Starting sertraline 50mg - anyone else?

[JaneyJimplin]

Hi. Just been prescribed 50mg sertraline for depression. I'm nervous about taking it after reading the possible side effects. I kept thinking today "when will be a good time to take it?" and never found a good time, so didn't. I thought, I better do the school run first in case it makes me feel sick. Then I thought, I better cook dinner first, just in case. Now I'm thinking, what if it stops me sleeping - maybe I should take it tomorrow morning. But I know tomorrow I'll be worrying about the school run again. I know I have to take it at some point and that I am massively overthinking it.

Anyone else on sertraline? How did you find it? Did it help and if so how long did it take? Hoping for a miracle antidote to my constant feeling of life being pointless.

Hi, I'm on day 5 .I was just like you I had it in the cupboard a week, before I plucked up courage.The only way I could start taking it was to break the tablet into 4 then take the biggest bit lol sounds silly I know. I'm now up to nearly half a tablet.On the whole it's been okay, a bit of nausea, headache and feeling cold, but not enough to stop me from carrying on, and I am a wuss.The only other thing is I have tinnitus, and it's made it a lot worse, I'm hoping it's just another side effect , I'll have to see how I go. Take it in the morning with food you'll be fine.

Thanks Katy. I definitely want to be in to the swing of taking it, past the initial side effects etc by Easter holidays, so I can hopefully be happy, fun mum instead of silent, miserable mum.

www.thesun.co.uk/news/8657353/families-fear-anti-depressant-deaths-heart-problems/

Not usually one to scare monger. But just giving you something to think about. Already sent this to my sister who was on them.

I’ve been on it a few months. DH has been on it a week.

I felt really awful for about 5 days, definitely best taken at night. Then I felt gradually less awful until about 2 weeks in I felt normal.

Dose was doubled six weeks ago and I feel generally a bit ropey, fatigued, etc. My mood is much better though and my anxiety too.

My DD has been taking sertraline for about 3 weeks. Started with 25mg with no side effects at all, moved up to 50mg a week ago and has had quite bad dizziness, nausea, poor appetite and agitation. The side effects appear to be reducing now. It doesn't seem to have helped her anxiety yet but her mood seems a bit less low.

Thanks all. Its reassuring to know the side effects should pass.

I'm not dwelling too much on the sun's story.

Well, I took it after breakfast this morning. I've had a slightly upset stomach, but nothing horrendous. I did sit down to eat my lunch at 12, then woke up with a start to the phone ringing at 1.30! I'm generally always tired/sleep deprived, but haven't nodded off in the middle of the day before. Felt a bit disoriented after, but fine now.

I am on 150mg a day and have been since January. I started of with 100mg to target anxiety back in August 2018, however I feel I became immune to it, hence the increased dose.

The side effects to begin with can be awful, I had sickness, tiredness, insomnia, teeth grinding to name a few.

Stick at it, it will be worth it :)

Hope your feeling better soon!

I know it's different for everyone, but that drug made me extremely depressed and suicidal. I kept waking up having panic attacks, not to mention the dry mouth and bruxism it was giving me.
I had hot flushes which also affected my breathing, I felt heavy chested, like I was going to faint.

It made my anxiety much worse, it basically did nothing but make everything 100x worse.

I take amitriptyline now, which I feel much better with.

Hi just an update I was on day 5 then, Tuesday morning 1.30 am I woke feeling awful, dizzy, heart racing, hot went downstairs to find a cool room, then started to feel sick, I nearly woke my Dh to take me to a and e I was so worried .My pulse took three hours to slow down.Was this an anxiety attack, never had one before? Been in touch with gp she's agreed I should stop, seeing her next week.she suggested prozac, but I'm so scared now, plus I don't think there's much difference in them .I was only taking 25mg as well, maybe it's just the serotonin ones I can't take.

Sorry Katy, that sounds really scary. How are you now?

Did the doctor say just to stop cold Turkey?

Hi Janey yes she said I could stop, it was only 5 days on 25mg though.I have felt nauseas, and a bit off balance ,and my tinnitus is still loud In one ear.Hope it all settles soon .Hope your doing a lot better than me .

Sorry it's not worked, must feel so disheartening. I hope you have success with the prozac.

Touch wood, I'm on day three and not having any horrendous side effects so far - hopefully it stays that way. I am more tired than usual, and my appetite is diminished slightly, but nothing too bad.

I hope your symptoms ease quickly xx

I’m on about day 25, same dose. Felt nauseous for about a week/10 days but it then went. I take it before bed time, I didn’t notice any change to my sleep pattern.

I take it for anxiety - I am still getting anxious but I was crying at the drop of a hat and that has stopped!