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?

Quick question buddies ...

I've missed a tablet today (I was vomiting all day) so didn't take one.

Will I be ok? Just carry on as normal tomorrow?

Ooooooo! Kazza enjoy your day off - so great x

Hi all - realised today I've not been on here for days

Hope everyone's feeling ok - kazza glad to hear you're starting to feel like the upped dose is helping you . Make the most of your day off tomorrow!

journey I missed a dose a few days ago. I checked the leaflet and it said that you should take your missed dose as soon as possible and then if it is 'close to' when your next dose is due, you shouldn't then take that one too as that will effectively double your dose. Not sure what they mean by 'close to' but for me it was only about five hours later than I should have taken it so I just carried on as normal.

Hi littlespud . Hope your side effects are starting to subside a bit - definitely stick with it, it will be worth it!

Hi, has anyone on here had CBT already? I had an assessment phonecall today and found it very upsetting :-( Hard to talk about why I wanted treatment etc. Felt like I had to justify myself. Then was categorised as "mild to moderate" symptoms - which maybe they are in a way as I go to work etc. But it doesn't feel "mild" to be me - it feels awful!!

It has wiped out my whole day. Cried for hours after, then fell asleep on sofa and had to run for school pickup.

I am quite private and don't like talking about my PND - but I do want to get better, so hope I can find a good match with CBT and feel more positive. Prob at least 6-8 weeks on waiting list. Hoping ADs working better by then. If the assessment has knocked me so much, how will I cope with the therapy?!?

Sorry for self-indulgent post. Hope everyone else is doing ok.

Carrots, that's not good. Sorry you were so upset afterwards. I understand what you mean, I am very private too and when I had counselling in the past I was discharged as fine, because I struggled to talk about things and when asked how I am said "Fine"! I don't like crying in front of others and can't talk about the things that upset me.

Don't worry about the therapy, just take it as it comes.

Journey I agree with Chuff, I would take the missing tablet as soon as you can and then make sure you don't take the next one too close to it.

Carrots there's no need to apologise here.

Please can I join you?
I've seen my GP today on the HV's recommendation, and been prescribed Sertraline for mild PND and anxiety.
My LO is 18 weeks old, and really easy-going, I think it's the other 3 who've worn me down!
DH's job is looking very insecure, and that, combined with some worries about LO's feeding, seems to have pushed me from coping to not coping.
I'm worried about starting the tablets having read about the side-effects, but I'm hopeful they'll help.

Hi Justcall Welcome.

I started taking sertraline about 4 months ago and was terrified of the side effects. I started on half a tablet, 25mg and although I felt slightly nauseous and didn't sleep well for a few nights it was no where near as bad as I expected (and I suffer with emetaphobia, fear of vomiting, so nausea is unbearable for me). I very gradually increased my dose and the only other side effect I've had is a headache. It's been nothing compared to other anti depressants I've taken which have left me feeling like a zombie, unable to move for exhaustion and very very bad headaches.

I now feel less anxious and am so pleased!

Let us know how you get on

Forgot to mention I did have a dry mouth and I have very vivid dreams which I love!

Welcome Justcall!

Agree with Kazza on all counts

It takes a while but stick with it, I was horrified at the thought of side effects.

Best advice I was given (& this was by the pharmacist) don't read the small print HAHAHHA!!!

Stay positive ..... Start gradual, slowly increase dose & you'll be fine

I'm in week 7 or 8 now & defo feel better. I am on Sertraline for severe PND/Anxiety (DS is 7.5mths) took me that long to realise I wasn't well.

This thread is great :) we are all here to rant & share experiences xx

Ladies I'm on day 6 of 50mg sertraline (well will be taking my seventh tablet later)

I feel terrible, still anxious and down, and very tired, yet keep waking in the night. Mornings are worst, I usually feel happier or at least normalish by late afternoon / evening

I also have no appetite at all, is this normal as it's making me worry which isn't helping my state of mind and also the more I worry about being not hungry, the less hungry I feel!

Little Spud - yes, all sounds normal.

I'm on week 7 or 8 & on 100mg, still having side effects of anxiety, nausea etc - but it can take a while for it to all settle down & also the doctor will need to figure out if 50mg is the right dose.

Bare with it, but do tell your Doc all of this. Are you due to see him/her in a week or so? If it gets unmanageable then I would book to see them earlier.

The tiredness got me in the afternoon those early days too, but that does pass.

Mental isn't it? Powerful balancing chemicals

Oh & the other advice from GP & all on here is to take tablet first thing in the morning as can interfere with sleep at night x

I've just gone back on sertraline, but alongside lamitrogine as I have bipolar. First psychiatric drug I ever took, seven years ago, was sertraline, and it sent me high as a kite - mania, so too much energy, no inhibitions, hallucinations, hyper sexuality, spending money I couldn't afford, etc, so I was really reluctant to try again. However, this time it seems to be working, which is great

Thanks thejourney

Have been taking my tablets at 4pm as that's roughly when i took the first one

But today I've taken it at midday, and will do the same tomorrow and maybe try to gradually get earlier. I don't know if it's a coincidence but I'm now feeling a bit less jittery and anxious already. Hope it helps my sleep tonight.....

I'm not due to see gp for another 2 weeks btw

And brittapie omg that sounds awful

But glad it's helping you this time x

Hi Littlespud and Brittapie

Work has been really busy. One more week before my colleague goes on holiday. When dh came home he told me the company he's been working for folded today He's only been there 2.5 months after 10 months out of work

I can't bear going through the worry again

Welcome Justcall and Brittapie. I was worried about side effects too - one of the main reasons I didn't go to the GP for so long. But I realised I was feeling awful off the tablets anyway, so maybe I should try them? I feel more tired, get dry mouth and was nauseous at the start. But getting better now - and not anything like the side effects I thought I might get. Different for everyone, but worth a try.

Thanks Kazza. Sorry to hear about your DH. That is really stressful. Hope he can look for something else and it doesn't take too long. Good luck with your week before your colleague's holidays.

I'm still feeling upset and angry about the CBT assessment. Lack of self worth is a huge deal for me - I already feel like I don't matter, and the way the triage was constructed just minimised my symptoms. I almost felt like he thought I was lying at one point - queried "what have you been diagnosed with?". Said my suicidal thoughts were "common" and nothing to be too concerned about - "you're not mad". I'm seeing my GP next week anyway so I'm going to discuss it with her. Need reassurance that the actual sessions will be better - I don't mind hard work and want to feel differently about my past and future - but I can't bear the suggestion that my pain isn't painful!

Carrot that is awful- the sort of thing that stops people who are depressed and/or have low self esteem asking for help. I would definitely tell your gp how you felt.

Thanks Kazza - in a weird way I'm glad you think it's awful?! I've been going over it in my head - I know they have to be quite clinical and logical but it was so difficult. Thank you for agreeing with me - I am going to write some notes down about it for the GP.

Just to reassure anyone who is thinking about getting help and reading this thread, my experience with my GP was fab and the total opposite. She has believed me and supported me from the first visit.

I would have been extremely upset in that situation, yes. It's very hard to ask for help, I spent a lot of time putting myself down, thinking I was being pathetic, that I didn't deserve help or to be happier. If someone belittled how I was feeling like that I would cry and give up expecting help.

Hi everyone, sorry, didn't mean to derail the thread with my posts about CBT! Hope everyone is doing ok and side effects aren't too bad.

Hi Carrots - you haven't derailed the thread - I haven't had a chance to post, been extremely busy with work and stuff.

Had some bad news Friday - the company dh was working for closed with immediate effect, so he is out of work again - he'd only been there just over 2 months So we are back to square one, with him looking for work and having to call the mortgage company etc. Very stressful.

Work is awful as my colleague is still on sick leave for another 3 weeks and my other colleague goes on holiday on Monday for 2 weeks.

Sorry, I'm repeating myself - should have checked first - I'd already posted about dh's job on Saturday!!! [Losing the plot}