Immediate return of emotions!
Posted , 5 users are following.
My journey is an odd one, I've never wanted to take anything for my depression and anxiety and I highly regret doing so now. I'm also highly sensitive to physical pain.
After about 9-10 months on 100mg of Sertraline I decided to stop. I stopped for 2 weeks when I didn't really notice any difference so I figured I'd continue with them again just to see it through until my next appointment. My doctor suggested just upping the dose for all my physical pain. Alas after 7 and a half weeks I decided to stop again as they make no difference with that and make me seem like an emotionally stunted zombie, feeling sad, happy, excited, nothing. Just basically a 'couldn't care less' attitude.
After stopping again just 4 days ago I've got my emotions back! It's been super quick feeling like my normal self again.
The side effects are a bit annoying with brain zaps but I don't care, a mild discomfort to be pill free for the rest of my life is an amazing feeling. This is an extremely strong drug that also messes with hormones and we're trying to conceive which has been a breeze in the past. If this is the safest drug during pregnancy and breastfeeding I absolutely hate to think what potency other brand chemical brain drugs have to offer.
Bye bye brain killers, I will never use any of you again. :-) xxx
0 likes, 5 replies
andrewww Halloween13
Posted
a-new-day Halloween13
Posted
halloween, sorry to hear sertraline didn't work out for you
some meds work for some people, and some dont
sertraline did the opposite for me to what it did for you. before sertraline i had lost interest in everything, the world, everything in it, people, music, life.. and myself.
i couldnt laugh or even smile anymore and didnt go out
i was suicidal.. and i mean REALLY suicidal.
then fast forward 3 months later of sertraline treatment and im back to my old self, loving life and laughing loud, socialising, working, and having fun. i like things again. i like people.. and most important of all, i like myself again.
good luck to you for the future, and problems return for you, just try something else other than sertraline. simple.
(i crossed off about 5 antidepressant meds from my list before settling on sertraline. it;s hit and miss. that;s the world of ssri meds.)
sharon07214 Halloween13
Posted
Thank you for sharing your story, it gives me hope that I can at least decrease my dosage. I have been on 200mg daily, reduced it to 150mg, now reduced it to 100mg. Last time I came off them I was fine for a little while then crashed!
I have suspected for some time that Sertraline and Citroplan increase alcohol desires. From being mostly a non drink my drinking is not good once I start! I have just read tonight some amazing articles and comments from people who have only had a decrease in alcohol cravings after they come off this type of serotonin medication. I won't put the links on here as it probably won't be allowed.
i am going to my GP about this tomorrow. Wish me luck as they don't always accept this.
hans82434 Halloween13
Posted
When I recently stopped sertraline I used a positive affirmation, "Its ok to feel". After 14 years of taking sertraline, feeling can be confused with anxiety. I have only been off sertraine for 2 weeks but I have been able to manage. While I am a male, and can't relate to pregnancy, I do have a thyroid issue so I can relate to hormonal changes. I always joke that I'm dealing with menopause as I get many of the same sensations. I'm curious to how my blood work will look next time I get tested.
?Just keep in mind that you may still experience an array of withdrawal symptoms that have not yet shown their faces--hopefully they won't. There are alternatives to antidepressants but it takes work and we have to be willing to make changes to our lives to combat that which put us in that dark place to begin with. Good luck with your pregnancy and your withdrawal symtoms. Your heading in the right direction.
Halloween13
Posted
Thanks for all your replies!
I stared out depressed, suicidal and my anxiety and panic attacks were through the roof. I was an emotional mess to say the least. Taking Sertraline did in fact help me to realise how to sort of tame those emotions and to try and accept my feelings and question myself every time I wanted to kill myself or hide away forever in bed never doing anything again. Like why? Why do I want to do that and am I being serious. The answer was usually always no I don't want to do that.
I really didn't like being a completely dull and lifeless zombie on meds, but it really helped me to see the difference. Now I can laugh, cry, be excited, sad, everything and I can sort of handle it like a normal person and have this 'happy medium' going on.
I'm getting weird body and brain zaps and probably other withdrawal symptoms but I'm sleeping better than ever before which I think helps me ignore any other side effects that I can't really pin point just yet.
I wish the best of luck to everyone else on their journey through this earth life. I hope that the right medication and/or alternative treatments find you all in order to live your lives to the fullest. Remember it's perfectly normal to have bad days! 'Happy pills' aren't supposed to make you feel happy 24/7, so take a break, cry, be sad and angry and then move on. Xxx