Sertraline buddy required!!!

[Vml12345]

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

One thing that's still not shifting since taking Setraline is this jittery feeling ... like adrenaline is constantly running through me, anyone else got this?

How's everyone on here? I'm still very up and down. DH suffers from depression and is on a downward spiral so I'm not getting much support from him. The opposite in fact, he's making me feel worse...

I've not taken the tablet for 2 or 3 days now and if honest I feel the same - I gave it over 7 weeks and it just didn't work or agree with me, I have a review coming up where I'll discuss if there is a better SSRI for me or if I just continue with the CBT and try to get my health anxiety under control with that ... we'll see

@Hairydogmummy sorry to hear you are both suffering from that. It must be difficult. Can you get any support from the family, I find it so important to have someone to talk to for both of you.
@Mumma1984 I read normally it should take up to 6 weeks to work, so if 7th week you are still not seeing the effect, it might be the right decision to find something else.
I am on day 19. I find my anxiety is getting under control, but mood is still low. However, I noticed some little change in my behaviour, like I hand washed breakfast dishes this morning, which I always did before I was depressed, and haven't done (always just dump the whole thing in the dishwasher) since. I know it sounds silly, but I am grasping any sign of hope right now.
I still wake up really early like 4am every morning and feeling the worst during the next couple of hours with intrusive thoughts and racing heart. Not sure if that is because I takes the med in the morning and the effect is wearing by then.
It is a long and hard road we are all taking now, I hope we all find some way to work things out. Keep well, everyone. xx

Thing that's really bothering me atm is I have these floaters in my eyes that I'm more aware of and being more aware it's causing me headaches - I've been to an optician and had my eyes fully checked with an OCT scanner - there's nothing wrong with them and the doc and optician say you can be much more aware when anxious, I just don't know how to get rid of that feeling ! At work and in the daylight is when I notice - but at home I'm fine :(

Hi everyone, I’m over three weeks in now and don’t really feel that different! I have some days where I feel slightly more relaxed. To be honest I’m not sure how it’s supposed to make me feel? Going to carry on though as still got three weeks until my six week check. Xx

Hi vml, it's great to see this thread, not enough people talk about mental health and will find it useful. I've recently gone back on sertraline, after a break as I thought I could cope without it but anxiety is bad again.

I was on 50, then 100mg and went back to my gp at the same point as you, thinking I should see some results, go reassured me that I will see some effects soon and it did work but very gradually for me, which is why they upped me to 100mg.

On 100mg, I felt more levelled out and after 2 months on 100mg my mood lifted a little for the first time. It was just very gradual for me.

Don't despair! But maybe discuss with your gp, I do think that sertraline is better. I was on citalopram years ago and it did nothing for me.

That's really good to hear @maria1947 thank you I'm at same stage as @Vml12345 and not really seeing much improvement. I'm speaking to the GP on Friday but still won't even be 4 weeks by then. Trying to stay positive but DH depression is affecting me. I wonder why some need higher dose than others? Is it how severe your anxiety/depression is? I've had mine years and it's quite severe so wonder if that means I'll need to go up to 100.

I’m still very up and down but I am noticing the medication being much more effective when I’m not drinking any caffeine.

I’m wondering about alcohol. What are you all going to do over the festive season? Can we have a night off? Maybe miss that days tablet and drink that night? I obviously don’t want the medication to increase the side effects of the alcohol or vice versa.

I am still drinking wine! Just had a glass in fact and no Ill effect. I dont drink a lot to be honest just a glass every now and again in the week and a couple at the weekend! My gp assured me it was fine ! Helps me relax and I enjoy it! Xxx

Yeah I'm drinking too. I definitely don't think you should miss a tablet. You'll get withdrawal symptoms.

Hoping I can join this thread - I was prescribed sertaline today by my GP. We've had 3 appointments now before he suggested this and he seems to think it will help. I am so so scared about side effects though, life already feels unbearable without having to deal with insomnia/nausea/ anything else. I so desperately want things to get better, and GP (who has been amazing so far) says this should help, but I just feel like this could be what pushes me over the edge.

@soakedonsplash Welcome to the thread. I am on day 20 now. I totally understand how scared you are of side effect because that was exactly where I were a month ago. Even when the GP prescribed me the med, it took me a whole week to work up the courage to take it. Although side effect is different on every individual, I think it would be better prepared than suprised when they come. It would be helpful if you tell your family or friend about your situation and ask for their support if necessary. And as most of the comment on the thread, it takes time for the med to work even when it is suitable for you.
I do find this thread helpful, supportive and reassuring.

Hi @soakedonsplash I was really scared too but actually I don't think I had much that I would even chalk up as a side effect. I was already having jitters, jaw clenching and diarrhoea among other lovely anxiety symptoms but wouldn't say it made them any worse. I take mine in the morning with food to avoid insomnia.

I'm on day 22 and feeling a lot better today. This morning I actually felt quite freaked out by the normalness of my thoughts! Very weird!

I was also scared... it took me six months to pluck up the courage but the side effects were no where near as bad as I had thought.. I’m on day 19 and am starting to feel a bit better. I have come to realise it’s a slow process and i need to work with it and stay positive! We’re all here to support each other so take the plunge and we will catch you xxxxx

Hi everyone, OP thank you so much for starting this thread. I finally plucked up the courage to see my doctor about my MH today and he prescribed Sertraline which I will start tomorrow. How many people went to work while settling into their meds? I am a bit nervous after reading all the posts about the side effects

Thanks everyone for trying to be reassuring. My husband is aware of what is happening and we had a long chat about it tonight - I think I just have to give it a go. I am just so worried - GP said it make me feel worse/ more anxious to being with, and it already just feels like so much to deal with as it is.

The pharmacist suggested eating something (v difficult at the moment though) immediately after taking the tablet to try and reduce any nausea - anybody else had any experience with this?

Is anyone on Sertraline and breastfeeding? I forgot to mention it to my doctor...

@gothefcktosleep yes I have a pretty demanding job and I've managed (I have reduced workload though after telling work what the problem was). I'd got myself into a terrible state before starting it tho. I definitely think if I hadn't, I could have gone on it and carried on and managed okay. My side effects were very minimal though.

I also have a demanding job... I started on a Saturday and took the Monday and Tuesday off as annual leave. I was ok by Wednesday, still felt a bit weird but managed to keep my heD down at work and got through it. The worst side effect was feeling like I’d had twenty cups of coffee, that soon went though xxxxx

Just took my first half tablet. Haven't eaten properly in days but just forced myself to eat something resembling a meal before taking it. Currently feel very strange but don't know if that's just because I haven't eaten any proper food in a few days, the sertraline or just me expecting something to happen.

I have my own business and am mostly on my own with two kids 14 and 8. So work is demanding however flexible. I try to do as much as I can when I am feeling ok and let myself off when low.
Side effect for me is mainly insomnia and no appetite. The side effects is improving but very slowly. I've lost about a stone in two month. I notice improvement on my anxiety but not much on depression. But I am hopeful maybe discussing higher dose with GP next wk.

Thanks guys - that’s reassuring. I asked not to be signed off work but looking at the side effects I was worried I’d made the wrong decision.

Ironically I was feeling better this morning and so wondered whether to start the meds today but I have done.

Had a bit of a funny stomach today but no other side effects so far. Can cope with a dodgy stomach I think if it’s normal and not to make light of it but quite looking forward to a bit of weight loss - will be the first Christmas period I’m actually lighter!

Having a really bad day today after feeling so good most of yesterday. Feel like I'm on a rollercoaster at the moment!

@Hairydogmummy I’m still up and down! So know how you feel. Fingers crossed I feel calmer and less snappy but ocd is still there and anxiety associated with my constant checking still bad but prob not as bad so things in right direction. My health anxiety seems a bit better and I seem to be able to rationalise more. All in all things are looking up xxxxx