Diagnosed with depression and extremely scared about taking medication - help!

[AnotherRandom]

Evening all.

I have been diagnosed with depression today having visited my doctor. I suffered with post natal depression after my daughter was born over 2 years ago but chose not to have any medication as I (and my husband) believed it could be sorted in other ways.

This did not happen and now I feel even worse. Not all days are bad, but most are a struggle. My doctor has prescribed lustral sertraline 50mg. However I have read the side effects and peoples' experiences of this medication and I am extremely scared about the initial effects it will have on me.

Also, my husband has reluctantly agreed that it is best for me to take this medication and believes I need to think more positively to help my situation. He just can't understand why I am finding it difficult to always be so positive about everything.

He has also told me to pray more as that might help fix me. He is very religious and believes if asked genuinely, god will help me with my illness. I felt enraged when he said this to me. I do have faith and have indeed prayed during the past two years but it hasn't helped me, hence ending back up at the doctors again today. I feel like he thinks I haven't tried hard enough. He spent 1.5 hours questioning me about my feelings and what I have done to help myself and I just felt irritated and angry the whole time.

Has anyone got any positive experiences of sertraline? How long did it take for any side effects to go away? The one I'm dreading the most is nausea and sickness :(

Sorry this is do long!

I am on sertraline, was advised to take it in the morning with something to eat - I didn't get any side effects, so it is not inevitable.

It'll take a few weeks to kick in, probably. If it doesn't work, or side effects do turn out to be bad, then go back to your GP - it can sometimes take a while to find an AD that suits your physiology.

Your H sounds like he might be part of the problem, if I may make so bold.

Depression is an illness, and yes there are things you can do, like take regular exercise, to help without taking pills, but sometimes medication can really, really help.

Ask your DH how he would feel if you had a physical complaint, say Tonsilitis. Yes you can do things like take rest and drink plenty of fluids, but a bad case of Tonsilitis really needs antibiotics to clear it up.

Positive thinking can't cure physical illnesses, although it can help. Same goes with mental illnesses.

As for the antidepressants, you may have very little of the side effects as everyone is difference. They can take a few days to clear up, maybe a week and you probably won't see any benefits for about 2 weeks at the very least. But then you'll suddenly realise that things are slowly getting better.

If your husband is an intelligent man, get him to have a look at the NHS pages about depression on-line. I'd also caution to steer clear of a lot of stuff said by Dr Google and stick to reputable sites for info!

I've taken it too and felt so much better. Just had a slight nausea for a few days when I first started taking it but that's all. It really wasn't uncomfortable. I had to set myself steps to achieve each week to bring myself out of my depression and it takes a lot of work but I couldn't have done it without taking the sertraline. I had to increase my dose to 100mg after a while as I felt myself slipping again but am off of them and feel 100% better 18 months on. I genuinely feel I would have had a nervous breakdown had I not started to take them.

I also had to be a bit selfish and put myself first and my health first which is hard to do. I didn't have counselling but that may be something to think of. Surround yourself with people who are on your side and want you to get better and will help you achieve it.

I wasnt on the same medication (lexapro)it also has nausea as a side effect which I was given tablets for,for the first two weeks.
I was also scared to go on medication. Until my Dr. pointed out that if I was having any other medical problem and she told me to take some medication I would.It made sense to me.
I was also kept a close eye on.I was given a 2 weeks script and then I went back in and we went from there.

I am hope this doesnt come out wrong,but really its not up to your husband to agree to anything, you are not feeling well,a medical professional prescribed treatment,he would be best served supporting you,maybe bring him with you to the next appointment,tbh he need a good talking to.

All the best and if the medication doesnt suit you,talk to your GP in fact its important to have regular appointments as some meds can make you feel worse before better.

I am no longer on anything,but they truly brought me out of a dark tunnel.

I think you have to have experienced depression to really know what it's like.
Unfortunately it's sometimes difficult to get people to understand that.
You're not still depressed because you're not trying hard enough to get better. It's because your brain chemicals are not working properly at the moment and the ADs will help balance you out a bit.
Don't worry too much about the side effects. Not everyone gets them.
I had some bad effects starting up, but none coming off. Everyone is different.
If you do get bad side effects tell your Dr as it can be a bit trial and error to find the AD that works best for you.

I read this online so bear with me! I had panic attacks/anxiety and was prescribed medication. Convinced myself I would take one tablet and keel over. What I read was DON'T read the side effects. Give the leaflet to a partner/friend. Take the medication. If you feel anything, ask them to look at the leaflet. It stops you worrying about them

I was very anxious in general when I was diagnosed with depression but I was also so so worried about the medication and side effects.

I took the meds, I am so so much better for it.

Prayers can help but I wouldn't just pray to alleviate appendicitis or a broken leg. I would take the medical advice too.

Just because you can't see it or you don't have a temperature, doesn't make mental illness any less real.

It may take a week to kick in but please take the medication, be kind to yourself, don't expect miracles. Just relax. Please.
Walk. Exercise. Accept the help.

Start with 1/2 a dose so just 25mg for 2 weeks. This will lessen any side effects & allow to build up slowly in your system. You might get a headache, feel tired & have a mild upset stomach but that is normal within the first few weeks. I have tried so many & this one had been the best for me with the least side effects.
The medication works on the serotonin in the brain. No amount of praying will fix that. It will take a few weeks but eventually you will feel something had lifted & start to feel better. When you reach a place where you feel you are ok you must wait 6 mths before stopping to wean off under your Drs guidance.

Thank you all so much for replying.

I have bitten the bullet and taken half a dose of the 50mg with my breakfast.

You are right in saying that if I had tonsillitis then I would need antibiotics to cure it. In fact, my doctor gave me the analogy of having a broken leg and it did make sense.

I wish I hadn't read the side effects and had given the list to my husband, it's just I have to feel like I'm making the right decision and if that means reading countless experiences of others, then I always do that.

I did encourage my husband to research depression and to form a better understanding of it and how best to support me but he was reluctant to do so. He said others experiences and symptoms will be different to mine and it will better if I tell him how I'm feeling instead (which I already had done 2 times).

Tbh he is not the easiest person to talk to at the best of times and I find myself easily irritated by him and don't even have the patience to listen to him anymore. He talks at you rather than with you and he repeats his points many times and brings in pointless examples of other things which are irrelevant to the discussion. It's too much sometimes.

Thank you again for your experiences, they really encouraged me to start my treatment :)

Good luck, I have taken several ADs over the years and had few side effects. I went straight on to 50mg sertraline and had no nausea or sickness at all. If you do they may be able to give you anti nausea tablets just to tide you over a few days till it passes. I think you'll be fine though.

Your DH sounds tiring. Dear God, please make my husband shut up with his pointless advice, amen.

Hi another we'll done for starting the medication .

Hope you're feeling ok so far. If you're worried about any side effects or just need a bit of support you are v welcome to join the sertraline buddies thread