Want to change ADs, on sertraline, any thoughts?

[Dirtypaws]

Have been on sertraline for years and came off a little while ago. But I had to go back on, depression and irritability hit me again like a fecking freight train. Now I'm back on them, I'm noticing possible side effects that I think I'd just grown used to. It's taken the edge of depression but still feeling meh. Here are my side effects ( I think)

Exhaustion (sleeping in pm, also tired after 9 hrs)
Nausea
Jitteriness
Night sweats

I'm going to gps tomorrow and will ask if I can swap but I'm just wondering if there's any point and they're all just as bad as each other?

Did you have those side effects the whole time you were on it last time? Often they ease off after a few weeks. If you have already decided you want to change then you might be better changing to a different class of antidepressant eg a tricyclic.

Forgot to say; yes those can be side effects but could also be many other things so make sure you tell your GP about them esp. night sweats. And if you change to a different drug you may get a new set of side effects...

I found that sertraline made me very jittery, I changed to fluoxetine and not had any side effects with that.

Thanks, it's difficult to say how long the exhaustion has lasted as its better sometimes and then really bad. Coupled with young children, how can you know? I didn't suffer nausea the whole time but had a period of it. Jitteriness, yes pretty much so. Night sweats only in the last year or so, especially when I went on a higher dose. When I came off they stopped immediately. I originally thought it was the menopause.

Forgot to mention, I suppose side effects would only show themselves when you first started taking ADs or when you up the dose?

Yes usually side effects appear when you start but not always. If you had none of those symptoms whilst off sertraline then it could be the culprit. The only way to be sure is to stop it.

Still could be menopause! Or infection, thyroid, lots of other things.

I have had the night sweats on Sertraline. It usually happens if I jump from 50-100mg. 75 mg is the best dose for me. I have tried loads of AD's & this one has been the best for the least side effects & no weight gain. My psychiatrist did explain how tge night sweats are caused something to do with a serotonin surge. On higher dosage 100-150mg I get a constant headache, feel jittery & my heart races. What dose are you on? Could you reduce the dose maybe but check with your Dr.

I get the night sweats. GP says it's better than being depressed Tbh the other ones like jitteriness and nausea disappeared after a while. It's worth talking to your GP about it. Unfortunately, I found practically all the SSRI's give me night sweats. It's horrible.