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100mg Sertraline. Cold Turkey.

Posted , 5 users are following.

jaci99613
jaci99613

After much research, I made the decision today to go 'cold turkey' and stop taking Sertraline.  I have been on this medication since July 2015.  I feel a lot better than I did when I started taking this anti-depressant but in all honesty, I'm not sure if it's because of the tablets or because I'm actually better! 

So this is Day One and I intend to update you on my progress as often as I can.  Until today, my routine was wake up, take my tablet, go through the day which involves managing 10 people, get home, take an over the counter sleeping tablet at 6:30pm so that by 10pm I might eventually fall asleep. 

Most nights I would have a couple of glasses of wine to make the sleeper work, although if I exceed a couple, I admit to complete black-outs and memory loss which is not good.

So, I'm going to see if I am better.  I have not taken my sertraline today, but I will take my sleeping tablet tonight.

If you have any questions I will give you my honest answer as it relates to my experiences.

Wish me luck!

 

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • LFCste
    LFCste jaci99613

    Posted

    very very bad idea to stop taking this cold turkey the safest way to stop this is the 10% Tapering having done the research as you said you have you should know that doing what you are is very dangers. PLEASE do it the correct and safe way  
    • LFCste
      LFCste

      Posted

      I did post a couple of links for you to read but they are currently being moderated 
    • Emis_Moderator
      Emis_Moderator LFCste

      Posted

      I deleted the post with links as we cannot link to blogs etc. Users can easily find sites by searching sertraline withdrawal in a search engine. If you want to pass these specific links on please use the Private Message service.There is an article on our site about coming off ADs here:

      https://patient.info/health/coming-off-antidepressants

      Regards,

      Alan

  • Psyched_Out_Kim
    Psyched_Out_Kim jaci99613

    Posted

    I quit cold turkey about 5 years ago. It took a couple of times, but eventually I did it. The first few days or more was fine because the med was still in me, and slowly leaving. Things got really bad after that, and it was quit horrendous. The anxiety came back with a vengeance, and was 10 times worse than before I started the med. The chemicals in the brain can't change that fast, so it pretty much goes haywire. There's round the clock panic attacks, insomnia, fear, sweating yet having cold extremities, dizziness, shaking, brain fog, and so much more, because that's just the tip of the iceberg. It can take weeks for the withdrawal symptoms to stop, and after that you'll feel better. With that being said, quitting cold turkey was the dumbest thing I ever did. I felt like I was better so I wanted to get off the medication, but was too impatient to taper, and I paid the price.

    Everyone is different, so your withdrawal symptoms can be a vast array of anything, and the time it takes to detox isn't set in stone.

    I wish you would decided to taper, because it's a dangerous game of Russian Roulette, but if that's not your choice, I wish you luck.

  • Uzzy
    Uzzy jaci99613

    Posted

    Hi

    I just wanted to ask whether you started to feel better straight away or it took you a while because I've been prescribed them by my GP I suffer with panic attacks and anxiety but I'm to scared to take them . I've taken them for few days I had few side effects so I decided to stop it.

    Can somone help plz

    • jaci99613
      jaci99613 Uzzy

      Posted

      Hi Uzzy, In all honesty, I did not feel better straight away but I had read a lot about the medication and expected to feel worse before I felt better.  Depending upon your side-effects, I would bear with them.  I had headaches, my sleep was affected (and continues to be), and I felt very low but I knew it was worth it as they do work and after a few weeks I started to feel brighter.  A lot of people I knew that had taken anti depressants said they 'felt nothing, not happiness, not sadness, just numb'.  I have not had that experience on Sertraline.  I still experienced emotions and felt strong enough to deal with them.  One other side effect is an increase in my body temperature.  Hot flushes I guess but it's manageable too. 

      My doctor started me on 50mg but I went on to 100mg after 2 weeks.  I wish I had just started on 100mg. 

      Good luck!

  • Tezes
    Tezes jaci99613

    Posted

    I tapered off over 7 months 10% method, safe and proven, I avoided  all the nasty withdrawal symptoms that can be protracted and even in some cases permanent. take heed for your own health and sanity
    • jaci99613
      jaci99613 Tezes

      Posted

      Thank you all for your replies.  I took 3/4 of a tablet today and will continue to do so for the next few weeks.  I appreciate this is 25% tapering and not 10% but it must be safer than going cold turkey which everyone has alarmed me about.  I will continue to update with my experiences. 
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