Sertraline handhold

[Cherryblossom200]

Hi all,

I thought it would be nice to have a place for those of us who are starting the AD journey.

I'm a full time single parent of a beautiful 9 year old, going through perimenopause and just lost my job! So I'm just feeling very overwhelmed and anxious.

My doctor has prescribed me sertraline, to start with I need to take 25mg and up to 50mg in a weeks time.

I took my pill yesterday around 11.00 and then a few hours later was on the loo and feeling exhausted so went to bed for an hour. I felt better later but had a headache most of the night.

I've decided to try it this evening instead as it makes me too drowsy, but now I'm worrying it'll keep me up all night 🤪

I do have concerns that this will dull my ability to feel joy, emotion and work!

I know it's early days and it gets worse before it gets better.

Good luck to others going through this journey x

I started my journey in January 2024, when HRT just wasn't cutting it for meno brain fog, anxiety and low mood. The first three weeks were a bit meh, but Day 21 was like a switch had been flicked. Long suffering (and super supportive, even in the worst of times) DH said it was fab to see me back to being "me".

NGL, it has killed libido a bit but there's always a compromise and nothing I can't work around. In terms of emotions, I am much less likely to bite DH's head off but am really enjoying life and certainly don't think my capacity for joy or fun has been dulled.

So it's a positive story from me and I wish I'd taken the plunge a couple of years earlier.

I hope your outcome is as positive

Thanks for your story 🙏 so lovely to hear xx

I just started sertraline yesterday too! First time on any medication for mental health.

I felt very tired yesterday, but in a peaceful way. I’ve had a little cry this morning but it has been a difficult morning and my period is due soon so not surprising really. I really hope it works well for me, and you too OP

I've been on them 14 years. There are so many different dosages that I'm not sure you can ever get it right.

Good luck.

Oh that's great that we are going through it together 🥰 let's use this place to hand hold through it. I need it 🤪

I've not taken mine this morning and switching to the evening in the hope I'll just sleep through feeling sick!

I’m on 150mg, reduced from 200mg. Didn’t dull my emotions. Good luck!

@Cherryblossom200 how did it go taking it at night? I’m sticking to mornings - haven’t had any side effects so far thankfully

I was on 50mg for years, prescribed during menopause as previous poster, and it was great for me. Really helped with the anxiety that was becoming crippling , so much so I was beginning to find reasons not to go out of the house.

Takes a few weeks to kick in. I kind of have memories of feeling pretty rough the first week or so then just feeling "normal" and back to feeling like I was a capable female. I was able to go out, find and keep down a job and be a wife and carer and deal with every day stuff without it all feeling too much

I didnt notice it dulling my emotions at all. Killed my libido but then again Im menopausal so it wasnt just that to blame.

I think it saved my sanity during project fear of covid

I stopped taking it 18 months ago now without a problem. I had started to take it erratically as I was off work with an injury and routine went to pot and just kept forgetting it. I realised I was doing just great and didnt need it any more so stopped putting it on repeat and that was that

Hey!

I took it last night instead and slept so well, this time definitely works for me. No upset tummy, or feeling knackered like I did yesterday. I already feel a lot better and no tears! It's slow steps, only taking 25mg which is enough for now. Will up to 50mg maybe in a week or so 😊

So glad things are going well for you too 🙏 x

I was on sertraline earlier this year for anxiety related to menopause, and after three weeks i felt amazingly better. Unfortunately it gave me unmanagable diarrhoea so I was changed to fluoxetine, which has helped but I don’t think its as effective as the Sertraline was. I hope it works as well for you, without the diarrhoea obviously!

Oh no that's a shame, were you on a high dose?

no just the starting dose, I cant remember now what it was but it wasn't high.

Maybe 50mg.

I'm on 25mg and already feeling good. I'm wondering if I should just stay on this level!

@miffmufferedmoof how are you getting on?

I'm still on 25mg at night and sleeping like a baby. I'm waking up a bit groggy but after some breakfast and tea I'm feeling more awake.

I do feel a bit odd, slightly numb?! I'm neither happy more sad. Sort of no emotion. I hope that changes after time, I want to feel something! x

I think I feel more peaceful, less easily overwhelmed and a bit more cheerful. I’ve had some difficult things happen the last couple of days but have felt able to cope with them.
still no side effects except possibly a dry mouth, though that might be unrelated. My sleep also feels more restorative, which is nice!

Do you feel numb? I'm a bit worried about this 😬 I can see this is a side effect. Maybe I need to increase the dose, I'm not sure! But I don't want to feel numb to any emotion.

What dose are you on?

I don’t feel numb, but perhaps I felt a bit numb before going on it, and I’ve never been a particularly excitable person.
I’m taking 25 at the moment and will go up to 50 on Wednesday after I talk to my mental health nurse

I just feel out of it, like I'm not here. I'm also not hungry. But I don't feel sick, I have no real emotion or motivation to do anything 😬

I hope this is just normal. I'm on day 4 so far.

I think that will settle. I definitely feel emotions and I’m on 150mg, I was in 200mg for ages!

As a long term user of sertraline just a quick reminder always take it with a drink. If you try take it on its own you will get horrendous heartburn. I've done this à couple of times and honestly thought I was really ill. Once fluid has washed it down its fine and Ive never had any gastric issues. Apparently the heartburn from dry swallowing sertraline is a well known issue.

I always take it with food like a banana and water before bed.

I do have any tummy issues yet, I just feel knackered and no motivation during the day. So I'm just watching tv! Luckily I'm not working at the moment so can take a bit of time off.

I've been on them since July after loosing my mum traumatically. The first month I also described as feeling 'numb'. Strange isn't it! However, now i feel great. I also take Bedranol which stops the anxiety symptoms I have. Feel like a different person the last few months :)

Has anyone struggled with teeth grinding on sertraline, I stopped taking it because it got so bad?

When I started them I couldnt sleep for a couple of nights then felt completely zoned out for a week or two. It settled and I feel completely normal just not so anxious. A lot has happened in the last few years and to be honest I cant see myself stopping anytime soon. They help me function and deal with a lot of emotional pain..

@MaybeMrs ok that puts my mind at rest. I worried I would be an emotionally devoid zombie. I'm not sure what's worse, crying all the time of being like this 🤣