Sertraline - my 8 week story

thanks your post gives me hope!!

hi there i have been on Zoloft for 9 weeks and this has given me hope

I still feel like im never going to get better but i am hopeful i will

thank you again for posting your experience

I'm just starting my 9th week today, i have been having more good days than bad but still don't feel 100 percent . The mornings for some reason are still not great then i get better as the day goes on but by night time i feel almost perfect .

a lot of posts I've read says it takes 8-12 weeks so I'm hanging in there and trying to remind myself that I'm having more good days than bad days and even the bad days aren't as bad as they were in the first few weeks.

I'm still not sleeping well and have to take a sleeping pill to fall asleep which is stressing me out a bit that I've been on this sleeping pill for 9 weeks every night.

i can honestly say it does get better, i was doubting this would ever end around week 4-5 but slowly i am starting to see the benefits.

Hang in there and push through the bad mornings and you will get there.

G

hi graham,

i hit 6 weeks a few days ago and have had good days and more of bad moments that occur out of the blue but ive been given tools in therapy to help cope with that. My anxiety for the most part is completely gone its just this meh feeling thats getting to me. I still feel that it is hard to connect with others and shake this lack of happiness. Its tough because im wondering if this is the best its going to get or if these depression type feelings (mainly just hard to find joy in things and motivation still) will get better just like the anxiety. I am so happy im not having panic attacks everyday but im hoping the depression gets better. I know this isnt a "happy pill" but for some it honestly seems like it does the trick for them in that department... im hoping im one of them. im just curious about your experience and need a friend thats going through similiar feelings as me. Hope youre hanging in there!

Megan

hi Megan,

what dose are you on ? i am 75mg, i too have not had any panic attacks in two weeks now , so I'm happy about that and trying to concentrate on the positive.

My mood gets better as the day goes on as well as my physical symptoms, I just don't seem to feel great in the mornings. Although way better than i was in the first few weeks. I would wake up with severe anxiety and tremors it was horrible.

I'm hoping it just keeps getting better and better, I don't want to up my dose any more as I'm afraid it will trigger some of the side effects again .

I'm now just concentrating on getting up and pushing through the mornings and know the day will get better. Like you I do catch myself thinking some times if this is as good as it gets ??? I sometimes wonder if I'm better off being on no meds as i just used to ride through the anxiety and at least feel normal the rest of the time .

I do notice on these forums that most people stop posting around the 8-10 week mark so I'm thinking most of them start to feel better and move on.

Keep in touch,

G

im so glad you responded! I am on 50mg and have a doctors appointment this week to check in on how im doing with it. I have been noticing the same thing with people saying it took longer than the 4-6 weeks for the full effect to kick in. Ive seen some people say its taken 12 weeks even and i read an article about how the depression symptoms can be the last to get better. So there for sure is still some hope. The first half of the day is tougher for me too, not sure if that has to do with the fact that i take my pill in the morning or what, but after i take it i do notice i feel a little better an hour later. It's just so crazy how much conflicting stuff is out there and you cant help but look at it all and then question yourself. I dont want to up my dose either because of the risk of the sexual side effects and more emotional numbness so i think my plan is to keep riding out the 50mg and see if my doctor thinks that is a good plan or if i should lower my dose or add wellbutrin. Everything is a leap of faith but there are so many stories of people finding what works best for them. It's a waiting game but at least we both are seeing our anxiety lessen!

Keep me posted on your journey and how youre doing!

Megan

I hope your appointment goes well. I am on 75mg and have had no sexual side effects at all.

I've been feeling better every day this week so it for sure can take 8-9 weeks to really get the full benefits. I am only taking it for anxiety though and don't suffer with depression as you stated that you, I also have read that was the last thing to turn around while on Sertraline.

I'm hoping i continue to have good days and then i'll start to come off the sleeping pills as the Sertraline really caused me insomnia badly . Not looking forward to coming off the sleeping pill Zopiclone as that could trigger more anxiety .

Keep me updated on your appointment, hope it goes well and we both continue to have good days

G

Thanks! I really appreciate the support. Im so happy your days are getting better and better, that's awesome! Very deserving. Also relieved to hear that you're not experiencing sexual side effects on 75mg, that makes me feel better about the possibility of having to increase in the future. I too had been having issues with insomnia but it has slowly gotten better for me (some nights are a struggle still) so im sure it will subside at some point for you! Just keep the positive attitude, not everyone's timeline with symptoms and such is the same 😃 With the Zopiclone, if you do get anxiety going off of it remember the good days/moments and maybe try different tricks (teas, breathing exercises, meditation, ocean wave/storm sounds??) and remember that it WILL pass! I'll be checking the forum too so if you need more support I'll be here!

I'll keep you updated after my appointment tomorrow!

for now, take care!!!

Megan

How did it go with your Doctor appointment ? Hopefully he had some insight on your depression symptoms.

I'm still feeling better, not 100 percent but so much better than those awful first 6 weeks I'll take it

Tried taking no Zopiclone last night, it didn't go so well lol no anxiety which is great but not very much sleep either. But I'm thinking I'll try again tonight anyway.

Hope you're doing well and looking forward to hearing back from you .

G

hi graham!

My doctor appointment went well! We are sticking with 50mg and monitoring my depression symptoms. I honestly have noticed a difference over the last couple days and am starting to feel much less empty! I am hoping it only continues to get better 😃 Will hit the 8 week mark on friday.

I am glad you at least tried to not take the Zopiclone. Great sign that the anxiety you were worried about didnt happen at least! I am hoping the sleep has gotten better for you. Keep trying and keep me updated!

Best

Megan

glad your appointment went well, Are you still feeling better each day .

I'm feeling a little better everyday still so people need to know to stick with it as it may take 6-10 weeks.

I'm still trying to come of the sleeping pills, taking a very small dose now and only taking it every other night , hoping to be done with them soon .

Started to walk everyday now getting in some cardio as well as some fresh air .

Hoping to be over this whole experience soon and move on from all this .

Keep in touch,

G

ive been having some off days this past week so that has kind of bummed me out but im being patient with myself. I keep reminding myself that the pandemic has been a lot and im graduating college and moving soon so the stress has taken a toll so its harder to find peace but at least i can handle all this now with the medication. Therapy has seemed like a chore to me because i never have enough motivation to do the tools she tells me to use so thats been bugging me a little bit too. I just started up running outside again so im trying to get some fresh air as well! Just trying to get out of bed each day and stay as positive as i can! thats a huge step to be weaning off the sleeping medication! im happy for you, keep pushing! Hoping it gets easier and easier for you and that those good days keep coming! I have faith that it will.

As always keep me posted!

Megan

Hi Megan,

Sorry to hear you are having a few off days, can i ask what you feel when you're having an off day? I am feeling so much better than i was but still just feel a little shaky sometimes, just can't seen to get back to how i was and wonder if that's the meds ans its as good as its going to get .

No doubt the pandemic is making things worse for people with anxiety, its difficult to keep yourself busy when there is so little you can actually do .

That's awesome about finishing up college, that's huge to accomplish this with everything you have going on with your mental health, its very impressive and you should be incredibly proud.

I'm still working on the sleep thing, hasn't been going great but i knew it would take time.

Talk soon !

hi graham,

I have been mainly feeling emptiness when im having off moments and then that lack of feeling triggers me to be sad. I am having a hard time genuinely connecting to people that I love or want to love. I seem to question what im feeling a lot and if im feeling anythinf at all which I was doing before starting the medication so this stuff isnt really new per say i just always figured it was from my depression but since its not better yet its allowing anxiety to creep back in a bit. I am really longing to have my drive back and passion but its confusing because I have had moments where it peaks through, I just wish it would stay. Theres a lot of family stuff going on rn too and there have been discussions of trying to figure out what undiagnosed disorder my grandma had and honestly it has been freakin g me out a little bit. It makes me wonder if I may have what she had and this all may be bigger than I thought. Idk when im in a low mood (like rn) I tend to get spiraling thought patterns like this. I guess jumping to extreme conclusions.

i really appreciate those nice words. You have no idea how refreshing it is to see that and feel seen. I feel like no one understands exactly how hard my academic journey has been so thank you from the bottom of my heart for that.

I should probably listen to this myself but keep being patient. The sleep will come and that first night of good sleep will feel SO GOOD! Look forward to it! It'll be like a reward at the end of the tunnel. If you dont mind me asking, have you found anything that helps with the sleep?

Hi Megan

I hope you don't mind me gatecrashing here! I am 4 days into week 6 and feeling exactly how you were at week 6, just wondering how you are feeling now as i think you must be on week 9. I really hope you are feeling much better. Would love to hear from you. Take care.

Jane

thanks this gives me hope! currently week 5 and feeling low 😦