Anyone starting Sertraline?

[sheeplikessleep]

After being prescribed it a couple of months ago and putting it off, started it today for the first time after years of low mood, anxiety and tears and few months of trying HRT without success.
Feel nauseous already but I’ve hardly slept as well due to delayed overnight holiday flight. I’m hoping it’s tiredness making it worse.
Just wondered if anyone else is starting it? Thanks

I started it about 3 weeks ago. First week on a half dose, now on full dose. Found it quite hard going the first couple of weeks. Bit of nausea, a lot of insomnia, bit of anxiety. Side effects starting to calm down now though. DH remarks that I seem a lot calmer too (compared to before I started taking the pills) The worst side-effect now is night sweats!

Hi MissDollyMix, hopefully you’re through the worst of it and it’ll settle for you. I’m hoping I’ll be the same in 3 weeks.
Did anything help your nausea?
Interesting you were started on a half dose.
Have you had a follow up with GP yet?

Me. Second time round. One tablet a day, abd I've judt started the second blister pack. Had nausea for the first couple of days, but that's worn off now.
Interesting comment about the night sweats. I have been warmer at night. I attributed it to the summer (my room is very warm) and didn't consider the tablets.

Oh RhubarbFairy that’s good to hear your nausea lasted only a couple of days.
I feel like I wanted to fully read around it, to prepare for the side effects (with work etc as I’m self employed so can juggle and delay a bit). Hope it works for you 🤞 … did it help last time?

Thanks! Actually, you've just reminded me that I need to phone up the GP and order a new prescription! The GP prescribing said we'd review it after a month but she also mentioned that she'd put it on a repeat so I'm hoping I'll just be able to order some more without too much fuss.
I didn't find much helped with the nausea. I just ate a bit of what I fancied. My appetite has also massively decreased and I think I've lost a bit of weight (which is fine by me) Other MN threads on Sertraline seem to recommend varying the time of day of the dose and if you have it with food or not - can help with nausea. I'm trying to move my dose earlier in the day so it's not so fresh in bloodstream at night (and hoping that will help with the night time sweatiness!)

Watching with interest. I'm just coming off citalopram after about 15 years and due to start sertraline next week. I'm really hoping that it works as I've been in a very dark place since June.

Keeping everything crossed it works for you too Mollyplop.
I’m also seeing a counsellor which I think is also helping a bit to address my negative thoughts and drive for perfection as well. Might be worth considering?

@Mollyplop999 is there a reason that you are switching to sertraline from citalopram. Has it stopped working. (I am on a different AD which doesn't appear to be working gif time when it did work in the past and it's been suggested that I switch to sertraline.)

me! I’m on day 5 of taking it (25mg for the first week and up to 50mg on Thursday). I won’t lie it’s heightened my anxiety quite significantly but I know that it’s just temporary, I’m also pregnant so will have hormones buzzing around in there as well. Nauseas in the morning and have been sick a couple times so decided to take it early afternoon today as opposed to before bed, to hopefully ease that a bit. Good luck to all of you and hope it helps you 🤍

Do you know it’s not pregnancy nausea? I said to DH earlier that the nausea feels exactly like early pregnancy to me.

I am almost 27 weeks now so it’s definitely not early pregnancy related although I know anything can come and go throughout pregnancy so it could be a combination. How is your nausea now? Hope it’s eased for you!

Nausea better since about mid afternoon. Bit worried that everyone else seems to have been given 25 for first week (I was told 50 from start).
Nice to hear others experiences with it.

I started it a week ago (50mg). I found the first 4 days really tough, had very bad nausea, general fatigue and struggled to sleep. But, seemed to turn a corner on Friday, took the pill with food, and the nausea is much better, and I generally feel more like myself energy wise. Not sure if it's working yet, I think I feel a bit more relaxed, but could be placebo.

kizziee yes unfortunately it has stopped working and the episodes are getting more frequent and last longer.
sheeplikessleep
I've had counselling and cbt in the past but don't think I need it any longer. I just need the depression to bugger off now

Glad you’re feeling less nauseous and tired. I’m feeling worse today tbh, just can’t be bothered, headachy and nauseous. Really hope this lasts days like you rather than weeks 🤞

@Mollyplop999 it's so scary when they stop working. Hope you have a really smooth switch over. Hopefully as it's SSRI to SSRI that should help (I'm on a tricyclic)

@sheeplikessleep oh bless you. It does get worse before it gets better, so try and stick it out if you can. I'm feeling significantly better today, even more so than Monday. I even had a brief moment of calm yesterday for what felt like the first time in a long time.

Glad you’re continuing to feel better and a moment of calm as well, that’s good news.
Gives me hope this nausea is just temporary.

I'm in between antidepressants atm and I'm awful. Just made a complete idiot of myself by bursting into tears in the supermarket because someone was nice to me. Feel like I'm going mad.

You’re not going mad, you’re at a low point that won’t last forever. I’m sorry it’s a rubbish time. Be kind to yourself x

sheeplikessleep thank you, one day at a time xx

@sheeplikessleep it really is temporary, I'm sure. Are you taking them with/after food in the morning? I'm not sure if that's what helped me, or the side effects just got loads better when I did. But either way after about 4/5 doses I definitely felt better nausea wise.

I was quite lucky as I was signed off work, so was able to take it really easy. Not sure if that's an option for you but hope you are able to rest as much as possible

I’m taking them after my breakfast but I’m waking at 4/5 so tired as well which doesn’t help.
Ive got a full on day tomorrow work wise, as I am self employed so have to just plough through it tomorrow.
I am hoping by end of weekend the side effects will diminish a bit 🤞

Sorry to hear that but as a previous poster said you are not going mad, this is temporary and you are working through it. Are most of you guys symptoms more physical? Whilst I do have the physical which of course don’t help things, my most difficult ones are the mental- increased anxiety and intrusive thoughts, anyone else with these?. Seen my GP this morning who assured me she thinks I’ll come out the other side and going on to 50mg tomorrow!

Good luck with the increase Mollyplop.
My biggest side effect at the moment is the nausea and disturbed sleep with even more anxious ruminating at 4am (and I’m taking it straight after breakfast).
First thing is the worst but gets a bit better as the day progresses. I’m eating small and frequently.