Sertraline buddy required!!!

[Vml12345]

I’m in day 2 of taking sertraline and could really do with some support as feel horrible 😕

On day 7 of 50mg here and seem to have been lucky in that I haven't had many side effects. 1 day of feeling sick and having a head ache. I do keep clenching my jaw and have to consciously relax it though.

I'm feeling ok in the afternoon and evenings but the mornings I feel really anxious and my stomach is churning like I've got an exam or a presentation to do. Then it's almost like a switch is flicked and I can go from feeling like something basic like driving to the shops is impossible to just getting in the car and going. Getting to sleep is harder but I'm getting much more restful sleep- no more 4am horrors which keep me awake til day break.

Am desperate to feel normal again. I feel like I've spent the past 6 months in tears and unable to hold things together.

I've not had a good couple of days. Two weeks in for me now. I've stayed home from work today as I've not slept well at all the last two nights, feel really anxious and having intrusive thoughts.

Just a question- does it always get better on sertraline?

@speakout I'm wondering the same!

Also has anyone ever had a buzz feeling in their foot from anxiety?

I ask because a very close family member started taking it earlier in the year, side effects were mild in the first week, but grew, and by week 8 were intolerable, affecting many areas of his emotional state and well being.
He had to stop.
Is it a case of perseverance in all cases? Surely there must be a point where you must consider alternatives drugs or alternative therapies?

Just an update after visiting GP. After discussing the sleep problem that can not even be solved by Diazepam, and continous low feeling, he recommended swtiching to Mirtazapine. The GP said as I was only on Sertraline for 2 weeks, there won't be any withdraw and given the side effect of Mirtazapine is sleepiness, it might help my condition.
I'll keep you all updated if it works or not.

@speakout I have read that only 30% of patients with depression are cured by medication - so it's a bit of a lottery.

I know it would make me look so silly. Just read about the side effect of Mirtazapine. OMG, the weight gain side of it looks so terrifying. Talked to DH, and he thinks it will make me more stressed and depressed if I do suffer as badly as those described. I know it seems vain, but unless this is the last solution, I won't be able to bare looking at myself if that happens. So I am back to square one and sticking with sertraline for another week.

@jellybeanpeach I know where you are coming from regarding the weight, believe me, but please look after yourself, if you are well within yourself you can diet, exercise, take control of your body and life but if you feel terrible you may be thin because you don't eat out of worry but is that a life worth living? How long did you take Sertraline for?

@MonnaLIza I am two weeks in sertraline. The main problem with sertraline for me is the sleeping problem. When the GP offered alternative I didn't think the side effect of weight gain is that significant. As I am still in early days of sertraline, I would rather hold on a bit longer hoping the Sertraline side effect wearing off rather than the other way.

@jellybeanpeach - understood :)
I hope it works for you - in my case it took about 4/5 weeks to get truly better and was very much up-and-down. I still have low days (today is one of them!) but much better than it used to be.

Hi everyone - when did everyone start to feel better? I’m 6 weeks in. 50 for 3 weeks and nearly 3 weeks at 100. Thanks!

@jellybean I think you made a good call. Hopefully you've done the hard bit and will start sleeping properly soon.
@firsttimemum bit different for everyone but quite a few say around 6 weeks

@crisps75 thank you. I don’t think 50 touched the sides so I’m thinking I’m actually only about 3 weeks in!

@jellybeanpeach have you tried the Calm app...it has meditation and music/sounds for sleep. I also used Lush sleepy cream and body powder. To be honest though it doesn't always work. I've not slept last two nights either. Trouble is I find I put pressure on to sleep the following night if I've not slept previously and worry how I'll get through the day if I haven't slept etc etc

Thanks everybody for your support.
@Hairydogmummy you are absolutely right about pressure of sleep put us out of sleep. I can't help myself keep checking the clock.

Same. And looking for signs like getting light, birds tweeting and thinking I'm losing my chance for sleep now. It's so horrible being awake in the middle of the night you get so irrational. I hate it

Hi All,

How is everyone doing! I’m feeling a bit better like the sertraline May be working! This has only happened over last few days! I’m still getting muscle twitches and night sweats but I guess I’ll have to live with that! I’ve also lost some weight but that’s probably the constant anxiety and suppressed appetite at the beginning.

My sleep has been ok but I’ve suffered insomnia in the past and know how bad it can be... the more you try and sleep the more you can’t... it’s a vicious cycle and I removed my clock and phone from my room so I couldn’t check k the time as prior I’d mentally count how many hours sleep I’d get if I fell asleep now!!!!

Keep going everyone xxxxx

@Vml12345 Hi I'm on week 5 now I think, still not feeling too much different - I had my first CBT last night which I just babbled for an hour at the poor woman. I have a buzz in my foot driving me mad, but nothing else really, shoulder better today but I have a chiropractor app later about it anyways ! Fingers crossed for more improvement!

@Vml12345 So glad to hear you are feeling the improvement.
I've been forcing myself spend sometime out of the house or office in the last couple of days. And I did feel better for a while after that.
I did not take any meds yesterday as I was seeing the GP and when got back researched new meds and decided to stay on Sertraline, it was too late in the day to take it (I was worried I would stay awake all night). Then, I had the best sleep of 7 hours with a short break in the middle (about mid-night). It might not be anything at all or just my body has got use to the new chemical levels now?
Had a small anxiety episode on something at work but it did not last too long as talked myself out it.
DH said I look much better than last week which is encouraging.
Hope you are all well and keep it going. xx

@iloveyoubutilovememore hi there!! I was wondering if you could let me know how long the tablets took to kick in for you?

Hi all, I had my review with the GP. I’ve still got a couple of weeks left from my original prescription and was prescribed a further months worth. She seemed happy with how I’m doing. I had 2 days where I felt amazing, today not so much but I suppose it will be ups and downs at the beginning. She has booked me back in to see her in a couple of weeks. I honestly am so grateful for the lovely GP that I have. Honestly, she listened to me pour my heart out when I was at breaking point a couple of weeks ago. I really did bare my soul and told her all the things that I felt most ashamed of. She didn’t judge, she listened and she empathised. She knows that I was in such a state and had been for about 6 months leading up to my appointment with her and it’s obvious she is making sure I am in regular contact with her until my appointment next month with the counselling team. I am just so grateful for the amazing support she has given me. I hope you’re all doing okay?

@Vml12345 so pleased to hear it may finally be working for you! That’s great news.

@Mumma1984 That’s great that you’ve started CBT. I’ve heard it’s really effective.

@jellybeanpeach glad you finally had a good nights sleep! I bet it was much needed

Day 15.
Not much different from yesterday. However, something happened at work, which would have set me off before, seemed to affect me a bit less than usual. I am still annoyed and unhappy about it, but no shaky legs and racing heart any more. So, finger's crossed, maybe the med is working on my anxiety at least.
Hope you'll all see some improvement soon

Hi All day 16 for me. I had similar to @jellybeanpeach today. A nasty colleague ripped in to me for no reason. Normally I'd be shaking like a leaf but it didn't bother me much at all.
Saw the occ health person yesterday. Was really nice and recommended adjustment at work but would not refer me for free CBT cos he said they'd only give me 6 sessions and I was too severe for that!
Sleeping better and less anxious overall today especially but having night sweats every night this week!

hello!
I know how you feel, I've been on sertraline since I was 15, recently come off it when I found out I was pregnant. It makes you feel really numb and a little zombie-like at first, so you might feel worse to begin with.
But it's important to remebver that its completely normal, th ebest thing you can do is give yourself a break! It's an up and down journey, but I can honestly say that at the time, it was the best thing for me, and I'm happy to be alive.
Please look after yourself and you'll always have support here.