Hello!

I have had the baby blues since my youngest was born and now nearly 2 years later I still have bouts of crying, depression and increased anxiety. My doctor has put me on sertraline but I am hesitant to take it as I don’t like taking any prescription medication. Is any one taking ny anti-depressants? Did you experience any side effects? How long did it take to improve your mood (if it all)? Thank you.


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  • I have been on the same medication on and off since I was 17 now almost 32. I went back on it when I was hospitalised 3 months after my son was born in 21 with postnatal depression and psychosis and I have been on it ever since and I am currently 25 weeks pregnant no side effects or anything


  • When my first got born I was on Prozac. I didn’t think it was very effective. My 12yr old is on Sertraline since about 4 years now (besides other medication). She uses 100mg a day, quite a high dose for a child, but she has severe problems.


  • I have been on them for two weeks, and my brain chatter has almost stopped and I am sleeping, and have more clarity… Short term they are good I think, but are only a bandaid. You can get up to ten psychology visits on a Care Plan through Medicare and it will cost you nothing. Also try natural supplements and meditation – this is my care plan through my divine GP


  • My 24yo son takes them – he suffers from anxiety and depression as part of his Aspergers Syndrome.


  • Nope, never had the need for anti depressants. There’s no shame in it mind you


  • oh gosh, poor darling – please take care of you xxx


  • I have been on sertraline for a year and a half. It has the least amount of side affects.
    I had anxiety and depressiandwhich caused me to lose an enormous amount of weight.
    it took about 3 weeks for me to feel better.
    the only side affects I suffer from are night sweats.


  • I have been on sertraline (Zoloft) for over 15 years. Mainly for anxiety (which initially caused depression.)
    I went off it once and found the panic attacks came back. I stayed on it while I was pregnant and didn’t suffer and PND. Educating yourself on your physical responses to stress and depression really helps. My doctor had suggested going off it again last year but I was then diagnosed with a serious genetic heart condition so it didn’t seem like a good time! From my family research there is manic depression on my Mums side so I think of it as a maintenance that I have to do.


  • My hubby takes setraline and I know it works for him. :)


  • I have a family member who tried anti depressants and she suffered side effects. Make sure your partner knows you are taking this drug so you can be monitored. Make sure you know all the side effects. Make sure you see your doctor regularly in the beginning. If you are having symptoms that seem to worsened depression, suicidal thoughts, or changes in behavior stop taking the medication and see your doctor and tell your partner/friends. If this drug works for you that great but as some ladies have said here it allows you to get on with things. Get out more and try to join a gym where your child is looked after and you get some you time and have some fun meet people. Gyms are great as you release endorphin’s! Endorphins also trigger a positive feeling in the body, similar to that of morphine. Best of luck!!


  • Hi, im so glad you finally went to the doctor for help. im on sertraline, only 50 mg. no side effects. I df think it helps me cope better with stress. I don’t cry now or get as angry. not sure how long I will take them for. they are cheap thankfully


  • Sorry to hear this. Have you tried St johns wart?


  • My children where older when I started (although in hindsight it should have been earlier) and it was the best thing I did. Once they kicked in (after about a month) it was like the fog lifted and I could think clearly. They didn’t “fix” anything but enabled me to work on “fixing” the things that needed to be “fixed” and changed others so that I felt better and now I don’t need them


  • I have been taking mine for over a year now and I can say the ones I am on are working. I have found that I am more motivated so much that I am now starting a course and I have lost weight as well. These are just a couple of my goals that I have achieved and it was the best thing for me to do. I have only had one side effect of bad acne but that is manageable. Take it one day at a time and trust that your doctor is there to help. Good luck with everything


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