Posted , 18 users are following.
I would have found it helpful to read one person's journey with Sertraline, so I offer mine. I was put on Zoloft twenty years ago for depression, but the side effects of suicidal feelings were so strong, I was taken off. My mornings always were hard, but things would get better as the day went on. I've dealt with this for years, as well as social anxiety. I'm ready to try medication again.
6 likes, 102 replies
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.
kathy81432
Posted
Days 30+31: Absolutely no social anxiety, even at a week-long family reunion. During one stressful opportunity, I was able to clearly think through, and calmly present my views. Minimum headaches. Also, I have not struggled with stomach pains at night. Is this just a placebo effect?? Or could it be related to the sertraline? I'm eating less healthy this week than normal for me. I have had no depression. I am very grateful that my spiritual receptivity is not affected. I was wondering if sertraline would dull my creative spiritual receptors. Nope. The spiritual intuition gift is still operational . I can still hear/see into dimensions that are beyond the dimensions that are limited to left brain logic and language. Those who operate in the left brain may think this is delusional, but right brain creative folks would understand that I am stating I am grateful to not have this brain frequency affected by the sertraline.
kathy81432
Posted
Days 32-34: I am amazed I haven't had any suicidal thoughts lately. For years, I would wake up with depression, and tough it out until noon, when things would seem more hopeful. I feel normal again. I'm back home after week-long family gathering, I had no social anxiety, no depression. Sertraline works for me. I still have mild feeling of gritting my teeth a few times throughout the day, but it's decreasing. The torture of the first few weeks on Sertraline was well worth being able to be normal at family reunion. I'm no longer crying in my pillow, or sobbing in the bathroom every day. I plan to keep up weekly reporting, hoping my journey may help others.
Psyched_Out_Kim kathy81432
Posted
I'm glad you stuck it out through the hard days, and that you're doing so well.
There's not many posts that shine a brighter light on the positives rather than the negatives. This is one post that I love reading, and find myself looking for it on a regular basis, but I'm not a stalker. lol
kathy81432
Posted
Day 35: I've had almost a week where I haven't had stomach pain at night. I'm still wondering if this is placebo effect, a coincidence, or result of answered prayers. (I learned my sister in law had her Bible study praying for peaceful family reunion). Either way, I receive it gratefully, whether it's fleeting or lasting.
kathy81432
Posted
kathy81432
Posted
kathy81432
Posted
Day 36 on Sertraline. But only day 18 on 100 MG dose. Knowing I'd write thus tonight kept me sane today. Wild great and horrible things happening in my brain. It was a five exedrine migraine day, and the pills didn't touch the pain of splitting headache. Dry heaves all day, bomine helped, sucking on ginger and motion eaze helped. It took 20 minutes before I could crawl out of bed in the morning. I kept reminding myself that I was at least not suicidal. I was gritting and grinding my teeth all day, and clenching my fists. I never remember gritting my teeth before sertraline. BUT! It was an incredible day too! I had strength and energy to take a ten mile hike above Blue Lakes! 2550 elevation gain up the pass to 11,950 foot mountain top. Wildflowers were gorgeous and I still have 3D vision! Today, the mountain smells took on a new life. I could smell nice smells. This is strange. I have a sensitive nose, and can smell bad smells when no one else can. But today, the flowers smelled like I remembered from childhood, pungent and pleasant. Also, the mosquito bites I got didn't drive me crazy like they normally would have
kathy81432
Posted
Profusion of wildflowers, with their smells, colors, and 3D depth, what a day. No, I am most hallucinating, I remember these colors and smells from 4th grade. I have missed them for years. But didn't know it. Just like my mom's reaction when she had cataracts removed.
kathy81432
Posted
kathy81432
Posted
Childlike sense of wonder has returned. Colors. Sights and smells enhance life. Hope is back. I'm 60, and no sexual dysfunction here. :-D
kathy81432
Posted
Day 37 on Sertraline, but Day 19 on target full dose of 100 MG. No suicidal intrusive thoughts since Day 3. Minimum to no depression, except on bad side effect days of splitting headaches, (which would make anyone depressed.) No social anxiety - but I still am an introvert. No drugged out feeling ever. I feel like my personality hasn't been affected, the "best" of me hasn't been altered. (Not like prednisone Highs that make me exhausted yet hyper. Not like coffee highs that crash me later). This is definitely working, and it's not changed me into someone else. I feel like I did as a kid and got my first glasses; I can see things clearly that others saw clearly all along. No mental fog that I have to push through. So even though yesterday and today were more headaches, nausea etc, it is definitely working. And well worth pushing through for.
kathy81432
Posted
Day 39 on sertraline, but day 21 on 100 mg:
I have not woken up with suicidal feelings since Day 3. I have not had suicidal feelings at all since I upped my dose. Is it due to the increased dose, or the duration of time on the meds? I don't know.
I do do know that my physical depth perception has dramatically returned. So has a 'normal' sense of smell; a 3D sense of smell rather than a 2D sense. Depression is gone, except for days when the sertraline seems to be breaking down new parts of the wall in my brain that was preventing my brain from receiving my normal serotonin. On those days, I am not *depressed/hopeless* just *depressed and down, with less hope, and bad headaches*. I've also noticed that my stomach hasn't woken me up with pain for two weeks now. I have stopped routinely taking an antacid before bedtime to prevent pain. I wonder if this is placebo effect or if it will last? Yesterday I did another 7 mile hike up Engineer Pass, 1500' elevation gain. The 3D vision was amazing. I got bit by six flies, and it didn't drive me nuts like it would have before. I have absolutely no social anxiety. I'm still very much an introvert, but without fear/panic. I am more calm. I was prescribed the sertraline for suicide/depression. I didn't expect feeling more calm.
I even woke up this morning without the panicked thought that "I *must* take my sertraline ASAP or I'll get suicidal again". My body is beginning to recognize it.
Looking back, What I would have done differently: I would have enlisted someone (even hired, if necessary) outside my family circle to check in on me twice daily, for me to report to. Immediate family members cannot be expected to handle the downward swings of emotion I experienced. I would have definitely upped my dose sooner, preferring a shorter and even more intense period of side effects. I would have gotten some prescription for headaches, even if that zombie-fied me for two weeks. I am glad I chose a three week period when I could subsist with minimal functioning.
kathy81432
Posted
vanessa45115 kathy81432
Posted
michael08822 kathy81432
Posted
I love your progress.
I have just bought my first lot of Sertraline which i will start in 4 days as i have to wait till the Hyperican that i have been taking is out of my system and i really hope that i get the same end result as yourself.
kathy81432 michael08822
Posted
I send ove and prayers your way. Do you have someone you can be accountable to who is aware it may be a bumpy ride for a few weeks? Someone other than those who are living with you? (They'll have enough on their plate)