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Original poster

Took my first sertraline tab about 3 hours ago - side effects

37 replies

SparrowFflamau · 13/01/2010 23:18

I'm assuming that it is that that has made my cheeks flushed, my eyes v wide, and the world spin?

Also pacing waiting for DH to come home when I was fine earlier.

Please tell me the side effects wear off reasonably quickly???

(So pleased I decided to take in evening rather than morning)

OP posts:
kormachameleon · 13/01/2010 23:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Frizbe · 13/01/2010 23:28

ooooooh hope the side effects don't carry on too long for you {{{Hugs}}}

LedodgyChristmasjumper · 14/01/2010 00:01

I was on setraline a few years ago and the dr told me for the first two weeks to take 2 at night then one at night. I went back and told him how I was pacing and one night butt naked opening the door convinced the house was on fire (i'd gone to sleep and woken up). He apologised profusely and told me he made a mistake and I should have taken it in the morning as they give you lucid dreams/nightmares. I advise you to take in the morning.

Original poster
SparrowFflamau · 14/01/2010 07:51

I am still spinning now. My mum is coming over to take DC to school.

Surely if I take them in the morning I will just be a dizzy mess when I need to be lucid for children?

I remember spinning and feeling like this for the first few nights with citalopram, but I was always ok in the morning

OP posts:
LedodgyChristmasjumper · 14/01/2010 15:17

How you feeling? I hated setraline tbh it wasn't right for me at all. Also if I had a drink on it I went loopy so if you are going to drink, drink in moderation.

adelicatequestion · 14/01/2010 15:39

Oh gosh. I'm supposed to be going for a sertraline prescription tomorrow!!

I'll watch this thread with interest.

Sparrow74 · 14/01/2010 15:55

I was really nauseous to start with, but it wore off after a week. It's nasy, isn't it? But don't worry, the symptoms should ease soon. Dizziness is a common side effect when you start on Sertraline.

suburbansweetheart · 14/01/2010 16:40

I started it about 4 weeks ago. I took it in the morning - felt a little bit sick at times and a little bit out of it the first day or two, but not too bad. Side effects went away fast and it seems to be helping. Never had any ads before, so nothing for comparison.

adelicatequestion - don't panic. think the effects (both in terms of side effects and feeling better) vary from person to person. It may well work for you, but it not you can review.

Original poster
SparrowFflamau · 14/01/2010 17:23

I still feel like hell. Felt up to driving to collect from school, but needed to sit for 10 mins before heading home.

Just had a panic attack at swimming lesson. Not had one in ages, and with the way this week has been I would have expected a natural one before now, so suspect it is meds induced

I'm not taking one tonight, I need to recover a bit, then I will try just half on Saturday morning and work up to whole ones again

OP posts:
Keziahhopes · 14/01/2010 18:37

Hi - I had sertraline for several years with no adverse side effects at all, and they really helped me at the time. Now on something else (venlaflaxine)that makes me ill changing doses .... so ADQ don't panic about sertraline, it depends on each person.

sparrow - can you go back to dr who prescribed it to discuss symptoms, or is there a lower dose you can start at and built up?

RockinSockBunnies · 14/01/2010 18:44

I had really bad nausea and some dizziness when I started Sertraline. But thankfully the side effects settled down within a couple of weeks, so hang in there. Otherwise, maybe you can lower the dose and build up gradually?

adelicatequestion · 15/01/2010 17:35

What dose are you on?

I have a prescription in my hand for 25mg. I was so scared at taking it, he would normally start with 50mg but I'm to take half a tablet fo the first month.

I feel like a bit of a baby, but I don;t want to take it at all really.

Original poster
SparrowFflamau · 15/01/2010 18:48

50mg.

No appts today (and was too scared to take last night).

Have talked it through with psycho and mumofmonsters (no medical knowledge, but i trust their judgement), and I'm trying 25mg tonight. I have taken it 2 hours earlier in the hopes I'm ok to drive at 11am tomorrow.

I've been anxiety attack-ish since last night, but things are fairly crappy atm anyway, so that could be natural.

Will let you know how it goes. I need to be ok on these as they have the least passing to breastmilk

OP posts:
adelicatequestion · 15/01/2010 19:53

let us know how you feel later...

Original poster
SparrowFflamau · 15/01/2010 20:33

Hmm. Two hours in, feeling a bit floaty.

OP posts:
ChristianaTheTwelfth · 15/01/2010 20:35

Message withdrawn

Beauregard · 15/01/2010 20:36

Made me loose weight

Keziahhopes · 15/01/2010 20:37

Hi - you can get medication to help with anxiety, or to help reduce side effects, though if breastfeeding that is not ideal.

Hope a better weekend

Keziah

Beauregard · 15/01/2010 20:38

Hope they work for you

Original poster
SparrowFflamau · 15/01/2010 21:37

Headache and starting to feel queasy - not as bad as weds yet

OP posts:
Original poster
SparrowFflamau · 15/01/2010 21:41

Thanks Keziah - poor thing has already had anti-emetics, citalopram, and antibiotics pumped into her during pregnancy and since she's been born, plus this new one as well , I can't bring myself to add any more to her little body.

A few days sounds better than the weeks I have been picturing Christiana.

I had no side effects from fluoextine, similar to this but much milder with citalopram, and now this.

Liking the weight loss thing

Question for those who have been on them a while... sex life? Better/worse/dryness...? (Feel free to namechange )

OP posts:
ChristianaTheTwelfth · 15/01/2010 22:12

Message withdrawn

CarmelitaMiggs · 15/01/2010 22:24

I was vv briefly on sertraline while b/fing (PND). My anxiety levels rocketed. Difficulty sleeping. Appetite totally packed up. Constant panic attacks (hadn't had that many before). Hideous - was worse than the PND, really. Ended up on old-style tricyclic, also OK for b/f, which helped me a lot.
Keep an eye on yourself. If you think you're feeling worse, it's not worth sticking with them; there will be something else.

Original poster
SparrowFflamau · 15/01/2010 22:31

Thank you Carmelita - I'm going to see how I am over the next couple of days with the half dose, and if I still feel like I was today, I'll get an appointment on Monday (with any dr if necessary) and tell them they aren't working.

Christiana - will keep an eye on mine. Having marriage issues atm and sex life is one of the few things still on track (I know I share far too much on here...), so it is worrying me slightly.

She put me on these as she knew I was worried about the amount passing through (came off during before the end of the pregnancy and just dealt with the last few weeks of Antenatal Depression so I didn't have to have it in my milk), but she said that fluoextine and citalopram are safe, just higher safe levels iyswim. If needs be I'll go back to F which I was best on.

Good point about morphine etc. I know many babies have loads of stuff in them from birth, think it is the depression making me feel like I am poisoning her. I'm pissed off. I get normal depression. I get antenatal depression. But I normally get 12 months break after the baby is born... she's only 12 weeks

Headache is easing, I'm now more sort of sleepy and floaty. I might go to bed

OP posts:
Alibabaandthe40nappies · 15/01/2010 23:29

Flame I hope you're asleep now

I had side effects for about 4/5 days when I started with 50mgs. I felt a bit sick, and I had to take them lying in bed because they sent me to sleep straight away.
The worst side effect for me was that they made my legs twitch when I lay in bed, but even that wore off after about 10 days/2 weeks.