Sertraline buddies?

[OnlyGodKnowsWhy]

I started sertraline 2 days ago and I am having a horrible time 🙁 I was hoping there might be others out there starting up too that would like to chat and support each other. I'm a lone parent and only have my mum.

Can I ask, is 100mg an appropriate dose or is gp likely to increase ?

The highest dose for sertraline is 200mg. An individual can need anywhere up to that. So some are fine on 50. Some 100. Some 150. Seeing the gp regularly helps him or her an yourself work out together, whether you are responding to your dose and if so, whether it's a partial response.

The first time I was on them, at 50mg. I was having a partial response. I was feeling awful most of the day but fine in the evening. It stayed that way for around four weeks and the decision was made to increase to 100mg. Within four days of the increase, I began to have good days as well as nights and a week more in, I was pretty much back to normal.

This time round I've responded to 50mg, which makes sense as this relapse was not as bad as my first experience with a severe depressive episode plus I've learned some coping skills along the way.

It does go to show, that it's all down to an individual. 100mg helped me once. 50mg helped me once.

Ask your family and friends whether they have noticed an improvement. Think whether there is a stable pattern, all the days seem the same, whether that's good ones or bad ones or half and half. Are you eating better? Has sleep improved? Are you managing to enjoy old hobbies or pass times? All this provides clues as to whether sertraline is working, or partially working. Collaborate with your gp and increase as much as is necessary. It doesn't matter if you end up on 200mg or 50mg. Being on a higher dose doesn't mean you are more severe than someone on 50mg. Just means your own body responds with a higher dose.

👍

I've been recommended taking this multiple times By my doc, but I'm terrified of becoming suicidal!

Apparently it takes around 3 weeks to start to feel 'normal' ?

Also does it make you gain weight?

Anniemac, in my own experience, I gained a little whilst on sertraline first time round. About a stone. Looks to be the same this time round too.

In terms of feeling suicidal, it's not a common happening. When you start sertraline, your gp should see you after about a week to see how you are going. It can be common for anxiety and depression to worsen initially, though this is generally seen as a good sign as it means the med should work for you.

If you were one of the rare ones and felt suicidal, you would come off it and because it takes a while to build up in your system anyways, it will clear out of it pretty quickly.

If you decide to start them, make sure your loved ones know so they can keep an eye on you. Hundreds and hundreds of people take sertraline. Once any side effects clear, it's a good med. lots of support here too.

It can be anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 months for sertraline to kick in though it is generally fast acting and the longer delay can just be getting the dose right. In my own experience it's been 2 to 3 weeks both times.

Im on day 8 now and starting to feel ever so slightly better.

Im a single mum and the main fear that I have that causes me the most anxiety is that if I was to die suddenly throughout the night my daughter would be totally alone. Shes too young to teach 999 to, I know its such a tiny possibility but I cant bear the thought of not being there when she needs me.

She has her own health problems too, we had an awful episode where I could have lost her at christmas (doc thinks a lot of my anxiety is down to ptsd).

I just need to calm down I think and remember we are both on the right medication so everything will be ok. I do think the sertraline is helping, I think if I feel a bit of difference 8 days in how much better I will feel 6 weeks down the line.

Morning plumchum. It's no wonder you've become unwell, PTSD sounds about right, I can't think of anything more terrifying than thinking you might lose your child.

I can relate, until recently, I was a lone parent to my four dc. They used to go to their dads every weekend from a Friday to Monday morning. A couple of years ago, I had a lung cancer scare and whilst I was waiting on results, I remember thinking, if something happened to me Friday night, I would just lay there until Monday morning and my kids would be the ones to find me.

It's a horrendous feeling. Sertraline helps with PTSD as well and I definitely think CBT would help if you could get some.

I tried to think about it as rationally as I could. I could text my mother before I went to sleep every night and text her when I woke up first thing. That way if she didn't get the morning text she would know something was wrong and come over.

We all know in life that unexpected things can happen at any time. However it's incredibly unlikely for a healthy person.

And as you say, you are both on the right meds, things can and will, only improve.

Thank you for all your very helpful posts Only

I changed to Sertraline after about 6 months of being on Fluoxetine. Fluoxetine made me a suicidal mess and I ended up overdosing on them in a half arsed suicide attempt. About 4 days into taking Sertraline (25mg was my starting dose), but I kept going, and after moving up to the 50mg I started feeling a lot better and they worked for me soo much better than the Fluoxetine.

I then worked up to 75mg, and then stayed at that for a while. Accidentally started taking the full 100mg somewhere along the line, which my Psychiatrist said was totally fine, and that she thought that she would still need to raise the dose even further. I started taking 150mg a few days ago, as my GP said to just go straight there from 100mg, so I didn't really work up from 125mg. I'm feeling quite low right now, but I think this should even out in a few days and I don't think it's to do with the dosage increase.

Anyway, just wanted to share my experience and to reassure anyone just starting it to stick with it. It gets better even if it doesn't seem like it right now. I almost stopped 4 days in, and it would have been a big mistake on my part. If symptoms don't improve in about a month or two, I would suggest going back to your doctor though. Your dose either likely needs to be increased, or changed if symptoms and side effects get really bad, like me on Fluoxetine. They were terrible and I'm still surprised I stuck with it for 6 months, and that was only the standard 20mg. Comparatively, 150mg of Sertraline is higher than 20mg of Fluoxetine I believe xx

I'm on around day 10 of 50mg sertraline, I feel a bit better but still pretty anxious and eating is still a challenge. How long do you need to give being on 50mg before you know if you need more - any thoughts?

Hongkong5 - since 50ng is your starting dose, you should start to see benefits within 2 weeks, with a peak at 4-6 weeks. If you feel no difference at all in about 4 weeks, it's probably a sign that your dose needs to be increased. A doctor should be able to monitor your dosage and decide what your dosage needs to be increased to. Some might go 75mg, some might go 100mg just to see if that works out. They'll want to keep you on the lowest dose that improves your symptoms. Good luck sweetie xx

Thanks 27Harper, I think I'm just impatient!

Hi everyone, I was started on 50mg and took the first dose before bed, woke at 4am and then couldn't switch off. I think I may have slept if my other half hadn't had been snoring :( wide awake now and wondering what lies ahead. Have been signed off work for two weeks so hopefully these will start working fairly quickly. Wishing everyone good feelings

Two weeks was fine for me to get started on them but if you don't feel ready to go back at the end of the two weeks, take more time.

Hongkong, as you say you are feeling a little better, I'd say that's a good sign the 50mg is beginning to kick in.

Hope everyone is doing well still. I've been fine, wee anxiety spells but nothing to worry about. I was diagnosed with Gilbert's syndrome this week which I think explains why I became unwell which in turn brought on the anxiety and then depression. Nice to have some answers

I'm starting mine next Monday 😬

Slightly concerned I might become an emotionally numb robot 🙈 but hopefully it'll help when I have triggers (ptsd related) x

anniemac1984 - I was concerned about that too, but that's really unlikely to happen. You'll know when an antidepressant is right when it allows you to start being yourself again 😊. Sertraline did wonders for my PTSD, but of course I still have my bad days xx

I have been on sertraline (maximum dose) for many years and it works well for me. The early side effects disappeared quickly and I've been fine since.

So far I've had headaches, waking early in the morning and a fuzzy headed feeling like someone dropped a soluble aspirin inside my brain. Yesterday I had a dry mouth too but oddly I feel slightly more motivated but tired and flat at the same time. I have to deal with a funeral of a life long friend tomoro who was in a fatal car accident last week. This is what tipped me, not looking forward to it and not 100% sure it's going to do me any good!

Thank you for the helpful posts OnlyGodKnows, it is nice to chat to people who have been there.

Im about two weeks in and feel like I have hit a bit of a plateau, I was feeling like I was slightly better every day but havent had any change the last few days.

I have a follow up appointment this week so will see what the doc says. Hope everyone is good!

Hi all. I take sertraline in 200mg daily along with other medication after being diagnosed with multiple disorders including depression.
I find after years on this medication for such orders I now take a concoction of medication.
All to help with my daily living! (Most difficult illness I've ever experienced)

How are you finding side affects?
Does anyone find that when a couple days without you feel really low?

Kinda logged on here to try and gain support from other mams that suffer with multiple mental illnesses.
Feel very alone today! 😒

Hi all :)

I've been put on citalopram but am now thinking perhaps I should ask for sertraline instead? X

Hello all, been a but quiet as baby been sick. Feeling ok this week it'll be 3 weeks tomorrow since I started on the sertraline.

My anxiety is reduced a lot and my depression is much better as well, I'm not sure if I might have to up my dose as I still have the anxiety but I'm not crying or physically shaking anymore and I haven't had a panic attack!
The baby had injections last week and had a swollen lip after which normally would have me in bits but I dealt with it ok.

I feel like I'm viewing my anxiety from outside my body if that makes sense, I still feel it but I'm not crippled by it.

Hope everyone else is doing ok

Is anyone on 25mg? Does it make any difference?
I'm on 50 (it's been a week) and feeling really anxious so thinking of asking for 25 x

Hello all, hope everyone is doing well, Annie I think 50mg is the lowest effective dose? Stick with it you should start to feel better by week 2

I'm on week 4 of 50mg and my anxiety is starting to creep back up and I'm feeling low again, I'm not due to see the Dr for another 2 weeks do you think it's ok to just up my dose to 100mg on my own?
I've been getting teary again