Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Mental health

Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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:
HoxtonBonnet · 30/04/2021 09:08

Hi all. I haven't posted a lot on this thread, but I thought I would check back in as my experience might be useful to those starting out.

I am on week 7 now; I have been on 50mg since the start. The initial 4-5 weeks were not good for me - I had no nausea, but my mood worsened and it was quite a struggle. I also had tiredness, constant yawning, brain fog and teeth gritting. I nearly gave the medication up at the 3 week point. However, at around the 5-6 weeks things started to turn. I would say at 6 weeks I felt a real change - like a brightening. I saw someone describe the feeling as being like the sun coming out, and I think that's accurate! My social anxiety has also eased - I am not sure how significantly yet.

I am still getting very vivid dreams, which I don't particularly enjoy. However, I feel well rested in the morning so I'm prepared to put up with it.

I talked to my GP yesterday. She offered to increase the dose to 100mg but I have decided to stay on 50mg for the time being and see how it goes.

If I have any other changes I will post them as I think this thread is very useful for a lot of people.

Good luck everyone! It does get better, but it can take quite a long time. Obviously, some people feel better sooner - this is my experience.

NowYouListenToMeFella · 30/04/2021 09:23

Morning all. Catching up on the thread and see there are some people starting off. I started on 50mg the end of December. Felt very low for the first 5 weeks and my stomach was very upset.

Felt a bit brighter after that but I found the not wanting to get out of bed creeping back in. Upped the dosage to 100mg after talking to GP.

On that a good few weeks. No side effects after increasing. I feel really good at the moment. To echo a pp the sun has come out.

It is a bit of a tough ride starting out but has been totally worth sticking with it and riding those weeks out for me.

troppibambini6 · 01/05/2021 13:42

Thanks @NowYouListenToMeFella and @HoxtonBonnet it's really good to hear that Smile

It will be two weeks on Monday I started taking them and I definitely feel much better. The nausea has gone and the brain fog is starting to lift. I'm starting to feel a bit better in myself too.

I hope everyone has a good bank holiday weekend Smile

FeduponFriday · 01/05/2021 16:14

That's great troppibambini6. I stated to feel better after a few weeks too

I had a few external triggers last week which made me feel low again with no energy, so I've increased the dose to 75mg for 4 days before going up to 100mg.

Hope everyone has a good long weekend. X

ProfessorInkling · 02/05/2021 10:21

Morning everyone, I posted a couple of weeks or so ago about starting sertraline and am just going into my fourth week and feeling better, maybe it’s a bit of placebo at this stage? The nausea has gone, I’m sleeping mostly okay. I’ve had a few bad days but also a few where I’ve really felt much lighter about things. It’s a bit strange actually 😆

Hope everyone has a good weekend Flowers

LoopyLouLawson · 02/05/2021 14:50

Hello all.

Sleeping a bit better - but also bought a new pillow which is helping!!

Been on 50mg for just over 4 weeks now I think,

I do have days where I feel better - not massively - but these tend to be followed by a really bad day - where I feel the worst I have ever felt. Not sure if that is normal or not, but I am so up and down at the moment sometimes I think I would rather not have the good days.

HoxtonBonnet · 03/05/2021 09:06

Hi @LoopyLouLawson - hang in there! It took me around 6 weeks until I really felt a difference. I was like you - I would have days where I felt a bit better followed by absolutely awful ones. Now I feel consistently more positive and able to cope.

Dollsandfoo · 03/05/2021 09:24

Am having a really crap few day. Am about 3 weeks in and just feel rotten. I can't sleep. My jaw keeps chattering I feel so sick and my tummy is off. I just want to spend the day lying down which I can't but I have no energy. Does this all sound normal. X

ProfessorInkling · 04/05/2021 19:37

@Dollsandfoo I'm sorry you're struggling, are you any better today? X

Dollsandfoo · 05/05/2021 07:15

No still no better. I feel a mess. I haven't slept for days and keep getting sick and I can't eat. I sure hope this gets better soon as am not sure how much more I can take x

ProfessorInkling · 05/05/2021 07:26

Oh I’m sorry Dolls. Have you got some support around you so you can take it easy for a couple of days? How old are your kids? I’m 3 weeks in too. I thought I was okay but I’m getting the clenched jaw/chattering now. Yesterday I really wanted to call in sick to work, couldn’t. Can’t today either!

Dollsandfoo · 05/05/2021 09:13

Thanks yer my family and my partner are great . My kids are 7 and 4. I can't take any time off work as we're both self employed and were just trying to get back on track after covid the last year has been really hard on out business. Which probably hasn't helped with my mental health really as well. Although it is health anxiety I suffer with i think work stress and stuff has all gotten on top of me. I have been on these mess before so I should no what its like but I seem to have forgotten how bad they make me feel while am getting used to them. I am a bit of a baby I can feel sick of a paracetamol so probably don't help myself x

HippoNamedBooBooButt · 05/05/2021 10:41

Hi all

Please can I join?

I've just been prescribed Sertraline by me GP this morning - haven't yet even picked them up! I'm a Head Teacher and have been suffering with anxiety for most of my adult life, which has fairly recently been joined by depression. I have good weeks and think I've managed to make it all go away, but then really bad low periods. My productivity at work is also through the floor and I've decided trying to make it go away by myself just isn't working and things are likely to only get worse. So I've bit the bullet today and spoken to my GP after much soul searching.

FeduponFriday · 05/05/2021 11:10

Welcome Hippo. Well done for getting help. Setraline will really help, I'm sure. You may feel a bit yucky for a few weeks. Take after a good meal (I take mine straight after breakfast). Eat regularly (small snacks ) through the day to keep nausea at bay. Lots of water. You may get a headache for first few days. Take paracetamol, maybe before it kicks in. I started on 25mg, before going to 50mg after 3 days. Seemed to help. Good luck. X

Dollsandfoo · 05/05/2021 11:56

Has anyone taken on over the counter sleeping pills while on this am wondering it it would help me am not sure how much longer I can last with no sleep x

FeduponFriday · 05/05/2021 12:11

I have tried Sleepeaze from Boots. It has helped me.

FeduponFriday · 09/05/2021 09:13

Hope everyone is doing well.

Just to feedback on going up from 50mg to 100mg in case it helps others

I went up to 100mg after 7 weeks. Did 4 days on 75mg, before going to 100mg. Have been taking the increased dose for 9 days now. In comparison to starting on Setraline the side effects haven't been anywhere as bad as when I first started. I've been yawning, feeling a bit jittery / manic in the morning (nothing serious) and finding it harder than usual to drop off to sleep, although am sleeping through for a change. Have been pleasantly surprised as I was quite nervous going up

X

FeduponFriday · 09/05/2021 09:27

HippoNamedBooButt. How are you doing? Great name btw!

Dollsandfoo · 09/05/2021 11:06

@FeduponFriday that's great. Am still taking 25 I need to man up and go to 50. The side effects from 25 are just starting to improve so scared to up and they come back x

FeduponFriday · 09/05/2021 11:42

DollsandFoo. I don't think they will be as bad. I had worse side effects starting at 25mg than I did when going up to 50mg.

HippoNamedBooBooButt · 10/05/2021 14:21

@FeduponFriday Hi! Thanks for asking. I was doing ok until yesterday - no major side effects, a little nauseous in the mornings and very hungry, a little dizzy here and there and woke up yesterday on day 4 feeling great. Went out for the day yesterday and had the most awful diarrhoea while out - was stuck to a loo for over 20 minutes and then had to travel an hour home absolutely terrified I would need to go again. Put it down to the tablets. Then yesterday evening I talked with DH and he has led me what I'd been eating as I have IBS and certain things disagree with me, and we figured out I'd had bread every single meal for the last five days... I'm sensitive to wheat! Don't know what I was thinking. I'd also eaten corn on the cob an hour before it happened and I can't tolerate sweetcorn either - it's made things like this happen before. I honestly do not know what I was thinking eating like that. So now I'm in two minds if it was the sertraline or my IBS. I'm hoping IBS! I've taken the day off work today to recover and probably won't go in tomorrow either - want to see if the diarrhoea happens again.

LoopyLouLawson · 11/05/2021 15:14

Hello All

Spoke to GP today, she has upped me to 100mg as she thinks I have plateaued , as even though I have had some good days, I am getting more bad, and on these days just retreat and don't want to be around anyone else.

Signed off till the 20th June too as she does not feel I am ready to go back to work.

Sleep is still awful even though I have started taking them earlier but think I am just stuck in a cycle now.

One thing I have noticed though, and a google search had shown as a side effect - I seem to be sweating more - am getting quite paranoid and going using lots more deodorant as I am so paranoid about it.

holymoly678 · 11/05/2021 16:53

Any experiences of shifting from 50mg to 100mg? I took 50mg and started to feel normal again around week 4/5 then slumped at weeks 6/7. Now 11 days into 100mg and feeling no change. Does it take the same amount of time as the original dosage to feel effects?

FeduponFriday · 11/05/2021 18:01

holymoly678. I'm interested too

badheadday · 12/05/2021 10:03

I've been on 50mg Sertraline for about 6 months now and in the last week I've had quite bad pain around my left elbow and forearm. No idea if it is caused by the Sertraline but I know aches and pains can be a side effect. Has anyone experienced anything similar? I'm getting quite anxious about it now