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.

Well done early

Well done early Hope the nausea lifts soon.

I haven't felt too bad today, I am not sure if it just the fact that I am in the process of sorting the work issue, or the fact that the side effect anxiety has lifted, I have taken 14 tablets. Mood is fairly difficult to assess as I am still on double meds (sert and mertizapine) and will be for the next 3 weeks. I know I still need to be on something (I started mert about a year ago) I probably need longer than the 6mths of feeling ok before coming off. Afterall if I am honest I haven't been right for about 9 yrs.

Has anyone had diarrhoea with sertraline that stopped after a little while? I've only taken 4 so far but I feel like they are changing things a bit and I'd like them to work but obviously they aren't going to work if I can't eat for fear of not being to go about my day.

I had a bad stomach for a few weeks but it seems to have got better now, I still have the odd day with a bit nausea and not eating much but it's better than when I first started. I'm a month in.

Thanks. I haven't had anything since lunch yesterday as I spent all day running to the toilet. I'm at work tonight and so I don't really want to eat and be ill at work. Going to have a banana before I take the sertraline this morning but I'm gutted it's upsetting my stomach. I don't get paid if I don't go to work so I need to be able to go in.

Justlynn, I'm glad you saw your gp and I think you are very brave. I hope the new medications calm your anxiety and you feel better really soon.

Ginandsonic, I had diarrhoea for 11 days, only in the morning then fine for the rest of the day. I got myself in a bit of a state about it, anxiety, which causes loose bowels anyways.

Back2workanxiety, have you seen your gp for a review? Usually they want to do one a month in to decide if you are settled or increase the dose.

Well done earlyriser, a week in is a great achievement. Most people notice subtle change in 2 weeks.

only thanks, I'll keep with it and stick to plain foods like banana and potatoes in the meantime.
I felt better for a few days, bit spaced out so not as emotional but that seems to be passing and I feel grumpy and down again but I know that's to be expected. I'm sticking with it, I want to get better.

only I was supposed to see them today but they moved my appointment to next Monday.

I definitely feel better but I think I need to increase the dose as I'm still getting a lot of anxiety and verging on panic attacks, I almost had one today in work because some one smiled at me fucking social anxiety

Hope everyone else is doing ok

Hi

Just been prescribed these 50mg. Thinking of taking in morning but shitting myself

I have a two year old and knowbody to help me as husband works ambulance shifts.

I have to take her to zoo tomorrow and birthday party tomorrow and more over weeekend

Absolutely crapping myself because of side effects.

I live very rurally so have to drive eveywhere and if I stay in we see knowbody as I'm not In walking distance of anything plus it's country lanes with no pavements

But thinking morning would be better as I already suffer with slight insomnia which makes my sadness worse

Hi forever the side effects look scary but they aren't as bad as you think they will be and they only last for a few weeks, it's worth it to feel better

Nervously taken it. Here we go down the rabbit hole

forever I've taken my 6th one today. I do have really watery bowel movements but that's pretty much the only bad effect I've had. I felt a little spaced out for the first three days but nothing I couldn't go to work through, and I've had a few waves of nausea that passed really quickly. My sleep has actually improved, and I don't feel physically fatigued as much as I did. I'm hoping the diarrhoea settles because i think it will really help me if I can stay on it. You can post here when you are having a wobble or are worried. We will try to help

Thanks gin

Just I'm a very nervous person . And I don't want to make things worse

But I can't go on like this so hopefully they will help

Hi all,

Just been given a prescription, never tried anything like this before and not decided whether to take them or not yet. I just know I can’t keep feeling like this.

My IBS is bad today, and I’ve got an upset stomach and cramps. In view of the physical side effects I’m tempted to wait for a few days - does that sound sensible?

I ate half a croissant this afternoon and a bowl of tomato pasta and I'm now back and forwards to the toilet with literally watery motions
I feel a bit better in myself so I really really want this to pass. I'm quite afraid of having to go through the first few weeks of several meds.

Hmmming they are worth giving a go, and although I'm suffering with my stomach, not everyone does. Maybe you could ask your Dr or a pharmacist for advice?

Thanks Gin, I’ve been like that all day with my IBS, in bed now and feeling both empty and sore. I hope you feel better soon

Hi there, I’ve just signed up so I can ask a question about Sertraline. This is my first post and I haven’t got a clue how this site works, so please bare with me. I have a 4 year old and an almost 4 month old, and I started Sertraline 2 months ago. I feel better in that I no longer cry all the time, I can conect with my baby and I have motivation to do stuff now. However, I am still completely losing my rag at my eldest, I’m flipping out over the littlest thing. Screaming and using abusive language :( I literally have no control of my mouth. I have zero patience and it’s usually when the baby is crying or I feel particularly stressed (so every morning before school for example) do you ladies think it sounds like I might need a higher dose, or is this just me now 🤷🏻‍♀️?! (P.S I have a meds’ review coming up next week with my GP, I’m just curious) please don’t judge, I judge myself enough on the daily, and my husband does a great job of it too 👍🏻

Glitterymarmite, I think it's worth discussing with your GP. Most people believe depression manifests as tears and sadness but actually one of the most common symptoms is irritability.

You have not long had a baby, you are still physically recovering, if you are breastfeeding that is another strain on your body (not a slant at breastfeeding!) in terms of being able to eat enough calories and drink enough water. Broken sleep as well. That's hard enough without depression magnifying it all.

It does sound like you need further support and it may be that the tablets are partially working so a dose increase could help get them fully working. It's difficult to be sure because your life situation is high stress as it is just now.

Have you support from a partner? Friends? Family? Is your four year old in nursery or school? It will be an unsettling time for her too and it's quite common for children's behaviour to become harder when a new sibling arrives.

I've had four children, first two had 14 months between them, second two had 16 months and I remember the stress very well. Be kind to yourself and see if someone can have the baby for a little while so you can spend a bit of time with your eldest.

Thank you for your reply. My husband is out from 7:30am-7pm most days, I go weeks without seeing people. I have a couple of friends but they are usually busy with their own kids and lives. I don’t have any family around, I don’t have a mum or dad. I love my in laws but I always feel awkward asking for help because is not the same is it, you’d do anything for your own daughter etc but when it’s your ‘in law’ you don’t feel the same about them. Anyway, yes, I think I need higher dose. My eldest has just started school and just doesn’t listen 90% of the time. We all have his cold at the moment so it’s making th baby grizzle endlessly unless she is attached to my boob. I feel like I need a bloody hug, I am taking this parenting lark one day at a time. Every time bedtime comes around I think “I made it through another day!!” It’s so hard. Sorry for the mega whinge.

Just taken my first dose, 25mg for 4 days then up to 50mg. Trying to think positive, but failing miserably....

Well done Hmmm, you've taken the first step. I know how hard it can feel to take that first one. Hopefully you will feel fine, youve started on a lower dose than me, I started 50mg straight away, so maybe you will have few side effects

Thanks Gin. Fingers crossed that I don’t get the side effects. Doc was lovely - cried my eyes out when I was with her, she’s so supportive and has been through this herself. I’ve spent too much time crying, feel bad for my DC (5 and soon to be 1).

Wishing a happy day on everyone

Hello peeps,

I'm new to this thread but not new this whole anxiety /depression thing!
When I was 18 I was put on seroxat for panic attacks then 10 years after that was switched to escitropram so I could have children and recently found that they weren't affective all the time so was put on sertraline weaning up from 25mg to 50mg, what a nightmare that was! Withdrawal from escitropram then side effects from sertraline great time! Im now 6 weeks in with several good days then have a day of anxiety and feeling overwhelmed with little tasks, GP told me weeks ago I could up to 100mg by taking a 50mg one day then 100mg then next then after a week just take 100mg. Instead I have decided after a lot of anxiety over it to start 75mg this morning (splitting pills in half)
I'm so nervous of side affects and how quickly it's going to start to work as I have lots of meeting in the next couple of weeks so cant be losing the plot in front of ppl :/
Any advice or success stories much appreciated x

Thanks for listening xxx

I had terrible headaches to begin with. I take 50mgevery day.