Hi, I started taking Sertraline today and so far so good, no side effects apart from feeling slightly nauseous. I had been taking Citalopram for last 3 years for anxiety and panic attacks but I felt I was not getting any better. My GP suggested that I take Sertraline instead. After reading this website I am wondering if I did the right thing. HELP!!
Hi Sarah, i thought id reply as our experiences are nearly identical!. Ive been taking citalopram for two years and sfter visiting my GP on monday he suggested i try setraline, as i also didnt feel any better. Today is my first day on the new one and i also felt a bit sick but obviously im not doing cartwheels yet!. However tha ammount of people that tell you its not instant and i just want to scream I KNOW! but give me something please. I understant your post completely as i as horrified at some of the negative posts from people with their experiences but ive just decided sod it and give it a go il know myself if i feel any worse. Thought maybe we could keep in touch and see how this new little tablet works for us?.
Lucie
Hiya you, just thought id apologise for quick typing and oh so many spelling errors! just not me but i was so happy that someone posted the same thing as me plus just had my false nails re-united with my fingetips! :D :oops:
Hi Lucie, I am so glad that someone is in the same boat as me, you don't feel so alone. Well it has been a couple of days of Sertraline, I am still feeling quite sick and light headed but each day I feel different, take today for instance, I seemed to have had a lot of nervous energy so I can't wait to see how tomorrow is!! One other side effect seems to be the fact I am finding it difficult to get to sleep at night, my brain does not want to switch off. I hope this will not last. I was worried about the negative things which had been written about Sertaline, it did make me wonder if Citalopram was a better option but I would have thought after 3 years on them I would find some improvement. How are you getting on? Sarah 
Hiya you. do you know what im really not sure!. i woke up today at 6am and stayed awake albeit i didnt dive out of bed as its just not somthin im used to! its only 2 days in so ive found im not sleeping quickly im awake longer thinking? that is the worst! dark thoughts! and all that. but like i say this morning i woke up and just didnt feel like i wanted to go back to sleep, now thats better for me but dont know if its our old friend citalopram out the way or new one doing something!. think i need few more days. citalopram took bloody ages to get aledgedly into my system. textbook month. however this little one is meant to be a week-two weeks. Anyway how you doing babe anything going off!? x thanks for replying darling x
I think you have taken citalopram for 3 years and myself for 2 and im sure we are not the only birds or fellas in the world to give it another shot and jut let it happen ! whats worse the feeling or just messin about with the tabs that im sure will work, getting the right ones! xx how u feeling now? x :oops: :D :shock:
hiya just wondered how youre feeling? had a few side effects going on myself. :?
Hi Lucie, how are you doing? Today is my first day at my full dose of 50mg and guess what I can't sleep, my brain won't switch off. Not good :roll: What side effects have you had? Sarah
Hi sarah, exactly the same as youve said im a bit of a sleep monster, or used to be! b4 taking these i cant sleep its my fourth day now! last nite i was wide awake till 4 then awake at 7 but even though awake i cant get up and out, and i find this bit of the illness the hardest :oops: :evil: xx
Hi Lucie, How are you feeling? Has the sleep got any better. Sarah x
Hiya Sarah, still pretty much the same just trying to stick with it! How you getting on? x
That was me by the way! i dont know why it said guest, just in case you thought it was some random! :D
Hello sarah and jackie im peter a 24 year old, am am keen to hear more about your experiences with sertraline, your history with citalopram is very similar to mine, i was on citalopram for 2.5 years i stopped on nov, i was dianosed with depression march 2004, spent a month on prozac then stopped due to not coping with side effects, around easter 2005 i went onto citalopram and remained on that 40mg til november 2007, through the summer of 2007 - although i was coping ok i was not feeling that happy and that i needed something more to help, i made the decision to stop citalopram in november, i felt it was not doing enough i have not taken anything since then, i went to see my gp yetsreday and he suggested i try sertraline. I am unsure what to do, take nothing, go back on citalopram or try sertraline. I need something - i have used CBT and found it very helpful - i really recommend a book called 'feeling good' by burns. What do you think please respond cheers peter w
:D Hi Peter, welcome to mine and sarahs rambleings! A welcome edition to our fellow citalopramies!. Your experience is very similar and as someone whom has also used CBT ul know its better to talk about things, with like minded peeps such as ourselves. Im a week and a half into sertraline and other than feeling a bit sick, not dramatically i might add and having trouble dropping off nothing nasty to report. The sleep thing may just be me and nothing to do with the tablets so im just going to stick with it, my GP said 2-3 weeks b4 it gets into youre system as with them all, unfortunately you want to feel great imediately dont you!. If i were you pete id give it a go, you know yourself through youre experience with prozac if you start feeling any crappier :idea: . Cheers for info about book il give it a go and im loving the fact im gettin a bit of positivity from youre post. Keep replying and we can all support each other if you like? :?: . Lucie
Are you there sarah? just wondering how youre feeling? lucie x
Hi Peter and Lucie, how are you both doing? It was nice to hear from you Peter. I agree with Lucie I would give Sertraline a go, you have nothing to lose. Like you I had been on Citalopram for a couple years and never felt I was getting any better so that's why I thought I would give Sertraline a go. I feel no immediate change in myself taking Sertraline but it is early days. I am due to go to the doctors tomorrow for a review so it will be interesting what she says. Since taking the Sertraline I have started making a diary about how I am feeling and it does help to put it down on paper. Take Care. Sarah.
:D Hi Sarah let me know how you go tomorrow, my GP said come and see me in one month but i think thats a wee bit to long id rather go abit sooner as youre doing. Hows your sleeping now? x
Hi Lucie, I got on all OK at the doctors today, she said that I was feeling exactly how I should feel after 2 weeks on the tablets which was no great difference but not feeling any worse, if that makes sense. :? She said I should go back in another 3 weeks when I should really be feeling the benefits of the tablets. She was quite positive about Sertraline which was good after reading so many negative things about it. The sleeping is getting better which is a huge help as I never function very well without my sleep. I have a 17 month old son so I need my sleep. :lol: How are you feeling? Sarah x x
HIya you that sounds good then, nice to get a positive result :D . Im exactly the same with my sleep and you even more so having to look after a little one! i would imagine he gives you a huge incentive to get well again. Not feeling any worse which is fine by me just trying to stay positive and stick with it, youre posts have been a huge help to me knowing im not alone xxxx
hi sarah and lucie, thanks for the reply, it sounds like your gp is very supportive, mine is also, he really wants to help me how i want to be helped, i decided to give sretraline a try, i started last thursday, havent felt noticeably better yet, been having side effects, difficulty sleeping, headache, slight tremor etc. - i had really poor sleep this weekend although last night was not too bad - did not get up till ten though, the side effects seem more than on citalopram so far, hopefully they will settle, i want to stick with it for at least two weeks to give it a chance. my gp has booked me some cbt therapy althoug its a six month wait, i think the best way for me to manage my depression is to use medication and therapy. all the best peter