Sertraline 2- A second handholding thread

[freckles20]

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.

@Forrandomposts I think it says it doesn’t matter but to try and keep it consistent (so either stick with food or stick with empty stomach). I have a very sensitive stomach so always find I have to take any meds on a full stomach.

I always take mine with food and loads of water or I get heartburn .

Hi everyone. Day 9 for me. Feeling a bit yucky today with side effects. Very nauseous with dry mouth and indigestion. But I have to say that I feel a bit of a “lift” in my mood. I’ve noticed that I haven’t cried over the last few days. Which for someone who was crying everyday seems like a vast improvement. I realise I haven’t been taking it for very long so it could be down to other factors.

All the best to everyone else on this journey. I hope you are also seeing some benefits.

I'm at the beginning of week 5 and feel more...settled. Having to unlearn some of the triggers that a horrific week 1 and 2 gave me, but it feels like the connection between mind and body has been weakened, so I don't immediately panic. Thank fucking god!

Glad to hear some more positive stories, and sorry to anyone suffering with side effects at the moment.

I’m on day 12 of 25mg and feeling pretty good (tentative finger cross!). I’ve done three runs this week and got some early nights which I think have helped. Side effects have gone but I’m on such a low dose I’m not surprised. Going to stay at this dose for now and keep the exercise up and see how I do.

Can I ask if others have put on weight whilst being on this?

I have always had a sweet tooth but I have been horrific with junk food since being on medication. I have no filter at all.

And if so did you stop craving the sugar so much once you came off them again?

More curious than anything

@runningpink when i started on them i had completely lost my appetite due to low mood and now i cannot stop eating. Having to try and reign myself in.

I can also relate to the voracious appetite. I feel so hungry in the evenings. Hopefully this is a temporary side effect!

Does anyone else feel like they are just papering over the cracks? I recently read back on my emails in my 20's and my god. I don't even recognise myself in what I was writing to my family. It's like I was a totally different person. It was actually scary to read as I don't remember being her or feeling so upbeat about life. Sorry, I'm rambling. I'm 3 weeks in and do feel much brighter, so much less anxious and don't have that feeling of dread as much anymore. Onwards and upwards, hope you are all doing ok too

@Choosingtochange I’m sorry you’re having mixed feelings about the meds (I hope I inferred that correctly from your message!). For me, I need to paper over the cracks as it’s my anxiety that is the ‘crack’ not anything real. I would have a nice life if only I could calm the fuck down and bring myself to enjoy it. Do you feel that you have contributing factors in your life that you would still like to work on even if the meds are managing to paper over it a bit? If so, I found therapy amazing and am only not having it now as I can’t afford private and it’s 25 weeks’ wait on the NHS for me 🙄 hugs to you, I know how it feels to look back at a happier time and wonder how you ended up so far from that ❤️

I’m feeling ok-ish, had some physical pains over the past two weeks which are causing my health anxiety to increase daily, especially as I head towards my period (due in four days). I’ve always suffered most with anxiety and depression around my period so I shouldn’t be surprised but I feel disheartened that I felt so good at the beginning of the week and now I feel a bit shit again. Did a good yoga class this morning and making sure I sit in the sunshine at lunch to get my vitamin D, hopefully it all helps eh…

How’s everyone doing?

I’m about 8 weeks in now and 3 weeks at increased dose . Feel a lot better generally but last couple of days have had headaches and been feeling a bit more anxious . Hoping it’s just me settling into the higher dose .

Hey, I was hoping I could join In here. I had a breakdown in December and have been signed off work, gp said it was depression. I was hoping to avoid meds and focus on lifestyle instead - joined the gyms, more mindfulness etc, and have been referred for talking therapy and I though I was managing better but Wednesday was an utter low, I could barely get out of bed and just cried on and off all day and approached the gp for more help of which she has prescribed sertraline. I’ve taken my first one this morning - only about 3 hours ago and I am currently suffering with horrific stomach cramps and diarrhoea. I really don’t know if it’s going to worth continuing these at all or just accepting I will still have bad days every now and then

Hi everyone howcyou all doing? I'm struggling today @wendz86 I'm about 3 weeks of higher dose and anxiety still lurking especially bad in the mornings, managed 2 days at work last week and went shopping with my sister Friday and even managed the bus! Thought I was progressing but last 2 days been not good thoughts still racing and feeling of dread but the doctor said its due to the adjusted dose, feeling very deflated and like this shit will never end. Great to hear some people are feeling the benefits though

@Sunshinedreaming2022 welcome to thread. The side effects can be hard but it doesn't last too long so definitely worth pushing through although hard at the time.

@FreddyP how are you doing now? I am around the same with higher dose and feel up and down, not feeling so great today. Lets hope it settles soon.

@runningpink

Can I ask if others have put on weight whilst being on this?

I have always had a sweet tooth but I have been horrific with junk food since being on medication. I have no filter at all.

And if so did you stop craving the sugar so much once you came off them again?

More curious than anything

I did, but I think it's because I just can't eat properly when I'm anxious, I really have to force myself to get enough calories in me, and I suffered with my anxiety so long I forgot what it felt like to enjoy food. Food became such a joy to me when I felt better that I really overdid it. But I'm now calorie counting and slowly but surely it's coming off :).

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Hey everyone!

I haven't posted here for months so I'm not sure if there is anyone who's going to remember me. I started sertraline just over one year ago, and the change it's had on my life is amazing.

Anyone just starting the journey who doesn't think the side effects at the beginning are worth it, PLEASE see it through. You could potentially change your life :). And if you're feeling no better after a few months see the GP again as you can change dose/med if needed. There is a solution out there for you!

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According to the GP I would be having a followup appointment every 12 weeks. I had the first followup, and since then I've had nothing and she's just kept approving the repeat prescription. I'm not actually fussed as it suits me. I feel good. I'd take these forever if they let me!

Hey! Hope it's ok for me to join. I started on Sertraline, it's only been 3 days. Feeling ok at the moment apart from a headache and I have really zoned in on our pesky loud ticking clock which I never really noticed before and a strange feeling of been really wide eyed. I was on Amitripyline for two weeks previous but it literally put me to sleep for two weeks so GP swapped me to Sertraline so I'm overlapping the two at the moment weaning off Amitripyline Are more side effects likely?

@wendz86 I'm still struggling tbh spoke to nurse practitioner and she advised to up to 150mg as my anxiety isn't subsiding as yet😭

Sorry @wendz86 how are you doing now? @stuckinadream how are you doing what dose are you on?

Anyone also on propranolol and diazepam alongside the sertraline?

I'm on 50mg, feeling slightly worse today. Might have to remove the clock batteries!

@Stuckinadream aww mad isn't it! Hopefully it will all die down for you soon are you on it for anxiety or depression?

@FreddyP sorry to hear you are still struggling . Really hope the increase works .

I am generally feeling a lot better . I am quite anxious about going back to the office next week as I have to travel on train which I’ve had panic attacks on but feeling better about it than I normally would .

Oh and I had propranolol when I first went on sertraline but not on it anymore .

@FreddyP Not sure Stress but I've been struggling for a while and
Got worse in last 6 months, I'm unsure really just a lot lost at the moment. How are you? May I ask about you?

@wendz86 that's good to hear you're feeling better and it's perfectly normal to be a bit anxious going back to the office so probably rational and I'm the same always found public transport a bit of a challenge! I'm scared upping the dose but at the same time I need to try I think as on my previous AD I was 9n the maximum dose, good luck and thanks

@Stuckinadream my mine issue has always been anxiety I have GAD health anxiety and many years ago agoraphobia which all set off low moods, managed to get by but not anxiety free for 27 years and now my usual medication has had to be changed which has been a rough ride, I'm hoping it's just a case of finding the right dose at this point to ease the bloody fixated thoughts I'm having ATM which is then triggering the anxiety

@FreddyP Sounds tough, hope you get the correct dose sorted soon and feeling better