Sertraline - My 4week Update

Hello all... just came across a good website that offers alot of advice, information  & perspective in a good attitude to have when trying to deal with our anxiety / side effects  

Some people may already know about this site, but thought I would share for those that dont. 

anxietynomore by paul david

I have to continue with these pills but 6 to 8 weeks is such a long time. I’ll have to get another sick note from my gp on Friday as if I don’t improve, I won’t be able to go back teaching next week. With hindsight, i suffered from panic attacks when my husband left me 13 years ago and was put on citalopram. I don’t remember any side effects. 

I do have a couple of glasses of wine at night. I should maybe stop that.

gad and panic attacks...which have left me unable to drive . I cant take beta blockers though

I'm on 50 still of the zoloft....feeling more sibdued and tired....so nit that anxious but not driving so who knows. 5 weeks tomorrow. My 12 year old asked me if i was fepressed cause im so chilled out. That sparked a little concern...i dont wanna slip away and not know. Ive also been not giving a crap about what i eat...we shall see. Hang in there and thank you

Hello all... Hope you all doing well, Just a quick update to let you know how things are going...

Im currently at 6weeks today and still at 50mg, for the last week every day has been pretty much good... no anxiety, no negative thoughts, no low moods, able to be more interactive and sociable and basically just get on with life. 

I feel for the first time in a long time Im getting my fighting spirit back, and my personality is also starting to come back threw when in social settings, I can actually crack a joke instead of just sitting there staring into space with a thousand anxiety thoughts running threw my head...!! lol

I know its still early days, but Its given me the boost to keep going... and that something with these meds is actually working...!!

Keep pushing threw, well get there🌹

UPDATE- 4MNTHS - 50MG

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Hello All, 

after viewing several email alerts and reading some of your start up journeys I decided to log on and give you all a quick update and abit of a positive outlook that these meds do work & make a difference if given time.

As you can see from my previous post, I too also struggled with my side effects starting out, I became terribly low, depressed, unmotivated... barely even speaking to people, but I will say... it passes, all side effects will pass given enough time.

The tips I wish I knew before hand and found helped me out on those first few weeks were - 

1.  This website, it was an absolute god send, so please dont suffer in silence, ask your questions, get reassurance, no matter how small, were all in the same boat, and just knowing someone is going threw the same helps take the fear out of those first few weeks and gives you the strength and hope to power threw. 

2. Keep a daily log of you doses, gp vists, side effects, progress - write it all down. It really helps to look back and see how far you’ve come even if only slight.

3. Try to stick to the same daily time for your doses, you’re system is continually trying to adjust and level out with this med, so give it as much help as you can. (If insomnia is one of your side effects - change to a morning dose)

4. Try to stick to the same brand you’ve started out with at least in those first few weeks, many can experience a flurry of side effects when trying something different. Although the main ingredient is the same, compound agents may not be? Again its all about helping your system to settle and level out, and if keeping it used to its routine helps, stick with it.

5. Diazepams, sleeping tablets, beta blockers, anti-sickness meds, even just as simple as taking it easy etc, they can all help in those first few weeks when side effects become like groundhog day and you just need a little relief to keep you going. Depending on your symptoms and side effects - speak to your doctor about any additional support you can get just to see you through. They really do help, and when you feel better you’ll start to realise you wont need to rely on them as much. 

6. Unless your an absolute trojan, and want to get to that end goal as quick as possible - most of us become overwhelmed and struggle with our increases - Jumping too large and going too fast (e.g every 2wks) can make for a very bumpy ride and will actually keep your system in a constant state of trying to level out, as once its trying to work on one dosage, its already being top loaded by the next and has to start the level out process all over again. (Example - If your stomach was full, you wouldn’t keep eating and filling it with food to make it settle would you?? As all you would end up doing is becoming bloated & uncomfortable. You would wait... allow it to settle and eat again later if your appetite wasn’t satisfied... This is the same idea with Sertraline and Serotonin) 

Each increase will need 4-6weeks to work, I’ll say this again... Each increase needs 4-6weeks to work. (Sometimes longer in certain cases) So if your speeding threw and feel no benefits?? Or actually even waiting it out - It’s because of two reasons...

A) Your not allowing anything to settle before throwing your system back into turmoil with another increase or... 

B) Your not at your own personal therapeutic level - at least not enough to feel its benefits and you possibly may need an increase or change of meds. 

All that being said, once you’ve reached you therapeutic level and allowed the 4-6weeks for it to settle into your system you will generally start to feel the glimpses of better days, starting slow and steady at first then gradually becoming more as time goes on.

This med really is a slow and gradual acting drug, so dont be surprised if you have glimpses of better days and then find yourself back in a slump a few days later... it will pass, its just the meds settling and working out the kinks. 

I recently spoke to someone this week and explained how for the majority of us sertraline actually has a step by step process that if your worried things dont seem to be working out you can use it to monitor and see how far along you are in your own journey, and naturally how long you have left until you hit that sweet spot. So I thought I would share that here to help give a guide line for those who are struggling at the moment...

When starting Sertraline you will undoubtedly have side effects, unless your one of the lucky ones, but for the majority of us, it’s going to get worse before it gets better... 

When to know this med is working...

Step 1 - Your milder less annoying side effects will start to pass, headaches, hot flushes, jittery feelings... the ones you can just about take with a pinch of salt will start to become more sporadic or ease off completely. 

Step 2 - Your larger more annoying side effects start to ease up - increased anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, depression, exhaustion, aches & pains etc you start to feel them lifting or at least giving you moments of relief

Step 3 - you’ll start experiencing glimpses of better days or moments, thinking your turning the corner only to feel deflated for feeling rubbish again the next day. Unfortunately this step becomes abit like groundhog day, but stick with it, It does get easier.

Step 4  - The majority of your side effects have eased, maybe a few little niggles here and there but overall the better moments are gradually now starting to outweigh the bad moments, when your here the end is almost in sight

5th step - you’ve made it threw, your issues no longer bother you, your side effects have passed, and each day gradually gets better as you start living again instead of surviving. However If you do still have some slight niggles or issues at this stage an increase or med change maybe needed.

If you monitor you current situation now, you can generally get a rough idea what step your on and how many steps you have to take to get to the end goal whether your taking it slow and steady or powering through.

Side effects are tough, but they do pass. You will no doubt think this med is never going to work... but it will given time.

I also thought the same, had all the same concerns but since starting Sertraline... Im now more social, confident, assertive, positive... I certainly dont spend all day in my head worrying over pointless negative rubbish, the years I wasted... now I don’t waste a single day! 

I hope this post helps others, in either just grabbing some general information or offering that little bit of reassurance and by all means if anyone else reading wants to add their own advice or tips on how they are or were getting threw those first few weeks when starting out and dealing with there side effects please feel free to add a comment.

Good Luck 🌹