What was your experience with Sertaline?

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Just that really. Particularly worried about weight gain.

And any other experiences of treatment for PND welcome.

Thanks

Sorry - title should say Sertraline

I'm on sertraline since last July. I had lost weight due to anxiety and depression, I was quite poorly. Initially started on 50mg sertraline, had CBT, which helped, but I really struggled when the sessions ended as I felt I had a bond with the therapist which I didn't have with anyone in real life. I was referred for counselling due to what the CBT therapist managed to tease out of me. The counsellor wasn't very helpful and made me feel worse. I went off sick from work feeling really bad and the GP increased the sertraline to 100mg. This is what I still currently take. I had a new counsellor and have learned so much and feel so much better.
The only side effects of sertraline I had were drowsiness but these are resolved now. I have put back on the weight I had lost but now look a bit more healthy!

I've been on sertraline for a few years. I have gained weight, but I don't want to kill myself any more and that feels like a reasonable trade off for me for now.

I took it for about 3 months when I was going through a really upsetting and stressful situation, it did help to dull my emotions and keep me on an even keel however I stopped (cold turkey) because I felt out of it, like I was on drugs, lost motivation to get things done and was so so tired. I also put on weight because my appetite increased. I had huge problems with my sinuses which was either a side effect of the medication or possibly connected to coronavirus. I was so desperate to get better I just stopped taking them. I think sinus issues can be a side effect though. My PMT was non existent which was such a sweet release, back now with a vengeance 🙄

I took it a few years ago for post natal anxiety & post natal depression. I only took it for about 3 months though and stopped ( without gradual reduction in dose) as I felt very strange, as if I was there and the lights were on but that’s it. I had no inclination to do anything, completely numb and I didn’t feel comfortable so I stopped. However initially they helped my anxiety and mellow me a little but it felt short lived. I also had CBT which started about a month after the sertraline, group sessions and several over the phone individual sessions. I found them to be very helpful and 3 years later I still use some of the techniques.

Made my anxiety much much worse, I was taking Valium on top of it to manage the side effects- I gave up after about 8 weeks

SSRI’s don’t suit me

I started taking it last year for depression which I had had for a few months and also anxiety which I had had for about 6 years. It works really well for me, I didn't have any side-effects at all which I was pleasantly surprised by. I think it also reduced my appetite a bit. It was totally life-changing in terms of treating my depression and anxiety as well. I'm on 50mg.

I have just started it again for the second time. I was on it about 2 years ago for about 8 months and it really helped me so much so I came off it as I thought I could cope with out it and I have for ages but things have started to get on top of me again lately so started it again last week and hoping it helps again like last time. I did put on a bit of weight with it last time but I would eat anything and everything so trying to watch what I eat this time. My sister has been on it for about 8 months now and has lost 3 stone because she finally has the motivation to exercise because she is feeling so much better in her self since being on it xxx

Thank you for all the above replies, mixed experiences it seems.

I’ve been taking it for about a month.

So far I feel just a bit more level headed which is lovely. More patient and measured. Fewer panic attacks and those I do have are less intense.

Can’t orgasm Appetite slightly reduced.

That’s my assessment

I had no side effects at all but it didn’t really work, just took the edge off. I only know this tho as my new one does work and I know what it’s like not to feel depressed all the time

I was on it for a few years. I didn’t put on weight. It made me lose my libido for about a year. It helped with mood but made my poor sleep even worse. But I was told to stay on it because the benefits outweighed the fact I couldn’t sit still and stay awake during the day.

About 6yrs on 200mg a day. Weight gain - I’ve put on weight but that’s because I’m lazy! Mood improvement - unknown. As it turns out, my depression could well have been a symptom of a much bigger problem that is still ongoing (brain tumour) so Doc and I aren’t looking at changing the dose till everything settles down. Not aware of any negative side effects

Made me numb. Unable to experience joy or upset. Completely killed my sex drive. I couldn't orgasm.

Came off it. I'd rather use CBT for my anxiety than feel emotionless all the time.

I'm on 100mg and find it totally fine. I'm perfectly back to myself on it. It's invisible, no side effects or dullness or numbness. Just relief to feel like me again.

I've had a pretty positive experience.Started on it nearly 3 years ago for very bad PND. Initially it made me feel worse, and a lot more anxious, but after a few weeks (and a dose increase to 100mg) I started feeling a lot better and a lot more like my old self (in conjunction with therapy). I was going to start tapering off last year but the pandemic hit so I didn't want to rock the boat. My only slight reservation about it is that I sometimes get the sense that I'm not quite feeling ALL the emotion I used to, that I'm happy but not overjoyed if you see what I mean. But, compared to being suicidal, it seems like a good trade off.

EcoCustard I can definitely relate to the numbness and lights being on but no one home which I also had at approx 2 1/2 month mark....I wonder if we’d both have continued we would have got past those symptoms? I’m still trying to get the house in order now, it’s a total mess as I literally didn’t give a sh*# while I was on them and just let everything slide.

DS has just been prescribed with sertraline but Im worried about suppression of emotions as hes a bit like that anyway. Had a bout of poor MH a few years back, treated with CBT but seemed to drain him of feelings.

I've been on sertraline for 8years. Started at 50mg and have worked up to 200mg.
I had horrendous symptoms at the begining of taking for around 6weeks. (Felt drunk, slurred speech) never had any weight gain.
I find they keep my depression at a even level.

I didn't gain any weight on Sertraline. It did make me feel sick as a dog for a few days at first - felt like that horrible swirly spinning feeling you get when laying on the floor very drunk. That passed, it helped me quite a bit for a few months. At which point I tapered off, as the external stresses which made me depressed were much better. Didn't have any issues tapering off slowly at all and haven't needed anything since. Maybe I did feel a bit numb for the first few weeks, but that was welcome tbh. Didn't feel like that long term though, I just felt normal but a bit more resilient of that makes sense? And I slept much better as I wasn't a ball of anxiety and stress.

I’m just about to start Sertraline and I’m very worried about weight gain as I’m already overweight. I eat mindlessly due to boredom/procrastination/stress so I’m hoping that if I’m in a better place mentally I may be able to control that.

@HairyJBlige, that may well happen, it's a possibility. Be brave and if the medication doesn't work for you at least you've taken steps to try and improve your health!

50mg since c Sept.

Good, just stops my mood dipping v low. No side effects no weight gain