Worried about Sertraline.

Posted , 4 users are following.

I was recently given Sertraline by my GP due to anxiety and low mood. I'm taking 50mg now. I'm on my third day and the only side effects I've been having are low libido and lack of sleep.

I'm quite worried as I see people saying they had to use it for years. I'm only 19 years old and I don't want to get addicted to medication. I asked if it was addictive and the GP said it's not but I'm scared. How long can one need to take sertraline? What happens if I stop taking it?

Also, is it okay to take sleeping pills on anti depressants?

2 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi there

    I've been on it for eighteen months but am thinking of coming off now as I have another condition that requires propranolol which also helps with anxiety. I found it difficult to get to sleep and used herbal sleeping tablets from boots which helped me. Personally I wouldn't go onto prescription sleeping pills as they are addictive. 

    Also it is important that you have a controlled withdrawal of such meds to prevent nasty reactions to reducing and stopping them.

    Also it apparently matters when you take the tablet, I've always taken mine (50mgs) at bedtime trying to avoid side effects but if you speak to your pharmacist they will advise you as taking it at a different time of day might  help your normal sleep pattern return. All drugs have what they call a life meaning how long each tablet lasts in your system and how long after you've taken it will have it strongest effects.

    Hope all that makes sense and good luck

  • Posted

    Worrying is natural but it only makes things worse mate.

    1. I have used Sertraline for 13 years ( a low dose for most of that) and have just come off it. It enabled me to do a very pressurised job, from which I have just retired.

    2. Sounds like it will suit you OK as you have not suffered severe side effects, which is good. If you do - go back to the GP.

    3. I believe it is NOT addictive and my own experience would confirm that.

    4. Within 3 weeks you will feel a lot better. It seems like a long time so keep yourself BUSY - do NOT sit at home, or on your own and dwell. Keep your body active and try to get out and about.

    5. I took mine after breakfast - not on an empty stomach.

    6. Avoid alocohol - it will cancel out the benefits of Sertraline.

    Best Wishes.

  • Posted

    Thanks guys, I would like to ask one more thing. Do the secondary effects usually last until you stop taking it or does it go away once your organism gets used to it? I think I'm having some troubles with my libido and although I can masturbate, it takes longer and almost can't ejaculate.
  • Posted

    Hello my friend, I have been taking Sertraline for about 2 years now and I can safely say it has changed my life for the better. It is NOT addictive, once your better you can come off it gradually. As Tezez says, you shouldn't come off it quickly.

    Just like you I was very nervous about taking it and put it off for a few weeks but it does work and I have varied the dose depending on circumstances, work, etc. 

    I also have problems with libido but like you the problem is mild. And I would much rather have a mild libido problem than feel anxious! 

    I totally agree with everything Daddee has said, that is sound advice. In a way it is actually a good thing to identify anxiety at a young age as you can adjust your lifestyle, career, relationships, etc to overcome or prevent it.

    I also strongly believe alternative methods can compliment or even replace medication. Investigate meditation, read up on positive thinking and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and remember...your are not the first or only person to feel anxious. Everyone feels anxious at some point in their life. 

    :-)

     

  • Posted

    hey, i'm in the exact same boat as you - 19 years old, started Setraline recently, doctor upped me to 100mg though but i'm not sleeping well (although i don't know whether that's from waking up and anxiety stopping me from getting back to sleep) and my libido is unusually low. also my jaw is constantly tense and my appetite isn't great. 

    setraline is great though, once it kicks in. i had a good couple of weeks before i went cold turkey, assuming i was 'all better' when actually it had only just started to work..

    i've read through quite a few forum discussions and decided i'll take it at 100 for a month, then go down to 50mg again for a month and taper off to 25mg a day, then 25mg every two days etc... have you considered doing something like that?

    all i'd say is don't go cold turkey, it made me feel awful both mentally and physically.

    • Posted

      I I was advised not to take it before bed as it keeps you awake

      Hope that helps

    • Posted

      thank you!! cheesygrin i'll start taking the second tablet during the day instead of at night and see how that goes 
    • Posted

      Hi Pippa,

      its very easy to think your completely better and don't need the Sertraline, but very often that is a sign of how well the Sertraline is working.

      Personally I would stay on the 100mg a bit longer and make sure your addressing the cause of your anxiety, whether that is to do with work, college/uni, relationships etc. The real benefit on any medication IMO is that it helps to underpin your confidence whilst you fix the things that have caused the problem in the first place.

      Once you've done that then you can reduce the dose. I've changed my dosage on a number of occasions and always reduced it very gradually - sometimes as little as 12.5mg per month by splitting the pills and cycling it on it a two day basis. That way I felt no side effects at all. You probably could reduce it quicker than that but I wouldn't recommend more than 25mg/month reduction. But that's just based on my own experience.

      All the best

    • Posted

      Hi James

      Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it. I'll definitely be staying on 100mg for a while, especially while I settle into uni as I believe that probably has a lot to do with it. I'm already feeling the benefits of the drug, I hope Vitor is too (if you're reading).

      I'll bear that in mind and go as slowly as I can when/if I choose to start coming off it, I have a meeting with a psychiatrist this week which will hopefully confirm what you've shared. 

      Take care

    • Posted

      Hi Pippa,

      Good to hear! Obviously I'm not a trained psychiatrist but if anxiety has come on quite quickly for you and you are just starting Uni then it certainly sounds like that could be a cause.

      I remember I was really nervous when I went to Uni, but I can safely say I had the most fantastic time there and made friends for life. That was over twenty years ago now and I still meet up with my old Uni friends every 6 months or so.

      Take care

    • Posted

      I definitely think uni has been a big trigger in this most recent period of anxiety/depression, but I'm lucky enough to be getting a little bit of counselling too which is a great help. 

      Thank you for the reassurance! smile

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