How Ill Are You

[jennyjoan]

If your doctor has prescribed Sertraline - I know you will think it is me - but it isn't.

Is the tablet really only for depression and do you believe in it.

Thanks

[Mamyalynne]

I can't really help with how ill someone is just from what you've said JJ.

Sertraline is a well used and useful medication for a few disorders , often in the short term.

[emmie]

i have been using it for years, and yes i believe in it wholeheartedly.
I am not sure why i stopped taking it, but i did and the effect was catastrophic for me. I went down hill before Christmas and realised that i needed help - after some consultations with doctor and intervention from the crisis team, i started up the meds again,
for me they were something of a life saver. If you have been prescribed them consider well whether you need them. I did but you may not.

[Theland]

How ill am I?
My breathing problems leave me a whisker away from shuffling off this mortal coil, but I could soldier on for a few more years.
So you tell me.
Am I ill?

[Canary42]

Read the full question Theland, she's not asking how ill you are, but how ill is one if prescribed Sertaline.

[Ken4155]

Theland, read the OP heading and her first sentence. She's not asking us how ill we are.
JJ, i am on Sertraline - though i am trying to wean myself off it - for depression and anxiety. I honestly don't know how ill one has to be to be prescribed this particular medication. I was initially on Prozac (didn't really work), then Citalopram which made me a complete nut job. Sertraline has been the lesser of 3 evils, in my case.

[naomi24]

You don’t need to be at a certain ‘level’ of illness to be prescribed Sertraline. It’s just one of the common drugs prescribed for anxiety/depression, the severity of which can of course vary and manifest differently in different people. I've never heard of it being prescribed for other conditions, but it might be.

[Mamyalynne]

All the SSRI family are useful in depressive conditions and not all suit everyone, Sertraline is particularly useful if OCD is present too.

Citalopram keeps me stable.

[naomi24]

Jenny, I get the impression that you doubt someone is as poorly as he/she claims to be. Is that right?

[Theland]

Oops!
Sorry for misunderstanding the OP.

[gordiescotland1]

I have been on it for 5 years and I find it very helpful I was very depressed before I went on it and anxiety was bad too. This Is by far the best antidepressant I've been on.

[jennyjoan]

ok - thanks for your honesty.

[roopower]

I'm not sure how ill you have to be.... Sertraline is mainly an antidepressant but is used to help cope with panic attacks, OCD etc. My son was on it for some time for depression but it became less effective. Rather than increase the dose he was put onto something else which I can't say let alone spell!

[davebro]

I've taken Venlafaxine (Effexor) on and off (currently on) to deal with depressive interludes. Tried others but they either had no benefit and/or caused unpleasant side effects.

[eve1974]

Davebro - venlafaxine for me too. I’ve been on various throughout the years n venlafaxine is deffo the one that’s helped me the most.

You say you’ve been on n off it? How did u cope with the withdrawals ????
I’ve sometime accidentally forgotten mine - like once I went on hol with insufficient tabs. Withdrawal awful!!!

(Don’t worry everyone not all anti depressants are hard to get off but venlafaxine deffo is!!!)

[pixie374]

I don't think there is a particular limit. It's good for depression and anxiety- and will probably help.

[pixie374]

Eve, I know none of them are addictive, but that works in a different way. To come off any, it's always best to go very slowly. Not because they are addictive, but because your body needs to adjust to the changes, and to make sure the anxiety or depression doesn't return.

[davebro]

eve1974 - I found withdrawal is ok if you just gradually cut down over a week or two. I once went "cold turkey" and had a week or more of very vivid dreams - not nightmares just very realistic & memorable. And frequent brain "zaps" like an electric current going through you head. Not recommended.

[davebro]

PS I'm on the lowest dose 75 mg once a day.

[eve1974]

Sorry Jennyjoan that I hijacked the post!!

Dave Not that I'm planning on stopping mind you. - I've had my times of coming off antidepressants only to crash really badly. (had depression since my teens n im now 47).

On these meds I feel so good - so "normal".
Nope im planning n staying on these the rest of my life with no inclination to stop