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My sertraline journey as a first time user of anti ds.

Posted , 10 users are following.

mich49
mich49

Thought I would start a discussion/ sounding board about sarting anti ds for the first time and my personal response to the drug. sertraline. Bit the bullet and finally visited the GP about my depression, anxiety and irrational thinking. 

Brief history, 40 something, untreated pnd in my twenties. Bouts of depression on and off over the years that came to a head recently with the desire to flip my car whilst driving to work and a bout of extreme rage in a shopping centre that had me almost running to my car. If anyone had got in my way or said something I was scared I would explode. Thought I was going bonkers though the part of my brain still working rationalised that if I thought it I was I wasn't. 

Completed various on line depression tests and scored really high, like I didn't know that! 

I had the tablets for almost a week before starting them and after reading pages and pages of people's experiences.

Started them on the Friday evening decided on bed time in case they made me feel sick. The only thing worse than feeling sick is being sick. I witness child birth almost daily so see a lot of body parts and fluids that doesn't bother me. Vomit however is the worst thing ever!! 

Took 50mg on the first night and slept no worse than I do waking at 3am which is usual for me anyway. The next day was weird though feeling a bit detached but could still function at work ok. In the afternoon started to get a dry mouth and stiff jaw. If anyone has tried mdma it's the same oral sensation without the high. 

Second night decided on breaking it in half to 25mg and building it up gradually. Same detached feeling in the day but could function with concentration and only getting a stiff jaw at the end of the day when I was really tired. 

Third time last night, again 25mg, same waking time and dreams were more vivid. Feel a little bit 'high' this morning and my jaw is stiff but I'm clenching my teeth. 

 

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  • mich49
    mich49

    Posted

    Thanks for the responses. Why do our brains do this to us? 

    Day four and sleep wasn't to bad. Dry mouth today and jaw a little tight. Feeling slightly manic and internally shaky today. Brain is racing. 

    I was having stress related stomach issues which have settled a lot. 

    Confess quite like this manic feeling I'm getting loads done! My anger and irrational thinking is a lot better today. I really cannot believe I'm feeling the effects after four days. Maybe that's the brain saying right your doing something about this I'll calm down now? 

    • lattifa7777
      lattifa7777 mich49

      Posted

      Hi mich49,

      that's great that you are feeling a difference already, I know only small but that's 1 step closer to getting better, and it will get better.

      I think its good your getting loads done, this will help you sleep even better tonight hopefully. Once yor able to able to sleep more, it will be even better.

      Good luck 😊

    • mich49
      mich49 lattifa7777

      Posted

      Sleep.... That would be nice, silly o clock awake again. 
  • Tracy7338
    Tracy7338 mich49

    Posted

    It's a rollercoaster for the first four weeks, good days and bad days. I had the shakes as well, but it was sort of internal shaking inside but hands not shaking, it's kind of weird. It did go away though. Glad you are feelIng a bit better today
    • mich49
      mich49 Tracy7338

      Posted

      It's weird isn't it. Glad to here positive stories and that people are feeling better on them. Was doing ok up till now and a panic attack has hit me like a truck. 
  • SevereOne
    SevereOne mich49

    Posted

    So morning or night when should I be taking them?
    • mich49
      mich49 SevereOne

      Posted

      I'm taking it at bed time because of the fear of feeling sick. 
    • mich49
      mich49 SevereOne

      Posted

      Are you thinking of starting them or have started them? My experience so far has been ok. Still only taking 25 though. Think it would be a different story if I was on the full 50. With Christmas coming I'm going to stay on 25  till after. Have some annual leave in early Jan so will go up then. If the gp has given you them it's a good starting point and the beginning of the road to recovery. 
    • nicola69551
      nicola69551 mich49

      Posted

      I hav just started on 50 today. I was feeling awful at work today, couldn't function, felt sick, dry mouth and was grinding my teeth I also was shaking from th inside. I have work 2moro and I'm terrified al be th same. Are these tablets really worth it? 
    • Tracy7338
      Tracy7338 nicola69551

      Posted

      Yes Nicola, it they are there to make you feel better then they are worth it. I will be honest, the beginning is hard as they do make you feel worse before you start to feel better. I had 2.5 weeks off work at the beginning as I felt so ill, I've never had that amount of time off sick ever as I'm never normally sick. Luckily I have a very understanding boss and he knew I really wasn't well as he had to drive me home from work after I had a Panic attack in the middle of a meeting. I'm in week 6 now and glad I persevered as I'm now a lot calmer and looking forward to Xmas. You will get there, stay positive and keep busy, before you know it you will be on week 4 and starting to even out a bit.
    • SevereOne
      SevereOne mich49

      Posted

      Tonight will be day 3 for me and I'm a bit spacey but nothing too bad yet. Not sure they are helping yet either though. Not much of an appetite and that sucks since I love food. But I'm sticking with for now.
    • Tracy7338
      Tracy7338 SevereOne

      Posted

      Good on you for sticking with it, it's hard but try and stay positive and keep yourself busy, the first few weeks will fly by and before you know it you will be feeling like your old self again.
    • jane05636
      jane05636 Tracy7338

      Posted

      Thanks. I think I have finally turned a corner..today and yesterday no nausea vomiting or fatigue and actually went shopping and cleaned the house. Really hope this is the start of all the good stuff@! It's hard to keep.going when you feel lousy on these pills but like everyone said it is worth sticking it out :-)
  • jane05636
    jane05636 mich49

    Posted

    Hi I'm so glad I have found these discussions re sertraline. Been on 50mg for just over three weeks and thought I was going mad. Anxiety and panic attacks, nausea vomiting shaking crying sweating and suicidal thoughts. I wasn't warned that this was par for the course when taking this and that the side effects would be so bad or last so long. I ended up at a and e last week because I felt so awful. Please tell me this gets better as atm I feel no positive effects from these meds?
    • Tracy7338
      Tracy7338 jane05636

      Posted

      Hello Jane, keep going you're at week 3, you will start to feel better and on more of an even keel in about a weeks time. Then at about 6-8 weeks you will start to feel normal again. You have come this far just persevere believe me you will get there, you are still getting over the side effects which is normal at this stage. Count every day as a blessing and getting nearer to recovery, keep busy as well it takes your mind off things. Stick with it you're doing really well so far
    • jane05636
      jane05636 Tracy7338

      Posted

      Thanks for your encouragement. It's really isolating and confusing going through this!! I know i have to ride out the storm but it's hard going. I need to see light at the end of the tunnel.
    • mich49
      mich49 jane05636

      Posted

      I found these discussions when researching the drug after being prescribed it myself. It's a wonderful resourse isn't it? What would we do without the internet! So long as the thoughts stay as a thought and not an action your on to a winner. Think of something in the new year your looking forward to and make that your light. Up till last week I really thought I was suffering from something dreadful with chest pains etc and then realised they were panic attacks. 
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