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Mental health

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Original poster

Scared to start taking setraline hand hold please

46 replies

Thegirlinaswing · 27/12/2020 09:30

I have suffered from moderate/severe depression and severe anxiety since the summer, currently having CBT which is helping a bit but still struggling so my GP has prescribed Setraline, but I have just sat down and read the very long leaflet that came with it and now I am too scared to start taking it because of all the side effects listed! The dose i have been prescribed is 50mg should I start at 25mg or will that not work at all? When is the best time of day to take it?
I feel so useless and hopeless and being stuck in a Tier 4 area is not helping at all! Hand hold and advice please.

OP posts:

LifeExperimentation · 27/12/2020 10:16

Please don’t be scared. I have just finished my first 28 days and I’m so grateful to this medication (which was prescribed for anxiety) for the relief it’s given me. I started on 50mg and had 3 days of feeling weird/wired but tired/nausea, another 4 days of milder side effects... but started to feel much better a week in. Good luck to you.

LifeExperimentation · 27/12/2020 10:17

I take mine at 7am.

opalescent · 27/12/2020 10:46

I felt exactly the same the first time I started taking it. As a previous poster has said, I experienced a few days of mild side effects, and they quickly subsided. I then took 50mg a day for one year, and it helped me immensely. I honestly never looked back.

WomenWhoWalk · 27/12/2020 10:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MuchTooTired · 27/12/2020 10:56

I take 200mg currently, and have been on sertraline for two years. It’s been a life changer for me. I take it just before I go to bed (I found it made me sleepy when I first started taking it so evenings work better for me).

My dr adjusts my dosage up and down depending upon how I feel I’m doing, but I’ve been on the max dose for a few months now.

The racing mind has stopped, the world is colourful, and I no longer live in fear of living my life - I only wish I’d started taking it years ago and not put myself through hell for years.

WomenWhoWalk · 27/12/2020 10:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Spiratedaway · 27/12/2020 10:57

Don't be scared it works for me

Spiratedaway · 27/12/2020 10:58

@MuchTooTired

My dr adjusts my dosage up and down depending upon how I feel I’m doing, but I’ve been on the max dose for a few months now.

The racing mind has stopped, the world is colourful, and I no longer live in fear of living my life - I only wish I’d started taking it years ago and not put myself through hell for years.

Does the Max dose work ? X

justanothermamma · 27/12/2020 11:00

It's changed my life, I'm on 50mg a day x

GrannyClanger · 27/12/2020 11:04

Hi! I am just the same - was prescribed sertraline at the start of December and then read a thread on here about the side effects which really put me off. However I’ve taken the first tablet this morning. So far I’ve felt a bit light headed but that’s it.

cushioncovers · 27/12/2020 11:07

Don't be scared I've been on it for many years. It literally saved me from doing something stupid. The side effects will be uncomfortable at first but your body adjusts to them. I would also recommend some sort of counselling and mindful exercises once the tablets start to help. Good luck.

mrsdiddlydoo · 27/12/2020 12:52

If you had a headache, you would take some painkillers. I'm just going back on it. Wish I'd asked for help sooner this time. If you are worried about the side effects, speak to your gp about starting on a lower dose for a week then upping it.
It does take time to work but it's worth it in my opinion. And if you do experience side effects you can't manage speak your gp as there will be a medication that helps you. Good luck op! Hand hold

KnitsAndGiggles · 27/12/2020 12:58

It saved my life OP. There are a lot of side effects but you just ride them out for 6 weeks. I had headaches, nausea, clenched jaw, mood swings. I was starting to become suicidal when I went on them - a few side effects are worth it imo, but if they don't work for you then go back to your Dr and ask for something else. Got to take that first step to find out what life could be like

Skyliner001 · 27/12/2020 12:59

Hello, I started on this just over three weeks ago, the first few days were horrendous with side-effects, and then the second week was really bad with increased anxiety and panic. The third week things have started to improve, and on the whole I'm definitely improving. Stick with it it's definitely worth it in the end.

Skyliner001 · 27/12/2020 13:00

So I take mine at night, as it gives me terrible fatigue. But all in all it's definitely worth it. I do feel better

Original poster

Thegirlinaswing · 27/12/2020 14:20

Thank you all for taking the time to reply, the irony of being anxious about taking something to help my anxiety has not escaped me!
I'm going to take 25mg at dinner time for a week then increase to the recommended 50mg dose that I have been prescribed. My GP recommended that I take it with food to avoid nausea, and I don't eat breakfast, so dinner time is probably best. I will come back and let you know how I am doing!

OP posts:

SparkleClaws · 27/12/2020 14:29

My DD takes 50mg Sertraline daily. She has had depression for two years, had CBT until last spring when the depression ramped up and anti depressants were inevitable. I found it very hard to accept as she is only 17. She had no problem as she knew she needed help. She had a few days of feeling queasy and tired but no reaction since. About three or four months in she felt they weren't working so was trying to get an app with the gp to double her dose. She couldn't get an appointment so waded through those difficult days but has since had a review with him and he says to double it in future if she feels she needs to and cannot get hold of him. She is likely to be on it for another 6 months as A Level stress sets in.

The difference in her is huge. Sertraline has been a massive help and she does not feel so bleak about her future with it.

Schmoozer · 27/12/2020 14:32

I think it should be taken in morning to help wake / sleep cycle
I think if taken in evening it works against that cycle and cause sleep problems?
I’m on a similar medication and it changed my life - literally !!!!
Go for it and hopefully in a few weeks time you’ll be feeling better

Original poster

Thegirlinaswing · 27/12/2020 14:34

@GrannyClanger

GrannyClanger totally understand! I picked up my prescription on Christmas Eve, but decided to wait until after Christmas was over before starting it, didn't want to ruin Christmas by feeling strange. I have two children and I'm just so not myself right now for them, I keep bursting in to tears for no reason, terrible anxiety attacks and mood swings, horrendous!

OP posts:

catchingzzzeds · 27/12/2020 14:45

Sertraline has changed my life, I wish I'd sought help sooner I could have saved myself a lot of anxiety and heartache.
I did suffer with side effects for the first couple of weeks but I was already struggling day to day so stuck with it and I'm so glad I did. The side effects disappeared and I found a calmness that I'd never achieved myself.

Llh1979 · 27/12/2020 16:35

I was prescribed 50mg of this at the beginning of december and had horrible side effects for 2 days so stupidly stopped taking it straight away
I'm actually thinking of taking 25mg for a couple of weeks and hopefully the side effects wont be as serve as when I was on it 2.5 years ago for anxiety it was amazing and worked really well i was nausea for a couple of days but nothing bad but now my anxiety is bad again

mynameiscalypso · 27/12/2020 16:44

I've definitely found it's the best AD for me and with the least side effects - I currently take more than the max dose for various reasons but it has benefits for me at every dosage.

SpookyHalloween · 27/12/2020 16:48

I started sertraline in February and it has helped me so much, started on 50mg and upped to 100mg in summer.
Take it first thing in the morning as it really affected my ability to sleep. It will make you feel worse before it makes you feel better but it's a great help.

DagenhamRoundhouse · 27/12/2020 18:07

Every medication has a scary list of possible side effects. Take a look at the one for paracetamol! The drug companies are obliged by law to list them, even if only two or two people reported them.

I take an old fashioned AD (tricyclic) and have done for years and it is helping me through this period of time but I did double the dose on advice of GP. Persevere and don't be scared. You can always stop if it doesn't agree with you.

Glittergoblin · 27/12/2020 18:26

Hi I also picked up my Sertraline prescription on Christmas eve but waited until today to start. I took mine after lunch and have felt slightly nauseas throughout the afternoon but that's all I've noticed so far. I'm taking them for anxiety, depression and panic attacks.

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