My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention.

Mental health

sertraline oct 2015

42 replies

Student99 · 19/10/2015 09:37

Hi everyone
i have had a good look through the old threads but was wondering if there is anyone out there who has recently started who wants to compare experience?

im on day 7 now (started 50mg) and will be reviewed on day 10 by GP

im still feeling quite peculiar, like im 'on' something. im extremely tired, going to bed early and waking up early. i think my libido has been affected as only felt settled on saturday to be intimate.

im not sure what to tell gp (im taking it for anxiety) i dont feel less anxious yet, early days, but i dont feel much else part from quite hungry.

i find it difficult to concentrate for a length of time (im a full time student) and this is making me more anxious actually.

anyone want to chat about how they are feeling?
thanks

OP posts:
Report
VenusStarr · 02/01/2016 11:54

Hope you don't mind me jumping on and bumping this thread. My boyfriend has been prescribed sertraline 50mg (and waiting for cbt). He's been on it 5 days and is having crippling headaches (although headaches were there before meds) and rubbish sleep, again was bad before.

Can I ask, what do you find helpful from those around you? Things they say or do, or things that you find helpful that I could encourage him to do? I find that sometimes I feel I'm not helping him and that I'm contributing to him feeling low. He feels very worthless but he is so lovely and such a good man, it breaks my heart that he thinks he is worth nothing. I hope that you are all continuing to find the medication helpful.

If you could share what helps you I would be grateful.

Report
mumtoblaire · 03/12/2015 07:02

Hi
i was prescribed 50mg for 7 days then increase to 100mg. After reading threads on here i started on 25mg for 4 days then 50mg for 7 days then went to 100mg.
If you have been prescribed 50mg i would try to be on that dosage for at least 2weeks before your next gp appointment. Otherwise you wont know if it is helping or not.

Report
Kimwrightthomas · 29/11/2015 20:26

Hi sorry to jump on the post so far in. I'm just reading various things and looking for some support to help me through.

I was prescribed 50mg on Tuesday but I broke the tablet in half and took 25mg, as I have tried various ones before and they didn't help me. ( terrible side effects ) anyway I'm on day 6 and today I've had awful stomach pain and feel very tired. Haven't moved out of bed all day!! Don't suppose a horrible period and cold have helped!! Everything comes at once!!

Does anyone have any advice on when I should take my dose up to the 50mg??

Thanks

Report
student99 · 09/11/2015 12:23

4 weeks now, had my drs review this morning. staying on 50mg and to be reviewed in 8 weeks.

so anxiety is a bit easier, still have sense of doom and being overwhelmed but not cried for a few weeks now, it was bad during TOTM. sleep isnt great, im tired and go off quickly but wake several times worrying.

one of my major triggers is my relationship with my 6yr old dd, which sounds ridiculous. i have a very close relationship with my 3 children but my dd seems to have it in for me where everything i do isnt good enough and shes very happy when im not around and saves all her fury for me...her brothers step in to stop her...and dh when hes at home (not often). its like an abusive relationship where she is eroding my happiness and general ability to cope with life.....and shes six?! i had a lovely time bf and she was a very contented baby/toddler but since school started everything has gone downhill...a lot of it is how i compare to other mums and how awful her family/life is...she has it pretty good!

anyway that was good to get off my chest! hope your all coping today x

OP posts:
Report
cymrukernow · 08/11/2015 09:00

Day 3 on sertraline - feeling sick as a dog. Anxiety levels gone way up. Another day to get through...

Report
MrsMolesworth · 07/11/2015 17:35

Hmm. Not convinced by sertraline. It has lessened the anxiety but it hasn't lessened the demotivation at all. Still completely lacklustre and sleepy. And that buzzing happiness was very short lived - two days tops.

I think I need to try something else, or go back onto citalopram for a while.

Report
mcdog · 07/11/2015 16:48

I've recently (day 12) started Sertraline 50mg. Had horrific nausea, but that's mainly gone now. I also get these odd periods of buzzing happiness that were described by another poster, but also still get very flat times. It's definitely helped my anxiety though.

Report
cymrukernow · 07/11/2015 16:42

Day 2 on sertraline. Never had depression before- a very scary experience. Felt fine a couple of weeks ago. Now can't get out of bed. Started off by stressing about an upcoming trip abroad, it quickly developed into being anxious about EVERYTHING.Shock
Sertraline at the moment making me feel worse. Headaches and sickness. But GP told me it would, --and it sounds like after a week or so gets better.

Report
tryandtryagain · 06/11/2015 20:43

I'm on my third day 50mg doses. I was prescribed it for depression and anxiety. I've been "coping" with my anxiety for 13yrs without meds as I had a terrible reaction to venaflaxine. To go back on ADs was a massive decision but had to with my tearfulness and it impacting on work / home life. I'm terrified everytime I take a tablet but my symptoms are at the moment insomnia, lack of appetite , bit of nausea and a slightly "wired" feeling. I'm taking some sick leave as I just can't cope with it all and need to focus on me for a while. So glad I found this thread. Smile

Report
elliejjtiny · 04/11/2015 00:11

Got a routine meds review with the GP on Thursday and then heath visitor on Monday next week. I feel terrible and keep worrying about so many things. Any suggestions about help/treatment I could ask for? Really fed up of feeling like this.

Report
mumtoblaire · 30/10/2015 18:28

I agree not sure what it doing to be honest. Still get jittery and breathless. Need to take my inhaler more often than ever before. I don't shout as much as before and it sounds weird in my head when I do try and shout or raise my voice. But I haven't cried once or felt the need to since starting them.

Report
MrsMolesworth · 30/10/2015 18:13

Hmm. Not sure how much I rate it yet. I remember Citalopram feeling like a wonder drug and just shedding all the depression so I felt like myself again. Doesn't feel like Sertraline is doing much yet. I get an hour's snuggly wooziness about three hours after taking it, but apart from that, not a lot of change.

Report
littlecharmer2016 · 30/10/2015 15:43

don't know if I'll be much help, but is tarted sertraline in January, started on 50mg, for the first few weeks the side-effects were horrible and even my doctors said the main side effect from sertraline is "anxiety" and goodness she wasn't wrong. my anxiety horribly.

I'm now on 100mg after bumping up my dose in March and I've taken 100mg everyday without fail, again when I bumped up the dose my anxiety got worse, headaches and I had no energy to do literally anything but after about a month it's working fine and my anxiety seems to be under control as well as seeing a councillor

honestly the first couple weeks/ or the first month or so are the hardest but it does get better... I promise!

xxx

Report
elliejjtiny · 30/10/2015 15:35

weegie I'm on 150mg sertraline. GP says I could do with being on 200mg but she says you have to be seeing a psychiatrist to get that. Not sure why I haven't been referred to a psychiatrist, there never seems to be enough time to ask in a quick GP appointment. I'm also still breastfeeding my youngest which limits the choices a bit.

Report
weegiemum · 29/10/2015 23:36

Anyone on a high dose? I've just been put back up to 200mg (I'm a big girl, I need a higher dose partly due to my weight) but 2 weeks on I'm still feeling low. I'm also on rispiridone for my anxiety/jumpiness but I'm worried the Sertraline isn't working as I've never got on with any other ads

Managing depression is so hard, isn't it? I see my psych again in December, because I'm under her my GP doesn't like to change stuff. My dh is a GP with a specialism in psychiatry and he's not too worried so I'm trying to chill (as my teenagers say!!!)

Report
elliejjtiny · 29/10/2015 23:26

Hi. Just noticed this thread. I've been taking sertraline for 16 months. Started on 25mg and gradually increased to 150mg. Still struggling but a lot better than if I wasn't taking it.

Report
mumtoblaire · 29/10/2015 21:55

I take it between 8.30 & 10.30am. For the first week it made me yawn all day from about lunch time till going to bed. Now hardly any yawning and no one knows I am on then. Sleeping better now but I do take rescue remedy night time melts. They seem to be working. Slept right through past three nights.

Report
FluffyPersian · 29/10/2015 21:33

I've been on it a week now - I am still waking up at 3:00-4:00am and can't get back to sleep.

I definitely find it works for me taking it at night - the first day I took it at midday and I was so, so tired by 5pm.... Now I take it after my dinner at about 7:30pm-8:00pm and it seems to make me sleepy so I actually do get some sleep each night.

Not happy, but not sad - Still feeling like me with very few side effects.

Report
Pigzoom · 29/10/2015 17:43

Mrsmolesworth- yes feeling the same.
Feel like my cheeks are now burning too. My head is fuzzier as the day wears on. I felt my friend noticed today that I was out of sorts, I wonder if it's obvious to the outside world.

Report
MrsMolesworth · 29/10/2015 16:53

Also started recently. Thirsty, very wobbly legs for a couple of hours after taking and feel a bit woozy, but calm with spells of buzzing happiness (usually at night.)

Anyone been on it a while who can say if it's best taken night or day, and whether with food or on an empty stomach?

Report
Pigzoom · 29/10/2015 15:42

Hi
I've just starting taking 50mg, on day 2. Headaches, thirst and feeling weird. My joints feel weird too. Might be overthinking it.

Report
mumtoblaire · 28/10/2015 22:39

Day 16. Most of side effects have passed now except trouble sleeping and waking up at 3-4am and not getting back to sleep. Feel extremely tired and would love to spend day in bed. Still working full time and looking after 2dc. Doctor wanted to sign me off for two weeks but I didn't want to as thought better to be busy. Currently on 100mg daily but I think may need increase when I see doc again in a week. Might also see about time off regardless of how much I am needed. Hope everyone is doing OK

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

FluffyPersian · 28/10/2015 06:54

I was prescribed it nearly 2 weeks ago but went home and Googled all the side effects and risks to the baby, broke down in more tears and decided to try and 'cope'.

6 days later I was feeling so low, didn't see why I was still alive and was struggling to function - I phoned one of my sisters in hysterics and she told me to start taking the tablets as surely that was better than feeling the way I did.

I have to say, I'm really impressed at how they've helped - I'm much more stable, still feel I've got my own thoughts and am not a zombie and haven't had any of the bad side effects that were mentioned. For me, it was the right choice - I'm hoping to only be on them very short term, however I'll see what the Dr suggests next week.

Report
HidingI · 28/10/2015 00:55

I'm glad I found this thread - I've been posting in the ante/postnatal depression area and can't even find that now, except through "threads I'm on". I've just been prescribed sertraline having been on citalopram before. I haven't taken the first dose yet. It sounds terrifying and the wait to feel better seems really long! Is it really worth it?

Report
FluffyPersian · 27/10/2015 22:24

I've been prescribed 50mg of sertraline for antenatal depression and it's my 6th day on the tablets. I'm actually very impressed with the results already - I've never had any depression before, nor any mental health issues - However since becoming pregnant, my mood went down hill so fast - Like there is nothing good in life and my life is over... standing at the edge of a cliff and seeing nothing positive - it's been terrifying.

I went to the Drs 2 weeks ago and admitted I was feeling suicidal and the Dr was very supportive and prescribed me sertraline - however after Googling the side effects and the potential affects in pregnancy, I was really, really loathed to take them. It took me having a massive crash last Thursday, phoning one of my sisters, sobbing down the phone and her telling me that it's better to have me on tablets, than not have me at all.

I don't know if it's a placebo affect, however I've not cried for 4 days (I was crying 2-3 times a day before hand) and I've felt a lot more stable... numb... but stable.

I'm also very tired in the evenings (when I take them) and wake up at about 3am and can't get back to sleep... however I've been like that since I got pregnant so I don't think it's the tablets.

I think the only other side effect is waking up with a bit of a fuzzy head - Apart from that, it's been really helpful for me.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.