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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:
GreenFingeredNell15 · 05/02/2022 17:02

Thankyou @cheesey. Good advice 🥰

FreddyP · 06/02/2022 16:12

Any help please I'm 11 weeks tomorrow on sertraline 150mg for the last 9 days but still feel stuck in a dark hole with obsessive thoughts surrounding food (never had this on previous AD) and general anxiety, panic and depressive episodes, can't function as I used to on previous meds and feeling quite desperate at this point, I keep trying and hoping things will improve but my mind is still stuck in this negative frightening cycle. Did anyone else take this long to finally feel you again? Any help would be much appreciated

GreenFingeredNell15 · 06/02/2022 16:49

I'm no expert but if I wasn't feeling a little better after 4 weeks I'd goback to my GP

GreenFingeredNell15 · 06/02/2022 16:50

Did you say you'd been on sertraline for 11 weeks or 9 days? I may have misunderstood

FreddyP · 06/02/2022 17:04

@GreenFingeredNell15 started on 50mg 11 weeks ago then upped to 100mg after 5 weeks and now on day 9 of 150mg, sorry if it didn't make much sense

GreenFingeredNell15 · 06/02/2022 17:49

And after all that you're not feeling any better? Flowers. Maybe try a different AD?

wendz86 · 06/02/2022 17:58

@FreddyP does sound like you might need to consider an alternative .

FreddyP · 06/02/2022 18:10

@wendz86 @GreenFingeredNell15, thanks it's such a dilemma I've just spoken with mental health and they've said can take up to 3 months or longer if you've been on other AD which I had been for 27 years and they suddenly decided it was no longer safe to be on them, now I've relapsed massively causing me to lose my quality of life precious time with my family and its hit me financially due to the changeover I'm devastated 😢

GreenFingeredNell15 · 06/02/2022 18:32

Oh that's awful. I'm so sorry. At 11 weeks you are almost at the 3 month mark. Could you talk to your GP or is that not an option? Flowers

FreddyP · 06/02/2022 18:52

@GreenFingeredNell15 I'll be speaking with him tomorrow but he's not the most understanding gp and my gp of 30 years has now retired I'm even more distressed as I also take 8mg of diazepam and he's also trying to stop that but the timing just isn't right, I'm getting so frustrated with it all I was coping OK prior to all this but they seem to think that's irrelevant x

GreenFingeredNell15 · 06/02/2022 19:39

It's horrible for you. Could you see a different GP at the practice?

FreddyP · 06/02/2022 20:20

@GreenFingeredNell15 I do keep trying but somehow still end up with him as its still only telephone appointments 😪

GreenFingeredNell15 · 06/02/2022 20:52

That is so annoying. It'd be wonderful to be able to speak to someone else.

FreddyP · 10/02/2022 20:24

@JoeyLin I think this is the case with me it's made everything worse and they've now decided to refer me to find an alternative, did you hear any success stories for your mum?

JoeyLin · 10/02/2022 22:09

@FreddyP not had a response on here. But my mum is now starting venlafaxine from weekend and has been winding down sertraline from 150mg. Whilst she has been reducing her sertraline down, although she is still very poorly, I feel her anxiety has reduced. She had been on 150mg for a year.

FreddyP · 11/02/2022 11:30

@JoeyLin hope this helps her, I'm still on them until I see the specialist worst ordeal I've been through, how did she cope reducing did she suffer side effects?

JoeyLin · 11/02/2022 12:33

@FreddyP . No side effects as far as I can see. My wishful thinking was that she would just get better whilst coming off it. Because our only hope is that sertraline didn't suit her but another will.

FreddyP · 11/02/2022 14:02

@JoeyLin hopefully thats the case I was on different AD for 27 years and they helped massively the change to sertraline has not been beneficial so when they find the right one for your mum she should improve and thrive

FreddyP · 11/02/2022 15:26

Hi I upped my sertraline to 150mg 2 weeks ago and since then have been having bad headaches like a clamp on my head and today it's also hurting when I cough or move my head, anyone else had this as its sending my already crippling anxiety even higher

Choosingtochange · 12/02/2022 00:34

@FreddyP

Hi I upped my sertraline to 150mg 2 weeks ago and since then have been having bad headaches like a clamp on my head and today it's also hurting when I cough or move my head, anyone else had this as its sending my already crippling anxiety even higher
Hi @FreddyP are you doing ok? That definitely doesn't sound like a good side effect. I'm early days (6 weeks)
Choosingtochange · 12/02/2022 00:41

@IceandIndigo

Hi, my GP wants me to start sertraline for anxiety. I'm a bit put off reading this thread, with all the side effects people are experiencing. GP did say my anxiety might get worse to begin with and I'm not sure I could handle that. I also have problems with insomnia and it has a huge impact on my mood when I don't sleep so I am quite reluctant to take anything that could make that worse.

Is it necessary to completely avoid alcohol while on sertraline?

I also have this fear that if I start taking it I might never get off it, not sure if that's silly...

@IceandIndigo did you start? I started 50mg on the 1st of January and it's made the world of difference to how I feel. I know people are struggling on higher doses as you can see in the comments but I just wanted to say after 6 weeks I feel so much brighter, I feel like myself again and like I have a voice. Before I was just existing in a sad place. It's definitely helping me so much x
FreddyP · 12/02/2022 13:52

@Choosingtochange thanks no it's not been nice as obviously been catastrophizing making my anxiety even worse, the MH crisis team are coming to see me tomorrow so hopefully they can advise further unfortunately sertraline hasn't been a good journey for me and I was trying to be optimistic, hope you are doing well seems to be beneficial to you which is great

Emilyh1986 · 12/02/2022 15:35

I'm on my 2nd day taking 25mg (will go up to 50mg after a week) no side effects so far - when would they normally kick in? Also how long does it normally take for them to work? I'm taking them for anxiety/blushing. I take propranolol everyday too

Chummy21 · 13/02/2022 19:07

So glad to have found this thread!

I'm on day 2, take it in the morning. I have health anxiety and really want to remember the old me.

So far I've had headaches and diarrhoea... no nausea which I'm thankful for. I know everyone's different but, when can I expect things to get more rough?

GreenFingeredNell15 · 13/02/2022 20:15

It seems to me everyone is different. I'm on day 10, 25 mg. Take a.m. with food. Still getting side effects - headaches, upset tummy, anxiety, insomnia.