Sertraline

[Scotnewbie]

Hello all,

I am not in the application process but it’s something I may consider when new posts are advertised. However, I wanted to ask about low mood medication as I’ve just been prescribed some. I asked for one that did not make me drowsy as I feel that I should take one that is suitable for the future just incase as it isn’t ideal to have to switch.

My low mood isn’t super serious and my doctor felt this the case too. I think anyone in my position may struggle… hard working conditions (I literally work 24 hours a day for 2 weeks straight with 2 hours off a day at a random time), friends moving on (having kids), not really liking where you live, being on my own, not having a go-to hobby that lifts my mood…just a bit lost really.

So I’ve been prescribed sertraline. Does anyone know if this specific medication is an issue in the medical? I’d really like to get something definitive on the yes/no list of medicines but I don’t know if there’s someone in HR I can call but I know they are busy.

Thanks

 

[Islineclear3_1]

People in the know will be along soon but I'm sure you know, Sertraline is an SSRI used to elevate mood. As with anything, you need to speak to your GP. It may cause drowsiness but that is dependant on dose.

Out of interest, what job are you doing that requires you to work "24 hours a day for 2 weeks"?

 

[CC 72100]

In my experience with Sertraline, it tends to be fine to take over the medium term, but you may be medically restricted to no safety critical duties for an initial period of a week or two whilst rhe medication takes effect. After that as long as you're not experiencing any side effects then good to go.

Disclaimer however: Your TOC may be different and your body may respond differently (should he obvious but need to say it)

 

[Aviator88]

SSRI's are  not an instantly prohibitive medication in the  majority of cases/companies.

The factors they will be interested in are  why you're taking it, how long you have been taking it, and do you suffer any side effects from the medication.

 

[Chrysalis]

Can't really comment on this but I'd really advise you to try to get therapy in addition to the sertraline. A lot of GPs are only too happy to prescribe antidepressants without offering counselling.

Someone mentioned you may be off work for a few weeks whilst you start taking them, also keep in mind that this is likely to happen when you stop taking them as well due to the withdrawal effects.

 

[malc-c]

I was on this antidepressant for around three years. It takes around 6 weeks to fully get in your system, in which the side effects can knock you sideways as your body adjusts. Part of the problem is that often GP's prescribe medication without regular followups to see if the cause of the depression / anxieties that were the reason you were prescribed them has changed. I was so fed up with the flat line emotions as a result of taking this medication I went cold turkey one day and haven't taken them since. The withdraw was worse than the first six week, with hot / cold sweats, sickness, shakes, fast heavy heartbeats etc.

As with all medication, they affect individuals differently. You may not experience all or any of the side effects, but sickness, and increased anxiety are the most common and wide spread. I'm not connected with the rail industry, but I think there is an obligation to inform any employer of any health issue, mainly as they have a duty of care to identify any ways they can help. You could be in far more trouble for not doing so and then they find out after an effect.

 

[Applepie356]

It varies as every case is different. But from experience (I take it too), No further investigation was needed in my case with the safety critical medical.

They will obviously ask questions regarding suicidal thoughts, your mood, why you were prescribed them, side effects, what you are doing to resolve/alleviate the illness. They may want to contact your GP for more information. So like I said every case will be different.

 

[Sly Sloth]

If you’re going for train driver/signaller/lone working safety critical tasks excluding guard and a new starter I think being on sertraline would be a major issue for a doctor to sign off. Mainly because they don’t know who you are in terms of no manager to ask what’s caused the issue and how you were before being prescribed the medication.
Lots of people within the industry take or have taken medication for anxiety, depression and other mental health issues but have the advantage of doing so whilst employed so advice can be given at every stage and in some cases a change of role or secondment can be offered.
I wouldn’t give up all hope but you may need to look at starting with a toc in a platform or gateline grade

 

[skyhigh]

If you’re going for train driver/signaller/lone working safety critical tasks excluding guard and a new starter I think being on sertraline would be a major issue for a doctor to sign off. Mainly because they don’t know who you are in terms of no manager to ask what’s caused the issue and how you were before being prescribed the medication.

I'd disagree with that. I was on anti-depressants (not sertraline) for several years and passed a medical for a safety critical role with no issues at all when applying as an external.

If they wanted to know your history and make sure it matches with what you've told them they can always request a report from your GP.

 

[Scotnewbie]

People in the know will be along soon but I'm sure you know, Sertraline is an SSRI used to elevate mood. As with anything, you need to speak to your GP. It may cause drowsiness but that is dependant on dose.

Out of interest, what job are you doing that requires you to work "24 hours a day for 2 weeks"?

Thanks for your reply Islineclear3_1. I have just been put on sertraline today by my GP and I did say that in the future I might apply for a safety critical job. I also said I had been unsure about going back on medicine/discussing with him due to potential repercussions on future career. He was somewhat reassuring and said that he didn’t feel that my level of low mood was of concern to careers but who is to know what he’d actually put on a medical. The thing is, I assume it could be years before new driver positions come up so I’d hope to be settled by then with regards to medication/mood.

Yeh so my current job is as a live in carer. So I am in theory working 24 hours a day but do get to sleep (albeit this could be from 10pm or we could be out on the town till after 1am) but I can be woken during the night if needed. Prior to this job my background was a medical field.

In my experience with Sertraline, it tends to be fine to take over the medium term, but you may be medically restricted to no safety critical duties for an initial period of a week or two whilst rhe medication takes effect. After that as long as you're not experiencing any side effects then good to go.

Disclaimer however: Your TOC may be different and your body may respond differently (should he obvious but need to say it)

Thanks for your reply CC 72100. I’m not working within the railways yet and have not even applied. I was just keen to try and ensure I wasn’t on a medication that was a definite no incase I wish to apply when more jobs come up (preference probably scotrail). I get the impression it’s going to be a while till jobs come up though.

Thanks Aviator88, that’s good to hear it’s not one of the No medicines as I think there are some so I was keen it to start out on that. I expect they would be more concerned if I was recently on it but since I’ve not applied yet that’s probably not a problem. I think the guidance now is for people to take them more long term if they need them than keep trying to come off them.

SSRI's are  not an instantly prohibitive medication in the  majority of cases/companies.

The factors they will be interested in are  why you're taking it, how long you have been taking it, and do you suffer any side effects from the medication.

Can't really comment on this but I'd really advise you to try to get therapy in addition to the sertraline. A lot of GPs are only too happy to prescribe antidepressants without offering counselling.

Someone mentioned you may be off work for a few weeks whilst you start taking them, also keep in mind that this is likely to happen when you stop taking them as well due to the withdrawal effects.

Chrysalis, thanks for your reply. Yes I’ve been referred for some therapy too but might do my own privately too as the wait is a while. My doctor seems really good as he has also referred me for a scan of my knee/hip which are not major issues but niggle and stop me enjoying walking / hillwalking which is something I used to enjoy more. (I sound old but I’m not that old )

I was on this antidepressant for around three years. It takes around 6 weeks to fully get in your system, in which the side effects can knock you sideways as your body adjusts. Part of the problem is that often GP's prescribe medication without regular followups to see if the cause of the depression / anxieties that were the reason you were prescribed them has changed. I was so fed up with the flat line emotions as a result of taking this medication I went cold turkey one day and haven't taken them since. The withdraw was worse than the first six week, with hot / cold sweats, sickness, shakes, fast heavy heartbeats etc.

As with all medication, they affect individuals differently. You may not experience all or any of the side effects, but sickness, and increased anxiety are the most common and wide spread. I'm not connected with the rail industry, but I think there is an obligation to inform any employer of any health issue, mainly as they have a duty of care to identify any ways they can help. You could be in far more trouble for not doing so and then they find out after an effect.

Thanks for your reply malc-c. How are you finding things after stopping? I was on another one previously but felt the same, that I wasn’t really feeling the happy emotions as much anymore, just kinda flat. So I came off it (over months). There are definitely reasons in my life for low mood but I do wonder if I do have a low level of certain hormones! I wish I could do an actual test for this. However, even though I came off the meds I don’t feel my “happy” emotions have got any better. To be honest, I think I’m just one of these people that doesn’t really get that excited about stuff sadly, it just is, for example, other people are often more excited than I am if I’m going on a really adventurous holiday I’m just like, well, I’m just going. But of a shame. But I think society makes us feel we need to react in certain ways to situations when that’s not how everyone feels.

 

[Sly Sloth]

What role?

 

[BrokenSam]

If you’re going for train driver/signaller/lone working safety critical tasks excluding guard and a new starter I think being on sertraline would be a major issue for a doctor to sign off. Mainly because they don’t know who you are in terms of no manager to ask what’s caused the issue and how you were before being prescribed the medication.
Lots of people within the industry take or have taken medication for anxiety, depression and other mental health issues but have the advantage of doing so whilst employed so advice can be given at every stage and in some cases a change of role or secondment can be offered.
I wouldn’t give up all hope but you may need to look at starting with a toc in a platform or gateline grade

Not true.

 

[PupCuff]

Hello all,

I am not in the application process but it’s something I may consider when new posts are advertised. However, I wanted to ask about low mood medication as I’ve just been prescribed some. I asked for one that did not make me drowsy as I feel that I should take one that is suitable for the future just incase as it isn’t ideal to have to switch.

My low mood isn’t super serious and my doctor felt this the case too. I think anyone in my position may struggle… hard working conditions (I literally work 24 hours a day for 2 weeks straight with 2 hours off a day at a random time), friends moving on (having kids), not really liking where you live, being on my own, not having a go-to hobby that lifts my mood…just a bit lost really.

So I’ve been prescribed sertraline. Does anyone know if this specific medication is an issue in the medical? I’d really like to get something definitive on the yes/no list of medicines but I don’t know if there’s someone in HR I can call but I know they are busy.

Thanks

You haven't said what role you're planning to apply for but in any case I would not expect sertraline to be a problem. As noted above some further investigation in relation to the underlying condition may be deemed appropriate by the doctor/clinician undertaking the medical but the drug itself is fairly common and safe. If you're on it and getting bad side effects then it may be an issue and it would be worth seeking advice from a GP on moving to another SSRI.

 

[Sly Sloth]

Not true.

Thanks for clearing that up with a 2 word answer!

 

[malc-c]

Thanks for your reply malc-c. How are you finding things after stopping? I was on another one previously but felt the same, that I wasn’t really feeling the happy emotions as much anymore, just kinda flat. So I came off it (over months). There are definitely reasons in my life for low mood but I do wonder if I do have a low level of certain hormones! I wish I could do an actual test for this. However, even though I came off the meds I don’t feel my “happy” emotions have got any better. To be honest, I think I’m just one of these people that doesn’t really get that excited about stuff sadly, it just is, for example, other people are often more excited than I am if I’m going on a really adventurous holiday I’m just like, well, I’m just going. But of a shame. But I think society makes us feel we need to react in certain ways to situations when that’s not how everyone feels.

It was that flat line feeling that made me chose to stop taking them. Yes they did a good job of leveling up the low times, but they also pulled down the highs on a good day. I never felt happy, nor sad. Since coming off them it's been a bit of a roller coaster. If I have a really positive day I feel really happy and often it's a very small thing that can make me feel like I've saved the planet. Equally you have to deal with the days where you struggle to find a reason to get out of bed, or I suddenly feel like crying. I don't know the reason you were prescribed them, but if it was for depression, then sometimes you can think in a positive way to try and overcome it, to a degree. I've had serious bouts of depression, enough at times for me to contemplate ending it all, but for several reasons I'm still here. Today I take each day as it comes, it's fairly routine and repetitive, but I'm comfortable with that.

Personally I think we get less excited about things as we get older. Enthusiasm and drive to do the hobbies wain and it's easy to sit and do nothing at times. Talking to people helps, be that via text / watsapp or actually meeting people. Three year ago I seldom went out. I had an area of the house that I basically hardly moved from, spending all day on the PC. My wife then dropped a bomb which send me back down that dark hole, but then I chose other ways to climb out rather than a packet of pills. I took on a rescue dog from Battersea. Now I have to get up to let him out, feed and exercise. At the time he was 15 months old and very cute, and having a cute German Shepard meant people wanted to stroke him and that meant I had to talk to people. So he's helped me overcome some of the stumbling blocks. I still have bad days... sometimes small things can trigger me. Equally a small thing can make me feel over the world and really pleased with what I've achieved, which is more like the person I used to be.

Sorry for the long reply... I sometimes tend to forget myself, but as said, it's part of that therapy...

 

[Chrysalis]

Chrysalis, thanks for your reply. Yes I’ve been referred for some therapy too but might do my own privately too as the wait is a while. My doctor seems really good as he has also referred me for a scan of my knee/hip which are not major issues but niggle and stop me enjoying walking / hillwalking which is something I used to enjoy more. (I sound old but I’m not that old

There are definitely reasons in my life for low mood but I do wonder if I do have a low level of certain hormones! I wish I could do an actual test for this.

Good. Also be wary that some GPs see no problem what so ever with patients being on antidepressants for years and years.

As you know serotonin is a neurotransmitter, and the idea is that this is what you're low on. But yes, it is a massive problem that there is no marker that you can test for (yet).

As a sidenote, there was a study recently that showed that the previously accepted mechanism behind the effects of serotonin reuptake inhibitors is actually not how they work at all. This was a massive surprise apparently which I find very strange. It's been known for many, many years that the increase of serotonin in the synapses happens very quickly after administering the drug, yet the positive effects on mood is only noticeable after a couple of weeks or so. Simultaneously, there is a very slight proliferation of neurons in the hippocampus (dentate gyrus if I remember correctly). So it has been clear for some time that a lack of serotonin in itself is not the issue for patients who respond to sertraline, yet this is what people believed. Just wanted to point out how bizarre the whole thing is.

The lack of proper science aside, sertraline helps a lot of people, so I can't see any harm in trying.

 

[BrokenSam]

Thanks for clearing that up with a 2 word answer!

It didn't require more.

 

[Sly Sloth]

It didn't require more.

I’ll pass that on…..

 

[Aviator88]

If you’re going for train driver/signaller/lone working safety critical tasks excluding guard and a new starter I think being on sertraline would be a major issue for a doctor to sign off. Mainly because they don’t know who you are in terms of no manager to ask what’s caused the issue and how you were before being prescribed the medication.
Lots of people within the industry take or have taken medication for anxiety, depression and other mental health issues but have the advantage of doing so whilst employed so advice can be given at every stage and in some cases a change of role or secondment can be offered.
I wouldn’t give up all hope but you may need to look at starting with a toc in a platform or gateline grade

Managers have zero impact on the outcome of an occupational medical exam - it's performed by a third party organisation.

 

[Sly Sloth]

Managers have zero impact on the outcome of an occupational medical exam - it's performed by a third party organisation.

I disagree…..referrals often start with your immediate manager. If you were employed then you could approach your line manager to advise them of the current situation and root causes of the current difficulties you have. This would all go down in the referral along with the managers comments regarding if they’ve seen any behavioural changes.

 

[Aviator88]

I disagree…..referrals often start with your immediate manager. If you were employed then you could approach your line manager to advise them of the current situation and root causes of the current difficulties you have. This would all go down in the referral along with the managers comments regarding if they’ve seen any behavioural changes.

This is also true for a new starter, though - the only difference is that their previous manager/GP etc won't (probably) be a train driver manager, specifically.

A referral carries as much weight as the reliability of the information within, regardless of the role of the person who writes it.

 

[skyhigh]

What role?

I've gone external -> guard -> internal transfer to revenue office role -> external transfer to trainee driver at different TOC -> transfer as qualified driver - all while on an SSRI and no issues at all passing a medical at any stage.

There's absolutely no blanket reason you couldn't go straight into a safety critical driver/guard/signaller role.