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

[Chuffchuff]

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

Been on the 100mg for 2 weeks now and seem to have plateaud but not yet 100%. Saw the CPN today but then felt sad all afternoon. MIL died this evening too - we were hoping to go and see her tomorrow but too late so annoyed with myself for not going today and sad and cross that I feel crap and so cannot help DH deal with it.

Carbonal so sorry to hear that.

Carbonel sorry to hear about your MIL. Hang in there .
Sadmumma thanks for the encouragement - I'm still debating and as the Saturday is coming closer getting more nervous :(...

Sorry to hear your news, carbonel. Are you on sertraline for depression? I'm on it for anxiety - titrating up gradually from 25mg to 50mg to 100mg. I feel a bit jittery today but I think that's just because I have a LOT to do at work today and am scared I won't manage it.

Just keep reminding myself that this is in large part biochemical: I've been under pressure for so long that my cortisol/adrenaline has been constantly high - so it's only natural that eventually my body can't re-set itself. That's what the sertraline is for (if that makes sense).

Helps me to feel it's a pragmatic thing to do rather than me somehow having "failed" (which is how I used to feel when I was younger if I felt I couldn't cope any more).

Hello! Just wanted to add my tuppence worth to the thread!
I started on sertraline (50mg) 4 weeks ago. I had ptsd a few years ago and have had horrendous pmt for past few years. Had been feeling like everything was on top of me. So many problems didnt know which one to tackle first and so felt like i wanted to run away.
I was so nervous to start sertraline. Worried I would feel numb. Depersonalised. But I have to say this has not been the case. Infact the complete opposite. I feel like myself again. I can think straight. Feel really calm which has made me realise how anxious I had been feeling.

Side effect wise I had around 8 days of nausea, like early days of pregnancy. Tired and nauseated. Also had a weird yawning feeling in my jaw. Yawning still feels weird!!

All in all though I am so impressed with how much better I am feeling. Feels like someone has flicked a switch. I feel like myself again.

Having read through the thread I realise it isn't the same for everyone. I do think it is about finding the drug that works for you and think I have been lucky. Already I am nervous about the effect wearing off! I am so relieved to feel better.

Verso how are you feeling with each increase in one second weeks of increasing to 100 from 50 feel slightly anxious. Inmyshoos good hear your doing well.

teawomen I've only just started - so I've had three doses of 25mg so far. I have to increase to 50mg next week, then 100mg the week after (although my GP said the 100mg is a judgement call and I can put that off and stay at 50mg for an extra week if I feel that works for me). I'm feeling ok - a bit dizzy - but ok. Still very anxious but I know the effects can take 4–6 weeks to build up so I'm trying to be patient.

inmyshoos my problem is exactly that: not being able to "think straight" at all. Also severe procrastination, which isn't like me at all. That's what persuaded me to go to the doctor in the end. I have 30 people relying on me for leadership at work so it's not great if I feel like I'm working in a fog. It gets to the point where I'm unable to do anything because I'm completely overloaded.

Not sure how to relieve the underlying pressure though – the causes of the stress. I feel very trapped at times by life .

Carbonel - for you

hello :)
i've been on sertraline for nearly 2 years now.it was prescribed for anxiety and apart from keeping me awake at night - most nights - its been fine.
anxiety gone - but these last couple of days i've had 3 episodes of feeling panicky/edge of tears/v sick again.no triggers really apart from maybe happening when i have not eaten for a long time.

has anyone else had anything like this? thanks

verso hopefully as you increase your dosage you will feel better effects of the sertraline.
I really hope it flicks the switch for you as it has me. For the past couple of years I have been fixated on moving house. Convinced that moving would solve all my problems but then never finding the right house/area/schools etc. I felt constantly stressed. Up and down all the time. Literally didn't know if I was coming or going. Sertraline has completely changed that for me. Weird as it might sound. But i think I was really anxious and running away was the only answer i could come up with. Now I feel calm and feel I can think straight.

Stareatthetv. Yes if I feel hungry I get instantly panicky.

Well panic attacks started again yesterday. Happened to have next appt with doc today. He has put me on 100mg and will review in a month

Welcome inmyshoos! Glad the medication is starting to have a positive effect on you I'm the same with the weird jaw sensation! It's absolutely bizarre haha!

Hope you are ok sadmumma! Panic attacks are never fun. I had my first one in ages just yesterday whilst I was at work. It was only a small one but it threw me off completely and I had to go home early. It's frustrating because I feel like I've made a step forward then something like this happens and it takes me about 10 steps backwards!
Hope you are ok today x

I'm glad to have found this site makes me feel less lonely and sad about my state. I have been on citalopram for a while and have put on 15kgs. I have read it is a side effect of ssri. Anyone having the same issues with sertraline as well?

I'm putting on weight, Seren. I'm on Sertraline 100mg and cannot stop eating.

Hi serendipity. I am concerned about weight gain because I gained loads on citalopram years ago. My GP prescribed sertraline this time, partly because it's supposed to be better for anxiety than citalopram, and also because fewer people gain weight on it. Weight is a huge issue for me, as I've gained and lost more than I can count over the years. In the end though, I just need to feel better, so if I gain a bit of weight i think I'll take that just to have the anxiety under control.

hello all, im on 50mg about month 3, I was having a really crappy time with anxiety and low mood, but at the moment ive come out of the other side and im feeling alot better (thank god). But I just can't stop eating! Its the complete polar opposite of the past 3 or 4 months of barely eating anything, but I much prefer being able to eat - especially since people were commenting on my weight, or lack of..
made a miraculous success the other day, I stayed away from home for the first time in around a year with no panic! Things are finally looking up!

Struggling yesterday and today. Yesterday I kept bursting into tears (which is what took me to the GP in the first place as I'm normally the calm one who "copes" with everything - but finally cracking at the seams). Just very jittery and wobbly. Same today. I increased to 50mg yesterday and I know side effects can get worse before they get better. Just overwhelmed and a bit scared - but I know that's the anxiety. Trying to think myself out of it and keep going... just can't concentrate or focus, both of which I really need to do!!!

sophiejoy it's good to read your post. It gives me hope that things will seem better in a few weeks' time.

5 weeks into taking 50mg and things seem to be going from bad to worse

Had my first panic attack in a while on Friday and today I just feel so overwhelmed. I've had to come home from uni in the middle of an assessment because of it because I was in such a state.
I feel like such a failure and that I'm never going to accomplish anything because my anxiety gets in the way and that I'm letting everyone around me down. I just want things to get better!

I'm starting week 4 on 100mg and still waiting for it to start working.

I'm anxiety is up and down.

My partner is going away for a week and I don't know how I'll cope with the kids :(

Hi everyone, can I join in? Not really sure what I have to offer other than a hand to hold. I've been on Sertraline 150g for about three years. I've been told by my GP to expect to be on it for life as I'm pretty stable now and have been for a couple of years. I've suffered with depression for as long as I can remember, certainly since early teenage years, but wasn't diagnosed until my early 20's. I've tried pretty much everything going over the past 20 years and I honestly feel as though I have found what works for me.

Weight gain - hell yeah - I weigh more than I ever have, even during pregnancy.

I won't claim to be completely cured but I am (currently) able to function in the real world without having to spend six weeks a year hiding. That'll do for me for now.

Off now to read some of the thread :)

I was on fluxotine for about 5 months and didn't feel any different, my GP then changed me to sertraline and my anxiety and depression went thorough the roof! So the gp told me to stop taking them and I haven't taken anything since last September. I've some how struggled through, but my anxiety is back and I'm finding it difficult to concentrate. So was thinking I need to try something else but not sure what.

I'm hoping to go to uni in September, and I'm worried if I start on antidepressants again it will prevent me from getting into uni as they do an occupational health assessment.

Does anyone know if antidepressants/depression/anxiety affects my chances of passing the occupational health assessment? And if I need to state that I suffer from this awful condition, even though I'm not on medication now?

Argh! Depression/anxiety sucks!

Also sorry.. Do any of you find you're walking around in what feels like a fog? Find it difficult to concentrate, tired, and forgetful?

I had chemo a few years back, and although I suffered from depression and anxiety before that episode in my life since it's happened I pretty much feel this way every day, and can't decide if i'm still suffering from chemo brain (which is a condition in itself) or the depression/anxiety

Yes, passthewineplz I've felt foggy like that - but that's part of the reason I went to my GP. I can't do my job when I feel like this: can't concentrate, can't think clearly, can't make decisions. FWIW I don't think being on ADs should prevent you getting in to uni. I knew quite a few people when I was there who were on them for various reasons, and more people than you might imagine do take them. I think it would be unfair of them to exclude you for medical reasons - unless it's a course where mental health is relevant (eg counselling, where I think you have to have counselling yourself before you can qualify).

I took my second 50mg dose of sertraline last night and had a good night's sleep - slept from 8:30pm to 3am then actually managed to get back to sleep again until 5am, which I normally find impossible to do. Only thing is my anxiety is very high today - not quite as bad as yesterday (I was very weepy yesterday) but pretty bad. I can't work out though if it's just (just!) the pressure of my job and my husband's disability and my daughters and life really...

Desperate to get through today as I have a big deadline. I've been procrastinating really really badly as I'm terrified of getting this project "wrong". I did show my manager my draft report last week though (as I know what I'm like and knew I'd leave it to the last minute otherwise) and he loved it - so I know I'm on the right track. So why am I in such a panic that I can't work???!!! I had time to do this on Friday but didn't - I was like a rabbit stuck in headlights, unable to do anything really apart from the very basics. I'm a senior manager, for goodness' sake. I need to pull myself together!!!

And breathe!

I will get through this today. It will take sheer effort of will but that's not stopped me in the past and I have a lovely weekend to look forward to with an old school friend. Just got to get through today!