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

[Chuffchuff]

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

I am joining the club. I just got prescribed sertraline 50mg. I have been on it before, actually last year. It made me little bit high, so it was discontinued. Now I am on many mood stabilisers so hopefully I won't get high. My new psychiatrist hadn't obviously read my records. It was the previous psychiatrist who prescribed it last time.

What time of day do you take sertraline?

I was taking it at night when I was on 25mg then 50mg, but now I'm taking 100mg I split it and take one tablet in the morning and one at night. No real logic to that except it means I don't ever forget completely! My GP said my next prescription would likely be in 100mg tablets so I will go back to taking it at night at that point.

It's definitely helping me though. My job is very very pressurised at the moment but the difference is I'm back to feeling like somehow I WILL make it through each day, rather than feeling panicky and sick and weepy all the time.

Still find myself daydreaming about a quieter life but I know that's not realistic!

I took one already. I had some left from last year. I feel bad so I wanted to start straight away.

Verso I do use sun block factor 50, just wondered if anyone else was troubled with possible pigmentation from the sertraline

How are you both doing today, mangomungo and brightandbreezyNot? I'm still taking it very much one day at a time. I had a major panic attack about 3am - sleep is still an issue for me, particularly when my DH snores - but took myself to the sofabed in the playroom and focused on deep breathing to get myself back to sleep. Still feel a bit "rabbit in headlights" but am focusing on one day, even one hour, at a time to get through it. I'm just trying to remember all the CBT stuff I did a few years ago - how it's not a situation itself that is stressful, it's what you think about the situation that makes it stressful - but it's not easy.

I hope everyone has a great day!

I noticed that sertraline makes me tired, so I take it in the evening. no other side effects to mention :).

Verso: sorry to hear that you panic attach. I haven't ever had one so I can't imagine how it is. I had CAT therapy recently. I don't think it helped much. my cpn told me some, I assume, CBT tricks to use.

Hello All, I've been off this thread for a while, mainly because the Sertraline has taken away my anxiety completely, so I feel quite 'normal'. I'm worrying about the same things, but they don't 'get' to me in the same way. The panic and the fear have gone. However, having had a month on 100mg I was finding them too strong. I feel exceptionally tired all the time and get a migraine-type nag in my head almost every day. So I started taking alternately 50mg then 100mg. On some days I haven't taken anything. I saw doc last week and said I wanted to go back to 50mg but he didn't think it a good idea, just in case panic/anxiety comes back, so I have more 100mg but just cannot take them every day. Dry mouth, headaches, very tired.

But other than that I feel I am operating normally for most of the time, so that's good. I really hope that you are all feeling a bit better. I have to say some sunshine has really helped lift my spirits these past couple of weeks.

Love to you all xxx

Hi All
Ive been prescribed a low dose of sertraline and wondering whether or not to take it. Ive not taken antidepressants before... Doc thinks it will help with my anxiety and stress levels if I take it for a few months... but the side effects don't sound nice! They have prescribed 25mg for 2 weeks then 50mg after than... how long before it starts to work and how long does it take to get used to it....
thanks

Hi there, sadmumma. Sounds like the sertraline has really worked for you, which is brilliant. I hope I'll get to where you are eventually!

bluewireflower not everyone gets side effects. If your doctor has suggested the sertraline it will be after weighing up the medical pros and cons. My GP said you can't go on it for less than six months as it takes a while to take full effect, and in the end I dithered about taking them because I was anxious about side effects like you - but it's been fine. I'm not 100% yet but I definitely am finding a way to cope and manage what life throws at me rather than just wibbling and feeling overwhelmed.

(Having said that I still have overwhelmed moments too but there are more balanced times in between, if that makes sense...)

Good to hear Verso that sertraline is working. I take it in the evenings and I have noticed improvement in my mood. I actually get strange buzzing feeling. Not sure if that is a side effect.

Hello Ladies
Thought I would join for some extra support. I am on Day 2 of 50mg Sertraline and I feel AWFUL! I am a complete Zombie and If it doesnt take me 30 seconds to respond to a simple question I am bawling my eyes because I am feeling sooo low.
I am taking it for PND are these symtoms normal??? I am seriously considering quitting tomorrow as dont know if I can cope with another day like today.... :(

Hi everyone, been ages since I updated. Been on Sertraline 10 weeks today and it's helped enormously. I was definitely more anxious than depressed and it's made everything so much easier to cope with. I have no side effects apart from quite realistic dreams and horrible sweating at night. Not to mention a clicky jaw ... All normal?

Oh, and I'be always got a tired feeling. But I would rather that than not being able to sleep!

Just saw this thread on active convos, is it ok if I join in? I'm on 150mg sertraline for pnd and birth trauma.

I thought I'd write a post now that I am feeling much better as I found it really annoying when people just right when feeling really horrible and never writing when things get better!!
I have been on sertraline since the 19th Dec 14 for Anxiety which caused me to have what can only be described as a breakdown. crisis team got involved going into the 3rd week which has actually opened loads of doors for help. My dose was upped to a 100mg at 4 weeks and that is when I started to feel much better.
I am now 18 weeks into taking sertraline and 14 weeks of 100mg's. I am functioning day to day now and each week I am still improving. side effects have pretty much gone and I am so pleased I stuck with them, I am far from completely well again but I am on the right road.
For all those that are starting the journey stick with it because if you were anything like me, I had to hope that what was ahead was so much better than what was behind me because no way did I want to back there!!!
my new saying is something a read in a book which is 'No matter what illnesses or injuries you are carrying while you are still breathing there is more right with you than wrong with you' :)
Stay Strong xx

Hi elliejjtiny, ourglass and kittywake. kitty and ourglass it's good to hear from people coming out the other side of this. I'm getting vivid dreams too - although some of them are quite cool (I was doing a very realistic charcoal drawing of the sea the other night in my sleep - I can still picture it!) so I don't mind too much.

I'm on 100mg - although because I still have 50mg tablets and am taking one in the morning and one at night I have a bad habit of forgetting one of them, and then I feel noticeably more wobbly for a day or so after. Things are gradually getting more manageable for me though I think, so on balance it's working. I have even started doing a bit of light exercise (unthinkable only a few weeks ago) and that helps as well. Virtuous circle rather than vicious? or something...

Hi elliejjtiny. I'm sorry to hear you have pnd and birth trauma. I had similar after DD1 was born and I know how terrible it can be. Did you start straight away on 150mg or have you built up gradually? How are you finding it?

I had some good days but now I am feeling low again. I have only taken sertraline for one week, so one can't really say much yet.

Kitty, good to hear that sertraline is working.

Verso, I have thought about starting exercise too. I will go biking after I first get my bike fixed. I trying to go to bike shop today.

Hi all, I'm new here and wish I'd found u all so much sooner!!! I'm 6 months after starting ad- anxiety and severe depression- horrible horrible!! Couldn't tolerate citalopram, but I'm now on 150 sertraline, I've stabilised, life is good, I'm back to my old self and returned to work on Monday. I do also recommend exercise. I started running ( or slow jogging ) and it really helped too.

verso I started on 25mg 10 months ago and went up gradually. It's helping but I feel like I need a bit more. GP said that's the highest dose I can have and suggested counselling. Problem is with 5 dc under 9 I'm doing well to go to the loo uninterrupted. I'm not sure how I'd fit counselling in. LD29 welcome. I'm a newbie on 150mg too.

How's everyone doing this week? I'm loving having my "me time" at lunchtime to look forward to each day. Yesterday I didn't feel hugely energetic so just did a few lengths and then used the sauna and jacuzzi. Still worked as far as de-stressing goes. Today I'm going to use the gym. I had a couple of late nights at the weekend as I was away with some mum friends, and I know how critical sleep is for me. Yesterday I felt very low again in the morning but I think that was a combination of lack of sleep and quite a bit to drink over the weekend .

Early and abstemious night last night and I feel the better for it today. Onward!!

I am doing better, if you look the big picture. I still feel bad but at least I am not in crisis. I hoping to get my sertraline increased from 50 mg to 100 mg.

Hi people,
Day 1 of Sertraline 50mg. Scared of side affects. Never had a panic attack before. Praying I don't have one.

Shybairns, take it easy. It might take a while until you feel even just a little better. Keep taking the medication. It has made me so much calmer. I have found that they have made me tired and I have some very strange dreams but stick with them and be kind to yourself. Take care.

Just marking place to remind myself to update later x

I've taken Citalopram in the past and that gave me loads of weird dreams.
Feeling so much calmer this week that I thought twice about starting on Sertraline. But then I remembered it was only this time last week that I felt utterly crazy and incapable of making any decision. Start counselling tomorrow.

Definitely feel like I'm 'on' something