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

[Chuffchuff]

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

Thanks for the advise sadmumma and teawomen.

I agree its very supportive on here.

Advice not advise

I checked out weight gain on Sertraline on google. Serotonin controls appetite as well as mood and 25% of users report weight gain. So I'm just going to have to be careful. I've just eaten a small plateful of the risotto I cooked for the family at lunchtime which I couldn't face then but actually had an appetite this evening for the first time in a week. And I enjoyed it. Feeling much calmer and "normal" this afternoon although incredibly lazy. Thank goodness for my amazing DH.

Have woken after a broken night feeling dread and panic with jelly legs.

How are you all doing?

Sorry to hear you're struggling this morning Sadmumma. Take it easy today.

I'm feeling a bit better today. DH at work and DSs being good so far today.

I'm ok although my mind is still racing lately not sure if
It's because it's the time of the month or what I'm on day 20 and overall feeling better. Hope you feel better soon. I'm shattered had a late night after going to watch a show with oh last night and was up early for work so putting it down to that.

Hello all. How is every one.

Had a bit of a positive day, got the house sorted so it's looking and smelling lovely and also been for a swim with my DC.

Feeling tired but in a good way.

Also my dad has paid for me to go on a mind course that starts tomorrow feeling a little anxious.

Piper - that sounds good. Is that like CBT?

In the end my day wasn't too bad. I managed to go for a walk (30mins), cook lunch (couldn't eat it though), cleaned the bathroom and did some mending/sewing AND visited my mum in her care home, so I feel I've done quite a lot especially compared with yesterday. I end the day feeling better than I started and I'm wondering if this is a pattern: start of day I feel rubbish then the fug clears by the end of the day.

I took my 50mg this evening to see if it makes any difference to my sleep.

Back to work tomorrow

I really don't know. What it entails.

Hi everyone,

Sorry for disappearing. I decided I needed to go away for a few days before going back to work tomorrow. I ended up going to stay with my dsis about 3 hours away, just to get away from everything. I spent quite a lot of the time just 'zoned out'. I feel like I am unable to pretend everything is OK now and I just burst into tears for no reason!

I have decided that I am not able to go back to work yet. I can just imagine standing up in front of my class and bursting into tears! So off to the Dr again tomorrow to see what they say.

I still have no appetite and found out today I have lost 1stone in the last year- I am naturally very slim so this has become very noticeable. I look in the mirror and hate that I look so boney and my clothes don't fit.

Other than that I don't seem to have any other side effects at all.

Hi all.
Good news about your course Piper and glad you are feeling more positive.
teawoman you are a few days ahead of me so really hope mine kick in soon.
Sadmumma best of luck for work tomorrow.
Haribo hope you feel better soon - I have started to have a metallic taste since upping but am putting that down to the inhaler I am taking to calm this cough.
I had a mixed day today. Told a work colleague about my attempts and he was utterly fab. On the downside had a blazing row with the neighbour which ended with dd having a massive panic attack which really scared me. Thankfully a good friend came to the rescue but dh really upset me by heading off to mend the (same) neighbour's fence when I needed him to help me with the dcs and tea etc - dd and I had eaten one cookie each all day and were exhausted. At least I discovered what the crisis team do when you ring them in a panic - nothing! She told me I was overreacting and to calm down. Suppose there wasn't much else she could do really - I had just kinda expected her to wave a magic wand to make it go a away
can't sleep now and far too late for a sleeping pill so I am left with watching England v Scotland in the cricket!!

Oh and despite really not wanting to I did take my sertraline tonight so another plus

Morning all. Day 8. Am noticing a pattern. Panic starts at 4 am and mornings are bad. I feel dreadful now. Am fully dressed for work but have had to lie back down in bed as legs are like jelly. This was how yesterday started but it wore off during the day so by 4pm felt better. Wondering if this will happen today. Took Meds at 6pm instead of morning. Not sure if it has made any difference. Must get moving to be at work at 9.

Good luck today Piper.
Hi to Oleg. Sorry you feel so rough. Hug to you.
And good to hear from Carbonel but sorry you had a difficult Sunday. I watched Casual Vacancy in the night!

Well the course went well.

Another 3 weeks I can attend.

I know it's early days, but feeling a bit better within myself. I think my new doses is starting to work.

Hi, I haven't read the whole thread. I hope it is ok to join?

I started 50 mg once a day Sertraline five weeks ago, to treat anxiety and depression. I have just been to my GP today. The GP kept telling me to put things in the past. That then started me explaining things to the GP, who is new to me. The GP said she thought I have PTSD, as I got into a dreadful state crying over the past events. I agree I have thought that myself. As I had noticed an improvement in the past few weeks, the GP said I should take two 50mg tablets a day.

I am relieved that I am not thinking about the past experiences all the time, it was exhausting. I spent so much time distracting myself and avoiding doing anything that gave my mind freedom to wonder as it would go back to the dreadful experiences. I am still getting badly triggered though if I open post or speak about it. I also got into a bad state when I watched Call the Midwife last week as that brought it all back.

Dreaming you can get 100mg tablets, saves taking 2.

Welcome to the fourm hope you find it as useful as me.

I am glad you have found this useful, I hope I do too. Many thanks for the welcome.

I have three weeks of tablets left Piper. I haven't read or handed in the new prescription.

The tablets make me shake a lot. I have to have the second yet, I hope they don't make me worse. I shake as it is from dysautonomia and it is becoming very noticeable to others, as it is. Even my jaw was shaking when I visited the dentist.

Hi all,
Week 9 (ish) on 50mg
Been feeling sick with dead upset stomach lately, especially at night/in middle of the night (also tend to wake up sweating a hell of a lot, anxiety? ). Unfortunately my anxiety causes me to stop eating which is no fun, especially when noone but my mum and dad know I have it. I have forced nyself to go out more lately, even had a drink with a guy I met on a dating site (hardest thing ive done in a looong time) felt super shitty the next day, how do you guys find alcohol with sertraline? Is it okay to drink on it? I felt amazing after having 2 glasses of wine (all I had), no racing mind totally chilled out, bliss. But I guess it can be a dangerous habbit to get into..

Have you told your gp of this side effect, maybe a different medication might be better.

Been on 50mg for 11 weeks and been steadily becoming more anxious and depressed the past few weeks. Dr prescribed 100mg, but I've been putting taking them off for weeks!

Have just taken my first 100mg tablet and worried about side effects.

Has anyone upped dose and it be ok?

sophiejoy -careful with alcohol. I think leaflet in box says to avoid.

Welcome to all newbies. I'm new myself - day 9 today. Feeling a little better than previous 8 days. Yesterday at work was not too bad. Just felt shaky and weak. But am exhausted as I feel I am battling myself the whole time. Slept well last night. From 9.30-6.30 with about 30 mins awake at 4 so about 8.5 hours. But STILL feel shaky and weak and exhausted.

Wandering there are posters up thread who are on 100mg and higher and very happy with it.

Can I join? I've been on Mumsnet for years - but not recently.

Briefly - I've had a long history of depression and anxiety - PTSD after DD1 traumatic birth, and severe PND with both DDs. I have been on various ADs over the years: Citalopram, Fluoxetine, Lofepramine and Amitryptiline (not all at the same time!). I found low dose Fluoxetine useful for keeping the anxiety at a low level so had been on it for a few years, but gradually came off it about two years ago.

Then last Autumn I noticed my anxiety started to increase. There were a couple of triggers (one was family-related and the other was delayed stress from a situation at work) - and my GP suggested I try Sertraline - but I got the prescription and never filled it.

I've been gradually getting more and more anxious over the past few months, to the stage where the anxiety is leading to procrastination at work and is becoming a potentially serious problem. I was promoted last year into a very senior role in my company and can't afford to mess it up! (I just had a great appraisal but I'm a nervous wreck, constantly. My manager says it doesn't show - but it's very wearing.)

So - I phoned my GP today and will be starting the Sertraline tomorrow and seeing the GP for a discussion/review next week. I feel oddly like a failure for finally caving, and nervous (!irony?!) about starting a new drug - but also relieved I've been brave enough to ask for help.

Hope you don't mind me getting that lot off my chest!

Well done Verso for taking the first step. It is not caving in at all just taking a first positive step to getting better.
Sadmumma glad you are coping - the fatigue in awful isn't, cannot imagine how you see coping at work I can only manage a morning doing stuff around home before I need a rest in the afternoon!
I am on 100 mg (upped from 50 at the weekend) and after a shaky start am finally beginning to feel better for short periods.
Told my boss yesterday (on the phone i am still off work) which was really traumatic as I could hear here almost in tears and share said some really sweet things so I got all teary too! But actually feel miles better now she knows and as a colleague said can plan for a realistic time for me to be off.
Been busy this morning but not as tired as I thought - knowing I will get a good night's sleep with the pills makes all the difference.
Who knows maybe I am finally getting a bit better

I am having a bad day. The tightness in my chest and the light-headedness is making me feel very ill. I'm at work and I am not being very productive and trying to pretend that I am 'normal'. I want to disappear into a puff of smoke. Did not sleep much last night and am exhausted. Have to work a half day tomorrow and all day on Friday. Not quite sure how I am going to manage it.

Carbonel so good to hear you have turned a little corner. Great news. Does Setraline help you sleep? I'm not finding it that helpful, but I'm only on 50mg - DAY 10.

And hello Verso. Hope you feel better soon.

How is everyone else? You've all gone quiet and I so enjoy hearing your news....