Sertraline- anyone else about to start them? Am scared

[Margaret1982uk]

Sertraline- anyone else about to start them? Am scared

How are you getting on delete or decay?

It can take s few weeks for them to start taking effect. They have been a life saver for me, I had crippling anxiety, which has gone now

I would have loved these to work for me but straight away on day 1 I felt nauseous every time I yawned and couldn't sleep/just didn't get tired at all. Which was quite distressing as I'm a really good sleeper and usually sleep is my only refuge. Maybe I should have stuck them out but I couldn't face not sleeping until I got used to them.

Does anybody think it's worth another go? I still have them. Maybe building up the dosage as was suggested to the OP might work?

I am finally going to bite the bullet and start taking them. Dr suggested half a tablet for the first few weeks. I am terrified of feeling sick or spaced out as I still have to work drive look after the kids etc. It says to take in the morning with food ? Is that the best time as was thinking before bed so i could sleep through any side effects.

Alfie I'm about to switch over from citalopram once I've cut my dosage right down.I'm absolutely terrified tbh but recognise that I must do it.
Mornings with food is what is recommended.
Do you have any days which are less busy to start taking them? I understand that that sounds like a silly Q to ask a parent.

It's my reaction to citalophram years ago that Is making me anxious about taking them it was only 20 mg and I felt like I could barely string a sentence together god knows how I drove to work. Most days are busy either at work or still having to ferry the kids around to after school stuff

When I restarted citalopram last Spring I purposefully didn't drive for a few days.I felt tired but not wiped out but slightly spaced out.
Eight years ago I started fluoxetine and that completely floored me,goodness knows how I got through it.I can recall one particular school run where I have absolutely no idea how I managed to safely drive us all home.I was literally slumped over the wheel once I'd parked in the drive.

See I was fine on fluoxetine no side effects at all and although it levelled my mood a bit still didn't make me feel happy. I have got some fluoxetine here to take but a different gp has suggested sertraline as they think that is better suited to needs

Interesting that you say that.I don't think either of them have made me happy only calmer & less muddled in my head.Perhaps Sertraline provides the happiness factor?!

What dosage were you on? I took 40mg of both.The Sertraline will be 50mg but I'm expecting it to not touch the sides tbh.

20 of citralopram but only lasted a week and 40 mg of fluoxetine. Yes mine will be 50 mg of sertraline not sure it has the happiness factor. I just still wasn't feeling very motivated or positive although I was calmer less snappy on the fluoxetine especially at the time of the month when the slightest thing would send me into a rage. I am also on the mini pill now so that has eased but not sure if it is making me paranoid and insecure or if it's recent circumstances with dh. Either way I need to get a grip of my feelings so need to give this a try

Yes neither of them make me feel motivated.I would love to have my motivation back.Thankfully I have never really suffered from PMT rages but have evidently started the peri phase as I was 18 days late and have felt absolutely rock bottom.Like you I feel that my happiness will return once those issues in my life can be resolved,unfortunately they are issues out of my control.

I'm a week in and no real side effects and they are working. They gave me night sweats a bit last time, but none so far. Sooo worth it, I'm sleeping for first time in months and intrusive negative thoughts gone. I went straight onto 50mg dose and will stay on that as I'm very small. Good luck everyone

I took morning with lots of drink and food. Didn't want side effects at night because of sleep problems

That sounds encouraging Cotton did you go straight onto them or were you switching from another AD?

Just FYI I tried citalopram about 10 years ago and I only lasted taking one tablet as it sent me through the roof! I explained this to the doctor when I said I was petrified to take the sertraline and he said they are totally different. Sertraline is slow releasing and the dosage is so much gentler as the highest level you can take of Sertraline is 150/200mg and the highest you can take of Citalopram is 60mg so you can see already how different they are!

I am still agonising when to start the setraline- there never seems to be a right time. I wish I could just crack on with them and stop stressing out over it.

Margaret I can understand that as I'm delaying the switch myself.I'm not frightened of using sertraline but terrified of having to cut my dose of citalopram down to 10mg before I switch.I have such terrible stuff going on atm that I think that doing so will tip me over the edge!
Do you have any days which are less demanding on you?I always recommend that as a starting date.

No, I wasn't switching. I'd been ok for 3 years since last pnd. To be honest I was feeling pretty awful from insommnia so side effects might have gone unnoticed. I've possibly been a bit shaky, but put that down to breast feeding demands and needing to eat more. My dr said I might jot get same side effects as the last time.

Sounds positive as although no side effects with Prozac didn't give me the positive mood I wanted and citralphram sent me loopy was all geared up to get my prescription tomorrow morning but now have to work so will be Wednesday. How can taking something that is meant to help u cause so much anxiety think I need to just try it and see

I take them, I literally had no side effects other than possible tiredness.. may have just been tired. It's different for everyone. They work really well for my anxiety. I really don't have any now.

Also, I just started on 50mg. Took a couple of weeks to kick in.

Was all geared up to get them today and take it this morning as it's my day off but stressing as I have parents evening tonight and don't want to be spaced out or ill. But can't keep putting it off or making excuses

Alfie I think that it would be unlikely to affect you that quickly,but yes you don't want to look like a stoner @ parents'evening.

If u have to take them in the morning and with food I am going to have to start eating breakfast. Off work again tomorrow and don't have to go anywhere but Friday is a early start at work and a long day so that's putting me off it was within days I started reacting to the citralphram

I don't do breakfast either tbh,but will have to force down some toast.I don't think that there will ever be a right time to start them.As I said I have to start reducing my dose next week & I'm terrified,but the alternative is no way to live either.