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

So last night I had my first serious night terrors since the meds kicked in. And they were doozies. But it’s still progress as I was having them nightly before so being over a month without one is massive.

I definitely feel a difference in me when I’m around people now and I’m even seeing glimpses of the old me coming out.

I was at darts tonight and it was the best laugh, I actually couldn’t tell you the last time I laughed like that.

So I’m not sure if the doctor will up my dose or not now as I’m doing pretty well. It’s not perfect but definitely so much better than I was considering only a few weeks ago I was planning on trying to disappear.

I'm on day 2 of sertraline, only taking 12.5 to try and ease in. Both yesterday and today I've had nausea, feeling spaced out, fatigue, more anxious and today a little stomach upset. It's making me feel freaked out because it feels counterintuitive to be taking something that's making me feel worse even though I know it's meant to be transient.

My only other experience is fluoxetine 13 years ago, which I think I managed for 2 weeks.

I'm really not sure if I should be taking morning or evening. I took it at 9 am both days, side effects seem to kick in at around 1 pm and then last into the evening and seen to reset over night. Unless that was just my first night!

I started my Sertraline in the morning and then I was so tired during the day I tried switching to the evening but my mood was a billion times worse so I switched back. I’m six weeks in now and I’m definitely not quite as tired as I was at first so that does get better. I don’t need to nap anywhere near as much as I did before (I also have fibromyalgia so daytime naps were fairly normal for me before anyway).

My 18yo was on it for anxiety a year or two ago though and evening worked so much better for them so it’s definitely a personal thing and a bit of trial and error helps there too.

How is everyone doing? I’m into my third week on escitalopram and my mood is definitely improved but not real reduction in anxiety yet.

Thats good about your mood improving. I think it takes 4-6 weeks to see the full effect though. Keep us posted.
im on 75mg venlefaxin and my anxiety is still there after 3 weeks. Im thinking if upping my dose if it’s still not working in the anxiety x

Day 5 of 12.5 mg sertraline for me. Feeling indigestion today, panicky (especially because I can feel even at this dose I couldn't really cry - it's giving me a trapped feeling). A bit scared to be feeling so affected even on this low dose. The nausea I felt the first few days has been gone for 2 days now so that's an improvement.

I’m really not having a good day today. Last week was great but today feels just like how I was before I started on the meds. DH is about to take me out to play some darts somewhere, I didn’t tell him I was struggling today but I guess he can tell as he knows that’s something I really enjoy.

He’s actually the one who last week when I said I didn’t think I needed to up my dose as I was feeling better said he thinks I should as he can see some improvement but thinks I’m still not quite there yet.

Sorry to those who are also struggling right now.

Sorry to hear everyone is still adjusting - I am too - I felt better for about 10 days but had a bad nights sleep and now feeling quite anxious and like I am back to the beginning :( i am 3.5 weeks now taking sertraline x

I don’t know if I need to up my dose but I think I should probably wait until 6 weeks has passed?

Hi all. Sounds like the majority of us are in the adjustment phase still! I upped my citalopram from 10 to 20 this weekend. Waking in the night a fair bit, feeling a bit nauseous in the morning and still some panic. Also extremely hot and sweaty (not helped by the muggy weather!). Accepting that this is an adjustment and just trying to take it a day at a time.

How is everyone doing today? Anyone feeling better? x

I might keep an eye here if that’s okay.
My DH has just restarted escitalopram after a break of about 6 months. It’s unbelievable how debilitating anxiety is. It really took us by surprise when it started. He lost all his confidence even in small tasks. He’s also very bad in the mornings. Sleep and appetite are poor. Feels jittery and nervous. It’s so hard to watch and I feel so helpless. We go for walks together and talk as much as he wants to but it’s hard. It makes me feel anxious myself that he’s not himself- like everything is off kilter.

I remember the last time he started (first time to ever take medication) that the symptoms were awful. We’re both scared that that will be repeated but you have to stick with it don’t you. Does it make a difference that he was on escitalopram before??

Like so many of you, I find it helpful to read other people’s journey- especially those on the same meds who are a bit further on.

Of course - I’ve found it so helpful hearing others experiences and sharing mine. I hope your DH starts to feel better soon

Thanks @Sleepy21
He had a bad morning today. Mornings are always the worse time he feels.
Wretching and sweating. I’ve given him a motilium. I was reading on another thread that people start splitting the pill to ease the initial adjustment. He was started on 10mg. His GP previously had given him some Xanax to help with this initial time. He had taken a couple of half tablets then. He’s VERY hesitant about them because they’re addictive.
It’s so hard to see him suffer like this.

Hi All

I'd like to join. I've been back on Prozac for 11 days for depression. No real side effects and I felt ok. Sleeping really well. I know it wouldn't have been the medication working yet but probably felt positive taking steps forward.

Then yesterday, it all hit me again and I decided I was going to end it. Said goodbye to the kids this morning as they left for school thinking it would be my last goodbye. Sent a goodbye message to DH, had a phone call off him, came to sit in the dark for a while and suddenly dont feel quiet so bad any more.

I dont know about anyone else but I think there just isn't enough mental health support around me. Online keeps telling me to go to a&e but sitting there for over 24 hours is only going to make me feel worse.

I wish there was a mental health rehab I could check into. I saw one this morning that is 70 THOUSAND euro per week.

Hope everyone else is starting to see improvement.

I’m ’out the other side’ as I’ve been on Sertraline about 3 years but I just wanted to add some positive input as it has been life changing for me. I know not everyone reacts the same but for new, it was difficult for about 3 weeks, terrible side effects, but I’m a new person now. I feel ‘normal’. It really has been life changing for me, like having secret weapon in resilience. I tried to come off them last year as I have put on weight - something I was worried about which came true, but I started feeling awful again. I’m going to stay on them for the foreseeable.

Glad to read this! I have been on it for 4 weeks now - first 2 weeks were terrible, and then week 3 I felt back to normal almost and now I feel almost back at the start again :( is that normal? Wondering if I need a higher dose? grateful for anyone's input - feeling pretty miserable today x

Just checking in again to see if I can her views on upping dose after 4 weeks - do the side effects come back again whilst you adjust? Thanks all

What does your doctor say @Sleepy21? I would be tempted to give it more like 6-8 weeks to be sure this dose isn’t enough, that’s what I’m planning to try anyway. If I get to 6 weeks and no anxiety improvement then I’m going to make a GP appointment and see what they say.

Thanks @vitevite I have a review call today so will ask then - I have another 2 weeks until I hit 6 so you’re right, I think it needs a bit more time - I felt ‘back to normal’ for 10 days but seems to have gone downhill again - my physical anxiety seems to have reduced but racing thoughts and my busy mind seems to have come back. How are you feeling?

Hey MidSeptember
just checking in. It’s horrible when the only way seems to be ending it all!
I do hope you’re feeling better now.
And yes, help for mental health is woefully bad.

How did your review call go @Sleepy21

My doctor said to try and wait for the 6 weeks when I had mine. That’s me over 6 weeks now and yeah I think I’m going to ask for an increase when I phone them next week. I’m definitely better than I was but still struggling.

Thanks for checking in @Tarkan so he agreed that I should give it another 2 weeks but has prescribed me another 25 (I am on 50 Sertraline) to try in 2 weeks if I still don’t feel better - like you, I’m definitely better but still struggling and not quite back to my old self. Do let me know how you get on with the docs next week. I hope in a months time we both are closer to feeling like ourselves!

Thanks, I am feeling better than I was that day. But I have a sense of dread every minute of every day. It's horrible. And I have a really busy day today.

Im going to see the GP again tomorrow and also due back to work tomorrow. I really dont know if I can work.

I hope everyone else is doing ok.

Hope I’m not like an imposter posting here when it’s my DH who is in the middle of this struggle, but I find it helpful to feel we’re not alone.
He’s on day 6 and nothing has improved at all. I know everything can get heightened as the body adjusts but it’s so hard to see him like this.
Sleep is very poor, mind is racing, he’s jittery inside, upset stomach, feeling very anxious and dejected. I tell him what I read here and on the medical sites - that it all seems to be ‘normal’ but he asked me this morning if he needs to be committed 😢 I’m so out of my depth. I asked him if he felt like a danger to himself and he said not at all so I tried to reassure him that all of these feelings will ease once the meds kick in.
He’s agreed to a counselling session on Tuesday.
I just want the process to hurry up so he feels okay again.