

Sending positive thoughts