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Autism and Sertraline

MJJ24

Hello all, 

I have had anxiety for a long time and recently been diagnosed with autism. I have been taking Sertraline tablets for around 7 months now and started them before I knew I was autistic. It is hard for me to say whether they worked as at the same time I started taking them I also spent a lot of time signed off work and ended changing to a less stressful job and so did start to feel a bit better but it is hard to say whether this was situational rather than the medication. 

I guess I just want to ask really if anyone else is on Sertraline who is autistic and whether they feel it is helpful or not. I read so many mixed things online and it is hard to know really. 

Thank you in advance :) 

Parents

  • This is not medical advice. 

    I was on sertraline for just under 18 months with no effect except lots of sweating and putting on weight. Whenever the GP asked, I couldn't tell if it was making any difference - medication is supposed to improve things - right? I came off it with guidance from my GP and experimented of my own accord with more natural compounds as well as meditation.

    Consider what the root cause of your anxiety actually is. I was mislead by medical professionals who, with the best of intent, did not understand autistic anxiety or burnout. Neither did i at the time. It wasn't worry but chronic overload. 

    Autistic anxiety can have different causes to those of the predominant neurotype. I have come to understand we have a more sensitive fight or flight mechanism so maybe consider if you are in a suitable set up for your life and environment. Of course it's also possible to have GAD and be autistic.

    Read Luke Beardon's book about Autistic Anxiety. It provides lots of insight and is very accessible.

Reply

  • This is not medical advice. 

    I was on sertraline for just under 18 months with no effect except lots of sweating and putting on weight. Whenever the GP asked, I couldn't tell if it was making any difference - medication is supposed to improve things - right? I came off it with guidance from my GP and experimented of my own accord with more natural compounds as well as meditation.

    Consider what the root cause of your anxiety actually is. I was mislead by medical professionals who, with the best of intent, did not understand autistic anxiety or burnout. Neither did i at the time. It wasn't worry but chronic overload. 

    Autistic anxiety can have different causes to those of the predominant neurotype. I have come to understand we have a more sensitive fight or flight mechanism so maybe consider if you are in a suitable set up for your life and environment. Of course it's also possible to have GAD and be autistic.

    Read Luke Beardon's book about Autistic Anxiety. It provides lots of insight and is very accessible.

Children
  • in reply to Deleted User

    This is an interesting point to be raised. I'm currently looking into whether my anxiety might actually be triggered by sensory stuff. Before COVID lockdowns I never got anxiety, and it was after lockdowns lifted when I attempted to go back to my 'normal' life that I had my first one. Knowing now that I am autistic is changing how I think and reflect on stuff. One of the questions I'm asking and intend to ask my GP about is does the new diagnosis of Autism warrant a reconsideration of the depression and anxiety. What should we do differently (if anything to manage it). To be fair, the propranolol I am on for the anxiety does seem to help calm me so want to be cautious and take the medical advice offered.

    It makes me wonder about regression. Put in the proper context the things that led me to be signed off work and then later be pushed through Work Capability Assessments I think now are autistic burnout from which I'm still recovering. Could then, the anxiety be regression associated with burnout? So many questions...

    That said, as I and others have said, the anti-depressants do help smooth out and quiet some of the more noisy and problematic thoughts like that I must be lazy because things are feeling more difficult than they once did, or because I'm taking the time out to heal and recover rather than rushing back to work.

    As you point out though, I Autism and GAD can both co-exist. [/rambling rant over]