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

[Chuffchuff]

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

I take sertraline (100mg) but I forgot to take them for about 2 days, I got this awful 'zapping' sensation in my head. has anyone else had this

wandering I'd have thought they would have started working for you now after five weeks at that dose. I'd suggest going back to your GP, especially with the serious thoughts you're having. Mine told me some people need to go up to 150mg or even 200mg - but your GP will be able to advise. Maybe SSRIs aren't right for you?

pearls I've only forgotten one dose so far and I'm still on 50mg. Worth talking to your doctor?

All this talk of doctors! I went to see mine last night to get a repeat and discuss side effects and dosage. I'm staying on 50mg for another two weeks then possibly will go up to 100mg. He's said I can go up sooner if I feel I need to.

I can tell they have started working I think. I am anxious about work but don't have the sick feeling of dread. I feel like I will get through what the day throws at me. Also less down on myself when I got dressed. Usually I'm all about how rubbish I am having got fat again blah blah but today I put some smart things on and feel good about myself. I hope I don't suddenly have another rebound anxiety attack like the other day! Still waking up stupidly early: 4am but the GP thinks that's more likely the anxiety than a drug side effect.

pearls reading that back I sound a bit blunt, sorry. What I mean is I don't have experience of missing a dose at that level, sorry!

Sorry if I've killed the thread!!

Major panic this morning 3am–5am. Taking it one hour at a time at the moment...

Hi Verso.

It's wretched, isn't it? Hope your day has been better.

I've just been to see GP. Broke down. She's upped dose to 150mg.

I feel horrific. Shaky, nausea and headache. Cried all the way home. Text DP to ask him to come home as I'm feel I'm having some kinda nervous breakdown :(

I hope you're ok today, wandering. It's horrible when it comes over you in waves. I've been a lot better today. I'm hoping that the intervals between episodes are going to get longer and I'll gradually have more good days than bad.

I'm still on 50mg. I can carry on with the 50mg for another week or go up to 100mg. I'll see how I feel on Monday. I'm a bit worried the side effects will be worse with a higher dose, but then the benefit might be greater too. Decisions!

It's definitely working though. I have horrible things to deal with at work at the moment and I feel pretty much ok. The sheer panic and dread has subsided most of the time (apart from yesterday morning).

Hello! This is my first post on mumsnet... feel like I need a bit of extra support at the moment so thought I would give it a try!

Potted history: I have been taking sertraline on and off since my DS was born (he is now 4), initially for PND but have ongoing problems with depression and anxiety. Did come off it for a bit but a serious (physical) health issue last year set me back somewhat, for various reasons, so am now back on Sertraline 100mg.

I generally find it works for me but still get periods when the darkness descends... this week I have been feeling quite low for no specific reason that I can identify. Not able to focus at work (I should be working now really!) and really irritable with my DH and DS. Feel like I will burst into tears any minute. I could go to the gym at lunchtime but even though I know it would make me feel better, I can't motivate myself to do it.

Do other people feel like this despite taking ADs? It isn't all the time so don't feel like I want to up my dose at the moment but always feel a bit worried that I won't 'come out of it' this time... and feel so guilty about being horrid to my loved ones, especially my ds who doesn't really understand why mummy is so grumpy .

Verso, I don't know if you have been diagnosed with anxiety but: I was on 50mg before upping to 100mg and my GP said that they would normally prescribe at least 100mg if you have anxiety (with or without depression), and I did really find that the higher dose helped with my anxiety. I guess I am lucky as I don't suffer too badly with side effects - is this an issue for you?

Glad you're feeling better today, Verso. I think the decision to up dose, at least for me, is when I've done 5ish weeks and I'm still having awful, depressive episodes. Yes, see how you feel next week - hopefully you won't need to, but don't worry if you do.

Hi, Poc. I understand the guilty feeling all too well... Hope today is a good one for you.

I'm going to the in-laws tomorrow and absolutely dreading it!

Pearls, I forgot to take my medication with me when I went away for a couple of days at the end of last year and it did make me feel pretty weird... I missed three days of 100 mg. Felt spaced out, dizzy and 'fuzzy' in my head; hard to describe. I also felt similar (although less severe) when previously weaning off sertraline for a while - I guess this is one reason why you are not supposed to just stop taking it but have to reduce your dose gradually.

That said, I would still speak to your GP, especially if you still feel like this when you have started taking the tablets again.

Hi, how are you all?

Verso - don't worry about upping your dose to 100mg. I didn't notice any more side effects. In fact now (must be about week 6) the horrid taste in my mouth has gone and I'm not jaw clenching. I do seem to be very tired and I'm getting lots of headaches, but then I have always had headachey periods in my life, so not sure if that is Sertraline or not.

I forgot to take one tablet last week and I woke up that night in the middle of the night and my heart was pounding. I can only think that it is the anxiety and panic that is still there but controlled by the drugs, so not taking that one made a difference. I have been very worried by something happening today and that has now been and gone and wasn't that bad.

Generally I am much happier than I was in February and life is a bit more tolerable.

Hello to PocPoc and sorry to hear you are suffering after having your DC. It might also be a hormonal thing for you if related to PND perhaps? Hormones are bloody awful things!

Wandering, how are you doing? Hope you get through the inlaws okay tomorrow xx

Sad, I've been suffering with headaches since I upped to 100mg. The Dr thinks it's probably stress. I kinda hope so as I dread to think how my 150mg dose could affect me.

Also jaw-clenching. A lot.

Took my first 150mg tablet last night and today hasn't been too bad at all, really. Awoke with the burning-skin sensation I associate with anxiety, but it wore off over the day.

Fretting about tomorrow (and Sunday). I hate being away from home and I hate having to mix, not that I do a very good job at it, when I feel so depressed. I have nothing positive to add to any conversation :( Still, I'll survive it, I guess.

Do you have any plans for the weekend?

Does anyone have any advice on how to help somebody deal with someone going through anxiety?
My boyfriend is really struggling at the moment, especially after having 3 awful weeks anxiety wise. It's taken it's toll on me and I've really not been myself during that time and this has had an effect on him as well. Now I'm on a break for Easter for 2 weeks so I was hoping I'll be less worried as I'll not have work/uni to stress about but I've come down with tonsillitis and I'm bed bound so now I'm worrying that this will take it's toll on my relationship as well!

Has anybody had similar experiences with relationships and anxiety? Were calling it a 'rough patch' at the moment but it seems to have been going on for ever! Plus my anxiety was at bay when I first met him (about a year and a quarter ago) and it's gotten worse but he can't seem to understand how it has.

Just be there for him. Support him and encourage him to seek professional help (If he hasn't ready). My partner is amazing. When I was at my worst he done everything. He took out baby shopping every week so I didn't have to worry. He listened to me go on and on for months. He got me though it. We never called it a rough patch it is what it is. No pressure was put on myself to snap of it.

Everyone else.
Feeling much better in myself now I'm upped to 100mg a few weeks ago maybe 4 can't remember. Feeling slightly anxious today but I'm only 9 weeks in so suppose it's normal im not to worries about it. Apart from that I've been Great

I've been up and down, anxiety-wise. Trying to control it with breathing if I get really antsy. Most of the time it works. I missed a tablet at the weekend though so I feel I'm catching up a bit again, as I got more anxious Sunday and yesterday.

Still plodding on with 50mg. I'll do another week of 50mg and then see how I feel. Next week we're away on holiday so hopefully that will completely take my mind off work and give my mind a break (even if holidays as a Mum are rarely restful!

hannahlucyx I'd echo what teawomen has said. I hope you're getting a chance to rest so you can start to feel better too.

How are you doing, wandering? I'm finding my social anxiety is getting a bit easier to manage on the sertraline and I'm hoping it will continue to improve (though I'm quite happy to be an introvert and socialise with a few close friends!)

Thanks teawoman and Verso! I've talked to him about my anxiety before but never in that much detail so after speaking to him again he understands how difficult I'm finding it is. I don't want him to be unhappy just because I am.
Like I said though I'm off for 2 weeks and the 3 weeks before this were particulary hard so hopefully having no work/uni commitments will help

Glad you were able to speak to him about it, hannahlucyx. It's food when you feel understood. I hope your break helps you to feel a bit less anxious.

I'm feeling good today. I've got an INSANE day ahead at work, but instead of wibbling intermittently in the ladies' loos, I feel pretty much ok. Crikey! Fingers crossed it lasts all day...

Desperately looking for support please! Been taking sertraline 50mg for 7.5 weeks - had felt an improvement by weeks 4-5 but weeks 6-7 have been tough and anxiety is ramping up and I'm getting emotional easily again! Gp thinks I need to give it 12 weeks to level off - thinking this could be hormonal as I'm due my period but I'm scared they're never going to work.
Been waking up shaking but by evening I usually feel better and more myself. Still struggling with eating...

Belle. I'm the same on or around my period. Hugs. After 12 weeks the doc will probably increase If you feel same. Hang in there.

Hi everyone! Noticed the threads been a bit quiet lately, how's everyone doing?

Me being the idiot that I am forgot to get a repeat perscription of my Sertraline and had to wait until after the bank holiday. The doctors still haven't got back to me saying it's ready to collect so I've been off it for just under a week I feel so lost without it! And not to mention how spaced out I've been feeling (heart palpitations, problems with vision/head etc.)

Does anybody know whether this is normal and whether it'll have any effect when I start back on the medication again? I'm starting to get a bit worried haha!

Hi hannahlucyx. I hope you now have your tablets and are feeling a bit better. I'm surprised they didn't sort something out for you as I know they get people to "taper" slowly when coming off SSRIs, because of side effects/withdrawal.

I'm just back from holiday and quite low today. Just tackling the day one email/one task at a time. My company is in the midst of a lengthy reorganisation (been going on several years) and a couple of months ago also announced a merger - so I don't know if I will have a job in a few months' time. I know everyone's jobs are uncertain really but it does add an extra level of anxiety. My husband doesn't work (he has MS) so I'm the sole earner in our household.

I've gone up to 100mg but am having terrible headaches every morning. They wear off after an hour or so but I've had a couple that were borderline migraine (had to be in darkness, felt dizzy and sick). I think the tablets are helping my mood though so I will persevere.

I hope everyone's doing ok...

I am on sertraline and have noticed i am getting more and more pigmentation on my face from being outside, is this a side effect?

Bump

Thanks Verso! I've only just got my tablets back today so I can get back on track :) I'm going to start on half for a little while so I can get it back into my system gradually cause I'm afraid of getting awful side effects this time round. I'll defiantly know not to make the same mistake again haha! ??

brightandbreezyNot I haven't had that side effect so can't say from my own experience. Maybe your GP would be able to advise? Are you using sun block at all? It might help?

I'm hanging in there. Feeling a lot better than a month ago but still pretty wobbly. Work is just so full of uncertainty. I didn't have the headache this morning, which is an improvement. I've also tentatively planned to go for a gentle swim at lunchtime (or possibly just sit in the jacuzzi if it's open!)

Hectic life anyway - and then our dog had diarrhoea this morning, poor thing. DH is trying to get him to the vet today but it will be difficult as he doesn't drive because of his disability. I couldn't take any time off though because of everything going on at work. Ack!!