Experiences with setraline

[bringmeagin]

Glad I found this thread. I’ve just been prescribed 50mg. I’ve got cancer and not coping well. I’ve had bad experiences with meds before, so very anxious about taking them if that even makes sense

 

[aidil]

I’m six months down the line on 100mg and I feel like a different person! It’s crazy as I thought my meltdown prior to going on the meds was just an acute anxiety flare up. But now I’m starting to realise that I’ve been wrestling with it quietly for years without realising - I just wrote it off as me being a highly strung person. My mind finally feels clear, I’m saying what I think without worrying about the potential fallout, I’ve finally had the balls to cut the negative people out of my life and I’m physically healthier than I’ve been for years! SO glad I got myself to the doctors and can’t see myself coming off the tablets for a long time now.

Hope everyone else is holding up well!

 

[SpillTheTea21]

I've been taking medication for both anxiety and depression for the last 10 years. Currently taken Sertraline 200mg daily, been on Sertraline for maybe the last year give or take. I've never had to wean myself off before starting anything new, I started on Fluoxetine then I was on Vensor. The fluoxetine gave me vertigo like symptons. Vensor was great but I did notice my weight increased and that was the only reason I tried something new.

My weight is still an issue but I can't blame it all on meds, they def give me a bigger appetite but I guess it's down to me what I put in my mouth. There was a time 5 years ago I decided to come off medication, I was happy and settled. A tragic accident happened and my partner at the time passed away. I could cope with life but I couldn't cope with that and I went straight back on meds. I think it's a mental barrier for me now. If I stop taking meds I think something awful will happen.

The things I've noticed about Sertraline. I sleep so much more than I did before, at any time of the day I could lay down and sleep. I always seem to be tired. When I'm falling over to sleep my body jerks which never happened me before. I find it very difficult to cry, ever just feel like you need a good cry? Before a sad ad or song would have made me cry but now I can't seem to. My heart will still feel heavy but no tears, I find it strange.

My friends and family tell me they have noticed a change in me also. They say I'm a lot calmer, I don't get angry as easy. Now it takes a lot to get a reaction out of me. I would have been very impulsive before and I used booze to self medicate. I had no fear because I didn't care what happened to me. Thinking about how I was makes my heart heavy because I put myself in so much danger. I do still take a drink but I don't drink to get drunk and even on the rare occasion when I do get drunk I just want to sleep. I haven't figured out if this is down to the meds or maturity.

Everyones journey is different. It's only your opinion that matters. Don't give anyone the power to make your decisions!!

DO YOU!!!

 

[Emmy44]

Has anyone had a problem with sweating? I’ve been on it for about 6 months and can’t even walk to the shops without coming back and needing a shower. I wore a tshirt while it was snowing last week it’s horrendous!

 

[starrie24]

I've been on for about 4 years now I'd say? I started on 50mg, for a year and a bit, and then my mental health dropped again due to work and increased it to 100mg, and then since August, I've been on 150mg. When I first started taking them (at 50mg), my doctor told me to take half a pill one day, then the rest the next day and do this for 7 days so to help my body get used to them, and then take one pill a day as instructed. The only side effects I had were the shakes, feeling a bit sick, and general restlessness.

I definitely feel the difference in myself when I forgot to take them for a few days and people around me notice too. There has been one time when I decided to try and come off them, by going cold turkey (did this without discussing it with my doctor, lol) because I was doing therapy so felt like I had enough support in place to handle it all. I swiftly back on them after 2 weeks. I have a pretty good handle on my depression/anxiety ut the only way I can describe it, and hopefully, you're a Harry Potter fan to get the reference. But when I was off them, I felt like a dementor was sucking the life and soul out of me but when I'm on them, I feel like I'm using the Patronus charm to keep the dementors away; they're still there, but I'm controlling them.


I have no shame being on them, I have no real side effects because is the headache due to not drinking enough water, work, covid 19 or stress or the pills? Who knows lol I always think of it like that. I think I will always be on some sort of anti-depressant for life, but who knows! I have no real plan of coming off them anytime soon and I'm ok with that

I would also speak to your doctor first about gradually lowering your dosage and weening yourself of them. And I think "knowing" when to come off them, it's a personal choice really. Cliche but I think you'll know when the right time is

xx

 

[Youre a wizard Harry]

I am taking sertraline, I started on 50mg, went up to 100mg after 7/8 months as my mental health started declining again. I have been on 100mg for a year now.
It has made a huge difference and has improved my life massively. The first 2 weeks were tough- increased anxiety and I had restless legs- but after that it started getting easier.
I can’t comment on coming off of Sertraline, but on 2 occasions I have forgotten to take it for a few days in a row and I felt awful- headaches, dizzy. I took citalopram years ago and when I came off that it was awful. I agree with the above poster, see your GP before reducing any dosage as it’s not recommended to go cold turkey, you need to gradually cut the dose down.

 

[Gossipingginger]

I was on this for around 9months. I was on a high dosage but found it did help me. I had a few side affects. Such as sickness but I worked out if I took it after I had eaten I was fine. I knew when I felt ready to come off them. I know it sounds silly but you do just know. To come off of them it has to be controlled as you can't just stop taking them straight away. Speak to your dr about any concerns. My dr was really helpful. I have been off of them for a year and a half now. I still suffer with anxiety and depression but I've learnt to cope with it better. If you can see if you can get referred for therapy also on the NHS. I had this a few months after as felt I was slipping back and felt if I went back on the pills I would of failed myself X

 

[elloelloello]

Lads sounds like we need to take the festive period in our hands and nap the shit out of it x

 

[theghosttown]

I absolutely hated it. I would have the most disturbed sleep and I could never orgasm. The cons outweighed the benefits for me in the end!

 

[nothanksbabes]

I hardly ever cry since starting Sertraline. Used to be a daily occurrence. It hasn't really occurred to me until reading this thread!

 

[candyland_]

Thank you so much to all those that have replied to me. I’m going to make an appointment.

 

[Dollenganger]

I’ve been on sertraline for 7 years. Before this I used to really suffer with my mental health and needed hospital admissions sometimes. My mental health difficulties are linked to my autism and severe anxiety.

All I can say is that it makes the difference between being able to function and not being able to function. When I started it, the side effects were feeling very tired and feeling a bit sick but these wore off quickly and I felt better much more quickly than the doctor suggested.

I don’t know why there is such a stigma around SSRI medication. It doesn’t have any long term side effects for most people, especially sertraline.

Edited to add: obviously everyone is different and what works for one person won’t necessarily for another.

 

[StillLucilleBluth]

So I’ve been on 100mg for almost 2 weeks now (was previously on 50mg on/off for months but never followed it properly cos a doctor wouldn’t see me). I’ve got bad PND following complications at my babies birth and his subsequent illness.

But how do I know if it’s working? Is it gradual?

Any advice or experiences would be lovely x

For me, I knew when it was working for two reasons: 1) I didn’t feel tearful all the time and 2) I could just get on with living life and not be endlessly ruminating and fixated on the things I was unhappy about.

Stick with it - for me it took a while but it’s so worth it. X

 

[candyland_]

I think I’m going to make an appointment with my GP and see if I may need to start something like Setraline but I don’t know if things are bad enough for me to take it.

I’ve had the lowest year of my life and I struggle to get through most days and I’ve developed anxiety. I countdown until I can get into bed at night and I hate that my daughter can see me looking sad.

I know it’s stemmed from heartbreak but I’m not sure if I just need to suck it up and get over it on my own.

 

[aidil]

Another one here who thinks the benefits far outweigh the side effects. I used to get three hours sleep on a good night but now I can sleep for England! I’m so much more organised now my head’s clear and I’m no longer overthinking and spiralling (I have anxiety and OCD). I’m similar to @Chewingthefat - crap memory and sweats! Particularly in the morning! Also occasionally get the odd brain zap but it usually passes within 15 minutes. Definitely worth it to have a “normal” way of thinking again!

 

[bubbadabut]

I was on it for maybe about 9-12 months last year. Came off it myself as I felt I was gaining weight even though my eating habits hadn't changed. I'd not had that side effect with any other antidepressant before and I hated it as I have a history of eating disorders. I just didn't think it was worth it to risk going back to all that again. I tried to taper off it but got fed up and just went cold turkey in the end. Found it the easiest one I've ever had to withdraw from, just dizziness but no brain zaps, etc. Worst by a mile to come off was Venlafaxine. Worst starting effects was Fluoxetine which was unbearable and I actually thought I was dying. The Sertraline experience itself I found similar to Citalopram. Both did pretty much nothing for me.

Sorry I know this is about sertraline and I know a few people on it who seem fine with it but I was put on fluoxicilin not sure if spelt right and I seem to be the only person I know on it, what are the difference between them if anyone knows?

Do you mean fluoxetine (Prozac) or flucloxacillin, which is an antibiotic?

 

[swimming]

For me the 50 to 100 jump was a game changer. 100 agrees with me and makes a big difference. It took about six weeks after the increase to settle. But it was so worth it. Stick with it and I’m sure you will feel so much better soon! X
---
Also… I’ve been on it for a year now. I don’t want to come off it. I didn’t think about it until a physio I saw made a comment about how a year on it is a long time. Now I’m wondering?! But my doctor never said I need to come off it so I’m personally thinking I never will.

I really hope it’s a game changer for me. I’m on them cos of PND. Never suffered with my mental health before baby. Its because he’s not well and I had absolutely no help from anyone when I needed it. Things got a bit too much. Keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[Awful]

Setraline saved my life. I had crippling anxiety where I couldn't even function daily. Was put on 50mg and gone up to 100mg recently because of breakthrough anxiety and I honestly wish I'd been on it 10 years ago.

 

[mochibean]

It gave me drug-induced hypomania. Ruined my life. I'm not bipolar either so it was unexpected I didn't even realise anything was wrong.

 

[nothanksbabes]

I'm coming down from 150mg to 100mg after I developed akathisia. No fun. Slow process to come off it fully as I was extremely unwell last year coming off clomipramine, even though I did it slowly. Then it'll be time for a new med.

Does anyone else sweat MORE the lower the dose is?

I'm on 50mg and wake up drenched in the night. I'm not a sweaty person really either, just at night since I started Sertraline.

I feel tentatively OK at the moment (although I think this is circumstantial as much as anything) so I'm scared to change my dose although I feel very sluggish and lacking in motivation.