5 months gradual increase in withdrawal

Thanks Betsy. Yeah I've heard the surviving antidepressants site is very useful. I was taking them to treat my OCD, the pure 'O' kind. Depression wasn't the big factor but that seemed to gradually enter the fray. Sertraline did make a vast improvement in my life for a period of time but the nonsense that came with it just got too much. Erratic behaviour, increased aggression and agitation then borderline suicidal and at that point just stopped completely.

Was that during the taper before stopping?  Aw, should have slowed down at that point!

Though at five months out a small reinstatement is iffy, it might be worth a try to see if you get symptom relief if.  But I'm talking a TINY amount.  Though it may not seem like it, your nervous system has done some healing, trying to return to balance without the drug.  So, taking a "therapeutic" (ie. 40 mg) dose at this point would be way too much!  You might try 5 mg.

Oddly, protracted withdrawal can be more severe and last longer by going off too quickly, though people think the faster they get off the faster withdrawal will be over.  Just not true.  

Anyway, if you join SA they can help you figure out your best move.  My biggest worry about forging ahead is that sometimes people get stuck in a withdrawal wave that is very severe and months long, and suicidal ideation comes on because of the relentlessness.  People are very at risk at these times, and sadly we have seen people give up.  It is a true tragedy what coming off these drugs does to people, and the psychiatric community won't acknowledge it.  At the same time, it is disgusting that people feel they have to stay on these drugs forever because coming off is seemingly impossible.  At least with the micro-tapering method, it is possible to come off and have a softer landing.

I wish you peace and healing!

There was no taper at all and I'm at fault for that. My behaviour was getting that bit concerning and I just went cold turkey, not remotely contemplating what was around the corner. I could do with some form of relief however I'd prefer to avoid the whole rigmarole of going in again and even more side effects. Being involved in fitness, I was more curious about natural supplements, likes of tryptophan, St John's Wort, inositol, natural serotonin boosters. I've heard reasonable reviews about these supplements in relation to depression but nothing based on OCD treatment. Would just rather not go back down the road of depending on these pills unless my work/personal life begins to take a hit. Thanks again for your feedback

I tried the 5-htp, tryptophan and Sam-E route after coming off Effexor, but none of it could hold up to withdrawal!  I think Sam-E might have made things worse ultimately because I've read that it can CAUSE anxiety!  

I do think those supplements can help some people with depression as an alternative to meds, but only 1/3 or so of depressions are caused by low serotonin, or shall we say that 1/3 of people with depression were found to have low serotonin...they just don't know what causes depression as yet.

Ultimately, I think CBT type exercises that break circuits of dysfunctional thinking patterns and rewire healthier thought processes is the way to go!

I read that longer taper or shorter taper doesn't change the outcome.....one guy tapered quickly and had no symptoms and people taper slowly does change any outcomes...

Yup, it's a bit discouraging to read things like that.  I think what really needs to happen is to slow the taper way down once you get below the minimum effective dose, especially when you've been on the meds years, not months.  The problem with going ahead with a fast taper hoping you'll be a lucky one is that once the wheels come off the bus it is a lot harder to get them back  on ;-)  So the idea with the slow taper is that if problems are encountered with a small cut then you can back up to the previous dose and then do an even slower taper from there.

I've seen some ultra-sensitive types who have had to slow it way down to 1-2% and still have troubles DURING their tapers, let alone coming off.  It just goes to show how  much damage these drugs do to us.  I'm resigned to the fact that I will have to do it soooo slowly it will take a couple of years, maybe more, but I will NOT resign myself to being on the drugs the rest of my life,

the only other alternative :-(

I do think there will still be post taper withdrawal with even a slow taper but that the idea is that it won't be as bad as it could have been.

And those that say they didn't have any trouble coming off..I'm dubious.  I've seen several of those on this forum, but guess what?  They ended up back on the drug.  Why?  They "relapsed."  Well, I'm willing to bet they had the delayed withdrawal and just didn't recognize it as such.

Many people have an initial month or two where they actually feel great, before withdrawal sets in.  I've read this described actually as a manic phase, which is in fact a withdrawal symptom in its own right.  Just happens that it isn't unpleasant :-)

Not sure anymore.....I wish I could turn back time......these drugs are horrible and dr.s don't recognize these withdrawals are from the meds......strange everyone of us should band together to get these meds banned....I read so much that I am becoming desensitized from all this stuff....but I won't go back....apparently those last two horrible symptoms which is anxiety and depression are the last to leave.....people have reported this.....so fingers crossed

I wish I had known when I was hit by the anxiety and depression, as maybe it would have made a difference and I would have pushed on  Instead, I thought I was just incapable of life without the drugs and ended up back on them, rather angry about that!

I'm glad you have the awareness, Allison!  It is so powerful to know what is happening and to find ways to distract yourself and nurture yourself through the worst of it.  There are the few cases where people just stayed caught in the waves, but I think most of them had been polydrugged or switched around between drugs and their nervous systems became incredibly sensitized, "confused."  Even still, healing happens!  Have you found Monica's story at Beyond Meds?  She is about the worst case and has still come so far and has the right attitude.  Also, Baylissa Fredericks of Beyond Meds.  She wrote an excellent self-help book for withdrawal called Road to Recovery.

I have seen lives lost at the hands of withdrawal, couldn't take it anymore, so I feel very passionate about helping others recognize this problem!

And yes, the more you research, the more overwhelming it becomes!

Yup, the physical stuff seems to hit earlier and the emotional many months out.  I've read of many accounts of people developing sensitivities towards caffiene, sugar, supplements (B12 and 6 can become activating), alcohol, certain foods, etc. all causing a worsening of symptoms.

They don't tell you about this part when they hand out the pills :-(  If people knew before taking them, I bet many would never have started!

Allison has your withdrawal been continuous or increased over the last 12 months? I've noticed it month on month get worse.

I have been off medicine for the last three years and has been a wave of good and bad.....I can finally see straight and no more constant dizziness and eating always needs to stay simple.....and lifestyle simple....and just over Christmas I got depressed....crying everyday......but I can at least think straight.....someone said about 14 to 16 month they reported symptom free....please let this be true

Sorry should have said off medicine sertraline for the past 12 months

Allison did you find nausea a sustained side effect? It's getting so aggressive. The odd bit is I can't physically throw up.