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Original poster

Positive experiences of sertraline?

150 replies

Laurap25 · 12/01/2019 12:15

Ive been suffering from depression & anxiety for most of my life, it's been particularly bad these past 5 years, I've been so reluctant to go on antidepressants I've been trying everything, like herbal remedies, hormone balancing vitamins, nothing is working. My doctor prescribed me sertraline 50mg a few months ago, I tried them for around a week but the side effects were terrible, I couldn't stick them. I'm at a point now where i need to do something, I can't live my life like this anymore, I've started the sertraline agian but I've cut the tablet in half to make it 25mg, hoping that the side effects won't be as bad. I'm on it 2 days now and I feel awful, my anxiety is through the roof. How long will this last? I'm reading reviews on line and they are quite mixed so i was looking for some people's positive experiences to give me hope! I'm determined to stick it out this time because I need something to change

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IWantToUseAnApostrophy · 19/01/2019 11:59

Full dose of 200mg. No side effects that I am aware of other than feeling good! Mind you, initial diagnosis of depression this time round could be false as I had an undiagnosed condition for which depression is a symptom. Used to be on citilopram years ago and in comparison, they were nowhere near as good. Guess I've been lucky.

Sienna04 · 19/01/2019 12:18

I'm on them because I suffer with pppd so I'm not sure if my side effects are playing that up or if they are because of the drug!!! I can't wait for that 'good/normal' feeling. I can't remember what that's like :(

Original poster
Laurap25 · 19/01/2019 16:20

I feel like giving up on this medication, I can't go on feeling like this much longer. Feel horrendous today. How long again roughly do these side effects last?? What's wrong with me?? I'm not even on a high dose only 50mg

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Sienna04 · 19/01/2019 16:52

Laurap25 I had 4 really horrible days and like you I kept thinking about giving it up but each day got slightly better. Hang on a few more days. I was on 50mg too. I'm only 12 tablets in and already I don't think I could bare those days again :( you can do it!!!!

YouBoggleMyMind · 19/01/2019 16:58

@Laurap25 could you try a different AD? There are lots? I was put on Mirtazapine and while I spent a couple of weeks foggy, I didn't feel unwell. It made a huge difference to me and just living every day life.

Original poster
Laurap25 · 19/01/2019 17:14

Yeah I'm gonna stick it out for another week to see how I get on, if this AD doesn't work I'm not trying a different one. I couldn't go through this again. Its not fair on my husband and kids too. Think I'd rather be depressed than be like this!

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smallchair · 19/01/2019 18:47

DH has been on them about 4 months for anxiety and depression. He was prescribed 50mg. When he started taking them he felt absolutely terrible, very spaced out and had suicidal thoughts. I was so worried about him. He phoned the GP who said to half the tablets to 25mg and try to persevere. After 2-3 weeks the side effects improved greatly and after about a month he went up to the 50mg. It has been so nice to have "the old DH" back. He is so much happier and fun - still a bit anxious at times but so much better than he was. And no side effects. I'm so pleased he stuck with them. Talk to your Dr if the side effects persist, beyond an acceptable length of time, maybe something else may suit you better but the transition may need to be carefully managed.

Original poster
Laurap25 · 20/01/2019 21:43

I've had a better day today, woke up at 4.30am with really bad stomach pains. I convinced myself that was the last I was taking of the sertraline but I went back to bed and slept for a while and when I woke up I felt better. This is the most normal day I've had yet since I've been on them so hopefully it's upwards and onwards from now on. Fingers crossed!

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Verytired2019 · 21/01/2019 06:40

Hi Laura, that's great news! Hopefully the good days will start to outweigh the difficult ones. I'm two weeks in (a week on 25, a week on 50mg) and am having good days and difficult days alternately. Saturday wasn't good for me but yesterday I felt almost 'normal' again. I feel anxious this morning after a bad nights sleep but I'm clinging onto yesterday's good feeling.
So don't be disheartened if you go up and down a little bit each day.

Original poster
Laurap25 · 21/01/2019 11:34

Very tired

Yea I'm in no way at 100% but I'm just greatful that I'm not feeling as bad as I was. Woke up today feeling very tired, low energy. Feel like my body just wants to rest but I'm pushing myself to get on with things. Still not feeling great mentally, like everything is grey, and it needs to be in colour if you know what I mean. This thread has been really helpful. Without everyone's words of encouragement I'd have probably given up by now.

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Sammilouwho · 21/01/2019 11:50

I’m on 150mg a day, my side effects were bad to start with as I have IBS and it just killed me - it would be far to much information if I went into detail - so they had to put me on a stomach settler as well. It’s been 2 years now and I do feel much better, I still have bad days and suicidal ideations but my GP says it’s normal and she is great in that if I need to I phone the reception and she will phone me back as soon as she can.
Without being on it I don’t think I would be where I am today.
I HAVE to take them in a morning though, if I don’t and I have them any time past 10am then I end up with crippling nightmares. Yet I know some people are better taking them at night.
Don’t give up on them yet but if they don’t help in a week or so then ask to try different ones, remember one pill doesn’t suit all.

Original poster
Laurap25 · 21/01/2019 13:23

Sorry if this is too much info but just wanted to see if I'm making a mountain out of a molehill on this, I've noticed the past 2 days my stools are black in colour. I didn't think much of it but I was talking to my husband about it there and he said black stools can indicate blood. So now im worried because of the stomach pains I've been having is it connected?? I don't want to sound like I'm over reacting if I phone my doctor. I phoned him on Friday and asked the receptionist if the doctor could give me something to settle my stomach because it was really sore. I was told to ring back later that day and when I did the receptionist said the doctor isn't prescribing anything for it because upset stomach is a common side effect and it will go away. I felt like I was being a bit of a hypochondriac after that!

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Sienna04 · 21/01/2019 13:47

Mine are black but because I take iron supplements? Have you take anything recently with added iron in?

Original poster
Laurap25 · 21/01/2019 13:53

Sienna,
No def not, I was on iron supplements when I was pregnant and it happens then so that explained it. But not on anything now and I haven't ate any black foods. I haven't really been eating much because my stomach has been so sick

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Original poster
Laurap25 · 21/01/2019 16:31

Mystery solved! Was taking pepto bismol for my stomach and apparently that leaves your poop black.

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Sienna04 · 21/01/2019 17:16

Laura, pleased you know :)

mediawhore · 21/01/2019 21:24

Hi.
I’m looking for some advice.

My oh started taking sertraline 11 days ago for depression.

He takes 50mg every morning. He’s definitely coming through the side effects mostly, but he is horrific in the mornings. Really sick, shaky/feeling shit. How long does that bit last.

I have started to see a bit of the old dh, but he is still distant (emotionally, physically etc) at times and sometimes he seems to hate me and others it’s like old times.

He says he still drifts off into a bubble. I’m just desperate for him to start being more his old self. It’s so hard not to push things with our relationship, but I’m trying.

How can I help. I miss his cuddles, touch. We’ve had sex once (though don’t think he managed to ‘see it fully through’) but I miss the closeness.

How long did some element of normality in terms of feelings come back? I know it’s still mega early days.

Thanks

Original poster
Laurap25 · 21/01/2019 23:00

Mediawhore
I'm still at early days myself so I don't know but one thing that did help me was changing the time I took my tablet. At the start I was taking it in the morning and I physically couldn't function throughout the day. I take it now at night right before I go to bed. That way I'm sleeping through the first few hours of it going in my system so when I wake up it's been in my system a good 8 or 9 hours.

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Verytired2019 · 24/01/2019 20:28

Hi Laura, how are you getting on? I've had a better week, still a few moments of worrying when at work but no low moods or significant anxiety. Today was a good day.
Hope you've had some good ones this week

Smeghead90 · 24/01/2019 20:34

Sertraline saved my life, I didn’t really have many side effects. I don’t know if this is one but some times I can’t get my words out properly and end up stumbling over my words. I have really vivid dreams but that’s not a big deal, I don’t think I could cope without them tbh l!

mediawhore · 25/01/2019 14:09

Hi. He’s having really bad time. Don’t know what to do.

He’s back at Doctors’s next week.

He’s okish in evebing but mornings are horrific when he gets up. It eases a bit through the day and he does function. But he says he’s feeling nothing. Dead, emotions less.

I’m really struggling with this, which I know is selfish. But it had started improving slightly at the weekend (days 10-12) but it’s been really shit the past few days.
He’s on 50mg and day 15.

Thank you

Original poster
Laurap25 · 25/01/2019 17:54

Verytired2019
Im glad to hear youre feeling better, I'm now on day 11 of 50mg and I'm feeling a lot better than I was last week. The only thing that's annoying me is I feel extremely tired and fatigued all the time, no matter how much sleep I get. I'm hoping that passes. Mood is still not great but it's improving gradually each day. On the whole im not doing too badly.

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Original poster
Laurap25 · 25/01/2019 18:09

Mediawhore
Poor you, I know how you feel. Last year my husband was going through a hard time, his sister died and his mum got really mentally ill. He was in such a bad place. It was hard to live with on a day to day basis. It was really hard for me to see him like that because I'm usually the one who's mentally unstable but I had to hold it together for him. It can be really hard living with someone who has depression, I always say my husband needs a medal! But just know that his mood is nothing to do with anything you've done. Starting this medication is really awful, I know u feel bad but I'd say he is feeling 10 times worse. All you can do is be there for him cos he needs you more now than ever and keep in mind this won't last forever. He's still early days with the medication. Hopefully things turn around for you soon 💐

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aethelgifu · 25/01/2019 18:24

Hope you're turning a corner. I got prescribed mitrazapine despite its being notorious for weight gain when I'm already 2st overweight and have joint problems and flat out lied to, that it doesn't make you gain weight and given NO advice about side effects.

I'm not taking them at all. Wish they'd tried me on something else instead.

Original poster
Laurap25 · 25/01/2019 18:55

Could you maybe go back and let the Dr know how unhappy you feel about taking them and ask to change to a different one. I've seen a few reviews of sertraline too saying they caused weight gain, but it's actually having the opposite effect on me, I have no appetite since I started them. Medication affects everyone differently though. Maybe even try them and if you feel like you are gaining weight ask for a different one

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