Advice please: starting sertraline 50mg this thurs
Posted , 6 users are following.
Hi,
I am a 32 year old female who has depression and anxiety for most of my life, I have tried CBT, counseling, hypnosis both NHS and private but still struggle, I always said I would never try meds but finally bit the bullet and got sertraline 50mg from my gp and I am planning to start taking them this Thursday. Would just be grateful for any advice/stories from ppl who have tried it as to what to expect. I have a long weekend so thankfully won't have to go into work for the first few days of taking them, I am just really apprehensive of the side effects and worried about becoming a zombie
Would be great to share experiences with others who have been through similar situation or taking them now too so we could compare?!
Thanks x
0 likes, 25 replies
ashleyrocks910 Chocoholic85
Posted
Chocoholic85 ashleyrocks910
Posted
Thanks Ashley,
It's reassuring to hear someone else's opinion. I think I feel guilty for taking them as I think I should be able to cope by myself but I know that's a silly way of thinking!
I might ask my gp whether she thinks it might be good to cut the tabs in half and take a lower dosage to start with,not sure why she gave me 50?
By the way Ashley do you drink alcohol?
I'm a social drinker and the idea of not being able to drink at all on meds kind of alarms me,maybe because I have relied on alcohol to "de-stress" on weekends etc .i am not planning to drink whilst on these but thought maybe after adjusting to them in a few months I could have the occasional drink (abit irresponsible I know 🙈
Anonymous111 Chocoholic85
Posted
If i were to take one - this would be it.
It might get worse in the first week - but it’ll get better afterwards.
Good luck. Hopefully in a few weeks you’ll feel much better.
ashleyrocks910 Chocoholic85
Posted
Although it is best not to drink when you have anxiety or depression, it is okay to have a drink every once in a while. Wait until the meds are fully adjusted to your body (like 4-6 mos I would think) then you just have to make sure to be responsible. Take your Sertraline in the morning if you will be drinking at night, and cut the drinks back. When you drink while you are on Sertraline, one drink feels like two, two feels like four, etc. Also don't mix your drinks as this can give you a killer migraine. Hope this helps.
Dave_Scotland Chocoholic85
Posted
Hi
I am a 30 year old male. I went back on sertraline 4 months ago after coming off them and spiralling very low ( over 8 month period ) I went on a dose of 100mg per day which took 10 days for my deppression to ease, ( and I mean significantly) I felt so much better, After 6 weeks approx up to 150mg as I was still feeling a tad depressed . The side effects I experienced were minimal to say the least. This isn't a tranquilliser you shouldn't feel like a zombie. First 5 -9 days maybe felt a little heightened anxiety but nothing anyone can't get through. Sometimes this medication can take up to 12 weeks to work fully so stick with it, I know it changes people's lives on a daily basis. People sometimes make the mistake of throwing in the towel to early. You can do it 💪🏻 And I hope you reap the benefits 😊
UK-Rose Chocoholic85
Posted
Hello Chocoholic...
If this is your first time trying meds I would also start low at 25mg for the first week, then increase steady and slowly thereafter till you reach your therapeutic level.
It can get abit rough at first, with various side effects (but nothing you won’t be able to get advice on or share with someone on here - so don’t worry) but don’t expect a quick fix, results don’t usually start happening till you at least get passed the 4week stage.
Just take it one day at a time and you’ll get there 🌹
Chocoholic85
Posted
Thanks everyone for replying, was so interesting to hear about other ppls experience on sertraline.
I would really like to start feeling better and I know it is not going to be an instant fix but I am definitely going to stick with it for as long as I can, I will probably be back on here once I start them to ask for more advice!
Thanks a million 🤗
Chocoholic85
Posted
Hello all,
Not sure anyone will read this, I was planning on starting my sertraline today but had a meltdown and felt really scared so ended up not taking it 😳 I have decided I will start tmw and I will cut my tablets in half so I take 25mg for the first week(even though my gp gave me 50mg) because after reading lots of threads here I think it will be less of a shock to my system and hopefully it will mean I won't suffer from side effects too badly...🤷🏻???
I have one more week off work I am just worried that I may not act "myself" whilst on them and maybe even snap or come to blows with my boss as we work quite closely together and I have been under stress at work(have been looking for a new job for a month now)
Anyway fingers crossed I will start them tmw morn, I hope everyone is doing well on their meds too 🤗
UK-Rose Chocoholic85
Posted
Hello Chocoholic,
It’s probably best to start them while your still off work and 25mg a good way to go for the first week, It will help you to sort of get a feel for what your side effects will be that first week and then its just pretty much a case of riding them out till you get to your therapeutic level.
Dont be surprised if you feel abit jittery and shaky after your first dose, it’s nothing scary or anything to worry about, its completely normal and will definitely pass, you may also feel hot flushes/ sweating... again completely normal and will pass.
Any other side effects you experience, just junp on here and you’ll always get the advice or support you need.
1day at a time... 🌹
Chocoholic85
Posted
Hi rose,
Thanks for the advice, I know the best thing is to communicate whether it be with family, friends or even here on the forum but sometimes anxiety can really be your worst enemy and make you close off to everyone which does make things worse. I think I will take the tablet and be waiting on guard to feel anything negative which isn't great but I suppose it is natural and hopefully I won't be as neurotic about it after a while 🤗
UK-Rose Chocoholic85
Posted
Weve all done it Chocoholic, I know I certainly did!! lol Its fear of the unknown at first, but once your familiar with your side effects and experiences... although uncomfortable, it does become easier, you sort of know what to expect in a weird way??You can also ask for diazepam from your GP if things become too bumpy in the beginning, they do really help to take the edge off.
I had the exact same fears when I started, we all did, and now Im 6wks along...
25mg - 1st week
3.75mg - 2nd week
50mg - continuing
Keep a daily log of your dosages, side effects, moods, feelings etc it will help you to look back a see the small benefits as your going threw... 🌹
Chocoholic85
Posted
That was my plan, to keep some sort of journal logging how I am feeling and side effects, something to make me feel like I am being organised somehow and I can gain some sort of control if that makes sense?
I was thinking of going on 25mg first week then 50mg the second week or would you say that is abit of a big leap?
Do you mean cutting a tablet in three quarters for 37.5?
It's funny because I know I am suffering with mild to moderate depression and anxiety but since time has come to try my meds it's almost as if my brain is fooling in me to thinking I'm just "moody" and dont really have any "problems" and that I should just pull myself together. Just shows what your mind will do to get out of something it doesn't want to do 🙈Thanks for your advice 🤗
Chocoholic85
Posted
Regarding diazepam is that like Valium? I have tried V once and basically fell asleep,it felt great but I wouldn't want to take something like that on a regular basis😳 My gp seemed dubious about prescribing sertraline so doubt she would give anything else. I think it's cos she can see from my history I have never tried anything before so is wondering what has made me want to now...would love to try therapy and/or counselling again alongside the meds so I will keep trying with the NHS or maybe even look into some low cost private alternatives
Chocoholic85
Posted
Hi all,
I have taken my first 25mg about 30 minutes ago, I have a question it might sound silly , but should I be making a concentrated effort to change my mood? I am almost always irritable (been like this for many years)and feel I am ready to bite anyone's head off and this was partly what drove me to the point of feeling i needed to take something. I think the irritability stems from anxiety/frustration am not sure . But now I am starting the mess I feel guilty as if I shouldn't be like this and I should v along an effort myself to feel better e.g. Go out for a walk,tidy up be constructive but I honestly feel I cannot do any of that ,right now I just want to sit at home and watch tv and not communicate with anyone . I never wanted to be someone who just relied on meds but didn't help themselves though 😳😓
UK-Rose Chocoholic85
Posted
Morning, I was exactly the same as you, our stories sound very similar. I tried everything before heading down the medication route... did counselling, studied a diploma in CBT, exercise, diet, life style choices... although they helped, I would still have moments where my anxiety would overwhelm me, and I just became fed up of fighting it.
Again like you, my anxiety caused me to become irritated, angry... and I was constantly having to shut myself away so I didn’t take my frustrations out on those close to me, this is also my first real effort with ADs... and yes Valium is similar to diazepam, you wouldn’t have to take it daily, and not even the full amount... I would only take half a tablet after having a few rough days.
And its perfectly fine those first few days to take it easy and just relax, watch tv, spend time by yourself... I also did this in the beginning, on many days. And when I felt up to it... I would make the extra effort to go for a walk, tidy up and be more constructive.
You’ll find as you go along, you’ll just start to feel more up to doing things on those better days, my Irritation was the first thing to leave me... so really try not to put extra pressure on yourself, just go with the flow as they say.
The first 4weeks will be the toughest, many times I felt it wasn’t working or I wanted to throw the towel in, but I didn’t... I stuck with it, and Im 80% better than when I started... interacting, getting things done, it really does all pass, just take it easy and you’ll get there... any questions, don’t hesitate to ask 🌹