starting Sertraline (Zoloft)

[Heli100]

Hello there,

Firstly I’m in UK

I am looking for a bit of advice from people who are or have been on Sertraline.

I’m collecting my prescription tomorrow and don’t t know if I should start it first thing in the morning with breakfast or last thing at night.

I have been on antidepressants before, Prozac and Citalopram and am very sensitive to the side effects of SSRI’s, the main one being heightened anxiety, which is bad at the moment anyway.

Also, does anyone else who has anxiety/depression, have debilitating fatigue, I have zero energy at the moment and am hoping that this will go away as the tablets kick in.

Thanks for reading this

[Dixie9326]

The best advice of when/how to take your med should come from your doctor or pharmacist . Hope you feel better on your new med.😘

[Heli100 in reply to Dixie9326]

Thank you, unfortunately she didn’t offer any advice, but have decided to try morning with breakfast and see how it goes

[Shep22]

Hi everyone different When I was on them

Got told any slight issues with sleep 😴

Take in morning instead of night

[TedsMum247]

Hi, I was prescribed Sertraline for anxiety last year. Unfortunately after the first tablet it gave me acute diahorrea so I didn't take any more. However, maybe it will work for you.

[mits123]

HI

I have been on sertraline for many years and have found it to be a good drug.

There will be side effects, although everyone is different as to what they might be, you can speak to a pharmacist to get over the counter medication to use short term to counteract these.

With regards to morning or evening to take the tablet, again is personal preference, in some it gives them insomnia, others it makes sleepy. I take mine with my evening meal, not because they have to be taken with food but because this is a reminder to take it, as you have to be consistent with this sort of medication.

It is not a quick fix and usually can take anything from 4 to 6 weeks to see the greatest improvement, which I know sounds like a long time when all you want to be is back to normal, however there will be glimmers of hope in that time frame when you will start feeling more positive and a little calmer

You will only know if you give it a try and give it time. Good luck and take care

[Heli100 in reply to mits123]

Thank you for your reply Mits

I have been on antidepressants in the past and have had bad side effects, so am prepared for a bit of a rough journey. This time I am going to document how I feel each day, with a view to letting others know about it. Just want to feel “normal” again and enjoy going out, instead of making excuses as to why I can’t.

[mits123]

That is a good idea, not only will it be helpful to others but will also show you how you are progressing when you have your rough days

[Jimmyluke55]

I’m on sertraline love have been for 3 years I started on 50 mg then ended up on 200 mg it was ok but at the beginning it was terrible but I’m much better now and I take mine at night but you should take it in a morning really but I was so tired all the time I thought I’d take it at night but I’m still so tired all the time xx

[Heli100 in reply to Jimmyluke55]

Thank you for your reply,

I took my first dose this morning, but have started at a very low dose, ( half a 25mg tablet) due to being very sensitive to SSRI’s and will slowly build up the dose.

I am extremely tired at the moment and keep thinking that there must be something else wrong with me, apart from anxiety and depression to feel this weary. Recent blood tests all came back normal. I keep telling myself that the anxiety is draining me of energy and that the tablets will help with this eventually.

[Jimmyluke55 in reply to Heli100]

Ye it will get better love I’m the same tired all the time but it’s definitely anxiety it drains you good luck let me know how you go on xx

[Heli100 in reply to Jimmyluke55]

I’m not doing too bad at the moment thanks.

I have however started on a very low dose, half a 25mg tablet, in order to lessen the awful side effects that I get on SSRI’s. So far so good but only on day 3 of this regime, time will tell.

[Sofaqueen21]

Hi. Hope tablets help you. I was reluctant to revist antidepressants but sadly couldn't help myself . Dr's put me on sertraline as I had taken before 17 yrs ago. OK if you say so as I couldn't recall name. However this time absolutely no help, I felt totally nothing! was still sleeping as much, no motivation. Nothing. Then bruises started appear from.no where. I was quickly moved on to mertzaphine which I have found my mood feels better..Still have bad weeks (yes weeks) but on a CBT course ATM., hmm not finding it to helpful as they trying to build a regimental routine ... I've learnt my life is work and sleep and have to now change that. Taking meds at a regular time helps with sleep. Motivation to move more is wiping me out as gone from zero to really pushing myself to the point of total exhaustion where I actually ache. See what they say about that this week.

We are all different and will experience different things. You and only you will know if there's a difference. Be honest with your Dr on your reviews and be honest with yourself. If you do more than you have done in weeks/months be kind to yourself. You didn't reach this point in a few weeks therefore recovery cannot be achieved in 4 to 6 weeks. I keep telling myself that I have achieved more than I was few weeks ago and feel happier that is an improvement.

Good luck. Stay in touch. Loads of help on here xxx

[Heli100 in reply to Sofaqueen21]

Hi Sofaqueen

Thank you for your helpful reply.

Antidepressants affect everyone so differently, I have two friends who went on Sertraline and had zero side effects and one who had mild side effects.

I am now on day 4 and felt really awful yesterday, my head felt weird a bit woozy and wired (but not anxious) and I just couldn’t sleep.

I know that it will be a few weeks before these side effects go and this time round on antidepressants I am actually telling people the reason for not socialising and why I’m hiding away from things that I normally do. In the past I tried to hide it and would then cancel plans at the last minute. Being honest about how I’m feeling helps to lessen my anxiety. It took me 3 years to get where I am at the moment, so I’m aware that it may take many months of medication and counselling to feel well again.

Hopefully today will be a better day

[stde]

When you awake in morning, if you are able, get out into nature👍....give it a few days and you will feel better

[Heli100]

Hello,

Here is an update to my Sertraline journey, not a good one sadly.

I took half of a 25mg tablet every morning for six days, the first three days were not too bad but started to feel effects on day five, a bit wired, no energy and couldn’t sleep, the morning of day six was terrible, I took the half tablet and after an hour felt so nauseous that I thought I might pass out, I then had bad diarrhoea and decided not to take any more.

I spoke to my doctor who agreed that I should stop them and she has now prescribed imipramine, starting at a very low dose of 10mg once daily and if it suits me to up to one in the morning and one in the evening. Oh my how difficult this is to be able to settle on a medication. Has anyone else taken Imipramine?

[sophiebrodie]

Hello from across the pond! (that joke is old but I still make it...)

I had a mediocre experience with sertraline. I personally was on it from 10 years old to 16/17 years old, and I felt no difference in my symptoms, so I was taken off of it.

I also suffer from the side effects, so I am happy that your doctor also did the half of 25 thing (I was going to recommend it before I read your update, oops). I personally got minimal side effects that I can remember, but, like you said, everyone is different.

Don't feel discouraged that you have a few that didn't work. There are SO MANY medications out there. If you have a good doctor, they have a tentative plan about what they're doing. I've been there (but with atypical anti-psychotics), so I feel the struggle.

But if the side effect is anxiety with those, perhaps you should look at a different category, or a medication that doesn't have that side effect? Idk, I'm not a doctor.

Good luck!

[Heli100 in reply to sophiebrodie]

Hi there,

Thank you for your reply.

My doctor has now put me on a tricyclic antidepressant called Imipramine as I think that all SSRI’s will have the same effect on me. I’m praying that this one will work with little side effects. I will let you know when I start taking it.