Sertraline Buddies #2

[Umbongo1]

For anyone starting out on this drug...

So I had my 4 days of 25mg and I’ve just taken my 50mg. I take them around 6am/7am or I’ll forget. I’m dreading side effects from this jump and praying I’ll be someone who doesn’t have them

Hi everyone. I'm glad I found this thread. I'm on day 4 of 50mg and on the verge of giving up. I've been in bed more often than not since I started them as I've felt so exhausted, dizzy and sick. I feel completely detached from everyone and everything. I can't stop clenching my jaw. The most simple of tasks feels overwhelming. But by late yesterday afternoon I started to feel almost normal. I managed to play with my son for a bit (DH has been doing everything since I started the meds) and suddenly felt motivated to put some washing on and change the bed. I managed to eat something approaching a full meal. so I had hoped I was over the worst in terms of side effects. But today I feel awful. So weak and shaky and hot. I feel about 100 years old. I'm back in bed. I feel so useless and I just don't see how this is helping. I have been diagnosed with Depression, PTSD and PMDD but even at my worst I've never taken to my bed like this and I've always managed to take care of my DC. Is it worth persevering or should I stop taking them?

thank you to anyone who has taken the time to read this and I hope you're all ok.

@welcometohell - please pereservere. It's such early days and for most it takes a good week for things to settle. I had very similar to what you've described plus next to no sleep. By the second week I felt much better, the sertraline started working after a month or so and pulled me out of a big black hole. Don't give up, keep on keeping on, you'll be thankful you did x

To add I am now tapering off them. Was on sertraline 50mg for a year near enough and it changed everything for me. Along with meditating and earlier nights!

Why am I fatigued but also buzzing? I cannot have built up any sertraline in my body after 4 days surely

Hi everyone, I’m been on 50mg sertraline for 6 weeks! My mood has lifted but I’m still very anxious a lot of the day! My appetite has improved! Any advice appreciated! My doc has told me to up them but I’m scared too c

iloveyoubutilovememore Thank you. That's really encouraging to hear. I guess I'm just finding it hard to believe that something that's making me feel so ill could eventually help me. But I will keep going.

Yorkshiremummyof1 I'm also on day 4 and feel physically exhausted but also jittery and hyper-vigilant all the time. I feel like all I want to do is sleep but I can't switch my brain off.

I've been on sertraline 50mg for roughly 2 months and they kicked in around week 7 and I can honestly say it's changed my life.. I've just upped to 100s though as felt a dip and I'm worried about side effects being worse.. Has anyone experienced side effects once upping their dose?

@Marshmallow26 did it help with anxiety!? Did you have any improvement before week 7? I’m
Also worried about side effects too, so I’m upping to 75mg first then 100mg if needs be x

@umbongo1 - I stuffed my face with choc and it was sooooo good! Obviously after I had my temporary filling done this morning. Did you manage to sort work situation out? Are you feeling better?

@ShyOwl - awww congrats! A little boy! I suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum with my DD. Not pleasant. It's good that you're getting plans in place so things will go as smoothly as they can.

@MissPepper8 - sorry to hear that you're having a difficult time too and it's not easy with little ones. Hoping you have some good support. Yes, fatigue got me good. I was in bed for pretty much 4 weeks. I also had brain strain. Too much noise, talking, loud sounds was overwhelming. Decreased appetite and lost a stone in 3 weeks. BUT, I'm 5 weeks in, almost 6 and I'm feeling much better. I am doing other stuff such as meditating, hypnotherapy, exercise to help. I don't know anything about seroxat but I've had Citalopram before with no side effects but sertraline kicked my arse with side effects. So everyone reacts differently to different meds.

@Yorkshiremummyof1 - I started off same as you, 25mg to 50mg. The side effects weren't any worse for me. They stayed the same so don't be afraid. Or at least try not to be otherwise you'll become more anxious. If you can't sleep, ask GP for Zopliclone. They are like magic! And yes, IMO, 4 days is enough to start feeling the side effects.

@Milbo - great news that you're not being sick anymore. Even more great news for your DP that your libido is through the roof! Wish I had that side effect!

@welcometohell - I second @iloveyoubutilovememore, persevere because it's still early days. Everything you've described was me also. I'm now coming up to week 6 and I feel so much better. Just keep in touch with your GP for reviews. I'm lucky that my GP has been fantastic and so supportive.

@Lottie124 - if you're still feeling anxious, I would take the doctors advice. Have you also tried other things such as meditation and exercise? Breathing techniques perhaps?

@Marshmallow26 - I upped from 25 to 50 and my side effects stayed the same.

I've been feeling much better. Managed to spring clean my bedroom without crashing and burning from fatigue like before.The only thing disturbing me is my ex...still. He was in another frenzy today that I had to cut the call. He's been quiet for years and all of a sudden he's on some kind of mission. He must have a vulnerability radar on me or I have an anxiety alert alarm that I telepathically send to him. I wish he would just p*ss off.

@lottie234 Honestly I don't remember them helping before then, it was just like a switch was flicked one day and I found myself dancing around the house and cleaning lots! (that's worn thin now 😂)
I'd been going through so much at that time that even if there was a slight change I think circumstances were making me miserable so i wouldn't of noticed.
I took my first 100mg at around 5pm today and I've had no side effects at all so that's a positive!
All I can say is stick with them consistently, I've always been that person that takes a months worth and never bothers again because nothings changed but I wish I had stuck to them so so long ago, my life could've been very different x

Oh and my anxiety is so much better, have off days but I'm beaming with confidence lately.. I've also lost 3 stone so that's helped massively x

Can anyone tell me at what stage their side effects hit their peak and then started to reduce? It's day 5 today and I had hoped to be over the worst by now but last night was a new low. I was up most of the night with the most terrible nausea that came in waves and seemed to start as a burning sensation in my chest. I was shaking like a leaf and sweat was pouring out of me. This was accompanied by diarrhoea and a headache that feels like someone is squeezing my head. I don't know how much more of this I can take.

[quote MariposaPink]@umbongo1 - I stuffed my face with choc and it was sooooo good! Obviously after I had my temporary filling done this morning. Did you manage to sort work situation out? Are you feeling better?

@ShyOwl - awww congrats! A little boy! I suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum with my DD. Not pleasant. It's good that you're getting plans in place so things will go as smoothly as they can.

@MissPepper8 - sorry to hear that you're having a difficult time too and it's not easy with little ones. Hoping you have some good support. Yes, fatigue got me good. I was in bed for pretty much 4 weeks. I also had brain strain. Too much noise, talking, loud sounds was overwhelming. Decreased appetite and lost a stone in 3 weeks. BUT, I'm 5 weeks in, almost 6 and I'm feeling much better. I am doing other stuff such as meditating, hypnotherapy, exercise to help. I don't know anything about seroxat but I've had Citalopram before with no side effects but sertraline kicked my arse with side effects. So everyone reacts differently to different meds.

@Yorkshiremummyof1 - I started off same as you, 25mg to 50mg. The side effects weren't any worse for me. They stayed the same so don't be afraid. Or at least try not to be otherwise you'll become more anxious. If you can't sleep, ask GP for Zopliclone. They are like magic! And yes, IMO, 4 days is enough to start feeling the side effects.

@Milbo - great news that you're not being sick anymore. Even more great news for your DP that your libido is through the roof! Wish I had that side effect!

@welcometohell - I second @iloveyoubutilovememore, persevere because it's still early days. Everything you've described was me also. I'm now coming up to week 6 and I feel so much better. Just keep in touch with your GP for reviews. I'm lucky that my GP has been fantastic and so supportive.

@Lottie124 - if you're still feeling anxious, I would take the doctors advice. Have you also tried other things such as meditation and exercise? Breathing techniques perhaps?

@Marshmallow26 - I upped from 25 to 50 and my side effects stayed the same.

I've been feeling much better. Managed to spring clean my bedroom without crashing and burning from fatigue like before.The only thing disturbing me is my ex...still. He was in another frenzy today that I had to cut the call. He's been quiet for years and all of a sudden he's on some kind of mission. He must have a vulnerability radar on me or I have an anxiety alert alarm that I telepathically send to him. I wish he would just p*ss off. [/quote]
Made a note of zopliclone, have a telephone appointment next week in relation to blood tests (where he’s going to ask if I take all my tablets and I’m going to say no I was too depressed yay) so I’ll ask then

It would be nice to be able to drag myself to taking all my multivitamins etc

I have to take vitamin d and calcium, a shit load of iron, prescribed vits that make me feel sick, b12 etc etc. All because I have a tiny tummy

But I never feel up to it or I forget so I need to get going with that

@welcometohell

Can anyone tell me at what stage their side effects hit their peak and then started to reduce? It's day 5 today and I had hoped to be over the worst by now but last night was a new low. I was up most of the night with the most terrible nausea that came in waves and seemed to start as a burning sensation in my chest. I was shaking like a leaf and sweat was pouring out of me. This was accompanied by diarrhoea and a headache that feels like someone is squeezing my head. I don't know how much more of this I can take.

How much are you drinking when you take your tablet? The burning sensation is the acid so if you can get something to help with that it might ease it

How much are you drinking when you take your tablet? The burning sensation is the acid so if you can get something to help with that it might ease it

I have been taking it with a lot of water, but I take it in the morning and although I felt rough all day yesterday the really awful side effects didn't come on until 10pm or so. Acid makes sense, I don't know why I didn't think of that! I will send DH to the chemist for antacids this morning. Thank you.

@welcometohell - I wouldn't say I had a peak as such. It was a consistent arse kick for about 4.5 weeks for me and then one day I started to feel brighter and it got better from there. 5 days is early and I really sympathise with you. If you go to the beginning of this thread (not saying you should) but you will see that the original posters were going through similar experiences and we are all feeling better now (in one way or another). But have a chat with your GP again and see if there is something else in addition you can have to help. Antacids is a good idea though and maybe just good old paracetamol for the head pain?
I had diazepam to help with my anxiety and Zopliclone to help with my sleep.

@MariposaPink Thank you. I have been taking paracetamol for the headache but perhaps not regularly enough. From reading threads on here I knew there would be side effects, I fully expected to feel like shit for a few days but I didn't realise I would be completely unable to function. I can't work or look after my DC. If the side effects hasn't eased off at all by Monday I will call the GP.

Finally braved starting first 50mg dose today after being scared for days. Took at about 11am this morning and not really any noticeable side effects so far. Is it too early to tell yet or would I have gotten some by now?

@welcometohell - you will have short bursts of clarity/energy during this time until the meds properly kick in. I think some of us have experienced that on here. I suspect that the GP may say that a week is not long enough time and to continue with it. I could be wrong. But perhaps diazepam as an addition will help with the teeth clenching and the shaking? It helped with my agitation.

If I may speak for the others on here, we know how you feel. We've been through it, some still going through it but seeing some light at the end of the tunnel and it feels like there's no end in sight but there is. Promise. X

@Vampyhooch - I'm assuming you went from 25mg to 50mg? In which case so did I and my side effects stayed the same. From the sounds of it, you're not having any side effects at all, would that be correct? If so, then maybe you are one of the lucky ones!

[quote MariposaPink]@Vampyhooch - I'm assuming you went from 25mg to 50mg? In which case so did I and my side effects stayed the same. From the sounds of it, you're not having any side effects at all, would that be correct? If so, then maybe you are one of the lucky ones![/quote]
@MariposaPink I didn’t start at 25mg they just give me a 50mg dose for 14 days at first to try and then review me after 28 days x

@Vampyhooch - apologies, I assumed you were on an increase. I could be wrong it may take more than a couple of hours particularly because you've just started. From my experience I was in the height of anxiety when I started meds so I didn't know whether I was experiencing side effects or my actual anxiety. But I soon found a pattern in how I was feeling when I was taking the meds after a little while. The only thing I didn't know was whether what was going on in my head was side effects or anxiety but the other stuff I recognised as side effects. It's a difficult one because everyone is different. I hope you get on well with it.

[quote MariposaPink]@Vampyhooch - apologies, I assumed you were on an increase. I could be wrong it may take more than a couple of hours particularly because you've just started. From my experience I was in the height of anxiety when I started meds so I didn't know whether I was experiencing side effects or my actual anxiety. But I soon found a pattern in how I was feeling when I was taking the meds after a little while. The only thing I didn't know was whether what was going on in my head was side effects or anxiety but the other stuff I recognised as side effects. It's a difficult one because everyone is different. I hope you get on well with it. [/quote]
@MariposaPink

The physical symptoms subsided weeks ago- well not gone completely but calmed down a lot. But now I’m left feeling brain fog, Depersonalization etc and the mental symptoms such as racing thoughts etc. Hoping it helps with that. Been so worried about starting them

I’ve upped to 75mg last night! So far feel okay today apart from fast heart rate last night! Fingers crossed they help with this awful anxiety x