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.

Yep I'm up and down. Good day today. Keep talking through stuff with DH. I'll get there. Mornings are the worst, always wake up anxious

I just started yesterday at 25mg. I had the most horrendous migraine of my life, I really got scared and it did not go until I took some ibuprofen at 3am. It felt like my head was being crushed. I have taken another dose this morning and I have nausea and dizziness/trembling. Another thing is that I cannot orgasm and I need one at least once a day . I feel horny but just can't come. I know this is common with A-Ds and have had it before on various different ones. I also am so worried about putting on weight as I put on a stone with Escitalopram (although I could come on that and it made me feel better). I am going to give Setraline a few months and if the side effects don't lessen I will have to come off it. They are horrendous!

Hi user. 25mg is a very low dose and unlikely to cause side effects yet. Usually takes a week as that's how long it takes to reach a level in your system. I'm not saying its definitely not the tablets, just that it may be more likely to be anxiety associated with taking them. Either way, try to relax and trust that they are the right thing for you. Keep in touch with your doctor and we are always here to speak to as well.

I have been on sertraline since 25th July, 25mg until 28th July and 100g for a week now. I am overall feeling no different save for the side effects and a slight numbing feeling, like the world is a little more removed but also heightened anxiety. Should I be feeling something more at this stage??

Everyone is different nomorestickers some people report feeling much better after a week, some after 3 months. If you feel there isn't any difference I would speak with your GP about it, at least for reassurance. They will probably advise you keep taking it for a while longer.

Ask those around you, have they noticed improvement? Sometimes we don't see it, others do and it's another week or two until we do.

Have you made any lifestyle changes to help too? Walking each day is great. Eating okay?

I'll see how I am after being away for a week on hols xx

I'm on day 4 of 50mg after stopping them when I fell pregnant last year - I'm 37 weeks now! I was up to 150mg before then as well.

I've never had major side effects from sertraline, so it really depends on the person. I've only had mild dizziness - that could be due to pregnancy. I'm already starting to feel like myself again though sertraline works pretty quickly for me. Used to take fluoxetine which just made me kinda angry!

I'm after a bit of advice please. I took 50mg of sertraline daily for 2 years following the death of my mum, (which isn't a high dose I know, but seemed to work) eventually tapering off and finished completely end March this year. I've had a few upsets over the past couple of months including the death of my best friend following a long illness, and my anxiety levels are now pretty high again. I'm starting to wonder if I should have stayed on the pills or if I should start them again. I have a long history of anxiety and only started sertraline as CBT has never worked. Funnily enough, as I was tapering off, the 25mg dose really suited me, but that seems such a low dose. I guess my questions are: have you stopped and started sertraline as and when, and has anyone taken a very low dose successfully for a long period? Sorry for waffling. Thanks so much for listening.

Sorry to hear you are struggling Karen
It's worth a chat with your doctor. If 25mg suited you it might be worth trying. My mum takes a tiny dose of antidepressant and has done for years, because when she stops she gets anxious. I don't think it's setraline but it's a very low dose.

Thank you for coming back so quickly NC4now. I think you're right; I really should speak to my doctor. It's reassuring to hear that your mum copes well with a low dose medication. I've had anxiety since childhood and had ( I thought) coped pretty well up until my mums death, but I found sertraline took the edge off, and perhaps I need to consider it as a long term option. Thanks again, really appreciate it.

Day 13. I've suffered with insomnia for ages, but since starting Setraline I am having alternate awful nights. Still awake at 2-3am, not great when alarm goes off at 5.20.

Other than night no real side effects and although I generally feel flat, rather than sad, I have noticed I'm smiling more and people who know have said I'm looking brighter.

KarenStreetWalker I'm so sorry to hear of your mum and best friend. That is two massive losses to have suffered and also in a short space of time.

50mg is the lowest therapeutic dose and works for many people at that level. 25mg isn't a therapeutic dose though a few people find it suits.

I don't see why you couldn't start with 25mg and if it no longer suits, increase to 50mg.

I was on sertraline around 4 years ago after a traumatic experience, 100mg for a year. I stopped taking it, no tapering, just stopped and was lucky I guess as I didn't have withdrawals. I am now a month in taking sertraline again and I'm stable on 50mg this time round. I started on 25mg but only felt benefit at 50mg.

As far as I'm concerned, I intend on staying on 50mg permanently. It is known as the 'maintanence' dose for this reason. I believe I am predisposed to anxiety and depression and have had two severe depressive episodes now. I don't want a third and start ups from sertraline again. Like the doctor said, people take daily pills for their heart or their stomach, why is taking one for your brain any different?

Day 1 at 25mg.

Hi orangecake, how are you doing with the tablets?

Thread is quiet at the moment, I'm hoping this means most of us are feeling better and side effects are less or gone.

That's me done my first box of sertraline and I am pretty stable now. I'm calmer, not so uptight and anxiety is gone. I have PMDD and in the week before my period so I've been a bit hormonal but nothing j can't handle 😊

I'm not felling so well. I took the medication at night as opposed to at 5pm the day before. Going to try to see what works for me. I feel very drained with a slight headache and just incredibly tired and I have stayed in bed for the past 2 days now. I feel like this has been the longest week of my life as my therapist as been away.

I;m glad to hear the medication has worked for you and that you're feeling calmer. Hopefully I'll be better too.

I took mine at night orangecake, literally before I slept. How are you feeling about taking antidepressants? Have you been on them before.

I think most people would agree, the first week is hard, but it does get better quickly.

To be honest I was always been rather against them. I've watched one too many documentations where they are branded practically dangerous and nothing more than a money making scheme but I was suicidal last september. I was put on trazadone initally at 75mg, then doubled to 150mg. I stopped taking it after 5 months because I felt so more suicidal on it. I slowly tapered down after a month and a half.

I've tried looking up natural cures, exercising more, taking vitamins etc but I'm still struggling and have been for such a long time. I saw a new psychiatrist on thursday and he said in his opinion he would never have started me on the trazadone in the first place.

I'm not sure if my therapist is back yet, but I sent him a desperate email asking if I could have an earlier appointment. I just feel very nauseated and i feel like I'm taking a double hit and also dealing with menstrual discomfort and cramping at the same time despite no period for 2.5 weeks (100 % not pregnant ) .

I think some people initially feel quite low in the first wee while of taking antidepressants when they don't really want to take them. I was the same, both times round.

There are lots of horror stories on the net and this is mostly because no-one goes online to post happy things, mostly worries and stresses! I see taking anti depressants for the brain, the same as taking meds for the heart or thyroid or liver.

Nausea is super common with sertraline, it does go though. Tiredness too as the body is exhausted anyways usually after months of anxiety and depression. It also goes.

I hope you get some answers and you can always post here if you need any support.

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

I am feeling lower than normal. At the moment I'm in bed watching "you've got mail" and trying to get through today. I emailed my therapist about seeing him sooner than my usual slot, but I've heard nothing back yet.

I'm nearly a month in and feeling quite good as of yesterday but the 5 days before then, so basically week three I felt I'd hit rock bottom.

I've started a thread in chat. I took my first 50mg tablet at 7pm and woke up at 11pm feeling really nauseous and generally awful. I've taken them before years ago but don't remember all this. I remember they were really effective and quite quickly too. Hate feeling like this. God knows what I'll do with the dc in the morning.

Managed to get 2 hours sleep. Awful night. Keep needing a wee as I've drank so much water. I'm shattered.

My first night was bad, awful diarrhoea too. After that it was nausea for a few days but ok. Three weeks tomorrow and I am feeling better, not great, but better. Good luck.

I really want to stop taking them. I feel awful. Anxiety is not helping.

The kids are awake and I don't know what to do.