sertraline and depression

Hi kirk

How long have you been taking sertraline in 2007 before you start feeling good? Also, how did you do it, how long did it take since you stop them till you start feeling bad again?

I had mild stress/depresion in Jan2010 for 3-4 weeks but I didn't take anything then. I was ok after until July 2010 when I got more severe stress, anxiety, etc. Been suffering 3 months till my GP advised Sertraline 50mg, I am now on week 10, feeling much better than before, but still get 1-2 days a week swings of mood and feel anxiety but mild. My Gp said that I need to take the tablets at least for 6 months or longer if not completely well. I don't know if I need to up the dosage, I am scared.

[quote:6f434c6da6=\"K. \"]Hi kirk

How long have you been taking sertraline in 2007 before you start feeling good? Also, how did you do it, how long did it take since you stop them till you start feeling bad again?

I had mild stress/depresion in Jan2010 for 3-4 weeks but I didn't take anything then. I was ok after until July 2010 when I got more severe stress, anxiety, etc. Been suffering 3 months till my GP advised Sertraline 50mg, I am now on week 10, feeling much better than before, but still get 1-2 days a week swings of mood and feel anxiety but mild. My Gp said that I need to take the tablets at least for 6 months or longer if not completely well. I don't know if I need to up the dosage, I am scared. [/quote:6f434c6da6] youmneed to go up to 100mg

I am now on week 12 and feel much better, but got very horrible headaches and pain in my neck. Just wonder how long these will last???

hi k, its good 2 hear u r startin 2 feel the benefits of the sertraline. It is stillearly 4 the full affect but if ther is an improvement startin now i wouldent go on a higher dose. I was on a dose of 200mg and have been tryin 2 get down 4 the last 5 years. The higher the dose the more server the side effects and longer 2 get of it i wish i had never started it. As 4 the side affects espescially the headaches and nausia they r usually the first 2 kick in and the last 2 ease but they do. I hope u still carry on feelin the benifits with the sertraline but give it time i no its not easy but its alot harder if u start uppin the dose and its not nessasery.

good look and take care.

Hi shadow, thank you very much for your replay and your advise. I don't really like to up the dose because I didn't want to take the sertraline at first rlace, but didn't have a choice, I was feeling out of this would and scared of everything ( like a zombie :cry: ). Yes it did take me 11-12 weeks to start feeling myself, but also I was trying to help myself too with trying to take out of my head the negatives and think only positive. Was very hard!!!

Well, I will take the tablet another 12 weeks and then will start to reduce the dose 25 mg every week untill it will be 25mg. Take for little while that dose and decide to reduce it again. I want to do that very smoothly so won't have severe side effects hopefully.

What dose are you now on and how are you redusing the dose? I hope you will feel better soon.

Take care.

Hi k,

I no wot u sayin about it not eaasy 2 get rid of the negative thoughts and totaly understand. At the mo im on 150 mg sertraline and have discussed this with my psycologest and have agreed 2 keep it at this 4 now as im not in a steady and safe place 2 start 2 reduce anymore which i hate. Its good 2 hear u r gettin back 2 yaself and hope things continue 2 improve. I wish i could get of this ssri as it just leaves me brain dead and feeling and motion less and the feelin of being held under water anyway, take care and hang in there.

Hi shadow, how are you doing? Why you can't reduse the dose, if you do slowly that maybe won't effect you? I feel so sorry for you I never thought how bad can people suffer from kind of problems, until that happen to me.

Thank you for your support. Well, I am generally fine now, after taking sertraline for 13 weeks, but noticed that about 3 times for last month I felt a bit anxious with headache, fiver and pain in my neck, also backache. Sometimes I don't know if sertraline helps me or I help myself. Do I need to be on them? :?

Can't wait to get of them.

I hope you are ok and take care. x

Hi k, glad 2 hear u r in a better place and improvin as regard 2 not noin if u need them i no its not good takin them but dont just stop takin or b in arush 2 come of them discuss it with yor gp (believe me iv tried and lurnt the hard way and was left in a life threatening state). Yes i agre u do have 2 help yaself as well and not just rely on meds they r not long term and yes i no its not easy been there many times still am.

We have agreed its not a good idea 2 reduce my meds or touch them as this time of the year is not good 4 me ever since the suicide of a very close friend and i wasnt able 2 do anythin 2 save her, so its 2 dangerous 4 me 2 start messin with meds, anyway am glad u was able 2 get some support from anythin i said and am glad 2 talk when i can hope u carry on improvin and take care.x

Hi shadow, I understand you very well, it must be very hard for you, probably best for you to wait for more few months and then see if you can to reduse the dose. Do you do anything else about your depression, or you only take sertraline 150mg?

I will stay on them a bit longer, maybe till march and then will reduse the dose, though I was a bit anxious yesterday and I am today. I heard some news that woman I knew died, which doesn't help, makes me feel even worse. Then I start thinking what if I have some serious problems in health like she did? I know that everybody different, but anxiety still playing and is there I can feel that, but is not as it used to be before.

I don't know if they good or not, at the moment I don't have a choice and don't want to mess up as you said. Just need to wait and see.

Thanks for replay and take care x

Hi K,

Sorry I didn't reply to your message. I wanted to see what happened when I up the dosage to 100mg / day. I can say that my thoughts are a little more positive and I don't feel as bad as I did. Like you I used to regard taking this med as something that isn't good, however, I've learned to be-friend it and don't worry too much about comming off it. I have come to the conclusion that I'll take anything to try and get back to my old self. I find worrying about the med is one other worry I don't need.

Glad to hear that you are seeing an improvement, and I agree with Shadow that you shouldn't rush to come off them. :?