Experiences with setraline

[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.

 

[Penelope Strawberry]

It was an absolute godsend!

Felt very strange and disconnected from my body for the first 2 weeks or so, but didn't have any side effects after that. Really helped me to not sweat the small stuff and I suddenly felt like problems that had seemed insurmountable before were easily solvable.

I would say that if you're on any antidepressant and want to stop, please always speak to you're GP first as you will gradually need to be weaned off.

 

[aidil]

My dose has just been increased from 50 to 100. Spoke to the nurse at the doctor and I was honest and said I still don’t feel like I’m coping (I’m a lone parent, with a toddler who doesn’t sleep and isn’t very well - long term. He’s also got a slight speech delay), and I’m just permanently stressing and it’s worsened my PND.

Bit scared of the increase tbh.

I moved up to 100mg after a month on Sertraline and I’ve not looked back! I was still worked up and not sleeping well on 50mg and then the clouds just lifted after the dose increase. You might get a bit of emotional blunting initially but it improves after a week or so Stick it out! I hope you feel better soon lovely x

 

[aidil]

I’m constantly sweating since I started on the meds, wake up every morning drenched too! It’s so gross but I‘m still willing to put up with it to have a clear head.

 

[abelleza]

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
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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.

Sorry but physios know nothing about medication, least of all anti-depressants and should not be commenting on what you take. This is highly unprofessional and tbh this physio should be reported, they should stick to their job and not try and play doctor. A year is not a long time to be on sertraline, for some people depression and anxiety is a lifelong condition. If you had a physical condition they would not say a year taking medication for it is a long time. I wonder how they would feel if you came off that medication and became suicidal. There is research to show how long you should take certain anti-depressants but you should either do that research yourself or ask a doctor OR just go on how you feel, NOT listen to a physio.

 

[swimming]

My dose has just been increased from 50 to 100. Spoke to the nurse at the doctor and I was honest and said I still don’t feel like I’m coping (I’m a lone parent, with a toddler who doesn’t sleep and isn’t very well - long term. He’s also got a slight speech delay), and I’m just permanently stressing and it’s worsened my PND.

Bit scared of the increase tbh.

 

[Loveandpower]

I've been on sertraline 100mg for coming up 6 years now. Honestly don't know how I'd have got through life and the pandemic without them. Was on Propranolol for 6 months but they gave me the worst anxiety so recently came off them. I've been toying with the idea of lowering my dose for a while but scared of living without them now.

 

[StillLucilleBluth]

I hope you do. I have no plans to ever be taken off it which is a massive U turn for me as I was alway dead against it for myself. Never others which is typical isn't it. I would rather be on it for life than feel as I have done my whole life.

Reading this made me feel better as I have also been thinking I never want to stop taking mine. If I was lucky enough to ever be pregnant obviously I’d have to, but the chances of that are slipping away, and other than that I have zero desire to try life without medication again. It makes me sick to think how much of my life and energy has already been used up feeling sad and worried.

The couple of close friends who know I take ADs have said things (in a very well-meaning way) like “well hopefully you’ll only need them for a short while” and I used fo feel that too, but now I’m like girl, you can prise them out of my cold dead hands!

 

[unidentified]

What a difference the 100 has made to my head. I feel like I finally have clarity. However, I have noticed that I am really struggling to orgasm. I can feel really turned on but get frustrated that I just don’t feel that pleasure. Sorry I know a lot of info.

 

[TapToBoreMeRigid]

I was sweating like a pig at night for 12w on 50mg. I'm now on 100mg and only sweating a couple of times a week. Anyone else experienced reduction in sweating despite an increase?

I'm desperate for this to help with PTSD, OCD/anxiety etc. I feel completely joyless. I don't look like me in the eyes anymore. Please let this medicine work.

Sending love to all.

 

[swimming]

Those of you who had insomnia, when did it ease?

I started taking a magnesium supplement from Holland and Barrett to help me and my insomnia went away! Might have been a coincidence but I’m ok now

 

[bowiethesdmn]

I've been on Sertraline for around three years now (early 30s woman) and it's been a lifesaver. Others have noticed a difference and personally I've noticed that I'm more able to assess things before reacting, my fight or flight doesn't kick in in tough situations, and I have a buffer where I can feel the anxiety is gonna kick in, take note, and stop it. Almost like a fan getting up to speed then stopping again.

However, this is like the fourth SSRI I've tried since I was 15 and the others would have put me right off them. I also have friends who have been on Sertraline and it's affected them badly, my wife included.

I did hit a plateau with my dose half a year ago and ended up doubling it. Interestingly I didn't feel the full effects of that til I messed up my script and suffered withdrawals for a few days. Soon as I got back on it I was a different woman. Side note, if you've never had withdrawals from SSRIs, try not to. Doctors seem to downplay it but it is not a fun time. Easily dealt with through tapering and not stopping cold turkey though so hopefully that doesn't put anyone off trying if they feel they need it.

edit: my issues were mostly with constant background anxiety, rumination, and OCD. It has taken all these down to manageable levels and it's such a relief (full disclosure: the OCD also required six months of CBT alongside the meds)

 

[unidentified]

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.

This drives me bonkers. Some people are on it for a short amount of time because it’s been to help with a short term situation. Others need it for life and that is ok. No other medication is questioned like SSRI’s. A year is not a long time anyway because they say six months to start really. You feel they’ve changed your life and make a difference then you continue!

 

[Rolypolymmm]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I was just wondering because I've always had trichotillomania but I feel I have a lot less control of it since I have started the tablets.....maybe because I'm more relaxed and less alert to when I've gone too far

 

[gossiplovexx]

I have just started, 50mg and on day 5. I take mine at night 30 mins-an hour before I go to sleep. I am taking mine for depression and anxiety. Reading the side effects just scared me, never been on any anti depressants before. I mostly have a fuzzy head and woke up today with migraine like symptoms. The sweating! I feel constantly clammy. I know there’s been a heatwave and anyone on meds needs to keep hydrated but omg, I’m peeing for England! ETA - the heartburn! I was on emeporazole before, but can’t take with sertraline! Persevering, hard to say if it’s had any effects on my mood yet (currently on my period so hormones up and down anyway) and wondering if it’s even the right thing to do, as I’ve been mostly managing my mental health myself. I know I need to give it a few weeks to see what it’s like. Just nice to have a thread that discusses it. Thank you everyone for sharing your journeys

Hope you’re doing ok!! I’d ride it out, it’s hard when you’re in it but once your bodies all settled you’ll feel the benefits in know time. I only experience heartburn when I dry swollen them (my own fault I know). One thing that kept me going was within a few days you’ll be feeling better, on days I felt I needed to rest I fully rested or days I wanted a distraction from how I was feeling would try keep as busy as possible. The light is at the end of the tunnel xx

 

[JSquared]

I want to come off the sertraline.
I don’t know if it’s making me feel more miserable tbh.
I ache all over everyday, I sweat a lot, I feel cold, my bones ache, I have zero energy to do even the most basic of things, I have a short fuse & get very frustrated over the most silliest of things.
I never used to be like this before. I thought maybe it was the flu but this has gone on a few weeks now.
I just want to feel happy & content

Speak to your doctor. It could be that Sertraline isn’t the one for you and there could be an alternative if needed.

 

[Nfylt]

I was terrified too. And it wasn’t easy for the first fortnight, but when I swapped to taking mine at night instead of the morning it was much better!
I know it’s a cliche but they’ve given me my life back.
You’ve got this!
And you can as said above you can swap if you find they don’t suit you.
My worst symptom in 3 years - I sweat a lot more but it’s a trade off I’m willing to make to calm my brain down.x

 

[elloelloello]

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

I felt the exact same as you, if you look back a few pages. I can’t remember exactly when I started taking sertraline, possibly in November? Not sure, but anyway, I’m on the lowest dosage, the side effects were pretty bad for a while but they have all subsided now and I feel the best I’ve felt in years.

I was thinking to myself the other day god I haven’t cried or felt too anxious in ages, then I realised I haven’t even had any extreme intrusive thoughts in ages. It’s like a huge dark cloud has been lifted from above my head.

I hope everything gets better for you soon, it’s the best decision I’ve made getting help

 

[itsnotmereally]

I’m three days into my increase from 50-100. I feel a little numb, have a terrible headache and just sleepy.
Life is tough at the moment and every day is a struggle. Without Sertraline I’m not sure how I would have got through the last couple of months.
Thanks all for sharing your experiences.