Hi Gillian,
I've only been on 50mg of Sertraline for 9 days (settled into a routine of taking it at night before bed which seems to work well for me). I have had some strange side effects but they are a huge improvement on those I experienced with my previous medication. I'm not being treated for anxiety or panic attacks so I can't say I have suffered from heightened anxiety in the early stages. I must confess to feeling a lot more positive and although I'm probably yet to feel the full benefit, I'm glad for the support of this forum and I'm hopeful this drug might be the right one for me.
I'm really hoping you have a strong support network of family & friends to get you through the newt days and weeks. I don't think you anything to lose by trying Sert and you may have everything to gain :-)
Good luck & let us know how you get on. You are not alone!
Digsby
x
Thanks Digsby. Unfortunately, don't have that strong support. Hence the depression. World fallen apart over last few years. I am hoping that if I can get the depression under control I can start to rebuild.
Hi Gillian, I have been on 50mg of sertraline for 20 days now for severe anxiety, intrusive thoughts and depression and they have def lifted my mood already, the first 7-10 days were abit weird ie, loss of appetite, feeling tired, heightened anxiety but I was having all this before taking sertraline. I take mine just before I get in bed and I have slept like normal, so I would suggest taking it at night so u sleep through the harsh of the side effects. It's still early days but like I said I have seen a difference already x
Hello Digsby, I was taking Venlaflaxine 300mg and Mirtazipine 45 until a year ago for a particularly bad episode of chronic depression. Apart from dampening down my reactions to how I was feeling, I don't honestly believe that the Venlaflaxine helped with my mood, and I had terrible bad dreams and woke in a panic every morning. I know these drugs affect everyone differently, but it's disappointing that a psychiatrist is happy to leave you on something that doesn't make you feel any better, but stops you being vocal about how bad you feel. I think an effective anti- depressant will help for a short time, and I am hoping that will be the case for me as I have just started on 25 of Sertraline to augment my 30 Mirtazipine. I am hoping that will lift me enough so that I can get to a stage where psychotherapy is effective. Here's hoping. Glad you got off the Venlaflaxine. Well done
Thanks Gillian. Anything's got to be better than our past experience with medication, right? Although it's contrary to many people's experience, one of the biggest differences is to have my appetite back and be enjoying food again. The Venlafaxine killed my appetite completely and I had to make myself eat, despite the horrible metallic taste the dry mouth gave me. Although still depressed, my quality of life has improved :-)
Good luck with the 25mg - I hope that you won't suffer from bad side effects with easing yourself in like this. Keep thinking positive and looking ahead to the future. Keep in touch :-)
All the best, Digsby x