Sertraline - Wow!

Author
Discussion

Tyre Smoke

Original Poster:

23,018 posts

260 months

Thursday 5th March 2020
quotequote all
I went to see my GP on Tuesday and was prescribed Sertraline 100mg/24 for depression. I have to say, it was the best thing I talked myself into and out of, and back into again. But that's another story. Already my head feels better.

But the side effects!

Tueday, first tablet. An hour after taking it, massive acid stomach, burping, yawning. Emergency Rennies from a pharmacy. Ended up taking four over an hour and just about calmed it to bearable. Was wide awake all night, about two and a half hours sleep.
Wednesday, second tablet. No acidity which was a massive relief, but a banging headache and feeling nauseous like I'd had too much to drink the night before, but like totally off my box too much to drink.
Today, third tablet. No acidity, yay! no headache, but I feel spaced out. Still feel nauseous if I yawn (which is weird) but slept well for seven hours. Feel physically like I'm trembling, but I'm not. Just feel weird in a not entirely unpleasant way.

Anyway, do these side effects last all the time I'm on the tablets, or will things calm down? I'm not missing the acid stomach or insomnia and the nausea was manageable, but the spaced out thing is alright for now but will become really frustrating if it doesn't calm down!

hippy

mcelliott

8,626 posts

180 months

Thursday 5th March 2020
quotequote all
Yes all the above, side effect vary from person to person, they may wear off or stick around, for me it was mainly stomach issues and a crazy level of yawning!

peterg1955

746 posts

163 months

Thursday 5th March 2020
quotequote all
NB: I'm not medically qualified, however, I do work for a pharma company dealing with reports of adverse events (otherwise known as side effects) and although that is not one of our products, it is quite common for this kind of side effects to settle down after a couple of weeks.

A quick Google show that for Sertraline:
"feeling sick (nausea), headaches and trouble sleeping are common, others less so and if they continue for more than 2 weeks or become severe then consult with your doctor."

Tyre Smoke

Original Poster:

23,018 posts

260 months

Thursday 5th March 2020
quotequote all
Yes, to be fair, all are listed in the leaflet so not entirely...........DUCK! Mind out for that giant ladybird!...........unexpected.

Right whose for a nice chat with the purple and pink spotted goblin sitting in the corner?

hehe

markiii

3,560 posts

193 months

Thursday 5th March 2020
quotequote all
try varying the time of day you take it at

I find before bed is better gives me the squits if i have it in the morning

also you do adjust it will take a few weeks, coming back off it is equally interesting :-)



Olas

911 posts

56 months

Thursday 5th March 2020
quotequote all
expect 6 weeeks of side effects before you start to find 'a level'

remember that prescriptions only numb the symptoms and the onus is still upon you to address the issues that cause the symptoms.

it'll take a while but you'll get through it.

Fishlegs

2,981 posts

138 months

Thursday 5th March 2020
quotequote all
Same here, Tyre Smoke! I finally went to see my GP after decades of depression, who told me there was no magic pill, and then promptly prescribed one! biggrin Glad it worked for you too.

No side effects worth mentioning for me. I guess I'm lucky.

mooseracer

1,843 posts

169 months

Thursday 5th March 2020
quotequote all
The times I've been on it - it stopped me being able to, erm, shoot any money.

Tyre Smoke

Original Poster:

23,018 posts

260 months

Thursday 5th March 2020
quotequote all
I shall err, look forward to that.

Olas

911 posts

56 months

Thursday 5th March 2020
quotequote all
mooseracer said:
The times I've been on it - it stopped me being able to, erm, shoot any money.
Yep, they do that to everyone.

Budflicker

3,799 posts

183 months

Thursday 5th March 2020
quotequote all
As in stop you completely or slows things down a lot.

mcelliott

8,626 posts

180 months

Thursday 5th March 2020
quotequote all
Budflicker said:
As in stop you completely or slows things down a lot.
Some people refer to them as the bone killer.

don'tbesilly

13,900 posts

162 months

Thursday 5th March 2020
quotequote all
Just finished the first month's prescription.

Not really had any adverse effects from the tablets save the 'spaced' out feeling.

I take mine just before turning in, the 'spaced' out feeling is very evident first thing in the morning but dissipates fairly quickly and accelerates after some food.

MOBB

3,575 posts

126 months

Thursday 5th March 2020
quotequote all
Olas said:
mooseracer said:
The times I've been on it - it stopped me being able to, erm, shoot any money.
Yep, they do that to everyone.
Took me many many months of being off the tablets before normality returned

PSB1

3,676 posts

103 months

Thursday 5th March 2020
quotequote all
For me, crazy, elaborate, almost cinematic dreams. Bladerunner in scale. Not unpleasant, no nightmares or disturbing ‘narratives’ in the dreams just really intense!

MOBB

3,575 posts

126 months

Thursday 5th March 2020
quotequote all
Oh and the brain zaps when you come off them :-0

Again not nasty but just weird

oddman

2,277 posts

251 months

Thursday 5th March 2020
quotequote all
I'm a psychiatrist

Sertraline is my first line antidepressant as it's (relatively) safe, effective and well tolerated.

However the nausea agitation and headache etc start straight away - they're so common I call them 'effects' rather than side effects. It's a right PIA to feel worse before you feel better but on the positive side it's a sign the medication is getting into your brain and doing something.

100mg is a pretty sporting starting dose though. I normally start patients on 50mg and even use the paediatric dose 25mg for starting patients who are really sensitive to side effects.

You'll probably need between 100 and 150mg to get antidepressant effect which usually comes in after at least 2 weeks and may not peak until 3/12.

Look at other antidepressant measures such as mindfulness and CBT.




Tyre Smoke

Original Poster:

23,018 posts

260 months

Thursday 5th March 2020
quotequote all
I'm sitting watching TV now, feeling very normal.

Except when I yawn. That's like having a rush to the brain and quite odd. Lasts perhaps only a second, but a bit unnerving.

Oh, and my appetite is non existent. I have to consciously eat. I don't feel hungry at all. Not a bad thing as I could do with shedding a few pounds.

I don't think taking the tablets at night is a great idea, I take all my others in the morning. Plus they give me a massive 'wake up'. I'd never sleep!

Fishlegs

2,981 posts

138 months

Friday 6th March 2020
quotequote all
oddman said:
I'm a psychiatrist

Sertraline is my first line antidepressant as it's (relatively) safe, effective and well tolerated.

However the nausea agitation and headache etc start straight away - they're so common I call them 'effects' rather than side effects. It's a right PIA to feel worse before you feel better but on the positive side it's a sign the medication is getting into your brain and doing something.

100mg is a pretty sporting starting dose though. I normally start patients on 50mg and even use the paediatric dose 25mg for starting patients who are really sensitive to side effects.

You'll probably need between 100 and 150mg to get antidepressant effect which usually comes in after at least 2 weeks and may not peak until 3/12.

Look at other antidepressant measures such as mindfulness and CBT.
I'm only on 50mg, and I'm certain it's having an effect on (100kg) me at that dose. I declined to up the dose to 100mg because I feel ok now. Do you think 50mg is too low to actually be doing anything useful, and I'm just getting one hell of a placebo effect? I don't care either way. I'm a big fan of the placebo effect. smile

On the subject of, erm, bedroom issues, it does take longer to get there, but my wife would probably say that's no bad thing in my case. biggrin


MOBB

3,575 posts

126 months

Friday 6th March 2020
quotequote all
From memory I was on 50mg, and tapered down to 25mg towards the end.

100mg is quite a dose :-0