Please share good news stories of sertraline

[butternutsquashed82]

Hello lovely mumsnetters! Was hoping to find some advice.

i have gone through quite a traumatic six years (pregnant in Covid, abusive relationship, single parent when daughter was one, back at stressful job soon after surviving off three - four hours sleep a night, gave up job after two years to freelance, have freelanced for two past two years but have now burnt myself out doing this too. I have very limited support nearby and my ex has our daughter 24-48hrs max a week)! I feel I’m really crumbling under the pressure, my anxiety has been through the roof and I keep having OCD flare ups where I over think about catastrophic work situations and I can’t think of anything else) my brain feels ready to explode!

I just don’t enjoy life. I went to the doctor a month ago and they prescribed me sertraline but I have been too anxious to take it, after reading it can make you feel worse before you feel better! And of course that has made me anxious! However, I now think I need to bite the bullet and take it. Can I ask if anyone can share how it’s improved their life? Life is feels so hard as I’m just constantly working, looking after my beautiful daughter or catastrophising and over checking and worrying about work! It feels so consuming and as if I’ll never get better!

Best thing I ever did, go for it. You’ll feel a bit wierd for the first few days then you feel better and as the weeks go on it just gets better and better x

@Misty999thats so good to hear. Can I ask what do you mean when you say’weird’ and can I ask how it’s improved your life? X

Been on it for nearly 20 years, it’s difficult to adjust to to begin with but honestly it’s saved my life more times than I can’t count. My dose has gone up and down over the years, my ‘sweet spot’ appears to be about 100mg but I’m currently on much more for various reasons. I don’t think i’ll ever come off it and I’m fine with that!

@blankcanvas3 can I ask why it was difficult to adjust I’ve been prescribed 50mg

I found it hard to sleep so make sure you’re taking it first thing in the morning, to be brutally honest to begin with I found it almost impossible to orgasm but I’ve not got that problem anymore, and I completely lost my appetite which was a big issue for me at the time as I was anorexic. I don’t experience any of these problems anymore but like I said, it’s been a long time! I completely relate to your feeling of just not enjoying life though so don’t feel like you’re alone

I would really say taper on to it, half a tablet every other day to half every day to one per day. Otherwise I find it disrupts my sleep for the first few weeks. After that though it's life changing, definitely go for it!

My husband started it a few months ago, he was in a bad place having lost his dad to suicide and a few other bad things. He felt awful for the first two weeks, it was a tough time. But suddenly started feeling so much better, and has been smooth sailing ever since. Would recommend it! It’s been life changing for him.

I've been on it for almost a year and it's helped me significantly. I suffer with really bad generalised anexity which has got progressivly worse since having kids (5 years ago) until I could barely function and would have panic attacks. I started on the smallest dose (50mg), which did give me really bad heaches and dry mouth for the first few days. After a month my doctor upped the dose to 100mg and I've been on that since. I also had therapy and CBT and along with the meds mu anexity is much more under control and I'm not longer having panic attacks and feeling tight chested all the time. I would strongly recommend taking it and also trying to get some therapy. I used to cathophrise all the time and think worse case scenario but I no longer do. Best of luck OP. I hope you feel better soon. Anexity is horrible and so crippling.

I was similar to you, my catastrophising was also work related. I sufferred burnout a couple of years ago, left my job and started another.

I was ok for a while but at the beginning of the year, I had quite a few high profile stuff going on workwise where I was shouldering all the responsibility.

One evening a thought popped in my head and I completely overthought, unravelled and had a horrendous period of all consuming anxiety. I couldnt eat, i was barely present.

I went to the gp after 3 weeks of this, and I was prescribed sertraline. I was also scared to take it as I actually felt I couldnt cope feeling any worse, but knew I couldnt carry on.

I took half a tablet for a week, then 1 tablet after that.

Slowly, I felt better. If a negative thought starts, it doesnt 'stick' and I can just move on with what I am doing.

I feel myself again, calm and confident. The old me!

I am so glad Im on them and I will continue to do as long as I need to.

Hang on in there, I know how you feel. But you wiĺl get better xx

There was a period of my life some years ago when, due to external circumstance, my stress levels were through the roof and I was really struggling. Sertraline gave me the emotional space to take a step back and deal with the problems I was facing in a productive way rather than a self-destructive one. It wasn't instant but over time I noticed that the dark days became less frequent and less dark, and the lighter days more often and lighter. It was very much a two steps forward, one step back thing. But it was progress and improvement I could see, rather than the despair and no-way-out I was seeing before then.

It's hard to play the "what if...?" game but I'm pretty sure that without anti-depressants I wouldn't be here today. I'm glad I made the choice to get help because my life now is so much better. I'm also very aware of the warning signs and would have no hesitation to go back on to Sertraline if I ever got into that dark place again.

Be kind to yourself. You've done the really difficult step of asking for help. All you've got to do now is accept it.

@SassyGoldCrabao sorry you’ve had awful anxiety too. This gives me hope thank you xxx

@NelferchyLlynwow, thanks for taking the time to reply. I am 1000% in burnout! I genuinely feel like I need a year off life (which I can’t get)! The all consuming anxiety, like my world and life could fall apart is insane! I don’t feel present at all! How much were you prescribed? Can I ask your age also. I’m 44 so wonder if hormones could be to play too? Thanks for your the positive message xxx

@GasperyJacquesRobertsim so glad they helped so much and you’re still with us today! I’m really struggling and this story has really helped me see that maybe medication isn’t something to be feared xxx

@Mufflettecan I ask how long you took half a tablet for, before going for a whole tablet? Xxx

@blankcanvas3thanks for honest intel! I’m in no position to have sex with or without a partner so I won’t worry about that side just yet! It’s great it was so positive for you and I’m so sorry you’ve had such a rough ride! Thank you for sharing your story and kind words it makes me feel less alone xxx

Used twice for about a year each time, dont let them leave you on 50, unless its super effective with you its usually something you go up from. Loved it gave me what I needed to get through hard times. Doing better now and haven't used for 5 years but if needed I would choose it again.

@Acedthim so glad to hear they’ve really helped your husband. Can I ask what he felt so difficult when he first started to take them?

@CharityShopMensGlassesrhanka for feedback. How will you know you need more?

It's saved me from completely debilitating health anxiety, which I believe is a subset of my OCD.
I started on 50mg and I've stayed there, although I won't hesitate to increase if I feel I need it.
I can't stress enough how much it's helped me, I was almost agoraphobic at one point, I felt like my life was over.
The first fortnight or so are pretty rough, I found it made me sleepy (although a lot of people find the opposite), and it's also increased my appetite so I've put a little weight on, but it's so worth it.
Believe me OP, you can do this. I was so afraid to take that first tablet due to the health anxiety, but I knew I didn't want to carry on the way I was.
Good luck 😊

@xabimunich3thank you so much for your honest reply and sharing your story! I feel it’s ruining my career - I went to full time employed to freelance and now I’m stopping taking on work because I’m so nervous and worried about mistakes I might make! I don’t trust myself at all.

Had quite bad side effects for a week but it’s changed everything for me.

Is there any way you can take a break from freelancing for a bit? Even a week or two? Just have some time for you. Sorry

@labamba007grest to hear what positive affect it has had. Can I ask what the side affects were?

I had a very positive experience, even with a very small dose of 25mg. It took two weeks to kick in, but it really worked. Hang in there. And you don't have to take it for a long time. I tapered off after 6 months. I did it in conjunction with self-help books, particularly the book "At Last, a Life" which I recommend.

My GP started me on 25mg daily with a review after 2 weeks. This was to reduce the side effects and make it more manageable. Then up to 50mg, which is more or less the minimum effective dose. I'm now on 100mg a day, which works well.

It saved my life during the pandemic. I felt like I had smoked a joint for the first few weeks, spaced out and tired, very vivid dreams. Then it became part of life for two years. Tapering wasn’t as hard as I thought either. Good luck!