Anyone recently started antidepressants and wants to chat/share progress and support

[Sleepy21]

I have posted a few times on MN about recently starting Sertraline, asking for others experiences - just wondered if, like me, there were any new/recent starters who wanted to just chat and post on their progress, challenges and good bits too! I find it really helpful rather than just thinking about it alone. Would love to connect with others who are still adjusting on any anti-depressant x

Thank you :)

They are horrible, aren’t they - I wasn’t expecting it to be quite this bad but like you say, it’s needed. My anxiety slowly increased over the last 6 months and to be honest I should have seen to it a while ago

I have just started sertraline too - started about 10 days ago. I feel awful, I’ve been on other antidepressants which had side effects too but this feels worse. Sleep is almost impossible, I’m waking up constantly. The anxiety is terrible. I know it won’t last but it’s hard.

I know exactly how you feel - I am about 10 days in as well, and it has had an awful impact on my sleep and anxiety. Even though you know it's temporary, it's hard trying to push through isn't it. What dose are you on?

50mg. It’s so ironic and difficult that the side effects make the things it’s meant to treat even worse for a few weeks.

Isn't it! Its taking me a lot to push through it, having this forum has helped knowing I am not alone in feeling this way

See what your GP says but this is how I did it. I bought a pill cutter and quartered the lowest dose tablet then did a week at each quarter dose, sometimes longer. It’s taken me about 10 weeks to get to a therapeutic dose but side effects have been absolutely minimal and very manageable. I’ve felt pretty much normal throughout, through obviously no improvement on initial symptoms but for me that was preferable to awful side effects and potentially giving up on the meds.

Can I join? I was chatting to you on your other thread. Admittedly I’m not new to sertraline but did come off it in July and had to go back on 12.5mg as anxiety started taking over during my period (perimenopause).

How are you getting through this stage? Any tips I am trying to spend a lot of time reading to try and relax and divert my mind but it’s really not easy. Also having baths in the evening and going to bed early.

Of course! Please do - nice to have you on here. We were discussing earlier in this thread that the anxiety we are are experiencing is definitely most likely being made worse by perimenopause! Are you on HRT?

Unfortunately not, I was going to ask you! am really just muddling through each day - I have been trying to read and listen to audiobooks but struggling to concentrate. I am going out for walks each day, I definitely find that helps as feel a bit restless otherwise. I’ve been watching easy, mindless things like Gogglebox or first dates in the evening to try and distract myself. Maybe I will try a bath this evening to try and unwind a bit. Yes, it really not easy :(

I forgot to add that posting on here has been the thing to help me the most this week, and knowing I am not alone in how I am feeling

How are you doing today @Sleepy21?

Thanks for asking xx I am still feeling a bit flat to be honest, I feel my anxiety is a little better during the day but still bad at night - really hoping by the end of the week I will notice some positive effects as it will have been 2 weeks. How are you doing?

Hope it works for you op

Hope everyone is doing as well as possible today. I go back to work tomorrow after the summer holiday so am feeling a bit nervous but trying to reign myself in - I’m getting anxious about getting anxious at the moment! Had a hot shower and wrote all of my thoughts out and am taking solace in a book. Sending calm thoughts to all.

Sorry you’re still feeling flat. Really hope they kick in soon.

I feel totally normal but still with anxiety

Thank you, and I hope back to work tomorrow goes well - do let us know how it goes! x

Thank you - I’ve just been sitting here thinking that I hope we revisit this thread in a few months with meds all kicked in and anxiety free!

Wishing everyone well.

Positive vibes for your first day back to day @theonetwo Hope it goes well 😊

Hi @vitevite@Sleepy21and everyone else on the thread! First day back went well today, I managed to sleep fairly well last night and so getting up pre 6am wasn’t too bad. I still felt panicky in the car (which is a new thing that’s been happening as anxiety has gotten worse over the past few months) but I know I’m not at a therapeutic dose of citalopram yet, so was expecting that. But I did it, in spite of it being very uncomfortable! Just going to take it a day at a time. Will probably wait another week before titrating up. How were your days? It really is cruel that things can get worse before they get better.

Up and down. I think venlefaxin might be too strong for my sensitive system, my fault, as I thought the sertraline had stopped being effective.
Im going to give it a good shot time wise as if this doesn’t help, not sure what I’ll do!
I’m ok today though. Just have to keep everything in the day. My main issue is “what if” thinking!
how is everyone else doing?

@theonetwo glad your first day back at work went well!

@Lizzbear same, I am feeling up and down - I do feel slightly less anxious but still feeling on the low side. I’ve just posted in the menopause group as I am sure some of my symptoms are overlapping with perimenopause!

Hi Sleepy21. It’s hard isn’t it? I’ll have a look a t your post on tbe menopause board x