Sertraline Buddies #2

[Umbongo1]

For anyone starting out on this drug...

Can I join? I’m at the end of week 1 on 50mg. Not feeling any positive benefits yet and very shaky and nauseous. Last night I threw up the dose immediately after taking it and really don’t know if I can keep going with this. I hope it gets better soon.

MariposaPink

It might be worth asking your GP for the propranolol (I would start slow and low with your dosages).

I have never been offered it. I had to ask. I am in my late 40s and I only recently read up about it. I’m quite angry that no one thought to suggest it to me, given my issues that have been affecting me since childhood.

Milbo

Maybe try taking your dose with a little snack? That is so disheartening for you that you couldn’t keep it down. That would really upset me.

I’m in week 5 and seeing some positive times of the days, but I still feel like my head in just not Rite at times! Can’t describe how it feels.i still feel a bit short tempered at times as well like I just can’t be bothered with people? Anyone else feeling like this xx

@Umbongo1 - you're probably chowing down on your Massaman curry now. Hope you're having a good time and preparation wasn't too stressful.
Lucky for me I can work from home and since my anxiety episode, work has been really quiet (hallelujah). I work as a Finance Project Coordinator. Sounds a lot fancier than it actually is. I've got a great boss who's been really understanding. We had a 4 hour meeting scheduled last Wednesday but I asked him to halve it because I knew I'd become a bumbling mess after a 4 hour stretch. I managed to do a bit more work yesterday afternoon though but my brain didn't like it.

I feel agitated when I take the Sertraline but I've started taking 2mg diazepam at the same time which helps. Then I count down the hours until I can take my Zopliclone...sad but true.

@Milbo - welcome! Ughhh...week 1 = no fun but persevere. If you continue to vomit when you take it, speak to your GP. They may prescribe you anti-sickness tablets too.

@Chatons - I'm surprised by that too. Why would they deny something that could help? That's really very cruel. Money I suppose. I'm glad you found out about it and it's working for you though. But I've got this far without it so I'm going to continue. If I feel I need it then I will definitely ask. Thanks for the advice.

DH has suggested a weekend away next week. As much as I feel the need for a change of scenery, I'm feeling anxious about it already. Normally I'd jump at it and have it all booked up. Generally it's him telling me to hold my horses but now it's me telling him to "let's see." DD will be with her father so we should really take advantage of the free time. Oh I don't know...

@Lottie124 - I feel exactly like you. Short bursts of clarity and a bit of positivity but short-lived and I'm mainly just not right. I'm not short-tempered with people...I just don't give a shite! Lol! But I get annoyed by too much talking and racket..it hurts my brain. I've turned down 3 birthday celebrations this weekend and 1 next Wednesday. All people with whom I'm very close but I know I just won't cope with the chaos.

Is anyone feeling any disassociation? I am sometimes and I don't like it.

@MariposaPink yep that’s how I feel like irritated by people and noises.. I just feel like something isn’t adding up in my head! I’m less emotional now than when I first started, I just want to feel like my self again! I feel like I can’t cope with any stressful situation and on edge all the time!

@Lottie124 - I haven't cried since Monday. But that could all change! I'm on edge too. It's almost if I'm waiting for the next panic or weirdness. I have a constant battle in my head; rational thoughts being overridden by irrational thoughts and then rational again. The other night I became fearful that I might die if I took my sleeping tablet...the same sleeping tablet I've been taking for 3 weeks prescribed by the doctor. But all of a sudden I became scared despite the fact I've "woken up not dead" for 3 weeks!! Still didn't stop me from taking it though...!

Well it's Zopliclone time for me! Yay! Goodnight all. Hope you all sleep well and remember tomorrow will be another day closer to feeling back to normal.

Have you ever forgotten to take yours for a day?

Is anyone having trouble sleeping? I’v been ok but past few nights! I’ve just not been able to get to sleep or stay asleep. As a results it’s making my anxiety worse and thoughts worse. Fed up x

@Biancadelrioisback - I've not forgotten to take one yet but I have read the instructions and it did say just to continue to take the meds the next day. Do not double up. Have you ever forgotten to take one?

@Lottie124 - Zopliclone helps with sleep. I tried one night without it a couple of weeks ago and fell asleep at 4am and awoke at 7am. Haven't tried again to sleep without them but I know I'm going to have to at some point. Have a chat with your GP about Zopliclone.

I’m not having trouble sleeping at the moment but have taken Zopiclone in the past and it’s very good, definitely helpful if needed.

I think I need to ask for an anti nausea tablet as I’m struggling with feeling like I’m going to throw up although it’s only happened once.

GP doesn’t want to review until I’ve been on 50mg for a month, does that sound right? I’ve seen people moved to 100 after a fortnight so not sure if I should be checking in sooner. My GP isn’t very well versed on MH issues so I’m trying to be one step ahead, I had to really fight to get Sertraline and I can’t access any talking therapies on the NHS here.

Yes, twice. It's awful. Basically resets me so I go back to the being tired all the time, bad stomach and sweats.

How did everyone's day go today?

I had a pretty good one. Went for a long walk with DD this afternoon and got attacked by flying ants!
But when I took sertraline this evening (even with the diazepam), I began feeling a little agitated again. I think maybe I was tired from the walk too but I did some meditation which helped a lot.
I still feel like my mind is not completely right though..like I'm missing a "sandwich" or a "crayon"..!

@MariposaPink I get that too. A wierd feeling in my head which is a bit like agitation but isn't. It's uncomfortable and really hard to describe!

I've had a surprisingly good couple of days, my Thai-fest curry bonanza was a success and I've been out in the moors all day today feeling moderately normal, albeit worrying as usual that I'll be back to square 1 tomorrow!

How is everyone else? Xx

Hearing about these good days really gives me hope, thank you. Today was hard, I’ve been getting major mum guilt about how little I can do at the moment and my toddler is getting really clingy because he’s noticed I’m not quite right. My anxiety is really bad at the moment, I really can’t wait for the tabs to kick in and have some positive impact but probably a little while to go yet.

@Milbo - a month review sounds like a long time for me. My GP checked in on me after 7 days and will call me tomorrow again (14 days later). If your GP is not well versed then I would call up for a review after 2 weeks personally and if you're still feeling highly anxious, I would speak to the GP about propranolol. I've not had any, but others on here have said it helps the attacks. I'm in Week 4 now and the shaky feeling has stopped but I still feel a little weird. The good days will come...promise. Don't watch the mum guilt. Your toddler won't remember anything. And really he justs wants to be with his mama; not worrying about things he wants to do. My DD is 13 and I felt a little guilty about her having a hot mess mother but actually, I think it's made her realise that I'm human too and I have my limits. She can't recall my last episode when she was 7 years old. She's being attentive and loving. Including the dog who lays across my back for the first 5 minutes I go to bed. In fact, my pooch has been more protective than anyone else. She's barking at every single blasted noise in the house. The neighbours door knocks and she's barking all over the show. She's not normally like this so I think it's her protective instinct for me. Can always rely on the pooch.

@Umbongo1 - fabulous! You have had 2 good days and cooked up a storm in the kitchen! That's maybe just what you needed! A lovely walk along the moors sounds just what the doctor ordered. We need to stop worrying about tomorrow because there may not be anything to worry about!
I woke up, said some prayers, listened to some uplifting music, meditated and then became ready for the world...well Aldi anyway. I only went In for one dessert pie and walked back home. Now the next step is to try and eat it!

Morning, so I’m nearly at the end of week 5 and still experiencing terrible anxiety! Sometimes all day long, I’m waiting on a call back from the doctors! I do feel slightly better in my self and my mood. But the anxiety is crippling me! Is this normal for 5 weeks in nearly? I’m really fed up and loosing hope this drug is climb to work for me x

@Lottie124 - I spoke to my GP this morning. I told her that I'm doing better but not 100%. I explained the not feeling quite right in my mind but not sure if it's me or the meds. She said it's difficult to know but to give it another 2 weeks (making 6 weeks in total) before reviewing again, meaning a possible increase in dosage if my head is still not right.

As you're coming up to your 6th week, I would definitely speak with your GP about Zopliclone to help you sleep or increasing dosage or changing antidepressant. Did you say you have propranolol?

Are you also trying other things to help? Such as exercise, meditation, writing journals etc? Does something trigger the anxiety in you?

@MariposaPink are you on fb as lottie and I chat there a lot.

@Lottie124 i think if you're seeing improvements then stick with it. People do say 6-8 weeks and I'm definitely seeing a few good hours here and there and I'm in week 5.

It may be that you could up your dose to 75mg rather than the full 100?

I'm off to Tesco this morning which is usually one of my panic locations. Brace brace!!

So I’ve spoke to my doc this morning who has advised me to start on venlafaxine as well to try and help with the anxiety! It’s crippling me honestly! I juts don’t no what to do for the best! I’m so fed up!

@Lottie124 - that's good that the GP has prescribed an additional pill to help the anxiety. This will now hopefully sort out the physical effects.

@Umbongo1 - I'm not on FB anymore. Someone kept trying to hack into my account and I just ended up deleting it. How was your trip to Tesco? Hopefully uneventful.

During my very brief trip to Aldi yesterday, some bloke decided to kick off at the cashier because (get this)....the conveyor belt moved which caused his bag of sugar to split! And I thought I was crazy?!?

Survived Tesco - no one died vomited or fainted so that's a win in my book.

Going to take the dogs for a walk now before the rain arrives.

Got a call with work this pm not sure if I'm ready to go back or not. I want to be doing something useful but I don't want to go back, fail and feel even worse than before... any thoughts people?!