Starting Sertraline for PMDD

[Greenblue55]

Hi, I'm starting Sertraline in a few days to see if it helps with Pre Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). I'm waiting on a consultant appointment and have resisted trying antidepressants for quite a while. The symptoms in the week leading up to my period have made me realise I need to try something more than diet and exercise, so this has been recommended for the two weeks at the end of each cycle. Usually, I will have real trouble sleeping, exhaustion, extreme tearfulness and feelings of hopelessness, and cancel pretty much any non-essential plans on the week leading up to my period. I've heard there can be quite a mix of symptoms, particularly when first starting Sertraline, so just looking for some advice to come at this constructively. Thanks.

[anxious_depressed]

just don’t miss a dose. It makes it worse. I also have pmdd and I took sertraline for a while. I’m trying to taper off it now though

[Greenblue55 in reply to anxious_depressed]

Thanks for the speedy reply! Are you taking it continuously, or just in the weeks leading up to a period? I'm a bit nervous how it will be stopping after a fortnight, but I'm keen to avoid being on it all the time if I don't need to be. Thank you.

[IncognitoC]

I take Sertraline 100mg. There are some side effects that come with it. My personal experience is that I don’t think it’s working for me. Although I have not got any worse so maybe it’s stabilised my anxiety and depression. Remember when you start taking them you will need to expect to wait for anything around 6 to 8 weeks before they show any signs of improvement.

[Greenblue55 in reply to IncognitoC]

Thanks for sharing your experience. That's interesting about the time for a change to be seen, I've been prescribed them just on the lead up to a period, so for me that's 2 weeks taking them, then 5 weeks not taking them. So I'm not sure how that will work out.

[IncognitoC in reply to Greenblue55]

That is very strange. As anxious-depressed has said not to miss a dose it’s surprising that you have been told to take them that way.

[cp90]

I’m in 150mg but for anxiety/depression not for pmdd. Its definitely helps to keep my anxiety from being stratospheric constantly. Side effects wise, yes there are some but they’re tolerable for me. I take mine first thing in the morning as I find it makes me too awake to sleep. I find if I miss a dose or am 12 ish plus hours late taking it though I know about it, I get a fuzzy sensation in my head and neck as well as little electrical sensation jolts when I turn my head. Your withdrawal weeks might be harder depending how used to it your body gets. Depending on dosage so it may be worth considering or asking about a half dose on those other weeks, otherwise you might get “new med” side effects every pre cycle? Just a thought 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Greenblue55]

Hi - I just wanted to update on my experience, in case it's helpful for anyone else. Overall, I would say Sertraline is working well for my PMDD, and I'm glad I decided to try it for my symptoms.

I have a period every 7 weeks by back-to-backing two packs of the pill (Yasmin), and take 50mg Sertraline for the 2 weeks before a period. The first fortnight I took it I definitely had the worst symptoms, with nausea, stomach cramps and some light-headedness. Each fortnight I have taken it since, the symptoms become more manageable, and are now broadly just in the first few days of restarting it. I notice an increase in anxiety and emotional symptoms for a few days after stopping the Sertraline, and my period starting, but overall it's better than when I wasn't taking anything. I was experiencing insomnia pain, and feelings of hopelessness for at least 3 weeks in every 7. So for me it's definitely helped, and I will be carrying this on.