Today I took my first Sertraline tablet

[MonnaLiza]

Hello fellow MH sufferers.

Today I have taken my first Sertraline tablet. I had severe depression in my 20s and then struggled after my first child was born, and then again when my mum was ill... and now... the fourth time in my life in which I stare the Black Dog in the face.

Apart from the first time I have always managed to get through the darkness by soldiering on... willpower ... wait ad it will pass, and it did pass eventually.

But this time I felt medication could help. My GP also though so, considering I was sobbing in his surgery. I was prescribed Sertraline.

I waited a few days, but after a rather bad meltdown Wednesday night I decided to get on with it.

So I took my first tablet today and not sitting on my bed terrified about it with my eyes wide open as if I had been taking some form of acid instead of some safe medication that millions of people take everyday.

Tell me to get a grip! And also tell me i'll feel better soon as I am in so much pain.

Hello all, sorry I've been awol for a couple of weeks.. work life took an amazing turn and I was virtually headhunted for a new role in the company and released early (so 2 weeks notice instead of 3 months!), getting me out of working with the terrible colleague! I started into new role the middle of last week and the new team seem fantastic and supportive. I have been so happy! Full of hope for the future now!

I am so pleased though that I am on the Sertraline - like @MonnaLIza, I feel I can cope better with what life throws at me - I've managed setbacks so much better than before. I'm still overthinking though and keen for my CBT to come through so I can build more resilience. I've got to say I have no negative side effects. I just feel like I used to, and I am enjoying all sorts of things, and I am having more self-confidence to raise and maintain boundaries where I need them. My kids have cheered up and give wry smiles when I'm doing my happy dance (can't you get a better happy dance than that?) and family life is going so much better. I'm not seeing life as a burden now but a privilege...

But I am eating terribly, which I think is my go to coping mechanism. Trying to "be kind to myself" and not worry about it, but when I've settled a bit into new job I must do something about it - I'm getting no exercise other than walking the dogs. I also know that when life gets busy my self care is what goes out the window, so I'm trying to manage that. Oh and I felt rather fatigued again last week so I upped my vit D higher than the doc prescribed and added vit B and I think that helped.

So looking forward to Christmas!

Hi everyone! I’m looking for some advice. I started sertraline seven weeks ago! . I had some side effects but they only lasted a week or so like spaced out, nausea couldn’t eat etc.im now getting night sweats and bad diarrhoeafor two weeks has anyone else had this? I’m worried xx

@vml12345 I'm on setraline now 8 weeks and although most side effects have settled down the diahorrea is still here. It's constant 2 -3 times a day. I've hard various flu/head colds so I don't think the virus from that helps either. I'm starting to think it's never going to settle down. I do feel this time of year my body is wrecked so overall I'm probably run down and that could be exacerbating it too.

@jogalong is yours watery diarrhoea or just loose! tMI sorry! Mine didn’t start until week 5 of sertraline so worried it’s not the AD!

My diarrhoea is getting worse @Vml12345 it's been here since going on to 100 two weeks ago and it's watery. Thought you stopped taking it? Has it not stopped the diarrhoea? I'm going to ring GP about mine tomorrow cos it's making me feel unwell. Or it could be a bug I guess that's made it worse. How are you feeling now @jogalong you were quite down weren't you?

Thanks you @hairydogmummy but I'm feeling a bit better. I have the odd bad day but at this time of year it's hard to know if it's the depression or just pure exhaustion.
The fuzzy head is still here at times but I've learned to manage it. Does it ever fully go away??
And the diahorrea is constant. And TMI some days it's watery and other days it's more formed but loose (you did ask!!).
I think I'll give the setraline another month and see how I'm managing. If the side effects don't subside I might consider stopping.
Before I went on setraline I spent 3 years on supplements from the health shop for my depression. They were fantastic. I felt fantastic on them with zero side effects. They even increased my libido!
I got afraid that I was taking them too long and maybe there were side effects that would present themselves later in time.
So I decided to do the sensible thing and wean myself off them, go to the Gp and get something prescribed that would be monitored (not self medicating).
But with the side effects that have come with this it's starting to feel like its not worth it. Like I said this time of year does not suit me. I hate the business and stress of Christmas. So I'll wait until end of January and decide then what to do.

@Hairydogmummy I have stopped and mentally I feel much better for not being on sertraline, more clear headed but still got diarrhoea but guess it’s only been two days! My health anxiety is in overdrive but the sertraline did nothing for that! I am going to see how I go, I’m disappointed with sertraline as it took me ages to pluck up the courage to take it but there’s plenty more I can try. How are you getting on with 100 mentally? Xxx

@jogalong that’s how I felt! The side effects got too much for me. Imodium helps and the pharmacist said perfectly safe x

@Vml12345 goodish I think though I still have some very bad days. I'd say once or twice a week but then that's better than before so am hopeful. The derealisation has gone and most days I have healthier and more rational thoughts. That's great that the pharmacist said immodium okay cos I wasn't sure after reading it increased the chance of heart probs with Sertraline. I get ectopic beats anyway but actually those have been better on Sertraline and I've had immodium before no probs. @jogalong my foggy head feeling is better on the Sertraline as is my working memory which was really bad before. I definitely think I need at least 100 mentally if not more but I can't cope with how bad the diarrhoea is now. Currently staying with in laws in Ireland. Their toilet doesn't flush v well and the house is full of guests and we have to be up at 4 to fly home and I'm coming down with a cold. Normally I'd be in anxiety he'll but am just a normal level of anxious I think?!

I turn my head from this thread for a second and everyone discusses liquid poops!!

8 month on sertaline here after 10 years on Prozac. It's a life saver. Don't know where I'd be without it.

Gentle hugs OP. You'll be fine xx

Day 3, not sleeping, feel horrible, just want it all to go away.

Hello all! :)
I am so sorry for disappearing but I have been busy being... joyfully NORMAL. Having a job, eating too much during the holidays and in general... being...do I dare say? Happy!

I am now feeling that I am truly better and thinking I can actually begin to think about dropping the sertraline comfort blanket.

How is everyone?

@SeaShell33 - how are you? I hope it's better. It does get better I promise you.

@PennyHoffsteader - thank you for your lovely message! I am getting better every day. Step by step.

@MonnaLIzza How do I like your comment/reply lol 🥰 How are you feeling these days? Any better? Xx

@MonnaLIza so glad to hear how well you're getting on!

I've had quite a crappy time on the Sertraline.
Did 6 days 50mg, went the drs as I was unable to fall asleep. Dr said to go up to 100mg and I would be tired enough to sleep. I was too scared to jump so went for 75mg for 9 days. Felt too spacey in the morning then too wired in the evening. Been back on 50mg for 8 days. I take it at 6:30am.
Went back drs on Tuesday and been given 7 Zopiclone 3.75mg to try and restore my natural sleep pattern. Before Sertraline I slept amazing.
Did two nights of Zopiclone and managed to get a few hours. Last night I tried half 3.75mg tab but couldn't sleep. I'd even spent £60 on a bloody weighted blanket that DH has banned from our bedroom so had to try it on the sofa
I have felt the last two days pretty calm and like my dad keeps telling me f@&£ everyone else I'm the most important person in the world, bless him!
Every day I feel torn between feeling less anxious and not being able to sleep. Or being anxious and being able to sleep.
Got another dr review on 24th. Next suggestion to help my sleep is propranolol.
Sertraline worked for me two years ago for PND and I slept fine after a week. Really thought this time would be the same.
On the plus side after losing 10lb in 3 weeks I've got my appetite back!

I'm just popping back on here to say that after 7 months on 50mg sertraline, I've now stopped taking them. They really helped me pick up the pieces again and move on, to do some online CBT, and coming off them has been fine. I moved to every other day for a week and then every third day for a week, then stopped, with no side effects just felt fatigued on the first day I missed one. While I still get down days, they are just the odd day, and I now look forward to things, have fun and enjoy life. Massive improvement was helped by moving job from a difficult colleague to working in the most amazingly supportive team instead. Funnily enough at 5 months in i didn't feel ready to stop but by 6 months I did. Glad I took them.

Delighted to hear this @ThingDoer. Well done you!
I tried to come off sertraline about 3 weeks ago. Tapered off dose but I just felt terrible. I started to despise myself, become paranoid, angry and just feeling awful. I also felt dizzy, headaches and palpatations. Took one tablet and within hours felt much better. So decided my time to stop is not yet. And i might even need to take sertraline forever. That doesnt bother me anymore as long as im well, happy and content. As a mother and wife the whole mood and dynamics change in the house if I'm in bad form. It rubs off on them all so it's really important I keep myself well.