What is wrong with me?

[Whoischristianbale]

Name change based on rude celeb thread!
I've been on anti depressants for years.a few months ago I was put on 50mg Sertaline instead of 20mg citalopram because I felt they weren't helping but recently I've been feeling very sick and don't know if it's the sertaline? I also feel totally disorganised, chaotic, low, I have no attention span or ability to focus. I also can't sleep, night sweats, itchy skin, feel irritable. Just want everyone to leave me aloneAa
Is it depression? ADHD? Peri menopause?
I've stopped taking the sertaline, I know that's not the right thing to do but I felt so sick.
Waiting for a GP to call me back.

Depression can be a sign of being on the spectrum and undiagnosed. It sounds like it might be worth getting an assessment.

For autism?

Have you had a sleep study done? I felt the same and had years of taking various anti depressants which never worked. Turned out I had severe sleep apnea.

For ADHD.

Feeling jittery and unable to focus or sleep is a very common symptom of starting sertaline and I wouldn't rush to self diagnose as neurodiverse just yet if these are new symptoms.

Mostly I sleep really well, it's only been the last few months.

Ok thank you. Dr has now called me back, well actually it was a pharmacist? They are going to try me on different AD can't remember which one.

Bump

I suspect that your symptoms will subside within a few days now that you've stopped taking the Sertraline. It can cause terrible side effects (although it can be a very effective drug). Hand shakes, nausea, brain fog, irritability, insomnia, grinding teeth, upset stomach, vision disturbances.....
You can feel as though you're going a bit mad - until the side effects settle and it begins to work.

Obviously if they don't subside - then stay in touch with your healthcare professionals.

Starting any ADs can be anxiety inducing and exacerbate symptoms initially.
Eat well, rest if necessary, hydrate and take it easy while you adjust.

How old are you, OP? Re the low, no attention span or ability to focus, can't sleep, night sweats, itchy skin, feel irritable, want everyone to leave me alone - I’ve had a lot of this through peri- and menopause from my early/mid 40s, kind of crept up on me. Was saying to a friend a few months ago, I just don’t feel like me. Just a thought.

Thank you. I'm mid 40s.
Thing is I've been on the sertaline since April which is why I find it strange. I've not taken one since Saturday and not had any nausea.
I do think could definitely be peri menopause too.

Bump

Definitely sounds like the start of perimenopause.

Sertraline didn't suit me, it made me feel very nauseous all day, along with being tired and headaches. I switched to an anti depressant taking before bed which has worked for me. Maybe you could ask for a different type?

I was happily on sertraline for two years and then all of a sudden, I started getting so much nausea and feeling completely spaced out. I accidentally forgot to take my meds for a couple of days and it went away immediately. Now on escitalopram which has had zero side effects and my psych said is generally better tolerated than sertraline.

Thank you. Will find out today which one they've now put me on.

It's Mirtazapine.

Apparently they increase appetite. Last thing I need!!

Sounds very much like menopause rather than antidepressants.

Night sweats, itchy skin, brain fog…classic symptoms.

That's what I thought when I read your post.

Sertraline messed with my sleep at first, around 4 weeks, but I didn't get skin issues etc . If anything I felt cleverer and much more with it once it had settled in.

However all of that has been peri.

Started hrt at 44 with regular periods and heading to usual highest dose at 45.

The sickness has definitely stopped but nothing else has. I've got an appointment with the women's health team in a month. Maybe hrt is the answer? I'm not sure whether to start the new anti depressants or not, I've actually felt more focused since I stopped taking them.

Well if you stop taking them they definitely won’t work. Advice is usually to keep at it for a certain period of time, say 3 months, to allow time to settle in,
HRT, or HT as it is now, can be life changing. There are herbal remedies too which a lot of women find helpful. You could try one while you wait for your appointment.

I was on the ADs for nearly 6 months. Only stopped taking them last Saturday.

@Whoischristianbale ive not taken sertraline so I can’t compare, but def worth talking to womens health and see what they think? It’s so hard to get appointments these days, good luck to you!

Thank you, yeh I'm really pleased they've given me an appointment