Second time on Sertraline

Treatment and medication
1

Hello,

I haven't written on a forum before - but I was hoping for some thoughts, feedback, support…

I am 32, single professional, about a year and a half ago due to massive stress at work I became extremely anxious and depressed for the first time in my life - I've never been the most self-confident of people but I got a lot worse and I just clammed up in social situations, also I started having some OCD symptoms. After trying to struggle through for 6 months seeing a therapist I went to the doctor and started taking Sertraline. I had all of the normal symptoms for the first months or so - increased anxiety, sleeplessness, panic attacks etc etc but after a while that faded away to feeling so much better.

After 9 months I decided that I had felt stable for long enough to want to come off them again, but as soon as I did a series of unfortunate events happened (a boy I had fallen in love with left the country, then I found out he cheated on me with a very close friend and my work continued to be stressful in the background) which brought out the same symptoms again. Again I have struggled through for a few months feeling slightly better some days before feeling horrible again the next until I realised that it wasn't going away - so I have started taking Sertraline again for the second time, just 50mg at the moment and I am 1 month in.

This time around it feels a bit different - the reactions adjusting were the same, but not as extreme which for the bad ones is great, but I haven't felt that sudden lifting of anxiety that I felt last time. On Friday I received some more bad news at work which means I am predicting pressure levels are going to rocket in the next few months, and ever since I have had a horrible pit of nervousness in my stomach which just won't go away. I can feel this tension and anxiety rising in me which I've tried talking through with a few people who know my situation, but it hasn't helped.

I don't know whether I should talk to my doctors to increase the dose or if I should just stick it out for a bit longer to let the meds sink in. I think half my problem is the anticipation of stress makes me stressed in itself - but I can't stop thinking about it...

2

Sounds similar to my experience. I went on Sertraline after battling with depression for a very long time. The decision to seek medical help for me came when I realised that I could not attribute my overwhelming feelings of despondency to anything. In the past I had always been able to identify the reasons why I was feeling stressed or low, problems at work, stress with the kids, money worries etc, etc. and I managed to decide on a plan of action to improve things which made me feel in control, albeit that it didn't always make me feel much better. However, I then went through a phase of feeling very anxious, tearful, insecure etc and there was no reason I could fathom that was making me feel this way.

So I went on Sertraline and apart from the rubbish side effects that I initially had to work through, I instantly felt so much better and could see a real change in my outlook on life etc. So after about 6 months I felt ready to come off the drugs and so weaned myself off by going on half dose for quite a while and then stopping.

I was off the meds for quite a while (best part of a year), but then I could feel the blackness and hopelessness returning and so I went back on them. I definitely found that it took me much longer to feel the benefits (probably about 2-3 months) and I was on them for longer the second time round (about 18 months), although I was always on the same dosage. I have recently been cutting down and stopped completely about 2 weeks ago. The main reason I decided to stop taking the meds is that I have been suffering from night sweats that have been getting worse and worse and after blood tests etc showing up nothing I decided that I thought it might well be a side effect of the Sertraline that has built up so I am now going without.

I am already seeing a difference in how edgy and volatile I feel, but at the moment I want to try and stick it out.

So that's my story - sorry for such a long ramble. I too have never used a chat forum like this before but I put a post on to see if others had suffered from nights sweats and it has been useful to hear others experiences.

I would say your best bet would be to discuss it with your doctor, but I think that a month may be a little early to see the benefits, so hopefully in the next few weeks you'll see things improve.

I use Face Book for pages to help me keep the right mind frame - Thinkers Paradise and some of the Mindfullness pages are good. Do all the important stuff like listening to your favorite music, making time for yourself, even if it is to read a magazine whilst enjoying an undisturbed coffee. Relaxation techniques and self affirmation has also helped me. I also love to read poetry to lift my spirits and give me the resolve to keep trying - google Desiderata by Max Ehrmann if you haven't read it, it's a great poem

Above all I would say try to give yourself a break and don't expect too much from yourself. Despite all its problems and the nasties that life throws at us, I feel I am very fortunate to be able to live the life that I do and I try to remind myself of this every day!!

Good luck

3

I can relate to that awful turmoil you are feeling, I felt very much like that when my depression started last year. I started on Sertraline 50 then 100 then 150 before I started to feel better. I had never taken it before. Life is tough, you seem to have had a run of enormously stressful events and you are on a relatively low dose of antidepressants. I also saw and am still seeing a therapist for support it's expensive but necessary for me. If I were you I would go back my GP. Don't give up, you've recovered once and can do it again.

4

Its quite relieving to hear that it took a bit longer the second time for you Katherine, I have my fingers crossed that the same is true for me. I am also planning on staying on them longer second time around - I think that I was too quick to come off sertraline last time, perhaps not really appreciating how much it had been helping me at the time - for some reason even at a low level it seemed to tip me on the right side of normal.

Funnily enough I also have night-sweats - some nights better than others, but I also get moments like that in the daytime too - it feels a bit like going through what I imagine menopausal hot flushes are like! They haven't been too much of a problem for me at the moment though. I hope yours settle down and coming off sertraline goes is fine for you. Desiderata is a beautiful poem and I'll look up those Facebook groups.

Thanks Filou, I think if things don't get better in the next week or so I will go back to the Drs to let them know what is happening and see what they suggest, I had been nervous to increase the dose before, but I will definitely consider if things don't change. It would be great to see a therapist again - I will ask if that is possible - last time they pushed me towards cognitive behavioural therapy which i didn't think worked for me as much as a normal talking therapy.

5

Hello,

I am also new to this & came on to see if there really is any light at the end of the tunnel.

I have been on sertraline since the last week of Nov 2013 & still feel no better & really hoped by now i would.

I started on 50mg & now on 100mg & don't know if i should carry on ortry something else.

The constant sweats are awful as id the increased anxiety .

Please help i don't know what to do.

Butterfly1 x

6

Hello,

This is also my first time on a forum but found everything really helpful. Over the last 5 years I have had 3 bouts of anxiety attacks (not including the current one) and have used citilopram and fluoxitine. Yesterday the doctor put me sertraline and by the end of the day I decided that I was going to try and get myself out of it without the use of the drug. This morning however I had an unpleasant episode where I felt the need to get to my own house before a panic attack came. This prompted me to take the firts tablet. Now I wish I hadn't! I calmed down instantly I walked through my door but took the 50mg dose anyway.

The increased agitation is already crippling me and the thought of the chronic insomnia that others have mentioned is just not something I can live with.

I have a 2 1/2 year old to look after and can barely sit and play a game of snap with.

Previous times I have been on anti depressants I was already very agitated and, restless and not sleeping properly but this time it is not the case and I am not willing to put myself through weeks of hell to find out that I may need to up my dosage or to find that the same side effects occur when coming off these.

I wish everyone the best of luck who is on these and sticking to them but I personally can't handle the extra stress this 1 tablet is putting me through. Hopefully by tomorrow the drug would have come out of my system and the rest of the pack is going straight back to the pharmacy to be destroyed.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel but these drugs are not my answer.

7

Hello Ceri,

How are you getting on after you're bad experience, any better??

I am on Sertraline & they do make you really really anxious at first & them people say it eases, although i am yet to see this.

Butterfly1 x

8

Hello Butterfly, Ceri,

I definitely have had a better experience the first time around, but knowing what the tables can potentially do for me is making me stick it out. Have your symptoms got any better?

I've got an appointment next week to see the dr about increasing to 100mg, and ask to speak to someone - that helped me so much last time so I've got my fingers crossed.

Sarah

9

hi i have just started on sertraline following the death of my mother, who suffered a blow to her head, the last month has been a massive nightmare, i was doing really well i stayed with my mum for the two weeks she was in hospital right to the bitter end, i have a brother but discovered he was the one who gave her the blow that i think was the start of my breakdown. then when i went to my mum house (my brother lived with my mum and his girlfriend) i just collected two pictures some photos and a couple of ornaments, the next day i was arrested and charged with buglarly, the charge was later dropped, but not till i had spent twelve hours in a cell, i was already on diapram, i asked for a doctor when i had the biggest headache ever they refused me. the rest is a bit of a blurr. i was taken to hospital as i had collasped, i could not take anymore. i have been diagnosed with a mental breakdown, i cant go out i feel as if someone is after me, i am obessed with the fear of the door knocking i am even frightened of my own kids, the only safe feeling i have is with my dogs but even them i am terrified someone will take them, my son is placing a formal complaint with the police and my doctor is disgusted by my treatment, i am seeing a nurse twice a week but they say it will be months before i even start picking myself up. i have a inquest to face yet and i want to be at court when me brother is charged, i feel the need to know every detail sad as it is. i was a professional driver but due to this dvla have had to be infromed which means my license is suspended, i feel like there is nothing left, no life no hope and no point in going on. i also suffer with artheritis and this has really had a bad effect on that, i cant seem to look forward at the moment i try but i cant. i am trying to sort a funeral out for my mum but that is proving more than i can take on board, all i seem to be doing is starting loads of jobs but not completeing them i cant even put my mind to simple house cleaning, i was such a organised person but a mess now. sorry about my going on but its good to hear that there are others in the same boat.

10

Hi, you poor thing, you've had so many major traumas in a short space of time, even the most resilient of people would struggle to get up after being knocked down as many times as you have. It sounds like you need to give yourself a break. How can you possibly put your mind to organise a funeral, mourn your mum, come to terms with your brother's behaviour and look after your home and kids? Have you got a partner or a friend who could help you with the funeral arrangements? Try not to stress about the cleaning, dust will still be there when you feel better. Try to write down maybe 1 or 2 small thIngs to do each day, that might only be having a shower and getting dressed. If you have a good GP you could ask him where you can get help with organising the funeral. Maybe a social worker could help for a short time until you get back on your feet. Don't be hard on yourself, and know that you will get better. It may not seem possible at the moment, but you will. Take every offer of help that comes along. It may surprise you how kind people can be once they know you're struggling. I am recovering from severe depression and in my darkest times I felt I had no future but now I do. Remember your mind is overloaded and you are probably finding it difficult to be rational and logical. Be patient with yourself, your kids love you and need you.

11

hi thanks i got friends around they are helping with the rent benifit etc and the funeral, i dont have a partner only my dogs, my friend took me to asda today but i got such a big headache we came home, i just cant seem to get my head together and when i try i get a massive headache. the doctor tells me that is because my brain is in a meltdown it just cant cope at the moment. i can only discribe it as if someone has blown my brain from the inside. i get really cross at myself cause i et confused and have no idea why. i seem to sleep more and the slightest bit of stress and my brain blows. i cant believe that thishas got me like this when iwas doing so well. i even panicked today cause a car parked next to us in the car park, i know its stupid my brain says it is but i just cant seem to not panic it feels like i am nutty.

12

Hi Sarah,

Just read your post!!!, God you've had a bit of a rough time of it to say the least!!!!.

God there are so many post here regarding Sertraline!!!, hope things settle down for you

Sertraline does make some of us calmer!!! etc.

Just thought I would give some insight to how I am on Sertraline here.

I've been on Sertraline now for 5 years, had problems with depression and anxiety after

having a breakdown. I was taking one 200ml pill a day for 3 years, then reduced down to

one 100ml a day for a further year, have been on one 50ml a day for the last year.

Have been reducing now since November 2013, by taking 0ne every other day for a couple of weeks, have continued reducing carefully!!!!!! under the carful watch of my Doctor.

I am now at the stage of taking one 50ml every 7 days and feeling a slight change back to my old normal self in a good way I may add!!!! before I had my breakdown and the need for

Sertraline!!!.

So hopefully within another month I should be off complete!!!, major achievement after such a long period of time on them!!!.

Yes they certainly help in maintaining a stable frame of mind worked for me, I have heard

they don't work for everyone!!! why not sure!!.

I must say from my experience they do/have certainly helped me, I have been told once

you start taking Sertraline you need to be on them for around 2 years!!, you can not take

them here and there for short periods of time!!!, plenty of info on net!!!!.

Word of WARNING!!!! back about 15 months ago, I thought as I was/am feeling stable I

would just stop taking them of my own accord!!!, I did not consult my Doctor!!! what a big

mistake!!!!! that was I felt OK for just over a week and thinking I am now fully OK NOT!!!!!.

I just crashed back down so to speak, basically like going cold turkey as they say!!!!, My

Doctor said I should have never done so!!!, I went straight back to my dosage you

have to reduce slowly as I am now doing reducing sensible over a period of time, its a

powerful drug!!! remember that!!.

I was at first thinking I would be on these possible for ever it seamed!!!!, remember as I

have found/experiencing now getting better!!!, and with all the help out there counselling etc

which I had for a long time over the years!!!! help.

I am feeling good now and only hope when I finish taking them I will continue back to

normality!!!!!.

Remember things will/does get better!!!!, Oooo!!! one thing I must

also say I did not want to tell my family I was taking anti depressants!!! at first felt

embarrassed!!! that caused a worry!!! but eventually I did also told my HR in the company

ware I worked, well I must say its surprising how much that helps!!! all being very

supportive!!!, so when I had time off from work on many occasions due to not being able to mix/face people etc!!! work were very understanding and sportive.

I have in place a support group!!!!! to attend for as long as I feel the need, DONT fill

embarrassed!!! to go to one remember everyone there is there for the same reason/situationas ourselves!! its good to talk share!!!!.

Good luck in the future, you will get better point to focus on/remember!!!.

Steve.

13

Hello everyone,

I haven't been on here for a while as I found I was constantly googling anxiety/depression and different drugs that could be taken and which one would be worth taking if any. I started to get more anxious and desperate for a solution when in fact the solution has been with me all along.

After my horrible experience with Sertraline I went back to the doctors who put me on beta blockers. OK it didn't stop the anxiety from rising in me but as my heart wasn't racing so much I found it so much easier to calm myself down, relax and get on with the day instead of sticking my head in a computer game for a day. I also took some Zopiclone (sleeping tablets) which at least let me sleep for about 5 hours a night.

After a week I had to up the beta blockers to twice a day , one in the morning and one at night. This meant I slept anywhere from 7 to 8 hours a night and even managed to have a lie in on one occasion.

I am still on the beta blockers but have not felt the need for using the sleeping tablets for the last 5 days.

I have found that my children making me get up and do things like the school run and constant badgering from my 2 1/2 year old have helped immensly as well as talking to anyone who would lend an ear, even if they switched off and were not listening.

Through this I have still needed to force myself to eat but the last week I have really looked forward to my evening meal and today I havn't stopped scoffing.

When going through this past and present times I have found that setting yourself little goals every day makes you feel better. Mine have been going for a ten minute stroll round the block to yesterday driving the car again to today where I could settle at someone else house (mother in laws with my kids and nieces). It makes me believe that as long as you take each day as it comes - good or bad- you can get one small positive out of it then the light at the end of the tunnel gets clearer.

The beta blockers and sleeping tablets have helped me use the tools taken from previous therapy sessions and put them into practice - excercising, talking about anything and everything (if you have no-one to talk to or can't, write it down), showing your emotions and finding a solution to something that is bothering you and acting on it (chopping it up into easy little steps).

It has however taken about 5 trips to the doctors over 3 weeks to finally find a doctor who is sympathetic to how I have been feeling and wants to take proactive approach to the future. She has noticed that I am obvously very prone to these attacks and although I feel much better today I am going back on the anti depressants (this time Citalopram - it worked very well for me previously) this is only to avoid another quick relapse.

I needed to realise that these small steps of pushing myself and finding someone to talk to is not just something that should happen on an ad hoc basis when an attack happens but it needs to be a complete lifestyle change. It will take time and a lot of hard work to change my mindset so these actions become a way of life and not just a knee jerk reaction.

I wish everyone the best of luck in finding your way to cope and overcome this horrible illness. Just remember to be positive even if your day is going bad. Focus on the positives in your life no matter how small and if your hurdle seems too high to get over by yourself there are so many people who can help you. You are in this for the long haul and no matter what happens you are strong. It takes a strong person to admit they need help. The more you suffer in silence the worse it will be.

14

I will complete a month in a couple of days back on sertraline 50 mg after a two month break. I did feel i was improving but two days ago the anxiety made me hit rock bottom again. I am still having anxiety which i am trying to deal with. I curse the day i decided to go off it. I was doing so well on it for 4 years. Hope it will improve in another month. I am praying so hard it will.

15

I am starting my sixth week going from 50 to 100 and some days I do very well and think I am getting better and then have a morning of anxiety and feel like I will never get well. I am told you get better gradually over time. I no longer need to take xanax. Mornings can still be tough. I am sticking it out for another month to see if this dose will do it.

16

i too have started taking it again and this time seems horrible. i feel blah. not sad not happy. lazy, my agoraphobia is out of control havent left house in 5 days, and if i think i have to go anywhere intusive thoughts come in and i start to panic. i dont know what to do or say to feel better. just wondering if you had felt any of this and if it got better. i hope you are better.

17

I also could not easily leave the house, afraid of losing control and having crazy thoughts. I am now 6 and a half weeks on a 100mg. I was on 50 for many years and they stopped working for me.  I am finally getting better. Went to a store with a friend and out to lunch today. I couldn't have done it two weeks ago. Some days are harder especially in the morning. I don't remember it being this difficult when I initially went on them. Can you get a prescription for xanax to get you over the hardest part for the first month. Improvement feels like two steps ahead then one back. It can take 8 to 12 weeks to fully feel better. Hang in, it worked once and it will again

18

Katharine, I registered on here just to reply to your wonderful comment. Youve just described my exact experience with Sertraline and depression to a tee, and the exact same symptoms and time frame!

I also became freaked out by night sweats and tried to re-start Sert a few months back but lost hope after no change for 6 weeks. Youve inspired me to give it another go and to take better care of myself.

Also, Desiderata has always been my favourite poem! Thank you, Lara x