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

[Chuffchuff]

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

Will be fine Nat. I think that's the dose I took when I had it.

Morning, that wasn't as bad as it could have been, though there were a couple of wakey ups feeling sick that have passed. Though I've also discovered that sertraline interact with buccastem, so using that tactic for dealing with the nausea is out the window - Google to the rescue.

Last night qualified as one of my better ones on the sleep front, no idea how!

Nat99 I'm pretty sure they work for most people, I'm just obviously one of those exceptions

I just want that churning nervous feeling to go away in my tummy , will they help with that does anyone know? On day 5 now x

Going to try and force myself out for a walk again but I felt terrible while I was out yesterday :( was struggling to see how it was helping but I suppose it must do in the long run x

I know they will take a while to get into my system but I just want to be able to at least function and maybe go back to work because at the moment I can't :(

Yes the churning will go once your anxiety lessens Nat so the tablets should help with that. As you know side effects are worst in first week so maybe it's the side effect of nausea as well as anxiety that's making your stomach churn. It will get better. You managing to eat?

Can i join please? My anxiety is BAD just now. Currently sat on bathroom floor posting while dd in the bath. Been on citalopram for, well. Forever

Hello will, trying so hard to eat. oh makes me banana with yoghurt in the morning so I can take lustral and diazapam. About half an hour ago I forced down a slice of toast don't ask me how. I don't think I can feel like this for much longer but I know I can't give up and also scared they won't help with my health anxiety. Sorry for moaning on x

I also just went for a small half hour walk and felt like my chest was going to cave in. Sat in garden now with some water x

Sorry you feeling so bad Nat. Perhaps go see your gp again he might be able to reassure you and see how you doing.

I do have an appt on Monday so maybe I should try and stick it until then or he will say I havent given it a fair go. Especially as I started on 25mg for 2 days which he didn't reccommend. I so want to get better x

Yes sounds fair enough Nat.
Welcome lemiss.

Glad your night was better than you expected badger.

How long have you been on sertraline now Nat? My GP said it normally takes 4 weeks to work. When I first started I had increased anxiety for the first 3 weeks, and then I started to feel a lot better about 5 weeks, and the anxiety was much, much lower. Unfortunately ADs require you to be patient for a while which I know is horrible when you just want them to work. I felt sick the first week or so as well but that did eventually go and my appetite increased. Hang in there.

This is completely trivial but sertraline completely killed my libido, I just wasn't interested in anything like that whatsoever which was fine by me. I quite enjoyed it as it meant I could concentrate on work. Now on mirtazapine my libido is back with a vengeance, to the point I can't stop thinking about sex . I should be pleased really but I have no-one to share this with and don't have the time to find anybody either. Oh and I've definitely noticed an increase in my appetite. I have put on about half a stone (in 3 and a bit weeks, yikes) so I'm back to my normal weight now but I'm trying not to over-do it. My mood is okay, I felt really well motivated before I came off the sertraline and when I stopped it disappeared. I feel better than I have the last week or so so I'm hoping it will come back soon.

Hi pandora I started last Friday and Saturday on 25mg because I was scared to take it and this will be my 4th day on the dose I was told to take of 50mg. I know the full effects would take a bit but I really wanted to get back to work and feel a little. Bit normal and at least function. But when I wake up my brain starts with thoughts about my health and I have that churning feeling which makes me not want to go anywhere which is so unlike me and I stay in bed. I actually didn't feel too bad in myself last night but it's back this morning. I have CBT and I don't want to go but I have to. I try and force food before I take my tabket in the morning as Chuff on here advised to stop the sick feeling and that part hasn't been too bad, just an unreal and anxious feeling all the time and feeling like I can't cry which is weird. In the long term I am a bit concerned about the lack of sex drive thing because of my OH, not because he isn't understanding or anything but at the moment Im not bothered because I am desperate to feel well again. In just 4 weeks I am in this state and it is very scary how quickly I have gone downhill and lost lots of weight. Meant to be getting married in February and so worried I won't be well, if ever back to normal :(

Aww I'm sorry, do try and stick with it though. The lack of sex drive might not be a problem for you, my ex was on sertraline and it certainly didn't affect his. Just see how you go over the next week, if you're still feeling sick maybe go back to your doctor. Easy for me to say but try not to worry about your wedding, that's plenty of time to get your medication sorted out. Maybe you could take your tablet in the evening? I noticed I felt more sick when I took it in the morning, I think taking it on an empty stomach isn't a good idea and could make you feel worse.

I think I must be some sort of freak as mirtazapine is supposed to be really sedating but it hasn't helped me sleep. It knocked me out the first couple of days and some nights I sleep okay but it takes me forever to actually get to sleep. Last night I kept waking up. Weirdly, I slept really well on sertraline. It's been 3 weeks now since I stopped it and I started having sleep problems again when I was taking it on a low dose every other day. I guess it's a knock on effect of that but it is annoying.

Morning, how is everyone this morning?

Week into increased dose and it's been hard but not as hard as the initial few weeks on 50mg. I have been feeling lower though especially today. Is this something to worry about?

Sickness not been too bad pandora, it's the anxious churning feeling although I think that has lessened very slightly. How come u had to increase mouse? Was that always the plan? I have an appt on Monday with GP. I took my dose and diazapam at about 8.30 this morning and then slept for 2 hours! I don't know it this is a good or bad sign?? x

Diazepam is quite sedating isn't it? I always took my sertraline in the evening as I found it made me sleepy so it could be a combination of the two. That's good you have an appointment. I found it worked really well for my anxiety after I upped my dose to 100mg (I was on 50mg for 4 weeks first) so fingers crossed it does for you too. Even when I had to decrease the dose back down to 50mg and then 25mg I found my anxiety was still mostly gone and I felt a lot more positive. It just takes a while to get into your system properly unfortunately.

Mouse I wouldn't worry too much, it might just be your body's reaction to the increased dose. Just take it easy and see how you go over the next few days.

Afternoon, day 2...

Well, after yesterday being manageable (though did need to rope a friend in to get DS to nursery) today I'm in bed and I couldn't get my brain to shut up with bribes and a gag. One of things I felt yesterday was that the weird sensation I had where my thoughts and memories felt like they were blocked was significantly less noticeable, but the weird frontal lobe sensation is back. Now to gird my loins to ring about counselling/CBT...

Did it not help at all for anxiety when you were on 50mg then pandora? x

No it didn't but I know someone who was on 50mg for anxiety and it seemed to work well for them so everyone's different. The fact you say you feel as though it has improved slightly is a good sign. x

I agree with Pandora, everyone is different I started on 25 mg for 8 days, then took 50 mg for 3 months and it definitely helped with the anxiety, the churning feeling disappeared. I had to increase my dose as I was still struggling with depression though.

Carrie are you feeling better? Has the depression got better now since you increased your dose? I have only been on it 3 and a half weeks at 50mgs but feel really low. The anxiety is getting better though. Still a way to go with it I feel. Tbh I think a lot of my problem is current life circumstances and a lot of stress over past few years. I am also feeling totally exhausted at times although I have been feeling very tired for some time.