Sticking to sertraline, its side effects and why people are on it in the first place.

Treatment and medication
1

Hi all I just need a rant about something I think we all understand and why we're at this forum in the first place. Whether you're on sertraline or trying to 'get' why a friend/relative is.

Personally I suffer from anxiety and depression. I've just upped my dose to 100mg and am hanging on as I've had a few days that I felt good again, so the memory of those makes all this worth while.

For all the doubters of this drug, seriously you have to go with the general consensus of 'don't give up!' We ALL feel you! The side effects and the illness all in one are absolutely *****. But the alternative would probably lead to giving up in general. And no one wants that. I've been there and people, even yourself end up asking - why??

We've just all gotta be patient! I wish people realised mental health is actually an illness and that we do not choose to be off work/school for so long. It's not 'fun' having so much spare time. Trust me we would all love to get back on track and be able to lead a normal life. But we can't and that's why we're seeking help.

This can hit anyone and all the ignorance is not helping any of us to get better. I feel almost guilty that I feel this way as people have big problems and don't end up in this state.

Firstly, just because we are ill, it doesn't mean we can't get out and about either.. Why do people expect us to stayed cooped up inside. Yes we have low energy and don't enjoy much but we don't have a physical problem so it's not weird that we're walking about. However the fact that we are, somehow suggests to some people that we are therefore fine and should be back at work/school. The fact that you have a sense of humour and a smile also means that you're fine, apparently. But these opinions couldn't be more wrong.

Inside, you're never going to understand this unless you are going through it. You feel trapped and unable to enjoy anything. You can't focus. Even on those few good days, where I'm buzzing, I couldn't for the life of me sit and concentrate on anything.

Anyone else found that people just run away too? If you were physically ill, people would visit you and feel for you and be there. I feel like some people choose to ignore it and therefore me as they don't understand. Which really hurts. At the end of the day we're still people with sane thought processes, just that we have anxiety/low mood/ whatever. And the days that we feel like we want to die, it's not because we're nuts. We just don't want to feel this way anymore; imagine being trapped in a mind that is incapable of feeling enjoyment or imagine lacking confidence completely. Well the problem is that people can't imagine this. And I wouldn't wish it upon anyone anyway. Sometimes, you forget what happiness even is. It's like a come down that never ends.

For those that just 'don't get it', fine. Just don't take it out on us that we're ill. We didn't choose it, it could happen to anyone. The way a physical problem does.

Rant over.

Just hope people realise you're not alone... When everyone else tries to push you back to leading a normal life and you just cry inside 'I can't!' don't let them dictate your recovery. You'll just get worse. Keep taking the sertraline the way you've been advised to. Go back to your GP if need be. And post things, it helps!

Feel free to add your thoughts! We all have our own problems and rants we need to let out ..hope other people can associate - helping to prove I'm not crazy like everyone thinks!

Lots of love x

2

Well done for posting this, I feel like I should print off copies to hand out to people wink

3

I totally agree! An honest and true account, which mirrors exactly how I feel. I will stick with the Sertraline - hopefully it will get better.

4

Thank you for posting this. I've had a 'close friend' turn against me because, and I quote, "You make me so angry, you have nothing to be depressed about, you're not the only one to ever have been upset about something and you'd feel better if you just took on a bit more positive energy."

OHEMGEEEE. I'd totally feel better if I just looked at the glass as half full, right?

I'm not knocking positive thinking, it has a very valuable place but if you're suffering with crippling depression, it's only a small part of the story. Making people feel small and pathetic, as this individual did to me isn't going to help anyone with their recovery.

I've just been prescribed sertraline, after resisting anti-depressants for years. Here's hoping it helps! It's really good to come on here and realise that I'm not alone. The past 12 months have been the hardest of my life and it's been nigh-on impossible to see a future at times. Thank you to everyone who posts!

5

Thanks guys. I also wish everyone I knew could be handed a copy of this. But they'd probably still be none the wiser.

Yes! I've had similar. I want to scream at them that I really need support right now but I can't make them care.. It's also so frustrating that people think there needs to be a cause. People are telling me the things I'm doing that have set all this off. They don't know a thing. I'm not even sure myself and I'm being told it's my job.. lifestyle.. But I quite like the things I do and am happy doing them. So that's not it at all! And yes..positive thinking! Though it's easier some days than others isn't it. It's just a case of telling yourself good days can and will happen.

To be fair, I used to be quite naive and wondered why people fell into depression when they had quite happy lives with no problems, but it's not til you have the illness that you finally realise that people can go from being relatively content with life, to then breaking down for some reason or other and falling into this hole that seems impossible to get out of.

It gives me comfort that people are pleased to have read this. Talking about depression is the only time in my life I've opened up to people.

6

I have never really been depressed, so this is all new to me. I have always been a "pull yourself together" sort of person, with others and with myself. I had a number of life changing events last year - my eldest daughter's marriage broke down and she has come back to live with me with my 2 very small granddaughters and I moved house after living at my previous home for 25 years. These things combined triggered everything off. I should never have moved house and have, in fact, put the new house back up for sale. I am tired of feeling so down and tired all the time, I have always had such a zest for life, but all that seems to have gone and I wonder if I will ever get it back. I feel so negative about the future. On day 4 now of Sertraline and feeling like s***. I took it before bed last night and, despite terrible sweats during the night, managed to sleep quite well. I thought by taking it at bedtime, I wouldn't suffer the effects when I got up in the morning - wrong. I feel absolutely awful today. I am going to give it 2 weeks, but if things don't improve, I will have to come off the tablets or change to something else. Is there light at the end of tunnel?

7

Sorry to hear this. I was much the same. Never understood the whole depression thing at all. I just thought live life! Good and bad happens but so be it. Then this happens and some days I also feel like I'm never going to be my old self again. I've been on sertraline nearly 3 weeks. The side effects are so horrible to start with and I just thought why am I making myself feel worse by putting my body through this medication which seems to have no good impact. But then a couple weeks in I perked up and had one day of euphoria I swear I was high! Had so much energy and felt so good in myself. Only lasted a day but it proved to me it's worth hanging on even though I'm not great recently. The worst thing is having no energy and not enjoying anything.. But one thing you shouldn't do is stop taking these! It can take around 6 weeks to help so just keep going.. If you stop prematurely the side effects are a whole lot worse! I have spent too much spare time reading forums and have concluded this is therefore not an option.

8

Well, I'll give it my best shot, but when you feel even worse on the tablets than you did before, it isn't easy. The problem is in the first few weeks, they make you feel even more anxious and that's happening to me at the moment. I am working and am finding it almost impossible to get up in the morning and get ready (make up, what clothes to wear, etc). My GP wanted to sign me off work for 2 weeks, but I find coming to work helps take me out of myself, even if all I feel like doing is putting my head on the desk and going to sleep. I'm taking next week off as leave, so I hope I might be able to catch up with myself a bit then.

9

Hi All Fellow Sufferers

I have been on Sertraline now for just 3 weeks. I have been signed off work too and was supposed to go back to work today, but I could not handle it. I felt terrible the first few days of taking Sertraline but improved in the last two weeks. But thinking about going back to work just set it off again, I could not sleep, feel tired and listless,cannot concentrate. I am not sure if I am feeling better as I don't seem to be feeling either happy or unhappy. I feel I am going through the motions and I am on automatic pilot. People think I am getting better and are trying to encourage me to go back to work but I do not think I am ready yet. Luckily my GP is understanding and keeps telling me not to rush things and that it will take time. I think I have been depressed all my life if I am being really honest as I seem to have bouts of really bad depression - feeling suicidal and arranging my funeral all the time then doing really strange things like I do not have a care in the world and feeling on top of the world- the life and soul of the party but I too was one of those people who just got on with things and was terrified to go to the doctor. I did go previously to a different doctor but she wanted me to go to group counselling- But I am quite a private person and could not stand the thought of sitting in a group and discussing my problems- simply because I did not know what my problems were so did not go to the group therapy, but the last year things just seem to get on top of me and I realized I needed to get some help. I did think I might be Bi-Polar but my doctor wants to treat me for the depression first to see if this will help me. I know what you mean about people not understanding because if you do not look ill they think you are ok. People who are depressed are so used to hiding the fact (I know I hid my depression from friends and family over the years as if it was something to be ashamed about). I have told my family and friends that I am being treated for depression and they are all surprised - the questions I get all the time is 'why am I depressed' If I knew why I would be able to explain it but as I do not think it is just one reason I cannot answer, so they find this hard to understand. Anyway It is nice to be able to discuss it with other people you understand.

I will stick with the treatment for now.

10

Jane2105 I really hand it to you! I wish I had it in me to get up and go to work like you've managed... I've tried and the only successful attempt I've had was when I was having a reasonably positive day as far as my emotions but even then I didn't make it in until 1pm as I couldn't get up; when I tried working, I couldn't focus on anything though and ended up just sat there laughing to myself at how useless my head was. I really hate how this drags you down.. I enjoyed being back at work too, its a distraction, and seeing people and interacting is really good, but I ended up having to admit to myself that I wasn't ready. I feel so useless as my doctor suggests it will be around 6 weeks before he thinks I should go back. I sometimes feel physically fine but then when I decide 'right, let's do something..' there's just this feeling of heaviness and tiredness that holds me back from doing anything, I'm so fed up with this head of mine!!!

Monray, I had the same. I had my family pushing me to go back, and I'd decide a day three days ahead, then when it crept closer, the anxiety worsened and I started to feel nervous and couldn't take it. So I pushed back the day of returning again and again; then as mentioned above, I finally managed it one day, but then I realised the next day that my happy streak was not continuing and I'm back to feeling useless and incapable of doing anything!

I feel like my experiences are pretty similar to yours! I've always suffer from anxiety and low mood, I used to be able to combat it though through my stubborn decision to not break down in front of other people, and from being too scared to go to the doctor. I hated the thought of taking drugs to dictate my emotions, and I thought that if I tried to get help I'd be told 'you're fine' and then I'd be even more lost if I felt like I had a problem but noone believed me; so I told myself that although I knew I was probably not 100% 'right' and felt things other people didn't, keeping up with exercise and social interaction and having a cry when in my own company was sufficient for me... Then I'm not sure what sent things over the edge, but things got ridiculously bad and I only got help after a failed suicide attempt. At which time, my family and friends then had to know about my mental state.

My family think I'm fine because I can do 'normal things', when inside I feel like **** and barely have the strength to do things, hence sitting down all day. I can't get anything to make my brain work, so sitting there doing nothing is more satisfying than finding a task to do. I breakdown when I'm by myself, I've never been someone to let others know my emotions as it makes me feel weak. Similarly to you, only my doctor and people I've spoken to about therapy truely know how I feel. The thought of opening up to family makes me cringe.

Don't rush back to work, as much as I wanted to and tried, it really made things worse - you have to try and put aside the guilt you feel for being off; with me, I've had to accept that people are now a bit confused at my long period of absence and my secrecy, but they don't understand what it's like and I would be bouncing back to work if I could, I just cannot. It's hard coming to terms with people thinking 'depression is just people that are sad' and 'they're having a free holiday'.. just thinking about the comments I know people will be saying makes me feel pretty sick.

11

Loco_estrella

I think one of the reasons I got anxious about going back to work is I feel that everyone will now think I am Unbalanced, and I am afraid if anyone asks me how I am, I might just go off on one. Since I have told my family and friends, no one has got back in contact with me to ask how I am- I have been left to deal with it- I don't know whether they just don't know what to say or they are afraid to talk to me in case I make them feel bad for not noticing I was depressed.

I did feel guilty at first about not going to work then realized that the only time they have contacted me in the three weeks I was off, was to ask a question about work- they did ask how I was doing after this, But I felt they did not really understand or believe that I was depressed. If they did not want to ask something about work I wonder if they would have contacted me?- So no I do not feel guilty about having time off, I don't care what they think either. Maybe that's half the problem worrying about what others may think about you instead of worrying about yourself more.

Anyway keep your chin up - you will get through this and find out who your real friends and colleagues are

12

Here here. thank you so much for posting this. Good luck to you.

13

I have been on sertraline for a couple of years and it has helped enormously , I started on it because of my physical illnesses that i couldnt cope with, then i had a marriage breakdown and the dose was upped. Today a year later i have been to see the GP and he upped the dose one final time to 150mg a day . I am not sure if it wears off or your body gets used to it after a time or just that my depression has become worse , but i am scared now as this is the highest dose, what happens if it doesnt work sad

I am also on amitriptyline and have been for the same amount of time, this also is supposed to help with depression and my neuropathic pain as well as the panic attacks and sleepless nights, but this has much worse side effects than sertraline.

I am finally giving in to counseling, which has been set up for me via my local blind association , i feel i don't want to talk about my problems any more or face them , i just want to be happy again, but I seam to be running out of options now .

14

Sertraline did not seem to be working for me the anxiety had become worse in the last three weeks since

I started taking them,

However today I am feeling a little better so perhaps they are starting to work, Also did not get a headache

today when i took the 50mg dose, See how I feel in the next few day's

15

I think it's a phobia for all of us of relapsing and falling back. It's frustrating not feeling normal again.. I'm finally seeing improvements though. Less lazy, feel less like there's a heaviness in my mind and body pulling me down. I think I'm able to enjoy more and concentrate a little better but still a long way to go.. And it goes without saying that things that make you sad will continue to do so. So it's a case of being able to see past these and keep going, seeing positives to every outcome. Being able to say these words I guess proves I'm getting there.

I hope people get better.. I'm also having to try therapy which I'm pretty doubtful will work but we'll have to see. As long as we don't give up, we're doing alright!

This forum has helped me greatly, at first I thought I was pretty pathetic for using it but opening up to other sufferers and reading other peoples experiences on sertraline has been a life saver. If other people weren't admitting their issues with it's side effects I think many of us would have given up on them. I wouldn't wish this on anyone but I wish I had a friend going through this too that I could talk to as no one else understands what it's like. The thing is, I may well have a friend that is, but because of the stigma attached mental illnesses, people are too scared to let it be publicly known. It's a shame, as it would definitely help people get better sooner. With all the campaigning in the world, I still doubt opinions will change, though rolleyes

16

Hi Everyone,

I have just joined this forum after being put on Sertraline by my GP this morning. I have suffered with depression all my life and no one understands how I feel. My family don't want to know me apart from my son who I know will support me no matter what.

I am off work because I cannot cope and last time I was off work no one spoke to me when I went back, so I am dreading going back when the time comes. Has anyone else had this problem with work?

17

I've been on sertraline 50 mg for around 3 months now

Started to feel better after a very down period but

Still find it hard to get out of bed when I do

I don't want to speak just to get back to my room and feel safe

18

Hi.

Well that is a great post you have said here!!!!, fully support in what you have said!!

19

Hi,

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 I need, DONT fill

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

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

20

Hi everyone,

I just want to share my experience on Sertaline with everyone and maybe this can help people better decide if the drug is for them or can give me their suggestions. I have always been an anxious person but about 5 months ago I started having really bad thoughts and thought I was going crazy. I told the people closest to me about it and they also told me they have bad thoughts but don't let it get to them. I just didn't realize why I would have such awful thoughts towards the people I cared so much about. After a week of not sleeping but about 3 hours each night and having my anxiety and thoughts control my days I realized it was time to get some help. I went to my doctor and he told me I had anxiety and prescribed 50mg Sertaline. The first week was horrible I was more anxious then I previously was my feet were sweaty and I still had racing thoughts. After about 2 weeks I started feeling like myself again and started to be able to get the thoughts off my mind. At about 4 weeks I felt the anxiety coming back and I just couldn't handle the fact that I might have to feel like that again. I called my doctor and he decided to up my dose to 100mg. This was probably the worst week of my life the anxiety came back 10x worse. I was finally sleeping better but I felt awful I was nauseous, I had an eye twitch. I decided I needed to see a therapist. I got in, in a couple of days and talked to her and told her all of my thoughts and she told me I had OCD. I immediately felt a huge relief, I finally felt like I wasn't crazy and I was normal but just have OCD. I have continued to take Zoloft every since and I have felt tremendously better for about 2 months now. Although around my period time I can sometimes feel the anxiety rising but its easy for me to now just brush them off and realize its my OCD not me.

However, If im even 10 mins late on taking my pill I can bet on being anxious for the next day or two. I also have some side effects that I don't particular like. Like I have awful/weird dreams, feel as though my short term memory isn't as good as it was before taking sertraline, and sometimes I feel weird and don't feel as though things are real. Also, I'm more irritable and snap easily when Im mad. I also just read on the internet that Zoloft can increase anger and there was an article that said a women killed her husband while taking it. Although, I know it probably wasn't just the Zoloft that caused her to kill him it still worries me.

I don't want to take a med that could cause me more anger. I know I would take all these side effects if it stops my anxiety, but I wanted to know if anyone of you guys have had the same side effects. Ive also read a lot of people saying that you should take SSRI's so it worries me and makes me feel that I should stop taking Zoloft. But then again it scares me to get off of it because I know how hard it was to get adjusted while on it.

I think my biggest fear is my anxiety getting to the point is was before and if I feel even a little anxious I feel as though Im going to fall down the hill again.

Although I know my post was kind of negative towards Sertaline it has helped me tremendously you just have to stick with it and not give up within the first couple of weeks. It does take time but I eventually got there and I still feel better I just have to realize I'm going to have small bumps I have to get across!