my treatment for pnd

[fm]

hi everyone

i felt a huge relief after finding a website like this. I was wanderin if someone could help me as i recently went to my gp to tell her that i feel tired all the time and upset and that i canive me focus on much of anything. Anyway without goin on she prescribed me antidepressant s called lustre (sertraline) they're the same as prozac and i want to know how they will effect me, i mean how will i feel better and will they help to g ive me some energy. how long does it take them to work. she also sendin me to a councellor what will they do. i hope someone can help me cuz i had some really awful days this week and i just wanna get better???

[deborah]

dear fm
The sertraline you have been prescribed are as you said, in the same group of tablets as prozac. They work by increasing the amount of a chemical in the brain (serotonin) which is thought to affect our moods.
The side effects are a little bit strange at first but keep on taking them as they do settle down after a few weeks of taking them.
You would expect to feel, a bit more anxious at first- jittery, but this usually settles down within a few weeks.
Drugs like this have a MILD stimulant effect so you should feel you have more energy.
If you read the leaflet that comes with the tablets or have a chat with a pharmacist (they give out good advice) which is a better thing to do as they can ask you questions about any other tablets you are on and your personal health history etc.
You GP will have prescribed these for you because of the symptoms you've told him or her about. If you are ever doubtful about something go back and ask them.
Give your tablets some time to work, usually about a month at least until you get full benefit from them. If they don't seem to work after that time see the GP again and see if they can increase them or change them altogether. These drugs are safe but they do take time to work, and you will get better on them as they are non-addictive.
The fact that you GP has asked you to see a counsellor is good. Nothing bad will happen so please don't worry!
All they will do is ask you to sit down and they will ask you questions about yourself, what has happened in your life so far and why you feel as you do now. you are in complete control of what goes on. It is usually helpful to get you through PNI, the tablets treat the symptoms the counselling treats the causes. Altogether this helps to get you back to how you normally are.
Don't be frightened- you will get well, take your medication and try to enrol in a group which can support you through this time in your life.Contact your local GP surgery, Health Visitor or Council for Voluntary Services (CVS) they have details of support groups in your area. Good luck.
Deborah xx

[AC]

Hi FM,

i am also on Sertraline,and have been for some time.I was on a high dose for about 5 months,and then i stopped taking them suddenly (Bad move !) I felt that i didnt need them anymore.I was off them for about 2 months and went down hill fast.I went back to my GP and he put me back on them,but a lower dose.

At first it was awful,they made me sick all night and i felt very ill,however that soon passed and i have had no side effects since.

My councillor is fantastic,i dont think i could have got through this awful time if it hadnt been for her,She visited me at home every week for ages,And then she set up a PND Group which i attend,there are 8 other women who all suffer with PND that attend and it has been great,some weeks have been awful with a few of us in tears as we talk,but its mostly been positive,and we have all become very good friends and we even meet outside the group now.

Use this website as much as you can,I do ! ( Y do i still feel like this ? ) If i am having a weird day,i turn to this website,i can write my feelings down and it clears your mind,It doesnt matter if anyone reads it ! I have had some fantastic replies and advice from others who use the site,They are all great.

xxxx

[fm]

thanx alot everyone for your advice its taken a huge load of my mind. had a really good day today and im feelin really positive about the future. i hope everyone can be the same. (hope this is followed by a bad day) thanx again