About to start sertraline...what should I expect?

[Beakyok]

Hi...diagnosed with PND. My little one is six months and I have an older child. I’ve never had any mental health issues before but this has hit me like a sledge hammer and although I was opposed to taking any medication, I recognise the need to get better and get myself back.
So...can people let me know their experiences with sertraline please. The doctor warned me it might make me nauseous which I’m dreading, especially after a difficult pregnancy. Thanks. X

Anyone?

I've had it twice. Once after a particularly nasty MC and once when work was just getting too much.

Both times I've been on it for around 6 months and both times it was exactly what I needed.

Yes you can be a little nauseous at first but for me it quickly passed. Your sex drive might plummet too, but if you have a baby and PND that's probably lie anyway.

Have they suggested anything alongside the Sertraline like MBT or CBT?

Does your HV know of any groups locally for Mums with PNI?

I've been on and off sertraline for the past couple of years and when I got diagnosed with PND three months ago, I got put back on it. First, I'm on 50mg. I find that I get nauseous/shaky if I'm late taking it so I try to always take it at the exact same time each day. Second, I take mine at 9am because if I take it within 4 hours of bedtime, I get horrendous stomach acid and it burns my throat but if I take it in the morning, I basically get no side effects. It started working by about day 4 for me this time, and about two weeks in, I felt worse for a couple of days but then it passed. Overall I find it helpful. Are you breastfeeding? I found I had a slightly reduced milk supply for about 10 days after starting Sertraline but then it gradually went back to normal again.

I felt a bit spaced out after a few weeks and nauseous. My two pals had no symptoms at all. Benefits kick in after about four weeks.

I've been on 50mg since last June, I never thought I would need to take medication but I got to that point where I realised I needed to and I'm glad I did. Once I started to feel better, I realised what a state I had been in and it was the right decision. It took quite a while to work, I'd have a good few days then have a few bad ones and so on. Eventually it levelled out and I felt like "myself" consistently. With regard to side effects, at first I had a bit of insomnia, a lack of appetite, nausea, greater anxiety, headaches and sleepiness. But it was manageable and it mostly passed after 2-3 weeks. I have put on a fair amount of weight, I seem to be craving sugary foods, alcohol and carbs which isn't ideal. I seem to have no discipline over what I'm eating and I have a bigger appetite. My hair also fell out quite a bit in the beginning which my GP insisted wasn't a side effect, but I think it probably was. In January I decided to start tapering off the dose slowly, I've been on 4 x weeks at 37.5mg and feel alright, some of the same side effects but not too bad. I hope it works for you and you feel better p.s there are some good closed FB groups out there which have masses of information, sertraline also goes by the name Zoloft if you're searching for any of these groups.

I’m on it 100mg per day after an episode that is probably best described as a breakdown but to start with I had 50mg and was doing ok.
I have been on it before.
I found, at the lower dose, that I was less hungry. I lost 4 kilos (great!).
But I really struggled with feeling either incapable of sleeping or exhausted.
Since upping the dose, after about 6 weeks I feel less exhausted. I do struggle to sleep but that’s because I’m having a very very challenging time.
My sex drive hasn’t plummeted but my ability to enjoy it has.
And.. I also crave alcohol and find it takes more alcohol to get any impact.
Other than that, it helps with my horrendous nightmares and night sweats (again related to the same horrible incident that’s haunting me).
Overall, I’m glad I’m on it

It changed my life. I no longer have suicidal feelings, I don't panic about absolutely everything. I still have all emotions, but on a normal level. I did feel like shit for the first week or two, but apparently that's normal. I'm only on 50mg as well!

I did not have bad symptoms when I started it. Maybe a bit foggy but nothing that I couldnt get up and about. It also saved my life too x

I have also been prescribed sertraline 50mg. I am a bit worried about taking them. I haven’t been one for tablets in the past. I have had PnD for 4 months. I would say I have had one good month. I have been doing some talking therapies but not sure if it’s time to try the tablets. I am worried once I am on them I won’t ever be off them. Let me know how u get on with them. I’m not sure I can deal with the emotional rollercoaster much longer.