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

[Chuffchuff]

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

[nothingcomestonothing]

Hi all, just saying hello, hope that's okay - I've been on 25mg of sertraline since Thursday, for anxiety. Had some side effects - nausea and retching - then realised on Sunday that it wasn't side effects, it was my anxiety which had massively increased. Spent Sunday night waking over and again having panic attacks, which I haven't done for years, Monday I was a mess, shaking retching couldn't sit still, my dad had to drive 10 miles in the rush hour to come and take my kids to school (less than 2 minutes from my house) cos I couldn't do it - my son cried when they got there, which made my dad cry . Today I slept badly again, full of anxiety, but weirdly after waking highly anxious and feeling I couldn't take the kids again, my anxiety kind of crossed over. I've got all the sensations of heart racing, stomach tense, can feeling my breath in my chest, but the fear is missing, it's very weird. Hope it means the sertraline has started doing something. I'm due to go up to 50mg on Thursday and I'm nervous.

[Chuffchuff]

Hi nothing .

Hope you're feeling ok ATM - I have been taking 50mg sertraline for anxiety for six months, and also started on 25mg for the first week. I had a pretty crappy first week on the meds, felt really sick and overtired, unsettled and generally horrible tbh! I also had the worst panic attack i ever had and my anxiety definitely ramped up a few notches. But although the nausea probably lingered for about three weeks, the other side effects definitely started to subside after week one, so IMO you're probably over the worst of it.

Even when I upped the dose to 50mg if was nothing like as bad as the first week - hopefully it will be the same for you...

[nothingcomestonothing]

Hi Chuffchuff it sounds like your first week was like mine then, hopefully that means I've done the worst bit! I'm still feeling like I've got physical signs of anxiety, without the anxiety - it's a weird feeling but really a relief after feeling so crappy.

[Chuffchuff]

I know what you mean - sounds wierd but maybe you've been feeling anxious for so long that your body needs a bit of time to catch up with the new, calmer you!

[Pandora37]

Hi nothing it does sound like you're getting through the worst, I had similar symptoms to you for the first few weeks which eventually calmed down. I went up to 100mg with no increase in anxiety or nausea.

I'm nearly completely off sertraline! Got one more dose tonight and that is it. The mirtazapine is going okay, I feel more motivated but also very laid back at the same time if that makes sense. I'm also sleeping tons and find it very hard to wake up in the morning. I feel like I could do with an AD that makes me more energetic as I struggle with tiredness already but we'll see how I go.

[nothingcomestonothing]

I woke at 3am full of anxiety, had to get my dad to take the kids again and spent all day feeling sick and anxious. Really disappointed as I'd hoped I was turning the corner yesterday. I am due to go back to work in 10 days, which fills me with fear and I can't see how I'm going to do it. Sigh. Pandora congratulations on getting off, hope the mirtazapine goes well for you.

[MissManage]

Hi I'm totally new to this app and messaging on forums... so hi!

I've been taking sertraline for over a year now and take 200mg daily along side other meds.

I was diagnosed with a personality disorder after I had my daughter, who will be 2 this month.

Unfortunately there is no sign of my reducing this year

[OldCatLady]

Anybody who has COME OFF sertraline, please help me!

I was on 100mg for about a year, dropped down to 1 day 100, 1 day 50 for a couple of weeks, then 50 a day for another couple of weeks, then 50 every other day, now trying 50 every 3rd day but when I get to lunch time on the 3rd day I get very dizzy and almost feel like I could pass out at any point.

I would like to come off them but by the end of day 3 I'm desperate for another tablet. I did go almost 5 days without (by accident) but was so ill and dizzy I couldn't leave the house.

Am I better off just stopping now and dealing with side effects for a couple of weeks or continuing to come off slowly?

Anyone else had this?

TIA :)

[Pandora37]

Thanks nothing I'm not really having any side effects so far, the first couple of days I felt comatose but otherwise I'm doing okay. I do feel a lot hungrier and I have put on about 4lbs in a week which could be the mirtazapine as they are side effects but I'm thinking it's more likely down to the fact I'm eating more regularly and eating more because I feel happier in myself. When I'm down I skip meals a lot and don't eat much so now I'm eating more normally I guess it's natural I will put some weight back on. I've heard lots of horror stories about mirtazapine and weight gain though so I will be keeping an eye on it. Oh and my bruises are now GONE! Guess it was definitely the sertraline that was causing them then. I'm actually amazed at how quickly they've cleared up considering my GP didn't know how long it would take for them to go.

OldCatLady it sounds like you've been weaning down too quickly. I think personally going every 3rd day is too much, there's no point making yourself ill. I'd go back to 50mg every other day for a week or two then try going down to 25 every other day, that's what I did. But I was only on sertraline for a few months not a year so I think your weaning regime needs to be done quite slowly.

[Chuffchuff]

Hi everyone - was just after some advice & hopefully reassurance

I've just picked up my latest prescription and it's a different brand name - I've always had one called Lustral before but this us just called Sertraline - also says Ranbaxy on the box. I checked with the chemist & they said it's all the same thing, but being a worrier I'm now worrying I might suddenly feel wierd

Has anybody else switched brands before and did it affect anything?

[MissManage]

It's just whatever the chemist stocks, I think maybe some brands are cheaper then others? Mine are different all the time.

[Chuffchuff]

Thanks for replying miss ... I'm getting myself in a right flip.

So different brands all work the same? ...

[Efferlunt]

Hello just came across the thread and wanted some advice. I've just started Sertralene after an awful time feeling totally out of control. I'm a week in and feel my moods are better but feel headachy and sick much of the time. Has anyone else has this?

[Chuffchuff]

Hi effer yes I felt headachy and sick and generally awful for the first week! but after that the side effects did start to fade and prob by the end of week two they had pretty much gone.

It is pretty grim to start with but stick with it, you will start to feel better soon and you're probably already over the worst of it

[MissManage]

They do work the same yes. Just like when you buy paracetamol from different shops I guess x

The side effects are normal effer, it's not very nice but will pass quite soon. I had this experience when the dose increased too x

[Bobbi1234]

Hey I was hoping you may be able to help me as I have never take sertraline before......I am 31 weeks pregnant and not sleeping and my anxiety is quite bad at the moment. I used to be on anti depressants years ago but not for about 2 years now. The dr has just prescribed me sertraline witch I have never taken before it is the 50 mg but I am a bit nervous about taking it while pregnant but can't cope with feeling so stressed and not being able to sleep for another 9 weeks or more. Have any of you taken it while pregnant? I wouldn't be so worried if it was one I had taken before but because I haven't it making feel stressed xx

[MissManage]

Hi Bobbi, I have been on sertraline for nearly 2 years now at 200mg. I fell pregnant whilst on it and was informed by my consultant that it was the best type of anti d to be on x

[Bobbi1234]

Thank god for that miss I have just been so stressed about taking it I am going to take my first dose tonight and hopefully after a few days my anxiety will ease and I can actually sleep it driving me crazy. But obviously I was concerned for baby As I don't want to do anything that could be harmful to her but it probably more harmful for her to have me stressed all the time and not sleeping. Plus it only for a few weeks so I suppose she has done most of her developing it just a case of getting fat now lol. Did you have to lower your dose before your due date so she did have any withdrawals ? Xx

[MissManage]

Definitely speak to midwife about your concerns though, unfortunately my pregnancy didn't work out, completely unrelated to sertraline I must stress. You need to keep yourself well so your baby can thrive, that's the most important thing! x

I'm starting to feel like an expert on it now lol.

[Bobbi1234]

I will speak to her next week at my appointment and tell her what going on she knows quite a bit about my situation as the baby's dad has changed his mind about being in her life and things. I am sorry to hear that things didn't work out with your pregnancy. I am trying my best to keep well I exercise (walk down town shopping lol) and eat plenty of everything but my main problem is my mental health while pregnant as I am ok some times but others I am mad as a bucket of frogs haha but because it had been worse last few weeks and causing me not to sleep i think it time to take action as it will be harder to deal with once I have had little one as it will only be me Looking after her.
Thank you so much for your advice I do feel a lot more relaxed about taking it. Did you take yours in the morning or at night ? I am thinking of taking it at night just before bed so if there is any side effects I will hopefully sleep through them well I say sleep I mean lay on sofa watching live at the Apollo re runs and not having to associate with actual people ?? xx

[Chuffchuff]

Hi bobbi I've not had any experience of taking meds during pregnancy but I hop u start to feel the benefit soon.

I take my tablet in the morning after having breakfast (if I take them on an empty stomach they can make me feel queasy). I started taking them later in the day originally but couldn't sleep properly and felt quite unsettled. When I started taking them earlier I started sleeping fine.

I know some people do take them at night though; I suppose everyone is affected differently...

[carriewintermeadow]

Hi ChuffChuff and everyone. I've previously posted, but nc'ed recently and then the thread disappeared from my list of Threads I'm On.

Just wanted to check in and see how everyone is doing. Off to read through all the messages I've missed now ..

[Bobbi1234]

I still haven't built up the balls to take it (I worry about everything I will take it then stress and then once it was fine the first time I will be ok) but last night for some reason I managed to sleep all night bar about 1 hour but today I am so stressed and freaked out for no reason at all. I feel so stuck because I am stressing so much about taking it because of being pregnant but I am also stressed during the day because my anxiety is bad at the moment ?? and now I just sound a little bit on the crazy side x

[mumof6needssanity]

Hi Bobbi,
I have been on sertraline 150 mg per day for 5 years. I have had 3 dc in this time and have bf all of them. They do not seem to have been affected at all.
My ds who does have difficulties is the dc I had before I started sertraline but whilst I was suffering from anxiety and depression.

I hope this helps erasure you. Take care

[Bobbi1234]

It does help as I can feel my anxiety getting worse. I have just seen a huge spider and I can usually either shooo out of nearest exit or I will squish them. I couldn't do either I freaked out didn't know what to do I sprayed with hair spray but it dropped to the floor so I hoovered it up before it ran away but then panicked Incase it had survived the intense sucking and wiz zing of the Hoover so sat there with Hoover turned on for 15 mins to make sure it couldn't of survived I even Hoovered up a pile of Shake and vac to hope it will land on it and kill it if it wasn't dead already and now I have put Hoover away where it belongs but put a towel on the behind the door so if it escapes from Hoover it can't climb under kitchen door and come in to living room!!! I know I am just being nervous because of not feeling great at moment but I don't know how to calm myself down and if I tell my family they will just laugh it of and say come stay at mine tonight. I am sorry for letting my freak out on you guys on this lovely Saturday evening but thank you for all your advice and if I can calm myself down enough I will take my first dose tonight x