Sertraline and apathy/indifference

[IPokeBadgers]

Long story condensed: currently signed off work due to stress, a very nasty situation that has triggered anxiety and depression. Started sertraline 50mg 3 weeks ago to try and treat the anxiety as my mood and emotions felt very unstable. Felt zombified for first week but the fuzzy head feeling has lifted and now I feel nothing. I am totally indifferent to anything and everything and have lost all motivation to do anything. My job situation will not change and I need to find something new, but my motivation to look and apply for stuff has disappeared. I am binge watching TV and eating chocolate like it's going out of fashion. And I just don't care.

Does anyone else who has experience of sertraline have any words of advice? Is this not giving a fuck about anything likely to be with me as long as I take these Meds? I admit, it is lovely to not have the emotional extremes and to feel calmer, but it isn't going to help me improve my situation.

Anyone? 😐

I have to say Ive never felt that extreme on it but my friend said she did. They all affect everyone differently so unfortunately it's difficult to compare. Maybe give it another week and then speak to your doctor again if no different?

Certainly , give it a chance , I have just started and feel like you. very zombified

Plus, I force myself to do at least one thing I don't want to for at least half an hour. As I don't want to do anything this is a real challenge!!!'

I've been taking it for past 10 yrs after ds was born , I was so anxious that it was a welcome relief to have "nothing" going around in my head. I didn't feel like a zombie, but just pleased to not feel constantly overwhelmed. As other posters have said it's a very individual experience, but may be worth seeing your go as they affect everyone differently. Incidentally do you think you may have felt like binge watching box sets and doing nothing anyway, without sertraline? I only ask as stress is physically and emotionally daring and can leave you feeling completely sapped of energy anyway. Hope you manage to sort things as it's a horrible feeling. Xx

I've not felt zombified but in terms of alleviating that anxiety feeling, it does (for me) absolutely nothing AT ALL! However, I have been sleeping a lot lot better since I've been on it which is a bonus in itself for someone who previously took ages to get to sleep and often woke up at 3am.

To be honest, a few glasses of wine do more to stop me feeling anxiety than these tablets do.

I think it's difficult at the moment as you've only been on it three weeks. I think you'd need to do about 5 weeks on this dose and see how it pans out. See if the apathy goes.

I think it's difficult at the current time into your treatment because it's clear from your post you've had a really awful time and it's very much on your mind. It could be that the depression (which can manifest and total apathy towards life anyway) 'breaking through' which may mean that ultimately you need to go on a higher dose, but this work issue has obviously brought you down really low and so you've got a difficult place to come back from so I think you have to give it more time and see how the symptoms pan out.

I'm so sorry you've had such a crap time at work - utter misery.

The answer to your last question? It might, but, you might come out of it. Don't look to it as being a magic bullet - it doesn't work straight away and you have to spend a lot of time (usually at least four weeks gap at a time) between dosage changes.

I hope you can find your happy balance but I would say that if your state of mind goes more downhill I think you should go back to the Dr who could help you - I don't know if the tablets will 'mask' worsening depression or not but make sure you take care of yourself.

My husband is on sertraline and does sound very similar he just isn't motivated to do anything .In fact so much so that if I do stuff he tells me not to do it! For instance he used to go fishing and now the thought of getting the stuff ready is too much for him.He's bought an ( expensive) electric bike but hasn't got to grips with how to use it properly .He's retired due to ill health but doesn't make the tea or clean up anything .The trade off is that his depression and anxiety are gone so I suppose that's the choice you make .hope you can get sorted xx

Thank you so much for your replies, I really appreciate hearing other people's thoughts. I have actually been off work since the start of March and had hoped to avoid medication but realised a few weeks ago that I needed more help. Since being off I have rollercoastered through various states and emotions....been looking for a new job, been for a couple of interviews but the sheer stress of the interviews was difficult to deal with too.

I know medications like this take a while to work fully, and the fact that the zombie fog has lifted and a lot 9f the anxiety/panic is abating is a pleasant change....but this apathy to everything didn't feel as pronounced before. Physically and mentally I am so much better than I was at the start of March....I have about 4-6 weeks missing, I think I had a proper breakdown if I'm honest.

I had already been doing and lot of sitting and watching box sets and films before starting the tablets but was also doing some stuff around the house, had started the job hunt etc but I seem to have kind of flumphed down again.

Thank you for sharing your experiences and kind words!

Hey love, I totally get where you’re coming from — I’ve been on Zoloft (Sertraline) for a pretty long time now, and honestly? It really does work well once it settles in properly. The first couple of weeks were rough for me too — I felt off, a bit numb, super tired, and definitely had that “zombified” vibe going on. But that weird foggy state lifted faster than I expected, and after that, things slowly but surely started balancing out. My emotions stopped crashing all over the place, and I started feeling more me again, just calmer and more in control.

Give it a bit more time — three weeks is still pretty early in SSRI world. That flat, indifferent feeling can be part of the adjustment period, and for a lot of us, it fades. Keep checking in with yourself, and maybe let your doctor know what you’re feeling too. Also, just a little tip from experience — using good quality meds really makes a difference. I always make sure I get proper Zoloft from a reliable place, and it helps so much with minimizing side effects and getting the full benefit. If it helps, I order mine from this trusted pharmacy: delivery-service24.com/buy-zoloft-uk.html — always solid results and no weird surprises.
Hang in there, truly. You’re not alone in this 💛