Sertraline - Wow!

[Caddyshack]

Hodgie said:

Glad I found this thread!

I am on day seven. I am a long time sufferer of anxiety and ocd which I have managed with regular therapy. Recently health anxiety has really ramped up to a point I couldn't cope with it, my doctor and therapist recommended I give it a try to try and calm me down enough to be able to let the practices I've learnt in therapy have a chance.

So far side effects have been mainly nausea, although now I think about it some night sweats and spaced out feeling. Looking forward to the nausea stopping, like others I take with breakfast which seems to help.

I am taking 50mg as a starting dose but then increasing to 100mg, not sure how I feel about increasing at the moment.

I think I may be starting to feel a little brighter, I wasn't expecting it to be a magic overnight pill but remain hopefully in the next week or two it will have effect, I've read a lot of positive stories of peoples experience following the initial side effects.

I would give it 6 weeks on 50 tbh. You can always then go to 75 by snapping one.

[Cybertronian]

Caddyshack said:

Wow, I wonder if that was a rogue batch with an incorrect dose?

My most recent repeat prescription saw the supplier change yet again! I was fully prepared to return to those early stage side effects, but they never materialised.

So you could be right in that it was a rogue batch that was just a little off in terms of dosage, or I've fully acclimated to sertraline in my system.

Still very much benefitting from the medication and I'm glad others are also seeing positive effects.

[Hodgie]

Caddyshack said:

I would give it 6 weeks on 50 tbh. You can always then go to 75 by snapping one.

Thanks, I am going to do this. Nausea has largely stopped but have had some diarrhoea, I was expecting this as I had read it was a very common side effect. Not great though as my main anxiety ‘feature’ at the moment is health anxiety around bowel cancer, I’ve been thoroughly checked out/tested etc. but that’s ocd for you.

[cgx]

Have not read the whole thread but certainly plan to - so after a long time wondering why I cba with anything, people, work, family, keeping house tidy, personal hygiene etc I eventually twigged when I made the 3rd really bad error at work - hmmm, this feels like I did 10 years ago when I was diagnosed with depression - made an appt with GP that day and sure enough yesterday was again diagnosed with depression but for the first time prescribed some medicine for it (Sertraline 50mg) - last time it was just counselling.

I have, over the last 18 months just completely withdrawn from anyone, make excuses left right and centre not to go out, not to meet anyone, do the very basic at work, dishes are stacked up, house a mess, clothes on the floor just cba to pick them up/clean and I was never ever like this (live alone).

So, looking forward to the medication (and have counselling booked as well) and while I will have a good read of this thread are there any pointers people can give me when taking this medication, things to look to, to be aware of etc?

Thanks in advance

[youngsyr]

cgx said:

Have not read the whole thread but certainly plan to - so after a long time wondering why I cba with anything, people, work, family, keeping house tidy, personal hygiene etc I eventually twigged when I made the 3rd really bad error at work - hmmm, this feels like I did 10 years ago when I was diagnosed with depression - made an appt with GP that day and sure enough yesterday was again diagnosed with depression but for the first time prescribed some medicine for it (Sertraline 50mg) - last time it was just counselling.

I have, over the last 18 months just completely withdrawn from anyone, make excuses left right and centre not to go out, not to meet anyone, do the very basic at work, dishes are stacked up, house a mess, clothes on the floor just cba to pick them up/clean and I was never ever like this (live alone).

So, looking forward to the medication (and have counselling booked as well) and while I will have a good read of this thread are there any pointers people can give me when taking this medication, things to look to, to be aware of etc?

Thanks in advance

It's been repeated on here many times, but try taking them with a meal and stick with it for fthe first 14 days, which for some people can be rough.

[mcelliott]

cgx said:

Have not read the whole thread but certainly plan to - so after a long time wondering why I cba with anything, people, work, family, keeping house tidy, personal hygiene etc I eventually twigged when I made the 3rd really bad error at work - hmmm, this feels like I did 10 years ago when I was diagnosed with depression - made an appt with GP that day and sure enough yesterday was again diagnosed with depression but for the first time prescribed some medicine for it (Sertraline 50mg) - last time it was just counselling.

I have, over the last 18 months just completely withdrawn from anyone, make excuses left right and centre not to go out, not to meet anyone, do the very basic at work, dishes are stacked up, house a mess, clothes on the floor just cba to pick them up/clean and I was never ever like this (live alone).

So, looking forward to the medication (and have counselling booked as well) and while I will have a good read of this thread are there any pointers people can give me when taking this medication, things to look to, to be aware of etc?

Thanks in advance

Take citalopram so fairly similar, what I found early on is, things got worse for a week or 2, quite normal, some stomach issues nothing major, also feel a bit sleepy so take mine in the evening, other than that no problems at all, been on them for 4yrs see no reason to come off them as they have really helped me a great deal.

[Cybertronian]

cgx said:

Thanks in advance

As others have said, take the sertraline with some food. I used to have a small bowl of cereal at breakfast, which wasn't enough to stave off the nausea. I added a small pot of yoghurt to my breakfast and it's been smooth sailing.

The first couple of days can be rough, I'm not going to lie. You'll potentially feel worse and your anxiety will likely be up. This passed for me after a 5-7 days.

If things don't improve after a few weeks, your GP may advise you increase the dose to 75mg or 100mg. They may also switch you on to another medication.

All of the above downsides have been worth it in my view for the benefit that sertraline has brought me. I'm significantly calmer, more patient, and less irritable. I feel pretty good about myself again, which was a feeling I'd not experienced for probably several years.

Hope the sertraline does the trick for you!

[CloudStuff]

cgx said:

Have not read the whole thread but certainly plan to - so after a long time wondering why I cba with anything, people, work, family, keeping house tidy, personal hygiene etc I eventually twigged when I made the 3rd really bad error at work - hmmm, this feels like I did 10 years ago when I was diagnosed with depression - made an appt with GP that day and sure enough yesterday was again diagnosed with depression but for the first time prescribed some medicine for it (Sertraline 50mg) - last time it was just counselling.

I have, over the last 18 months just completely withdrawn from anyone, make excuses left right and centre not to go out, not to meet anyone, do the very basic at work, dishes are stacked up, house a mess, clothes on the floor just cba to pick them up/clean and I was never ever like this (live alone).

So, looking forward to the medication (and have counselling booked as well) and while I will have a good read of this thread are there any pointers people can give me when taking this medication, things to look to, to be aware of etc?

Thanks in advance

Lots of good advice here on the early tactics to get through the first few weeks.

I took it for years, quickly going up to 150mg, then tappering down to 25mg after about 4 years. I stopped taking it in October.

Everybody's individual experience is unique but for me, it had a fundamentally positive impact. It put a floor on my anxiety and gave me a level of clarity which still amazes me now.

[redrabbit29]

I'm not on any medication - don't feel I need it as mostly I am absolutely fine. I do get "random" periods of feeling really down. They often pass after a few days or maybe a week.

A lot of it I find is made worse by my attitude, almost by allowing myself to wallow and also made a lot worse by the weather. If it's raining or miserable then I often feel very fed up. I work from home so I am considering booking 2-3 weeks abroad, which would include one week completely off.

Anyway...

This weekend was terrible. For some reason all day Saturday and all day Sunday I just felt so tired and lethargic. I almost felt in a daze and a bit vacant. I had coffee, food, walked, went to the gym and also tried having a rest. It was just like a blanket on me that I couldn't shift.

To make it worse now my GF is away for 3 days.

I have told me GF how important getting away is but I don't think she realises that when she comes in from work, or has the weekend off it's great for her as she can sit around the house relaxing. For me, I spend every minute of every day in the house (apart from running club, gym etc). I don't mind but when it's months now of gloomy weather, no holidays, nothing and work is rubbish I am just sick of it.

Feeling really fed up today tbh.

[croyde]

Any chance you can not work from home? even if a couple of days a week.

Personally I couldn't think of anything worse. I like to think of my flat as a haven, but that only works if I spend the day away from it.

Even two days and staying in and the flat quickly becomes a cell.

[redrabbit29]

croyde said:

Any chance you can not work from home? even if a couple of days a week.

Personally I couldn't think of anything worse. I like to think of my flat as a haven, but that only works if I spend the day away from it.

Even two days and staying in and the flat quickly becomes a cell.

It's a fully remote job - our company is global and does not have any local offices. I did consider those spaces where you can rent but I don't see the value in that for myself, and also I work in cybersecurity so have two huge monitors, standup desk etc... quite a customised setup.

I don't mind WFH, in fact I like it as I can be really flexible. The issue is a lack of plans to travel or have a break. Recently it's been worse because work has been really intense for about 6 weeks now (should ease off soon) and also the colder months are always a bit more difficult.

I am able to take breaks during the day - due to the flexiblity. For example a walk down to the shops, or gym for an hour.

[Slowboathome]

redrabbit29 said:

Anyway...

This weekend was terrible. For some reason all day Saturday and all day Sunday I just felt so tired and lethargic. I almost felt in a daze and a bit vacant. I had coffee, food, walked, went to the gym and also tried having a rest. It was just like a blanket on me that I couldn't shift.

Might it be with having a chat with your GP on case there's a physical cause (eg Thyroid gland acting up)?

[Cybertronian]

redrabbit29 said:

The issue is a lack of plans to travel or have a break.

I think this is key, especially if you don't feel you need medication.

Keep stuff on the horizon that you can look forward to, whether that's a night out with friends, a short break for yourself/with your partner, or something bigger like a major holiday.

[cgx]

OK, posted 2 weeks ago that was going to try Sertraline for the first time, actually tried counselling first and while I can see its place, I think its too slow/not enough for me, so will be taking my first tablet tomorrow, with a big full breakfast! Hopefully none of the side effects but all of the positives!

[2HFL]

Cybertronian said:

redrabbit29 said:

The issue is a lack of plans to travel or have a break.

I think this is key, especially if you don't feel you need medication.

Keep stuff on the horizon that you can look forward to, whether that's a night out with friends, a short break for yourself/with your partner, or something bigger like a major holiday.

Very good advice, and something I try to do as well as it helps to focus the mind and give you something to look forward to.

I have been completely meds-free for a month or two, just had a long weekend in Portugal in the sun, off to the Red Sea in three weeks then Tenerife in June. I’ve also seen friends/family more than I would do usually.

It’s still an effort at times but nowhere near as bad as it used to be, I think that’s called progress!

Best of luck in your own journey.