1. Community
  2. Mental health
  3. Sertraline

3 months on sertraline...feel like im having a blip

Posted , 3 users are following.

chris23342
chris23342

Hi I've been on sertraline (lustral) for 3 months and a few weeks. Over the last month or so I started to feel really good. I was on holidays for two weeks over Christmas and was feeling good. However the last few days have felt difficult. I've been moody irritable and anxious. I feel worried that I'm slipping back? Maybe it's just a blip? Has anyone else experience d this?

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Blu02
    Blu02 chris23342

    Posted

    Did you change the brand of your tablets as this can have an effect?
    • chris23342
      chris23342 Blu02

      Posted

      No. Same brand. Lustral. Think it's just January blues. I had an incredible holiday
  • Yorkshire
    Yorkshire chris23342

    Posted

    Hi Chris, this was normal for me during my 12 months on sertraline. Every now and then I would feel anxious & low for a few days. It never lasted very long tho. 

    I try to think: my anxiety always passes, it may stay with me for a few days; but it goes. No point feeling anxious about anxiety!(Obviously at the beginning of my Sertraline journey the anxiety never left, which is why I went on them). 

    A family member of mine has been on them for 2 years and he still has a couple of 'depressed' days every now and then. 

    Stay positive, don't worry. It'll pass hopefully :-)

    • chris23342
      chris23342 Yorkshire

      Posted

      Thanks Yorkshire my good friend 😄. That was the answer I was looking for 😄. Wonder if you wouldn't mind sharing your story on sertraline?
    • Yorkshire
      Yorkshire chris23342

      Posted

      This time last year I was suffering from terrible anxiety & low mood. It got to the point where I  struggled to leave the house and to care for my child. I was being physically sick with anxiety and didn't eat for 11 days - this was when I agreed to take Sertraline. 

      For the first 2 weeks I felt pretty terrible, heightened anxiety, nausea, couldn't sleep etc. week 3 & 4 I started to feel better but then my mood dipped again in weeks 5 & 6 - which was really disappointing as I worried they weren't working. During the initial weeks, distraction and company was the best thing for me - I even started colouring just to distract myself. 

      From week 7 I was more back to 'me' and felt so much better. I would on occasion have a bad day where I felt anxious & low mood, this would only last 2-3 days and would only happen every now and then. The side effects I had whilst on them have been tiredness, numb teeth and they did affect the intimate side with my partner. 

      In July, I had felt fine for 6 months; I had completed counselling and felt I was ready to come off them. 

      I went to the doctors who agreed. I decided to wean off them at a much slower rate to what the GP suggested; I barely had any withdraw effects except tiredness and I was quite irritable. 

      I came off over 4 months. The last 3 days I felt very slightly like when you first start on them, but a 10th of it. I was how ever moody and irritable for a couple of months after I stopped; I have had some anxious days, but nothing like before Sertraline and I've been able to get on with my day & get over it!

      Hope this helps! Good luck for the rest of your journey & feel free to ask me any questions :-) 

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.