Sertraline Experience UK - anyone similar???

Hello,

I've been on Sertraline for about 10 weeks now. I started on 50mg a day for the first two weeks then increased to 100mg. I was on 30mg of Mirtazapine at the time due to suffering from GAD (mainly health related) but I was getting a lot of muscle aches and joint pain so spoke to my GP and asked if I could try something else.

So I agreed a plan to taper off mirtazapine down to 15mg for a month and start sertraline at the same time. Within a few days I struggled with nausea and a lack of appetite and a few reflux issues, then about 10 days in I was feeling great and the best I've ever been. I was also nearing the end of private therapy sessions which I must say have been a success.

Then I finished the course of mirtazapine and was solely on 100mg of sertraline a day... then the withdrawals kicked in due to this change in medication, lack of appetite, nausea, awful sleep. Thankfully anxiety seemed ok and still seems ok to this day. The withdrawals again lasted no more than 10 days and the appetite came back, exercising you name it.

The only issue I seem to be having is bad sleep, some form of insomnia. I'm late at falling asleep, if I wake I struggle to then go back to sleep and then I rise far too early for my liking. Part of me is aware that Mirtazapine was not only a metabolism booster but a sleep aid, and using it for 10 months then stopping is bound to have an effect. I just wondered if anyone else has experience of the lack of sleep on sertraline?

Secondly, I've also noticed my skin seems a lot more sensitive now and it's been since taking sertraline. As an example my forearms and hands at times feel like I have sunburn, yet I don't, and if it is quite sunny outside I'm very wary to plop on some sun cream to help. This sort of comes and goes, indoors and out. Has anyone experienced this before?

I have an appointment with my GP for a catch up in a couple of weeks. I don't really want to bounce around medication, but I'm starting to wonder if I decide what I can cope with more. What the mirtazapine does to me or what the sertraline does to me (assuming the medication is the issue here).

I've had multiple blood tests and cameras, stool samples and scans the last year so I'm quite happy to point all fingers at the medication.

P.s. I'm also currently on a course of folic acid supplements due to a vitamin B12/Folate deficiency so they may be aiding to my skins sensitivity.

Cheers

Andrew

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