Sertraline Buddies - Part 2! Support for all on AD's...

[Chuffchuff]

New thread for when the first one gets full - welcome everyone

I didn't take my first 100mg tablet last night, I (stupidly) did some googling and read all the horror stories of people doubling the dose :(

Pathetic.

Hi Sadmumma, so I've bailed out on day 4. The nausea, the headache, the jaw ache, and spaced out feeling and dizziness just got way to much for me. I just couldn't take the 50mg this morning so went to the gp who has signed me off work for another week.

The circumstances which caused me to start taking sertraline are actually improving (my dh was discharged by the mental health crisis team today), so I'm hoping some r&r and counselling will be enough to see me through.

Good luck with your treatment. I hope the side affects lessen soon and you start to feel the benefit.

Thank you.

Still feeling rather down, but not touched alchol at all for 3 weeks.

Could do with a cold glass of wine, but I know that will be no good for me and I can't have alchol with the zimovane

Testing

Hello all

Have namechanged for the purposes of this thread. Was on Fluoxetine for about a year when it stopped working so have been put onto Sertraline. Am on day 3. 50mg per day. Last night I woke up around 3-ish am and had palpitations and was sweating. I'm also feeling slightly icky and have decreased appetite.

Determined to see out at least 6 weeks to see if I get the positive benefits but is all this normal? I have depression and anxiety.

Thanks x

Hi everyone,

Greatgardenstuff - so pleased to hear your circumstances are changing and you are feeling more positive!

Day 4- I am still taking the full 50mg every evening straight after dinner and I don't seem to be having too many side effects at all! My head just sort of feels cloudy like when you're drunk.

I'm not feeling any benefits though- can barely drag myself out of bed in the mornings! Dp is trying to be very supportive, always asking how I am feeling but just doesn't understand at all.

I have been meaning to call the counselling service to organise an appointment but I absolutely hate telephone calls and it has been making me really anxious thinking about it!

This thread is really helping just knowing there are other people who understand how I feel. Thank you.

GreatGarden, hope this is a good move for you. The side effects are horrid and I don't blame you bailing. Come back if you change your mind!

Mybeloved I think your symptoms are normal. Everyone is different but if you read the symptoms online then yours fit the bill. They are supposed to decrease after 2-4 weeks.

I am just grateful that it is half term and I work less hours. Slightly dreading next week and back to work full on. And we have a works "fun" outing during the week. I'm dreading it. Was supposed to meet a girlfriend tonight (booked ages ago) and I've feigned illness as I cannot face it. Everything is an effort. Everything. I have told. One of my friends about this illness. Have you shared?

MyBeloved olegjugalot sorry you seem to be struggling - glad you are willing to stick it out.

Sadmumma Everything is an effort. Everything - it is, but it's much worse without A-Ds

Everyone who knows me knows what a total and utter basket case I am.

Lost it big style at work, today - well, not big style, it won't be on the news - anxiety attack

Two fluoxies tonight, I think.

I'm sorry people are having a hard time. I'm day 9 and feeling perfectly fine side effects wise. No change in mood yet..

Thank you one and all. I do know the side effects will pass as I had the same experience when I started Fluoxetine. The difference this time is that I am continuing to work. I was incredibly low to the point of wanting to hurt myself a few weeks back which is what prompted my return to the doctor. The doctor actually offered me sick leave but I don't feel able to as I do not get paid if I don't go to work and the bills won't just stop will they?

I do wish I could take 2 weeks off though - am exhausted mentally and physically.

ourglass, it sounds like you're doing really well.

x

sadmumma

I have told a number of my friends. They are all really supportive so I'm really lucky.

its a good idea to try and share with those you trust x

After the first few weeks the side effects just vanished, the only one I have is the constant dry mouth and feeling thirsty all the time.

Those in the early days just stick at it.

Try to take the tablets after food, it can sometimes help.

MyBeloved do you get holiday pay, if so could you take some leave.

I do get paid holiday. My work colleagues aren't particularly nice and I worry about what reaction I will go back to if I take time off. We are short staffed. Can I still request holiday leave at such short notice?

What a mess.

MyBeloved could you explain to your boss about the sick note and ask if you could take it as leave? Would give you a bot of time at least to get over the worst. I ubderstand how you feel as am worried about work too - have already been off for 2 weeks and unlikely to be back next week. The sick policy says sick pay is at their discretion and cannot blame them if they stop at some point.

I could but am so anxious about doing so. I hate this.

sadmamma it's Clipper Sleep Easy tea. You can buy it in a Tesco, co-op and probably loads of other places! It has Valerian in it which really works for me. Smells a bit herby when you make it, but it actually tastes really nice and citrus/ orangey.

piper I did find the dry mouth and thirst were the longest lasting side effects. They did go eventually though (or possibly I've just got used to them?).

mybeloved I had the same symptoms - the night sweats and palpitations didn't last long for me. I found drinking lots of water before bed pretty much stopped it.

Feel like hitting the 'self destruct' button - stop meds / go straight back to work next week / order more of the stuff I took 2 weeks ago and do it right this time. Hate feeling so crap and thinking that no matter what I do it's all going to happen again and provably sooner rather than later. Only a year since the last time, not even got to step down the meds so nowhere to go once it got bad again. Getting shorter and shorter between recurrences eventually it's never going to stop so why not give in to it all now and save all the hassle .....

Carbonel, you are a valued person. Guessing you have kids if you are on mn? For their sakes please call Samaritans. Come back and tell me you have done that ....

Carbonel are you ok?

I really want to take my sick leave as holiday but am so scared of talking to work. I don't know what to do. I'm not coping :(

No I'm not coping either but I have stuff to do this weekend so will get that far at least. Have turned off my phone so crisis team cannot call (supposed to check in this am ) and just existing so far. MyBeloved can a friend call work for you? They do not have to tell the whole truth just that doc has signed you off but that you would rather take it as hols. If you are covered by the equalities act then it may be in your best interests for work to know but only you can decide that.

Carbonel, I'm so sorry to hear you're struggling. do you think telling the crisis team might be a good thing though? I don't have experience of them so I don't know x

If I got someone to call work for me do you think they would let me take it as holiday? its so crappy as I'm still in my probation period :(

I'm new I hope it is OK to post here.

I'm trying to come off seoxat/paroxetine and I'm struggling. I feel electric shocks in my brain and through my body, nauseous, anxious, weepy, dizzy and feel like I'm watching a movie of me rather than it being me if that makes sense?

I'm only on day 2 of coming off and I really don't want to take them again and struggle even more further down the line.

Has anyone successfully stopped them? I was on 20mg a day for 22 days (I couldn't cope with the side effects) then 10mg a day for 5 days (as advised by GP) How long can I expect the withdrawal effects to last?

MyBeloved you can only ask. Trouble is how much holiday do you have accrued? If still in probation presumably you have not been there long so you may only have a couple of days built up and they may not let you go into deficit. If only we knew how long before we would feel better life would be so much easier to plan ?? You need to do what is best for you - certainly sounds like you are not going to cope at work so it may be best to at least get a few days holiday even if the rest is sick leave. Only you know how well you could blague it at work feeling as you do.

Carbonel -please call the crisis team. For all of us here. We need you on this thread.