Experiences of sertraline

[thesootherfairy]

Psychiatrist recommended these for depression. I've already an allergic reaction to another AD so not super keen on this. It was very unpleasant and scary.

Also anyone who tried sertraline but didn't like side effects and found another AD which did work, what worked for you ?

And generally, ADs and side effects. Which ones did you have?
TIA

Forgot to mention I also have anorexia.

Sertraline. Have found it excellent. I was a mess when I started it so it's hard to know which was illness and which was side effects of the sertraline but regardless it soon settled down.

Finding a treatment that works unfortunately requires you trying things till you do. Be brave and good luck. There is nothing better than feeling calm and content.

Ps. Not sure if relevant but when I was at my worst I couldn't eat a thing. I dropped weight like crazy but I'll never forget how horrendous eating and the pressure to eat felt. It was related to the extreme anxiety. My body was in a permanent state of fight or flight and I just couldn't put food pasty lips. I really hope with some treatment your anorexia eases.

Sertraline landed my dad suicidal in a and e after 4 days of taking it. Never ever again.

Didn't get on with sertraline, but have zero side effects from mirtazapine. Lots of people do very well on sertraline but if you're one of those that doesn't, there are other options.

Thank you all!
This is so useful.
@20viona bit worried about this but only one way to find out.
@Imcatmum thank you for sharing. Am struggling with eating and find even the thought of it stressful.

Do any of you think there is a right time to try? As in, for example, next week DH is away with work so I am alone with DC. Probably not a good week to feel like crap.
This week, am stupidly busy at work so couldn't really do time off if it went sideways.

We have a small getaway in august but it's far from home and whilst I'd have time to be off and not feel good, I'd also be a very long way from my GP if I was ill.

@Imcatmum did they make you feel crappy at first and if so how long for??

Start today if you can. There is never really a good time. I don't know if it made me feel off. My anxiety was so bad I was vomitting, twitches, clenching, loss of coordination, insomnia, no appetite, difficulty conversing BEFORE I took it. I counted every hour of those days to 2 week (which is when I was told I'd start to feel results) but around day 10 I realised I was forgetting to count the hours and my focus started to shift off being so unwell. I'd say I fully shook all bad feelings after 3 months but was able to function again after 10 days or so.

They didn't dope me out at all. I still had horrendous insomnia so took them first thing in the morning but the GP then gave me sleeping tablets which I took for 5-6 weeks straight and haven't touched one in a year now. I sleep brilliantly again but desperately needed those sleeping tablets at the time.

Try it, and expect the first two weeks to be possibly rough. A lot of the side effects are tolerable and do settle down fully with time. My sertraline is 100% invisible to me, other than that I'm content and calm and back to enjoying life.

Sertraline was miraculous for me when I had PND, but when I was prescribed it again for anxiety it was a disaster and made me feel ten times worse.

It really depends on the biochemical shenanigans behind your depression. You might respond to it, you might not. I know that's not hugely helpful in your situation but when it comes to ADs the usual advice is to try one, and if it doesn't suit you you can try a different one.

Hi there, I’ve been on sertraline on and off for years. I had terrible anxiety before going on it, my anxiety actually got worse during the first week or so but my GP had advised to stick with it. After a few weeks I started to feel better. It’s so exaggeration to say sertraline has given me a life! Before I started taking it, I was an anxious mess that was barely functioning. I am now about to function and do everything I want to do. One thing I will say is that it’s affected my sex drive but I feel that is the price I have to pay to function in life!

Sorry about the typos above. I was supposed to say, it’s no exaggeration that sertraline has given me a life and I am now able to function and do everything I want to do x

I started sertraline at the beginning of the year and I have found it to be very helpful. I did have side effects for a few days but they subsided and it was worth persevering. I'm on 50mg which is a low dose but I feel it's made a big difference. (Some people need a higher dose.)

My advise would be to start with half a pill (some break in half or you can get a pill cutter from the chemist) and take it in the morning. I took a whole pill in the evening and barely slept that night. I found it much better when I took half in the morning and then after a few days of adjusting I took a whole pill instead.

There's a sertraline support thread somewhere (probably in the mental health section), if you can find it you might find it helpful to read.

Sertraline changed my life I had bad PND. My anxiety felt a bit worse in the first week, but I knew that could be a side effect so was prepared for it. After that, it has been amazing. My DH says it's like living with the old me, and I suspect I've actually had depression for years. It might not suit you but I have found it to be brilliant.

I absolutely love it. I used to be severely depressed and anxious. When a plane went past I would get under the duvet. Constantly worried the world was ending, my children would die in their sleep. Work was impossible. I cleaned obsessively.

I have a small frame but needed 100mg before I noticed a difference. I can now teach full time, not easy in this challenging year just gone, keep my house sorted put but not obsess over it, socialise, exercise. Basically function as an adult.

Sertraline was awful for me. The only positive was that it made me realise I needed to improve things for myself without medication and was a bit of a wake up call. I am very very aware that this is not an option for everyone, but for me it’s mostly worked.

Thank you everyone for sharing.
@Didiusfalco that's sort of what I was or had been thinking after that first one which I had an allergic reaction to.
But this is what was recommended and I don't know what to do.

I can't afford to take time off work in the next couple of weeks if I had a bad reaction or side effects so might leave it until end of august and think about it again.

It's tricky to know when to try never mind if to try.
I have arthritis and have previously trialled anti inflammatory medication. I tried 14 different ones. Some just didn't help at all but no side effects and some had the most horrid effects. It all took place over the duration of 9 months and it was only a year ago that I tried the last one so I'm really vary as I know how much time I ended up being useless and in bed.
Just a bit reluctant to try this and if side effects are bad, I'll be pushed into trialling more stuff I don't really want.

Might just wait for therapy and leave the medication for now.