Sertraline for PMDD?

[Pmdd2022]

I have severe PMDD, once a month I want to check myself into a hospital and say I can’t cope, but I don’t because of my children (single mum) I suffer 7 days before my period and the first 3 days. I have been prescribed sertraline after the contraceptive pill didn’t help. Each month I am too scared to take it in case I feel worse. I am on the first day of my period and on the verge of wanting to give up on life, I won’t, but it’s all I can think of. I want to try the sertraline. Should I start today? Or at another time in my cycle? I’ve been prescribed it for every day of the month. How long does it take to help? Will I feel worse to begin with? I have no plans for October half term so thought tomorrow might be a good day to start? I have the week off work and no school runs.

It won’t make you feel worse. It doesn’t work the same way for PMDD as for depression. I was on it for two weeks a month for about a year. It was fine but not as good as oestrogel for me.
I took mine day 14-28 but since I’m irregular I had to track ovulation because when they said day 14 they actually meant the day I ovulated. I’m not on it right now as I was pregnant and now bf therefore no periods.
💐 Hope you feel better soon.

Do you think it’s worth starting tonight even though it’s the first day of my period? I guess it won’t help with this months pmdd as there’s hopefully only a few days left of it.

Yes!! I was having monthly total meltdown, within hours of taking my first tablet I felt serene and calm, within days I stabilised and I haven't had a meltdown since. It's been over a year now. I started on tiny 25mg. It takes a couple of months to get the full benefit, and the side effects (sleepy, jawclenching, feeling a bit 'spaced) take a couple of months to disappear, but I wish I'd been brave and done it years ago.

I’ve been prescribed 50mg to start, do you think it’s worth starting on 25mg I could halve the tablet? I’ve read a lot of people start on 25mg.

also does it matter what time of day I start? Night time would be easier for me but I’ve read most people take in the morning or they can’t sleep?

You could probably do with talking to your GP about it, but I started on 25 mg for a couple of cycles then moved up. It did help with side effects. Are you prescribed it for daily use or for days 14-28?

Same as @PeekabooAtTheZoo , I was going to say all that. This thread is running at the mo and is relevant to you! www.mumsnet.com/talk/feeling_depressed/4659024-sertraline-for-mild-general-anxiety-worth-it?page=3&reply=120913230

I’ve been prescribed it all month long as I’m quiet an anxious person anyway

It will help. But I felt horrendous for the first two weeks. So be prepared for that. You are right to choose a quiet week to start. I started at 25. Then up to 50.

I have pmdd and antidepressants changed my life. Its still hard but not impossible. I'd suggest giving it a try.

Does it totally get rid of the PMDD or just lessen it?

Hi, OP. I have PMDD. I have been taking Agni's cacti supplements called premeaze since the end of September. It has made a massive difference to me, no exaggeration.

Sertraline totally god rid of mine. I get a mild irritable feeling for 2 days pre-period but nothing remotely close to the off the scale sadness and rage I had before.

sagalooshoe do you take it every day or just half the month?

This is close to my heart. I've had PMDD for 20 years and didn't realise until being pregnant 7 years ago. I felt so calm whilst pregnant, and when my periods returned so did the rage. Every month, I'd make plans to leave my husband and go on a peaceful holiday with our child without him, or leave him because he was awful (so I felt at the time). Fortunately, I made an appt with a GP after recognising it must be a hormone imbalance. He fobbed me off with diet and exercise as a remedy. For the first time, I stood my ground and said that wasn't good enough. That I love my husband and thoughts of leaving him aren't right. He eventually prescribed me fluoxetine for the week leading up to my period. It has been a GAME CHANGER. Six years on I can now recognise when I need to take a tablet because I'm having those irrational thoughts. And i feel calmer almost immediately. This is just my story (in a nutshell) but wanted to give you some hope.

Fluoxetine was an absolute game changer for me. My PMDD started after DD1 was born and was on the tablets for a few years before I became pregnant with DD2. Didn't need them when pregnant and because I was BF couldn't go back on them when the PMDD returned so had a mirena coil fitted and it's also worked brilliantly. Hope things get better for you OP.

privatemum222 thank you so much. I left my DH during an episode, I also planned to leave him every month until I finally did 😞 he has moved on now and I’m in a new relationship and I now want to leave DP once a month. I also find I can’t work each month, luckily I work from home and can cover it up. I used to suffer a few days a month but since having the copper coil it’s about 10 days a month.

I take it every day. I prefer that as my periods are really irregular nowadays.

Hi Op, I was literally just about to start a thread about this myself. I was diagnosed with PMDD 6 months ago and decided to give the micro pill a try whilst I no long find myself hysterically crying and being tipped over the edge. I still do not feel like myself I'm so irritable and short tempered on the lead up to period. I used to have so much patience and now that's all gone I don't feel like a fraction of my old self any more and sometimes I think I can't wait to start menopause or wish I could ask them to just take everything out.

The other option for me was to go on some sort on anti depression tablet but I really wanted to avoid that route. Personally I was wondering if the depo injection would work at when I was on that before it completely stopped my periods

I’m on day 2 of sertraline and have started feeling suicidal this afternoon 😞 I’m not going to take any more.

That sounds extremely worrying. You must speak to your GP or call 101 or 999 if you feel you need to

I am trying to distract myself by watching tv. I have had two suicide attempts when I was a teenager and it said that was a risk factor in the information booklet so maybe they are not suitable for me

My children will be home any minute so that will take my mind off things, hopefully it will wear off soon as I only took two doses so far

Oops just seen your most recent posts- seek medical advice

Thanks I have a friend here with me. If I still feel this way in the morning I will contact my GP