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Original poster

Sertraline 2- A second handholding thread

661 replies

freckles20 · 19/03/2021 08:18

This thread is a follow on to the original handhold thread- for those beginning or continuing their journey on sertraline. All are welcome.

This is a supportive thread, where all situations are unique and there is no judgement.

OP posts:
Riser · 20/04/2021 17:29

I've been on 50mg for the past 3 months. Have been anxious again this past week due to a covid related death in my family. Doctor suggested going up to 75mg to help cope. And if no improvement to go up to 100mg. Anxiety is heightened, I've been on 75mg since Saturday.

ProfessorInkling · 21/04/2021 10:31

Thanks @mrsdiddlydoo. Yes I'm getting out when I can, and did some gardening with my DS yesterday. I just need to get over this infection and see what's what, the nausea is making me feel very low right now. I wish I could quieten these feelings.

@LoopyLouLawson sorry you are struggling but you mustn't feel as though you're letting others down - you need to look after yourself and that's what those around you who care about you would say too. Did you sleep better last night?

@Riser I'm so sorry. Have you got RL support around you?

Newusertothis · 21/04/2021 16:54

Does anyone not feel any different since starting these i have been on 50mg for 4 weeks
I started 100 yesterday but I don’t feel any better

troppibambini6 · 21/04/2021 18:21

Hi do you mind if I join you?
Ive just started sertraline again and I'm on my second day. I've taken it once before when my youngest two children were little about 4 years ago. It worked really well but my goodness I had forgotten what hard going the beginning was!!
I'm taking it at about 9.30am but I'm now think of gradually changing to the evening to hopefully sleep through some of the nausea, headaches and just generally feeling like a space cadet it takes til now for me to start feel a bit less foggy...
What time does everyone take it? And how long til the nausea/foggy felling starts to lift? I can't really remember from last time.

Dollsandfoo · 21/04/2021 18:26

I take mine about 8pm. Last time I was on them a few years ago I tried different times and found this the best. I normally sleep then through the worst of the symptoms x

FeduponFriday · 21/04/2021 18:43

I take mine after breakfast. I suffer from insomnia and was advised to take in the morning. I generally only felt yucky for the first 5-7 days.

LambHamb · 22/04/2021 14:36

Hi everyone do you mind if I join please? I took 25mg this morning and I don't feel very good. I've got a bit of a headache and my stomach feels a bit off. I feel a bit shakey too. I wasn't expecting to get side effects this quickly. I kind of feel I've had a few drinks the night before. Not fully hungover but definitely had a drink if that makes sense?

The doctor said to start on 50 but after reading up on sertraline, I decided to start on 25. Should I stay on 25 for a few days or would a week be better?

I'd anyone on here breastfeeding? I know it's as safe as it can be but I can't help but panic that I'm being selfish for not waiting until I've finished breastfeeding. Baby is 14 months.

FeduponFriday · 22/04/2021 14:53

Welcome LambHamb. I'm not breast feeding, I'm afraid. Yes, the side effects kick in very quickly! I did 25mg for 3 days. That really helped. I wanted to go up to 50mg as quickly as possible so didn't want to do longer than this. Doctor recommended me starting at this dose for this long.

FeduponFriday · 22/04/2021 14:54

Ps. Eat little and often. That will help the nausea. I had a rotten headache for 3-4 days. Keep on top of the pain killers (paracetamol) so it doesn't debilitate you too much.

Best of luck. X

LambHamb · 22/04/2021 18:51

Thanks @FeduponFriday did you get side effects from the very first day too? I feel a bit foggy but I don't know if I'm just over thinking it and making myself feel like this? Sorry that probably sounds weird.

FeduponFriday · 22/04/2021 19:31

LambHamb. It's definitely the setraline. Within a few hours

runningpink · 23/04/2021 09:28

I started taking sertraline last night.
Feel more anxious this morning and a bit shaky. Was awake for a few hours during the night but that’s not unusual for me.

Going on medication was a last resort for me so I just hope it helps me to be me again

troppibambini6 · 23/04/2021 11:49

Day four for me.
I took it at 2pm yesterday and will wait til this evening tonight. Still feeling really really nauseous I hope it passes soon...
I keep starting jobs then getting distracted, forgetting what I was doing and starting something else! Not sure if that's the sertraline or just me being a bit dizzy!Grin

LambHamb · 23/04/2021 14:33

@troppibambini6 I keep forgetting what I'm doing too. I feel very fuzzy! Only day 2 for me.

troppibambini6 · 23/04/2021 14:50

@LambHamb sorry you're feeling like that too but it's good to know it's not just me and I'm not completely losing the plot!

LambHamb · 23/04/2021 16:53

@troppibambini6 how much are you on at the moment? I've been feeling sick and a bit of a stomach ache too.

troppibambini6 · 23/04/2021 17:45

50mg @LambHamb.
It worked so well for me last time once I'd got through the first week or so.

SecretaryOfNagriculture · 23/04/2021 22:11

Hi. My doctor prescribed me sertraline a few months ago. I’m finally ready to take it.
I can’t remember the specific instructions dr gave me though. Should I take it in the morning?
Should I just wait until Monday and phone dr for clear instructions? I wanted to start tomorrow.
I’m worried it will make my insomnia worse.

Dollsandfoo · 24/04/2021 11:07

I take mine about 8pm I found that works best for me. I have tried it a different times . I think some times you have to just try it and find what time works best for you.xxx

runningpink · 24/04/2021 14:49

Iv been taking mine around 8pm but iv been wide awake around 2am both days for few hours. I will persevere for a few more days and if no change will try a different time of day.

I’m hoping the side effects don’t last too long, feeling more anxious than I was before and also like iv got a hangover

LoopyLouLawson · 25/04/2021 16:51

@ProfessorInkling

Thanks *@mrsdiddlydoo*. Yes I'm getting out when I can, and did some gardening with my DS yesterday. I just need to get over this infection and see what's what, the nausea is making me feel very low right now. I wish I could quieten these feelings.

@LoopyLouLawson sorry you are struggling but you mustn't feel as though you're letting others down - you need to look after yourself and that's what those around you who care about you would say too. Did you sleep better last night?

@Riser I'm so sorry. Have you got RL support around you?

I have started taking it of a morning.

I am not the best sleeper at the best of times tbh - still struggling - cannot switch my mind off - also being having a really dry mouth of a night.

I am still up and checking at the slightest noise then I worry I am waking DH up, so get anxious about that, making it harder to get to sleep. Like a vicious circle at the moment.

troppibambini6 · 26/04/2021 07:56

Good morning I hope everyone is ok?

I've started taking it in evening now, once at 8pm and once at 10pm. Both nights I've woken with really bad anxiety and struggled to get back to sleep.
I think I'm going to have to stick with earlier in the day. Day 6 today still feeling a bit spacey and nauseous but not so bad it comes and goes now rather than being continuous.
I hope I start to feel a bit more with it soon it feels hard wok at the moment.
Sorry to babble on but I haven't told anyone in RL that I'm taking them.

FeduponFriday · 26/04/2021 08:12

Troppibambini6. Eat small and often in the day to avoid nausea. Worked for me. Regularly sip water. Take the tablet just after a meal. Good luck!

troppibambini6 · 26/04/2021 08:16

Thanks fed up I will try that.

FeduponFriday · 26/04/2021 08:29

Yes, try that. The nausea and spaced out feeling should stop soon. I'm 5.5 weeks in and still have yawning and I'm zonked out much earlier in the evening than normal, but that's about it. I still wake up from time to time in the night, but can go back to sleep more easily as less anxious. I also can cope better mentally with any tiredness in the day.

I'd been putting off taking setraline for months as I was so worried about that side effects and getting through the first few weeks, but wished I'd started them sooner now.