I've had depression for 8 months and it's been getting worse. It started with me randomly crying once a month. But now it's at the point that I have panic attacks, cry, miss school and see a therapist every week. I'm a senior in high school right now and will be going to college next year, so I thought maybe taking medicine would help me. I saw my doctor and she prescribed me 50 mg of Sertraline. I have been scared of the idea of taking antidepressants, but it has been awful to see my parents and boyfriend feel sad because I do. Besides the days of the month when I feel sad, I am a very happy person. I have a wonderful family, go to a good school, don't stress too much, I am care-free and have a good life. It has been scary to randomly start crying and not know why. My mom believes it to be due to what happened to me last year. Last year I had Toxic Shock Syndrome. TSS is when a bacteria called "Staphylococcus aureus" gets in your blood system. It then starts shutting down your body organs.... And 90% of my body had shut down. I had a fever of 105 degrees Fahrenheit and had to be in a coma for a week with a breathing tube. It was a miracle that I woke up and I remember the awful feeling of the breathing tube being pulled out of me. And that is how I feel when I have a depressive episode. My hands tremble, my eyes start to water and my throat aches. I freak out out of nowhere. That's why I thought I would get better if I tried to take medicine. But I was wrong. After taking Sertraline, I couldn't sleep. I only took 25 mg (half a pill) and was shaking all day. My hands would tremble so much, I'd feel scared, panic and stress about little things, I couldn't sit still, I felt energized (in a bad way) because my body was exhausted of not getting sleep, scared, and missing school. I was in such a good mood before I took it and now I'm just wishing it would get out of my system. Does anyone know how long it will take to get out?? Any tips?
I'm going to be very honest with you. It took me around two months to finally feel okay. Yes that can seem like awhile but it did work for me. You really just have to stick with it. Also don't rely solely on the pill to make you feel better. You need to change your thinking. When you are feeling bad intentionally think positive thoughts. You can't let it control your life. I started doing yoga and since I believe in God (which I don't know if you do) I started to listen and read Joyce Meyer stuff which helps in changing you thoughts and helps you to have a more positive outlook on life. I hope you feel better soon.!!
I stopped taking it last week. Was on it for 18 days started to feel good and than last week i felt odd so i stopped taking iand all weekvive felt suicidal depressed nausea. No emotion. I have aa GF and i have no feelings towards her. Ihave no sexual appetite. Im at the doctors now to see whatsbnext
Dudes- you have to give the drugs a chance, or it may be these pills are not for you and you need another type?
I've found the thing that makes me feel better is coming to terms with the real life issues I have - and don't be afraid of being you.
This is the first week I've felt ok I've been on them for 3 weeks 50mg, I don't think it's the pills that are making me better I think it's dealing with my insecurities and trying to change my thoughts that are really helping xx
What you went through is very very normal i felt amazing the first week or 2 and then it leveled out were i felt nothing and carried on with it though and had another good week then a boring week im on a boring spell at the minute and im on week5 it takes 8 weeks to feel any benifits. Honestly you should of rode it out you would of been free from side effects if you had gone that extra 7 days or so.
im same as you i took them for 3 weeks and was 3 weeks of hell i thought sod that i need myself back as i was worser on the tablets so gone cold turkey as just couldnt wait to get off them and sometimes tablets are not the answer
Anxiety makes hands tremble anyway, and also feel like its choking you. medication like these are not a quick fix it takes weeks if not months to settle in your system. You need to have a very positive mind and a strong push to get through the intial side effects. I know we have depression amd anxiety but we still have the power to push ourselves to the limit. Those was side effects amd for the first week or 2 are normal, nothing a sleeping tablet or benzo cannot help with for 1 week. Honestly its worth it in the end
I understand what your saying but you was nearly there. Im on 5 weeks of this and still not 100% but i am defiantly getting there. Unfortunately you cannot say they didnt work for you as any doctor ive ever seen and said the same to my friends or family when ever they had depression or anxiety that they will take 6-8 weeks to feel any different in most people, some may be even sooner but that tablet wouldnt of worked in less than a month. I hope you find piece though. Good luck
I've been on 100mg for a year now. Let me the you the first. couple of months were the hardest thing I've been through in my life. I didn't sleep, felt like I was crazy and I had so much fear. I can say now I'm so much better, do I have flare ups time to time? Of course. You need to give the pills a chance to work and work on yourself at the same time. The pill alone isn't going to fix it you need to learn to be comfortable with who you are
Well said buddy, its a big that people say these tablets dont work after 2 or 3 weeks and go cold turkey. Of course they will not work it takes a few months to feel anything for the better. I think doctors should tell there patients this and explain to them it will be tough for 1 to 2 months but it will get better. They should also give people anti anxiety meds with these to help through the initial side effects. Certain doctors havnt got a clue with depression or anxiety. I havnt had any side effects really but i did with other meds and was on citlopram for 6 months years ago and for the first 3 months it was hell then i felt amazing so it does take time. 5 weeks and counting seeing good progress now
Exactly my thoughts. My doctor did not explain to me that my anxiety would get worse before it got better so what did I do? Worry more until I did my own research and found out it takes awhile. My doctor also wouldn't give me Xanax or any other med when I was going through this stage so it was really rough but j did get through it. My number one thing j want to get a across is don't just give up after a week its going to take some time.
Very true, i also did research on it all and even seen people say it took them 3 months and my doctor has said sertraline is the longest activating tablet there is. You dont feel anything untill it starts to work then it will be like wow what was all that about. Even a slight improvement what im feeling after 5 weeks is better than nothing.
scott i was on these tablets for 3 years came off them a year ago so i actually know what there like
Sorry to have annoyed you
Thanks so much for replying 
I do realize it will take time to work, but it has been really scary experiencing all of this. I had to stop, because I started feeling like Iwanted to run away and I would get negative thoughts that arenot mine. I'm Catholic and all my church friends are there for me, but is just a crazy experience to go through. I'd rather have a broken leg or something than this... But I will just have to stay strong. I take yoga in school, see my social worker often, see a therapist every week... I have been positive, I suppose I am just exhausted. Because of TSS, I was left fatigued and all the doctors would say is, "take more vitamin pills". I just wish I had answers.
I'm so sorry to hear that 
Those might be withdrawal symptoms.... I stopped taking them after the first dose. But before that, whatever I have (if you can call it depression) was bad like that, that I felt suicidal and even when my boyfriend kissed me... I would feel nothing.
no u havent at all it was way i put it just know quite abit about tablets sertraline
Dont feel bad, i think im dlowly coming down that or these anxiety pills are helping me for now but i had sex last night with my girlfriend, i had to take a pill tho just tto get turned on and it felt good but i didnt have any feeling towards her while we were doing it. I just woke up, kinda feel like im getting back to myself but i dont know. To early to tell. I just hope i can be normal again. Feel love and happiness.
Himy doctor put me onCitalopram was only on them4 days and i couldn't sleep felt nausios so i quit taking them I called doctor and she precribed me sertraline25mg but haven;t started taking yet scared to but i need help i worry about everthing
Not every meds are for everyone it takes time to work and also looking up the side effects on line doesn't help your body or brain it just makes it worse.. You need to also have a positive attitude.. No meds should make your body shut down you must be on something else as well...