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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:
FeduponFriday · 04/06/2021 13:11

Heronatemygoldfish don't worry, they'll give you another prescription before the weekend. Happened to me a few weeks back whereby I was due to run out on the Saturday.

Glad you are feeling better. I'm sleeping much better too, although I have very vivid dreams now

LindaEllen · 05/06/2021 16:03

As an addition to my post - got my first covid jab today. There is no way on this earth I could ever have talked myself into going for a vaccination before I started sertraline. Honestly. It's the little things but it really is life changing.

mrsdiddlydoo · 05/06/2021 22:58

Pleased you're doing well @LindaEllen It's mainly the same here, but I need to get better at self care. I have a tendency to let things slip when I feel better if I'm not careful. I feel like a different person compared to in December though in a good way.

Hi to everyone else. Hope you are all doing OK and have managed to spend some time outside in the sun.

BigGreen · 05/06/2021 23:14

It's so lovely to read these updates. I'm a week in and it's really helping to stay the course Thanks

troppibambini6 · 06/06/2021 08:58

Lovely to hear that people are feeling better. I'm feeling good too. All symptoms have gone except I do notice I clench my jaw sometimes but that's a small price to pay for feeling much better.

BigGreen · 10/06/2021 23:11

I'm two weeks in now and the side effects have eased so much. I feel much better and am sleeping again (well I would if the kids would sleep through!!)

Dollsandfoo · 11/06/2021 11:07

Hi am about 8 weeks in now and things are much better but does anyone else get heartburn form this I never really had it before until I started this so wondering if this is why x

Heronatemygoldfish · 13/06/2021 22:02

4 weeks in now, I have 2 more month's of tablets and am recovering from the op I was so anxious about. 2 weeks of enforced sitting about doing nothing aka putting a serious dent in my reading pile! All calm. yay.

I don't think I fully realised how much I had gone towards the end of my tether.

lineandsinker · 16/06/2021 21:00

Hello! I hope you don’t mind me joining in…

8 weeks into my second time on Sertraline.

Originally prescribed after suffering post natal anxiety following the birth of my son. Was on 100mg a day for 8 months and then tapered down to nothing very slowly over the following 6 months. Unfortunately started suffering out of the blue panic attacks a month later and intrusive health anxiety thoughts and am now back on the meds.

This time around, it’s taking ages to settle into my system. I started on 50mg for a week and 100mg thereafter. Started feeling better 2/3 weeks in but then my repeat prescription was dispensed with another generic brand (and as 1x 100mg tab rather than 2x 50mg tabs) and all my anxiety / side effects started up again, including the panic attacks. I persevered with the different brand for 4 weeks on my GP’s advice but wasn’t feeling better so I’m now 4 days in back on the original brand (Milpharm) but just feeling crap - possibly worse than the other brand (Bristol). Insomnia, shakes, foggy brain, headaches. I’m also waking up in the morning with terrible physical anxiety which eases in the early afternoon.

Feeling really despondent tonight as I am back to work full-time after being off sick for a month and caring for my toddler but just can’t stop feeling anxious and on the edge of panic. As my anxiety is health related / panic related, I feel I’m stuck in a vicious cycle: the side effects make me feel unwell which fuels my anxiety and panic. I’m struggling to function at work but find it beneficial to be there for the distraction rather than working myself into a state at home.

Is it normal for it to take longer to settle second time around? Should I persevere or do I need to think about upping the dose or trying something else? Just at a loss really. Want to feel better! Thanks for reading if you got this far.

LoopyLouLawson · 17/06/2021 18:44

Hello all

I am hoping someone can help calm me down.

I am now on 100 mg of sertraline (have been for about 5 weeks now) and am starting to feel a bit better, still up and down and have lots of checking behaviours and struggle to sleep due to being up and down checking windows/doors etc. I have also started counselling which is helping.

I am currently signed off till 18th July and am really hoping to go back then, hoping the next 4 weeks will see more improvement.

However I have just had an email request from my line manager for a wellbeing meeting (I have been having these anyway) but HR will be involved in this one.

Now I cannot stop myself worrying I am in trouble or something? We did go away beginning of this month for a cpl days as a joint birthday treat for my DS and DD to the Zoo and visiting the surrounding area (DS was 13 in Jan but could not do anything and DD birthday is in June) - and I put pics on FB mainly for his parents and mine to see (and I do have colleagues on FB) - I had also mentioned we were doing this to my line manager before it as I mentioned I have purposely planned it for the bank holiday weekend as I would not have been working then anyway and neither would my whole department so it made me feel better about going then - she said to me to go and have fun and I had been being encouraged by line manager/GP/DH etc to get out for walks etc, as I had struggled even leaving the house in the first couple of months. We also went out for a meal for my DD birthday as my Mom was visiting.

However, since my next well being meeting has HR involved I am feel all nervous and sick again - I cant help worrying I am going to get in trouble for having gone away for the weekend and gone out for a meal. I just cant talk myself back down.

Nazarina · 20/06/2021 17:52

Hi everyone,

I have been taking Sertraline 100 mg for a number of years. I have just gone up to 150 mg.

I have big issues with anxiety and intrusive thoughts. Things have been extra stressful recently (Mum has health scare, alcoholic stepfather in hospital, cat was missing earlier this week) and I have been doubting myself heaps. Sometimes things can be so scary. I am lucky to have a full-time job but of course the anxiety is a factor here too. (I also live in a cul-de-sac with great neighbours.)

My name is Nazarina, and I am scared...

I am getting to the age where I have to think about "the change" and I am scared of this also! There are so many horror stories! Worry free sex sounds nice but I have to find someone who wants to have sex with me... ahem

Basically, I feel very messed up. (And really really lonely sometimes.)

Sorry for babbling... So yes, I belong to the Sertraline Club! If it is a lifetime membership then so be it, hmmm...

I hope that everyone is as well as can be and huge hugs to all. xx

Nazarina · 20/06/2021 17:57

@LoopyLouLawson

Hello all

I am hoping someone can help calm me down.

I am now on 100 mg of sertraline (have been for about 5 weeks now) and am starting to feel a bit better, still up and down and have lots of checking behaviours and struggle to sleep due to being up and down checking windows/doors etc. I have also started counselling which is helping.

I am currently signed off till 18th July and am really hoping to go back then, hoping the next 4 weeks will see more improvement.

However I have just had an email request from my line manager for a wellbeing meeting (I have been having these anyway) but HR will be involved in this one.

Now I cannot stop myself worrying I am in trouble or something? We did go away beginning of this month for a cpl days as a joint birthday treat for my DS and DD to the Zoo and visiting the surrounding area (DS was 13 in Jan but could not do anything and DD birthday is in June) - and I put pics on FB mainly for his parents and mine to see (and I do have colleagues on FB) - I had also mentioned we were doing this to my line manager before it as I mentioned I have purposely planned it for the bank holiday weekend as I would not have been working then anyway and neither would my whole department so it made me feel better about going then - she said to me to go and have fun and I had been being encouraged by line manager/GP/DH etc to get out for walks etc, as I had struggled even leaving the house in the first couple of months. We also went out for a meal for my DD birthday as my Mom was visiting.

However, since my next well being meeting has HR involved I am feel all nervous and sick again - I cant help worrying I am going to get in trouble for having gone away for the weekend and gone out for a meal. I just cant talk myself back down.

Hi,

I truly hope you are feeling better.

I know just how you feel and I wish I could reach out to you.

I am sure you are not in trouble. From what you have posted, it seems that people are aware and understanding of your situation.

Sending much love and strength xx

LoopyLouLawson · 25/06/2021 14:25

Thanks @Nazarina

I had to have a talk with my manager on Monday re: a risk assessment I had to do (which was a whole other worry when I was trying to fill it in) and I feel better now for the well being meeting next week with her and HR. I just wish my Mind would not go straight to the worst case scenario.

I now have started counselling through work - although only 1 session a month and have had my first session. I also eventually made it to the top of the waiting list for counselling through the Healthy Minds - that my GP directed me to - long before I was directed to the staff services one - that is CBT and is weekly so not sure if I should knock the work one on the head since it is monthly or do both? I am not sure.

LindaEllen · 25/06/2021 18:53

Hey I hope everyone is okay. Sorry again for not checking in, but on my part that's a good sign (we all post on help threads when we feel worst don't we??)

Almost 6 months in and I'm so much better. I'm feeling some anxiety as things get back to normal and there are more demands on my time but the important thing is that I'm handling it.

For anyone who needs to hear this right now, it is possible to go from an anxious mess to some functioning very close to normal (as close as I get I think hahaha) xx

Wheresmybiscuit3 · 26/06/2021 15:01

Started Sertraline 50mg last night at 9pm.

I’ve felt headachy, shakey and tired all day. I’ve literally just got out of bed and my head still hurts. That’s not normal for me. I’m assuming it’s the tablets but I could sleep and sleep and sleep.

LindaEllen · 26/06/2021 15:05

@Wheresmybiscuit3

Started Sertraline 50mg last night at 9pm.

I’ve felt headachy, shakey and tired all day. I’ve literally just got out of bed and my head still hurts. That’s not normal for me. I’m assuming it’s the tablets but I could sleep and sleep and sleep.

It'll definitely be the tablets. Try to ride it out if you can, because it does get better Thanks
FeduponFriday · 26/06/2021 15:42

Yes, headache is one of the main symptoms when starting. Take paracetamol and nurofen (rotate them, keeping within the max daily dose of each) to keep it at bay

Wheresmybiscuit3 · 26/06/2021 15:47

Thank you @LindaEllen and @FeduponFriday I’ll carry on and take some pain killers. I’ve got to go out but I must admit I would rather just get back into bed!

holymoly678 · 02/07/2021 12:08

Hello, around 3 months in now, 6 weeks on 100mg. Had the most dreadful night sweats for the past month and have lost almost a stone in weight. Had some bloods run to check for other things - anyone else had this as a side effect?

gotenoughthanks · 04/07/2021 09:19

I have just found this thread, and it's is so good to read what others are going through and not feel so alone!

I started sertraline 3 weeks ago on 50mg after being signed off work and diagnosed with depression. I've never had any MH issues before and I am HATING feeling like I am nothing like my normal self, so down and low, and feeling like I just can't cope with life. I've not felt much of a difference yet and have been worrying that ADs are not going to help and this will never pass, so reading how others have improved on them is giving me hope.

Thanks to the PP for saying about the headaches as a side effect as mine have only started this week, so good to know it's related and I can stop worrying. The nausea hasn't stopped yet but good to know that will pass too (fingers crossed). Good luck to all starting this journey, and those a way along it too Thanks

Gigitree · 04/07/2021 18:06

Hi all, hoping I could join this thread, wish I knew about it a while ago.
Just wondering, I’ve been taking 50mg of sertraline now for 6 months after suffering with postnatal anxiety. I feel like it’s mentally been a game changer and I feel so much better. However, I’ve become the sweatiest person ever now! At first I thought it was postpartum mum sweats, then I thought it was just down to the weather, but now I’m starting to wonder if it’s the sertraline as I just sweat constantly from the smallest exertion.
Has anyone else experienced this on sertraline?

hapagirl · 10/07/2021 14:05

Hi everyone. My DD 15 is starting with Sertraline 25g to go up to 50g today. It’s been a tough year, self harm, 2 suicide attempts, bullying at school. She’s been under CAMHS and was on Rispiridone along with CBT. She hated Rispiridone. She’s also being assessed for ASD. This thread has helped me massively since her psychiatrist mentioned a switch to an AD. I so hope it will help. I’m desperate. I’ll watch her like a hawk for the next few weeks for side effects, I’m glad she’s starting during summer holidays. Hope everyone is feeling better.

holymoly678 · 15/07/2021 10:22

Moved up to 150g 2 days ago. Hoping to get some reprieve. I spoke to the doc about the night sweats and had blood tests and it turns out to be some form of cancer that has been highlighted. More tests to follow.
How long before you give up and try another type of anti depressant or should I give the 150g a go first? 6 weeks into 50g and I felt like I had turned a corner and I want that feeling back. I just want to feel normal, not to overthink and to take pleasure from life. I am doing everything I can to turn this around and it just doesn't seem to be happening for me. Help!

Heronatemygoldfish · 26/07/2021 23:19

I'm a couple of months in now and realise I'd forgotten how it felt to be me again.

The problem I've run into is the same I ran into with Citalopram. It's sending my eyesight funny. GP said sertraline wasn't as bad, but sadly for me it is. I have a FH of glaucoma and so it's something we have to watch out for.

I'm down to 2 tabs this week and next week I'll be off it completely. I could cry - but I'm hoping that the fact I've been feeling so great and not anxious so I've stopped getting twinges and aches means I've broken the vicious cycle and I'll be OK for a few months.

Back to the drawing board!!

JorisBonson · 27/07/2021 11:45

Sertraline newbie checking in Smile

On day 12, prescribed for anxiety as a result of insomnia. Was signed off work for 2 weeks, back in today and didn't sleep a wink last night. I suffer from a very busy anxious head, especially at night, and hoping the tablets will help to take that away at some point.

No major side effects but a handhold for those who do.