Sertraline bl**dy hell..!

[AmusedOpalShaker]

Evening everyone,

I am currently sitting at day 5 of 50mg Sertraline for OCD and horrific, horrific intrusive thoughts.

My lord - the side effects are horrendous?!

The sheer uptake in my anxiety, intrusive thoughts, urges, shaking, sickness and lethargy has been awful to try to navigate. I’m so incredibly fortunate that I have supportive family around to look after my DD during this.

i have been on Sertraline before, but like a complete moronhead I stopped taking it, I don’t remember ever having such severe side effects before, though.

Any experiences? I’m looking for horror turned success stories, or just some reassurance really, anything to stop me from chucking them away.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read, have a wonderful evening all xxx

Hallucinations, travelling through stars at night, dilated pupils, sweats and chest pains were just a few of the side effects when I started Sertraline for anxiety. Then I was put on Venlafaxine instead and had awful suicidal thoughts. Scared me so much that I gradually cut down the dosage and stopped taking them within a few months.

I’m sorry to hear of the skin cancer diagnosis. OCD is such an individual thing isn’t, can manifest itself in such different ways for different people.

Honestly that sounds like such an amazing difference for you day to day, what a relief, I love that for you.

My intrusive thoughts aren’t health anxiety, to be honest they’re horrible (illegal) thoughts that make me feel awful.

Usually I’m better at saying ‘they’re just thoughts, thoughts are not wanted actions etc’, but with these side effects causing the physical anxiety ontop, at the moment my OCD is like ‘YOU WANT THIS’, and it’s a monumental struggle to pull myself back down, which then of course means I’ve reacted negatively to the thoughts so bam = OCD sticky thoughts.

I hope that makes sense and I don’t sound entirely deranged! I’m sure you know what I’m trying to say.

Anyway, day 10 today - I’ve been sleeping better, appetite is improving, anxiety still there but I’m noticing little glimmers here and there. X

@AmusedOpalShaker thanks, it was a superficial lesion but cancer nonetheless but it was really interesting to see how calm I was about it all. I'd been on sertraline about 3 years by then

Yeah OCD wears different cloaks, for me it was the Dr's cloak but I totally get the compulsion you describe. I had to sit on my hands some mornings before sertraline and I sweated! One thing I've learned is that shame and telling ourselves off only perpetuates the cycle and hiding it away rather than being open (with the right people obvs) gives it power. Lots of people have illegal thoughts all the time, that's why there are laws! However, I do understand that for you they are accompanied by a terrible compulsion and consequences for yourself, and this makes me sad.

I'm so glad that you are seeing glimmers of hope and you've kept going. PM me any time x

I'm on 100mg now. I usually go up in 25mg. The feeling lost has passed now but I think it was just feeling a bit sorry for myself. I hate how long it feels like it is taking to kick in. That said I've had a much better week overall. My general mood is lighter and I've enjoyed some moments and my anxiety has been manageable. I haven't actually experienced any significant side effects with the increase which is great.

Hope you are doing OK too. One day at a time. Your appetite will return to what it is usually with time. I always lose mine and it creeps back with patience.

Bad day today. Well, started out fine, left the flat and went and saw my family (and my DD as she’s been staying with them) All fine and lovely, even managed to eat a small bit.

Then it came to a point of getting ready to stay over tonight as my DD had been missing me, all of a sudden the anxiety and thoughts were too much, the house seemed too overwhelming, I couldn’t stop sobbing and I had to get out.

Now I’m back in my flat, in bed, crying, shaking, nauseous and feeling like the worlds shittest Mum as I slipped out while she was distracted.

Day 11 and wondering why I’ve even bothered.

11 long days. I know it's a REALLY long time when you're suffering as intensely as you are. Do you know what the trigger was? I always felt more anxious at night and when I first woke up (apparently our cortisol levels are at their highest in the morning and I know when I'm tired I cope less, hence the anxiety in the evenings) and so I had to be in my own bed overnight for a while.

Im sorry @AmusedOpalShaker , that sounds so tough. I want to send you a big hug and a shoulder to cry on. You are trying really hard and i just hope things turn for you soon

Oh I’m sorry op, I hope it settles down for you as soon as possible. I remember starting on it well - it was absolutely awful for about two weeks. I phoned the emergency doctor twice I was struggling so much with it. They talked me down and asked me to stick with it, it would be worth it. I did, and it was and is. Gave me my life back for sure. Try and stick it out op, the side effects will calm down.

I'm on prozac for ocd and anxiety - I also stupidly took myself off them then a few months later had to go through the side effects again. Both times I've used l tyrosine to counteract the worst of the side effects which worked for me

I started on sertraline for depression and it made my anxiety so severe I had to swap to fluoxetine. This then made me feel suicidal. Please speak to your GP if it's not working for you.

Also I'm sorry you had such a hard day @AmusedOpalShaker but I promise you're not the world's shittest mum, you're actually the best because you're trying to help yourself. It's very hard when you're in the place you're in and you can't see a light. Having young kids is tough when you struggle with your mental health. Be kind to you, you deserve kindness and rest and if you need to cry in bed then let yourself. You'll get through it, just be gentle ❤

I’m just over a month ahead of you. I will say my side effects didn’t seem as severe but I definitely had a bad wobble 2-3 weeks in. Now 6 weeks in and feeling totally different, much more like myself and the horrid feelings I had at the end of last year are largely gone. Hopefully it settles for you soon.

This doesn't sound normal to me for such a low dose. I think you sh old guy be your gp a call in the morning

I think a trigger was being with so many people. I don’t have social anxiety whatsoever, it just felt a bit too much yesterday is all, I guess it was just that + side effects. I just needed my space, I’m the same - need my own bed to just settle the heck back down at the moment! X

Morning all,

I really appreciate this thread and you guys checking in, so thank you, honestly.

I feel a bit better this morning. Full of regret that I ever stopped taking it in the first place, but there we go. I’m going to make today a productive day today, as I’ve done absolutely zero, well anything, the past week.

I’m going to keep going with my 50mg, I read back to the start of this thread and saw what I commented on Day 6, although I feel a bit rough, there is no comparison to how I felt six days ago. Anxiety aside, I’m already finding it slightly easier to disengage with the intrusive thoughts and that’s the biggest bugbear of all, tbh. I’ve also reached out to a private OCD clinic in Central London for some therapy, at this point I’d pay through the nose for some coping strategies.

But, onwards and upwards as they say. I hope you all have a gorgeous day xx

It did sound like sudden overwhelm but honestly I think you did wonderfully yesterday. You went out, had a lovely time and even had something to eat but staying over was just a step too far. That's a win honestly. I always remind myself that on the plane, when they go through the safety brief, they say to fit your own oxygen mask before you help anyone else, even your child. You can't give what you don't have, that's not a failing, it's the human condition.

Praying that your intrusive thoughts continue to subside - my dh helps me by saying that the mind is like a wild horse 🐎 that needs bringing under control - I try to visualise this X
I take Citalapram 30mg and found it life changing, after just a low grade headache as a side effect for a few days . I was literally pulling my hair out with stress . It truly gave me my sense of humour back too. Good luck X

OP that hope things settle down soon and glad you have glimmers of feeling hopeful.

May I ask for anyone who had a dry mouth side effect, did that pass or persist?

@FishFlaked I had a dry mouth and it's passed now.

@AmusedOpalShaker you did so well yesterday going out and trying. That is a success even if it didn't go completely to plan. Don't let it put you off trying again when you feel able to. Also don't feel guilty for the quiet days. Resting is an activity!

Hi everyone 👋

Hope you’ve all had / are having a good day!

Day 13 for me, it’s actually been a good one. I got up, washed, bleached the bathroom, two washing loads done and hung up, kitchen sides wiped down. I’ve made a big chorizo mixed beans type stew and had a helping, another portion cooling down to be put in the fridge for tomorrow.

intrusive thoughts have been in my head all day, although its been ‘easier’ to carry on with day to day stuff while they’re playing on repeat, does that make sense?

It’s crazy to me that I used to do all of the above, sort my DD out and then go and work a 12 hour shift ontop.

Aside from the OCD, I have a great deal of physical health stuff going on at the moment also, so I feel zero shame in getting ready to go to bed for the night already! (spectacularly tragic for someone in their early 30s, I know!)

But before I start snoring my head off, I just wanted to thank you all for checking in whilst I’m on this mad little rollercoaster - tomorrow marks 2 weeks but I think I’ll stick with 50 until the 3 week mark and then think about jumping up (slowly!)

xx

That’s great news well done for sticking with it.

Pleased to hear you've had a better day. Don't over do it though... It's what I seem to end up doing. Also understand your comment about how much you were doing before finding yourself in this place now. I feel exactly the same.

Keep with it ... worth it in the end ,

Hey loves,

Day 17 over here and feeling (dare I say it), good. Last week I had to do a runner from my family due to anxiety, however I attempted another family visit yesterday - managed all day, managed dinner AND managed to stay over the night with my little’un - which in comparison to what happened last weekend, wow.

I’ve booked in with a private OCD therapist for the 3rd of March and yeah, feeling a bit more optimistic. Thoughts are still there, but settling more into the background rather than at the forefront.

I hope you’re all ok!

xx

@AmusedOpalShaker I'm so happy to hear your update. Sounds like you're moving forward, testament to your persistence x