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.

Morning @Coldhandscoldheart - glad this thread is useful, how are you today? :)

Got home from nursery & promptly forgot tablet again 😂 but then saw your tag & went & got it.

I am laid up with a horrid cold so not feeling particularly great. Although it suits me to be under the duvet all day!

Teeth grinding is getting worse, hoping when this cold lifts I'll be feeling much better.

I'm seperating from my 'D'H after years of emotional abuse so I have a lot to work through.

Hello - day 6 for me - bit in a cloud of gloom and doom :(
How's everyone doing?

@MonnaLiza how are you doing now?

had a stressful day myself. really wanted cigarettes but stopped myself.

Hello. Going to the doctors tomorrow for help after a terrible year full of pain happiness and guilt getting all too much. Glad you are feeling better xxx

Hi there all - day 7 - a bit better - out for work but will write more later KOKO friends x

Oh OP I'm so pleased for you

What are you noticeable improvements?
Just generally feeling better from the initial side effects?

Anyhow, any improvement no matter how minor is very good news : )

I feel weird on these I'm on day 4 of half a tablet so 25mg - I feel a bit jittery today and spaced like my eyes are heavy and just generally my head feels a bit funny...

is this normal?

My anxiety is health anxiety based on a fear of MS so this is not helping my fear!

@Mumma1984

Spaced out, saucer / heavy eyes & generally jittery feeling is completely normal .... I felt all of those symptoms & more when I first started on the Sertraline. I will settle in a few weeks or so xX

I experienced headache and nausea the first few days on Sertraline, to the point I considered stopping taking it. Very glad I stuck with it though as it worked brilliantly for me. No difficulties in weaning off it when I no longer needed it either.

@pollypocket952 thanks! It was almost like a panic attack jitter - came over me and I felt a bit dizzy with it, it's passed now - Hoping it doesn't come back, I felt a bit shaky now I've started worrying about Parkinson's ffs !

@Mumma1984 I take sertraline for anxiety & I felt that it made mine worse to start with, I almost quit taking them. But another one here saying that I'm glad I stuck with it as once they kick in & the side effects subside it's truly worth it. The reason you are feeling so shitty is due to your brain adjusting to the extra seratonin intake that's all. You don't have Parkinson's or MS lovely, it's just a side effect of starting the sertraline that's all.

@pollypocket952 thank you lovely I'll try and keep telling myself that and stick it out, my doc just wants me to take them for 6 months and get health anxiety specific CBT so that I'm not panicking so much and I'm in a good state of mind to take in the talking therapy- then discuss with him from there ...

Ps are you allowed alcohol on them? My friends and I are away next weekend and I was hoping to have a couple glasses of wine - I don't drink that much ...

@Mumma1984 I can advise re alcohol, you can drink on them although 'in moderation' is advised I guess. Whilst my days of going out partying on benders are over lol, I'm still partial to a few beers or gins here & there on a weekend. I refrained from all alcohol for a few years whilst in my undiagnosed anxiety phase & I only started having a few drinkies when I felt better from taking the sertraline, I found that my tolerance to alcohol was less but I'm not sure if this was due to having a couple years break from alcohol or if it was the sertraline that made me feel more tipsy than usual from having just a few. So go & enjoy yourself with your friends but I would pace yourself drinking wise so you can gauge how & if alcohol is going to affect you any more/ less when you drink now. I would maybe slow it down a bit & have a water here & there so you can see how you feel. I personally think being on sertraline makes me get drunk faster .... not sure whether that's good or bad but hey ho I'm a cheap date for my DP now : )

@pollypocket952 haha thanks I'm a pretty rubbish drinker - 5-6 drinks is about my limit and that's on a heavy night out - I find as well I'm more anxious the next morning so I never go mad but I do like the odd gin and wine ;)

@Mumma1984 the weekend away with friends is just what you need right now, so definitely go as it will take your mind off things, just don't be drinking loads.

P.S I'm starting CBT therapy shortly, luckily my employer offers private healthcare & the CBT therapy is covered under the scheme : )

@Mumma1984
I highly recommend this girly pink tipple mixed together.... have one for me & lets cheers 🥂 to our better future & being on the mend xX

P.S the rose lemonade can be purchased from ASDA

@pollypocket952 oh that's good! Mine is free because it's an NHs based local thingy my GP referred me for so hopefully it helps! I do feel like maybe I'm more anxious after taking the meds I hope it evens out, I have previously had so many physical symptoms - I've had a brain scan 6 years ago that was fine when everything was at its worst, and everyone just keeps saying anxiety not illness - so hard to believe sometimes!

Heavy numb arm
Buzzing foot
Brain fog
Finger joint pain
Burning skin sensation
Jittery

@pollypocket952 that drink looks amazing ! 💕

@Mumma1984 if your anxiety is health anxiety I kind of know a little bit about that as my friend suffers with it. The brain fog & jitters are definitely side effects of starting the sertraline & the others could be down to odd joint aches & pains. I wouldn't worry too much, just try to keep busy. The CBT is supposed to help change how us with anxiety think & act, so we have that therapy to look forward to also.

@Mumma1984 the drink is amazing!

I was looking for a mixer for Gin & picked up the rose lemonade on a whim .... and my goodness it is a truly beautiful fragrant & floral drink, it goes great with the pink gin & you can really taste the rose extracts.

It's a MUST try if you like Gin.

Get some for your weekend away & report back 💖

Hello! Day 8. I am having some job opportunities and I am equally delighted and terrified. I am so worried about further disappointment that I am doing the rabbit in front of headlights thing.

Day 9. Off to the cinema. I am so down I don't even want to go to the job interview next week. I suddenly cannot cope with life's complexities and challenges. I just want a simple life for a bit.

How's everyone doing?