1. Community
  2. Mental health
  3. Sertraline

My Sertraline Story!!

Posted , 182 users are following.

dani32
dani32

Hi im a 32 year old female. Im married with 2 children. About 12 weeks ago I started to get awfulanxiety, I was stressing about the least little thing and turning small things into massive over the top things. I started doing breathing exercises and taking herbal remedies, reading books and going onto websites. Nothing seemed to work and about 6 weeks ago I couldn't take the way I felt anymore and felt like I wasn't coping with normal everyday situations like the school run and seeing my friends and even watching a film with my husband. I have never suffered with anything like this before and that in itself is very scary, I felt out of control with my thoughts, I wasn't sleeping or eating.

I went to see my GP who prescribed me 50mg of Sertraline, I was also given 10 days worth of diazepam (2mg). After a few days of deciding if I should take them I went for it, I had the most awful side affects, sickness, diarrhea, headaches, night sweats, shakes. I couldn't even get out of bed for a couple of days. I was having panic attacks and Insomnia.

After a week or so the side affects eased off and I was able to cope again although I was still left with the awful anxiety. After 2 weeks I started to feel 50% better and then into week 3,4,5 I seemed to go downhill with my anxiety again but I stuck with the Sertraline as the doc said it could take 6-8 weeks to see the benefit.

The last few days I've started to feel 90% my old self again. I think this drug seems to take a while to work but i'm glad I've stuck with it as I feel like i'm getting my old life back again. I really hope this is a helpful and positive story if you are just starting out on Sertraline, I know I have a long way to go but I feel with the help of this med I can get my life back on track.

Reading all the positive stories on this forum has helped me a great deal. Im also lucky to have great family and friends I can talk to.

52 likes, 461 replies

461 Replies

Prev Next
  • marc92874
    marc92874 dani32

    Posted

    Hi guys,

    So I've been on off Sertaline for about two years now. I had a lot of things to work through and felt depressed and very anxious about the smallest of things. My recent bout was a year taking them every day. But since Christmas I have been reducing my intake to every other day (50mg). Some weeks I would forget to take a tablet and would take one every 3 days or so. I was feeling fine decided that "you know what I can do this" and stopped taking them, I was off them completely for a whole week. I started to have a really fuzzy head and felt really tired which I figured was just the side effects of coming off. Then out of nowhere my anxiety came back and I got the dreaded feeling again (of wanting to lay in bed and cry and never leave).

    This was two days ago and I figured that I must have to take another pill despite wanting to go cold turkey. Because I just didn't want to handle this horrible horrible feeling. Today unfortunately I had the same thing happen - I got really low and sad. I actually don't know why I am feeling this way because I don't have anything worrying me right now. As everything seemed to be going fine now (hence why I tried to reduce the dosage and come off the meds).

    It's a real struggle and quite frankly very scary that my body and my mind can make me feel this way unprovoked. I think I will have to go back onto my tablets and try this again but unfortunately I am getting some really bad side effects (stomach, headaches and fatigue). Not sure if this is from trying to go cold turkey or whether it's because I've started to take them again after an absence.

    Has anybody on here been on them, tried coming off and had to go back on? I have resigned myself to thinking I may require chemical assistance in my life to feel 'normal'. It's a real struggle and sad. But I need to be positive about this and try my hardest to not make a big deal out of this. I've come across this thread and thought it was really good to see others open up and be honest. I would really welcome anyone's time if you have it. Because as you may all appreciate it's quite nice to have someone to talk to about this who's been through it or is going through this.

    Thanks x

    • Benjam1n
      Benjam1n marc92874

      Posted

      I have suffered from depression my whole life (since I was a child - I'm now 53). Dysthymia or cyclothymic. Been hospitalised, catatonic, curled in foetal position in tears as a grown man. The whole thing. Been on SSRI's for years. Decided about 4 months to discontinue. Still have weird stuff happening. Sleep difficulties. OCD thought patterns. Some mania. Aggression, irritability, paranoia, fear, nightmares, panic attacks, sudden despair. I am determined to leave meds for good for philosophic reasons mainly. I'm also doing this secretly... wife and daughter don't know. It's very hard. I acknowledge that we are all unique, so my path will not be the same as yours. My biggest concern is that anything on this site could be misconstrued, and I would encourage you to get inputs from a professional, a psychologist at least who won't push you one way or the other but who will provide a neutral unbiased point of view. Someone to listen to what you have to say. The danger I have experienced in my own depression is 1) this feeling that none one understands and 2)that my truth is the only truth, which makes me convinced that my sadness is the only reality there is. This is an error of thinking, and it gets scary, like everything closes in and all perspective is lost. You need to be careful of this if you are coming off meds (and I'm preaching to myself here too!). It is imperative to see this as part of the depression, and to realise that yours is not the only reality, that joy and peace do exist even if you are unable for a time to access these states of mind. I personally am hoping the weird SSRI- withdrawal effects will pass, and that non-medication therapies will help. I wish you courage and strength. A psychiatrist I knew long ago said that just battling depression should give you pause to praise yourself for these very efforts. Some folks have it easier than others, but wrestling with these demons is admirable and to be applauded! I look at it this way. We are not alone, and even after a lifetime of wrestling I assure you its not only worth while but I have found my life deeper and more meaningful whether on or off meds. Kay Redfield Jamison (author of "an unquiet mind"wink points to this - that there is an existential depth of "being" in the depression-sufferer which is of immense value to a world which may lack insight and depth of feeling. Perhaps we who struggle (if it is not too arrogant to assert this) have something which those who have sunny temperaments lack? May I also say that meds or no meds, I have found it essential to focus on other "therapeutic" activities, from walking my dog, writing, philosophy, prayer, drawing, journalling. You will have your own list of course. At times none of these seem even remotely possible, but hold on to whatever you can, because you are valuable.

      Take care, Benjamin

  • sa57528
    sa57528 dani32

    Posted

    I have just started out on Sertraline, today is day 7. I have felt horribly anxious all day  today & panicking this evening. Feel like stopping but reading these posts help. I do want my old self back so will persevere.

    • charley46288
      charley46288 sa57528

      Posted

      Do persevere if you can. The first 2 weeks are the hardest!!!! Reading these posts helped mt immenselysmile

    • LBC
      LBC charley46288

      Posted

      Hi Charley how long have you been taking Sertraline now ?
    • LBC
      LBC charley46288

      Posted

      And did it eventually work for you , does it work ?
    • charley46288
      charley46288 LBC

      Posted

      For me personally, it has really helped me. From where I was a few months ago....I am lots better.
    • penelopespall
      penelopespall charley46288

      Posted

      Hi charley,

      I'm on day 6 of sertraline and I feel like I'm living a nightmare. I'm convinced my boyfriend is going to break up with me tomorrow (I'm in a long distance relationship and am driving up to see him), there's been some recently ugliness at work so I'm paranoid about everything, I keep thinking my friends find me annoying; and when I'm not worrying about all that, I'm obsessing over the side effects I'm experiencing.

      I haven't eaten other than a bite of cheese and a yoghurt. My shakes were so bad today I spilt a bottle of water all over my face. I am exhausted physically but my brain is totally wired and awake so I can't sleep. My skin is also peeling off my hands? I'm like a snake shedding its skin, I've never had that before.

      How do people survive up to 8 weeks of this? I'm concerned I'm going to ruin friendships as they don't really understand what I'm going through and I think they believe I want sympathy or attention. My boyfriend is also terrible at dealing with things like this so I haven't felt like he's been there. Even if he just asked how I'm doing it'd be nice.

      I'm still working because I was recently promoted and am on a secondment and don't want to be off sick, I think that's the issue though, as because of my hours at work I'm on my own most of the time which isn't helping.

      Any advice? Words of comfort? Thank you for reading if you have. I've rambled a lot but it's really appreciated.

    • charley46288
      charley46288 penelopespall

      Posted

      Hi Penelope.

      First of all, sorry you feel so crappy and alone. You definitely aren't alone. My pharmacist told me it can take a few weeks to get used to the drug. The first week was absolute hell for me. As the days went on I saw glimmers of feeling a bit better and slowly I was able to manage day to day things. Know you HAVE to go to work certainly wouldn't help things. Especially when no one around you understands. What dose are you on?

      In the beginning all I could stomach was a few spoonfuls of yogurt and a few berries.

  • jacqueline02539
    jacqueline02539 dani32

    Posted

    Iv been on diazepam for 2 years because Iv tried every anti depressant and anti anxiety pill going!! I got prescribed sertraline and after taking 2 tablets I collapsed in the middle of the street and luckily there where people to call an ambulance and I ended in hospital. Not good at all xx
  • emily26130
    emily26130 dani32

    Edited

    Hi Dani32, I think I'm in much the same position as you were when you posted. 3 weeks into Sertraline and feeling horrific, anxiety worse, dizziness, nausea and barely functioning. Could do with some words of encouragement about Sertraline, thanks. X x

    • zoe53463
      zoe53463 emily26130

      Edited

      Hi Emily26130,

      How are you getting on? Have your symptoms got any better? I'm currently on my first day of taking sertraline and I have felt awful. I have have been sick, diarhea and shaking and my anxiety was through the roof. I hate this feeling. I'm wondering if it will ever get better. I want to run away from myself. Could do with some insight on how you are doing now, thanks so much. Just need time encouragement as it's nice to know I'm not alone. I've been feeling so alone in all this but didn't realise how common it actually is. Thanks in Advance

    • emily26130
      emily26130 zoe53463

      Posted

      Hi Zoe, thanks for your message, so I'm day 28 on 50mg Sertraline and yes it does get better, mine was a bit more complicated as I switched from Citalopram (that stopped working for me after 4 years),was having hideous panic attacks,ended up in A&E as had awful chest pain-all bloods normal so Senior Reg said I should change meds.I felt okay for 1st week on 25mg Sert but 2nd week (upto 50mg) I was dizzy (to the point I couldn't lift my head of the table!),nauseous,extremely anxious and like you felt like I wanted to not be around.At start of 3rd week my GP prescribed Lorazepam to help with start up side effects (0.5mg 3x a day) and that's really helped.I had 2 very functional days on Thursday/Friday and thought that would be it but had rubbish days since then.I find I'm better if I keep busy, I'm signed off work due to concentration problems and anxiety attacks. From where I was when I started I'm 40% better,hoping the low mood will improve in the coming weeks.It's such a hard journey but stick with it, those side effects don't last forever.Keep your head up.Lots of love, Emily x x

    • emily26130
      emily26130 zoe53463

      Posted

      Just to say I have replied but it's waiting to be moderated! It does get easier.There are some really positive posts about Sertraline on here,focus on those and take each hour as it comes.x x

    • LBC
      LBC emily26130

      Posted

      Hi Emily how are you getting on any better ?
Back to top
Prev Next

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.