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.

Yes marshmallow it's better when your able to talk through it with other people on the same path. I'm hoping for a better quality of live for me and my family as I must be dreadful to live with like this. Everything crossed it works for us all

Hello all, have spent the evening reading through all of your posts and hope that you are all feeling some relief tonight.

I started on 50mg sertraline today, it’s my first time on ADs but I’m pretty sure I’ve been suffering for a long, long time.
I’m so looking forward to coming out on the other side and glad to have found this thread to help.
I took my tablet at 1:30pm and felt nauseous almost immediately, I put that down to anxiety though and felt better after a small meal.
💐

So glad I found this group! I’m on day three of Sertraline and the insomnia is killing me! I’m taking it at 6:30am, am drowsy and get more exhausted as the day goes on but when it comes to going to bed I’m filled with anxiety of not being able to sleep. I have a three week old baby and I’m constantly anxious waiting for her to wake up for a feed.
After I took my tablet this morning I felt incredibly calm and this lasted until 3pm. I’m not sure whether to now take the tablet in the evening so I can use the calmness of the tablet to help me to sleep.
I’ve been so desperate for sleep I took some dihydrocodeinone I had from my csection to help me sleep. I got 2 hours sleep.
I’ve got a review on Wednesday of my medication. Just can’t see how I can last several weeks waiting for the insomnia side effect to go!
Any advice or help on when to take the sertraline etc would be really appreciated! Xxx

Hello halloween this is also my 1st time on Ads. I too have been not myself for at least 9 years maybe longer. I'm hoping these are the start of a happier me. We will do this together. It's hard at 1st the way they make you feel but that soon wears off. Even tho I'm really anxious at the mo I can cope with it because I'm used to it. Hopefully my increase Monday will make a huge improvement once in my system. Good luck. Oh and I've not had trouble sleeping and I take mine 1st thing between 7-9am just in case you have trouble sleeping taking them in the afternoon. I think morning or evening is best

Hi sea some people find it better taking it in the evening as it makes them drowsy. Maybe try and switch it to night time and see how you go. It's all trial and error. I started when my baby was 6 weeks old and was worried I wouldn't wake up but I've had no problems. You already know your gonna be up in the night as you are now so try changing the time. It may just be the increases anxiety which is a side effect keeping you up. That could subside soon too

Welcome Seashell and Halloweenbethy

Hope you all had ok nights.

I really struggled to sleep with racing thoughts - but I do get that fairly often anyway, so it may well have nothing to do with Sertaline. Although it was particularly bad last night. Will see how tonight goes.

I did also get a really gurgly tummy yesterday and had to take an imodium - that’s not usual so I think that was down to the pills.

Just about to take my second tablet!

Struggling today. I’m about a month into 50mg and I’ve got the worst stomach ache ever. Think it’s indigestion and trapped wind but I can’t stand up straight and it hurts like hell - this is the second day now. Sat here in tears, H is going to football in 2 hours and leaving me with two DS, 1 and 5, and won’t be back until about 8. What am I going to do?? Got serious anxiety and I’m scared. I can’t do this, I can’t cope.

humm have you spoken to your doctor. Maybe you need a change of tablet or increase in dose. Mine said I was still feeling anxious because I needed a higher dose. I've been struggling with going the toilet since I started these tablets so I need something to help. Try having a peppermint tea or a cup of boiling water to help your stomach. Hope you feel better soon

Thanks Tutty. My doc is in holiday until the week after next and I don’t feel like speaking to the others. I just feel broken.

Bad sleep last night, Awake from 3-7 which is a bit extreme compared to my usual wakings. Tried shipping forecast and lullabies read by Stephen Fry... usually works but not this time.
Busy day ahead, may hold off on taking second tablet until bedtime (took first at 1:30pm yesterday )

Glad I found this thread! Gp prescribed me setraline for anxiety 2 months ago started on 50 mg for 4 weeks had horrible side effects for the first 2 weeks (felt fuzzy, anxiety worse and felt very low) after that it was increased to 100 mg had the same side effects again for a couple of weeks but started with awful diarrhoea as well. The initial side effects went away again but I've been left with the constant diarrhoea. However anxiety has definitely been better. Was back at GP on Thursday, he has suggested that I reduce the sertraline back to 50 mg and see what happens, if no good we'll need to try something else.
Has anyone else experienced this? It's really starting to get me down, have been eating a very restricted diet for the past 2 weeks and it really isn't helping (although there are definitely things that make it worse like dairy, wine and onions among others) Any help would be appreciated.

Hmmingbird I definitely think you need to go back to the doctor as soon as he’s back.

Fiona yes I’ve had diarrhoea today and yesterday - I only started Setraline yesterday so sure it’s that. I’ve been taking Imodium and hoping it passes....

I use Fybogel to twice a day and drink 2-3 litres of water to help me go toilet. I’m on iron tablets as well so needed something to help. I also eat dried apricots as well.
Day 4 for me. Actually slept last night better but woken by DD wanting more feeds than usual but managed to go back to sleep without heart racing and crazy thoughts.
Since I slept I decided to continue taking my tablet at 6:30am.
Took it a little early as was up feeding, went back to sleep and woke up at 8 with bad anxiety. The last three days I’ve been calm after taking the tablet. Once I’d gotten up and stared doing things I began to calm down. I’m guessing it’s just a side effect of increased anxiety.
Had a major positive today. Drove my car for the first time in 5 weeks! Was anxious before I got in but felt so normal and liberating once I’d set off! So happy I don’t have to ask for lifts to mine and baby’s appointments

Went to the out of hours doc last night and have been diagnosed with IBS - apparently this was a bad flare up. My doctor has mentioned I may well have this in the past, but we were going to get my mental health sorted then run some tests. Feeling slightly better today but still very sore and quite anxious. I’ve been useless this weekend

Well done seashell33 on the driving and hmmmingbird hope you get some answers soon.
I’m at day 3 and really stressing about going back to work tomorrow after a week off for half term. Slept really badly again last night and worrying already about tonight.

Sorry hmming too many m’s

Thanks Halloween I’m on maternity leave ATM but always get increased anxiety after a school holiday. September to October is always a horrible time for me. I have to break down the days into just getting through each 1.5 hour lessons to feel like I’m winning.

Hope everyone else is doing well. I’ve just finished reading through all of the comments and have found this thread to be like a lovely comforting blanket.

Day 5 for me. Managed to sleep last night (woken only for feeds). Had night sweats. Major anxiety when I woke at 6:30 but subsided after I’d taken my tablet.
Anxiety returned at 3pm ish, similarly to Friday and Sunday. Just hope I can sleep tonight. Makes me wonder if the doctor will increase my dose just in case it’s wearing off after 9 hours.

Did people find that the side effects returned when their does was increased?

Second time going to my PANDAS support group for my PND tomorrow but anxious about taking DD with me. DH is working from home tomorrow and my dad is off so will come round in the afternoon.
Anxious about Wednesday as I’ll be on my own for the day for the first time .

tutty all the best with the does increase.

seashell well done on the driving, I wasn't on anti-d's when mine were babies but I used to wake up and then struggle with getting back to sleep as I would lie there thinking that they would wake soon anyway, I have just increased my dose and I have had some nausea and a little bit of anxiety but not too bad (I have been on a different anti-d since last year and have crossed over to sertraline)

halloween Hope tomorrow goes well for you. I am back tomorrow as well after a week off, dreading it a bit as I know I will have loads to sort out.

fiona Sorry to hear about that, I had a bit of loose stools but nothing too bad, I was on mirtazapine before and that bungs you up, side effects are a pain. I hope things calm down for you and if not you manage to find another tablet that suits.

I think I am ok, as I said back to work tomorrow and the long running work issue will be continuing on Tuesday. Have an appointment regarding ds on Friday. He has autism and we are really struggling at the moment, the week off hasn't been overly relaxing but that kind of comes with the territory. Hoping that from Friday they will be able to put some strategies in to help us. That is a major issue with how I am feeling mentally. Also may be putting the house on the market, which is going to be unbelievably stressful, but we have found a good house so want to try and get it to all come together. Worried about how he will cope with viewings, especially his room - maybe we just need to hope that people can see through his stuff.

Seashell hope the group goes well tomorrow.

MrGrumpy my DS is autistic too - the stress of trying to sort his school support is one of the reasons I’m here really. It’s very hard.

I’m on day 3 and have felt ok apart from a definitely decrease in appetite.

Eek - big panic attack in the middle of the night and then I was sick. Been feeling on edge all day so far too.
Going to push on through though.

Hope everyone else is feeling ok.

Oh no Marshmallow! Do you know what set it off? Hate nighttime panic attacks Hope your day has been better!

Thanks Seashell
Much better this afternoon / evening.

No idea what set it off (but as usual my mind focused on all things to worry about that always seem far worse in the dead of night!)

Hope everyone else is doing ok today.

Hi all. I hope you are feeling well this evening. I've been ok apart from a constant anxious feeling in my stomach. I increased my dose today and I've felt a bit sick and anxious this evening. I took it this morning and by 11am I'd fell asleep and my OH left me until 3pm. I must of needed it but now I won't be able to sleep tonight. And that'll make me moody with the school runs and 2 babies to look after as well as all the Halloween fun. Why do I always think of the bad before it's even happened. It's like I'm inviting it to happen to me. In reality I could probably get a decent 7 hours tonight and be fine tomorrow. But in my mind I'm already assuming I'll have a horrid night and then it'll ruin tomorrow. Stupid brain of mine.

Quiet here lately. Hopefully that means Every one is doing well. I'm on day 4 of 100mg and I've felt great to be honest. No anxiety the past couple of days. Only side effect is tiredness as I take it 1st thing. I could nap all day but if I don't nap I'm fine and once I've powered through th day I've more energy of an early evening and have a great sleep

Hi Tutty

Oh that’s really good news for you! My side effects are definitely getting less, and my appetite is back which is good. I’m on day 6 of 50mg.
I do think I might be slightly calmer in the mornings getting out of the door (that always stresses me out no end!), so that’s a good thing.