1. Community
  2. Mental health
  3. Sertraline

Am I having Sertraline withdrawal??

Posted , 6 users are following.

trevor95913
trevor95913

Hello!

I had a stroke in 2012 due to stress, and the day i was discharged from hospital i started to have anxity and panic attacks, thinking i am going to have another stroke !

It's taken me two years to get over it slowly and was originally prescribed Flupantixol in the beginning, which was ok at the start but didn't really stop the over thinking and anxiety..

I was recently prescribed Sertraline 50mg which I started to take in October 2014, I took the tablet up until two weeks ago Jan 7th 2015 , my doctor basically said to me start taking half the tablet for one week , then stop altogether ..

Two days after stopping altogether , I

Have started to experience what I can only describe as an heartbeat type pulse in my head, neck when moving my eyes and my head.. It is at its worst when I'm standing up doing general day to day stuff.. When im sitting down and focusing on TV or computer it doesn't seem to be that bad....

I have been googling so much about this, becuase of course this feeling is feeding my anxiety and causing a vicious cycle .. I just wondered has anyone else had this type of symptom? And is it a brain Zap?

Hope someone can shed some light !

Best,

Trev

0 likes, 25 replies

25 Replies

Next
  • Blu02
    Blu02 trevor95913

    Posted

    One week on half a tablet is a bit quick in my opinion. I think the better option would be a much slower reduction over a month..
  • rotweiler
    rotweiler trevor95913

    Posted

    As I have said to numerous people you cannot start an anti-depressant like Sertraline then after three months wean yourself off with half a tablet over a week. Coming off any anti-depressant has to be much more gradual than you were advised and the affects you are having are due to such a rapid withdrawal of the drug.  I would go back to your Doc. have the Sertraline reinstated at perhaps half the mgs then after several months, take the same dose but every second day rather than every day, keep this up for another few months and then drop to every 3rd day and so on.  This is a more realistic way of coming of the tablets.
    • Blu02
      Blu02 rotweiler

      Posted

      Wow Ronnie, that's a really slow reduction, I admit a week is too quick but do you really think someone who's been taking Sertraline only 3 months needs as long to come off?
  • trevor95913
    trevor95913

    Posted

    Thanks for the comments! I visited the hospital today and the doctor told me to start taking half the tablet again for two weeks and slowly taper off... So Is the heartbeat like pulses in my head when moving eyes and head etc, common with coming off too quickly??
    • Blu02
      Blu02 trevor95913

      Posted

      In answer to your question.... I don't think coming off quickly helps!
    • Blu02
      Blu02 trevor95913

      Posted

      Hi Trevor, do you know if over the whole time you were on Sertraline it was the same brand?
    • Blu02
      Blu02 trevor95913

      Posted

      Great!! Make sure you get Lustral when you continue to take them as there's evidence that changing brand can give adverse effect!
    • trevor95913
      trevor95913 Blu02

      Posted

      Ok cool ! Thanks for that ! Yeah I'm hoping by reinstating the tablet these head pulses will go away! See what happens and I'll post back on here to update !
    • suzanne1963
      suzanne1963 Blu02

      Posted

      You are so right about taking the same brand. During my time on Sertraline, the brand was changed and I had terrible problems. I couldn't function at all. My GP wrote on the prescription after that I had to be given Lustral all of the time!
  • deeebeee
    deeebeee trevor95913

    Posted

    Trevor ... So sorry you're having such troubles.  I'm amazed at the docs in the UK prescribing Sertraline for ANXIETY.  I'm in the US and it's an anti-depressant, not an anti-anxiety med.  What about getting some Ativan or Xanax to simmer down the anxiety?  I know the generic of Ativan - Lorazepam has been problematic in terms of watered down products (depending on manufacturer).  Maybe Xanax would help.  Valium is another calmer downer.  I couldn't deal wtih my anxiety without Lorazepam.  So get your doctor to send you to a pyschophamacologist or ask him to prescribe a TRANQUILIZER for your anxiety.

    Hope things get better.  Dopey doctors don't know what they're doing, it's criminal.

    • trevor95913
      trevor95913 deeebeee

      Posted

      Hi! Yeah I think they prescribed me the Sertraline becuase It is supposed to treat PTSD, the doctor said i might be suffering from that becuase of having a stroke ..

      I'm going to try and go back on the Med and taper off of it over a much longer period and see if these head pulses and dizzy pulses stop.. its a nightmare at the moment!

  • trevor95913
    trevor95913

    Posted

    Hi all.

    So the other day I said I was going through these head pulse sensations , sort of dizzy spell etc, starting happening two days after stopping Sertraline! I Have been going through it for a week, finding it hard to walk around without feeling these pulses..

    Well it's been two days after reintroducing Sertraline 25mg ,

    And the pulse have completly stopped ! More or less the same day I started to retake the tablet!!!

    So thanks for the replies on this thread! You put my mind at rest confirming it was withdrawal. I also called a company or charity who specialise in psychotic drugs and they also explained to me my doctor was wrong to take me off the medicine so quickly!

    I'm now back on it , and will take it again for some time , then slowly taper off , and see what happens this time ! I Have been told I will experience some withdrawal but hopefully not as bad as what I have been experiencing this last two weeks!

    Here's the number for that helpline if anyone reading this needs any help..they're really informative +44 151 932 0102

    • Digsby
      Digsby trevor95913

      Posted

      Hi Trev,

      I'm pleased to read that you have benefitted from the advice of others who have been there before you, and are now making some progress.

      I came off my previous medication cold turkey (not advisable unless you are desperate to get it out of your system and start a new drug). I got the "brain zaps" (disorientating pulses behind the eyes with the slightest movement). I think these are very common withdrawal symptoms so you were definitely not alone in your experience.

      Unfortunately, GPs can't all be experts in anti-depressants, and as one GP told me, patients are all different in their reaction to these meds. I do hope that you find the right one to help you. Stay positive and never give up hope!

      All the best,

      Digsby

    • deeebeee
      deeebeee trevor95913

      Posted

      Yay for you trevor .... phew and happy the pulses have stopped.  A GOOD doctor should KNOW BETTER than to take anyone off any med. cold turkey (as we call i here in the US).  VERY bad.  RE your PTSD from the stroke.  Have you tried the EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique)?  It's tapping on the meridiens of the body.  I think it takes awhile but it supposedly has even helped veterans with PTSD.  I'm just startiing so not a great deal of reduction in anxiety yet.  But willing to try it long enough to see.  Nick Ortner has the best site and book on this.  Don't have the link sorry.  Wishing you much improvement and peace of mind.  XXXX
    • trevor95913
      trevor95913 deeebeee

      Posted

      Thank you for your reply !

      Yes, It has been two days since re-introducing the sertraline and the head pulses have completly gone away! I spoke to the doctor today and told them what had happened, and It was withdrawal I was going through, and they said thanks for letting them know! I'm thankful it had stopped becuase it was completly stopping me from doing things in my life.  

      The crap thing is, the reason why I stopped taking sertraline was becuase of the depersonalisation and detachment side affects I was getting, and now becuase of the doctor taking me off so quickly, Im having to go back on them for a few weeks, then taper back off over a slower period, but go through them sideaffects again!

      I will look into what you mentioned for sure! I just need to stop thinking that every little ache or pain i get can be related to having another stroke! I'm better now though to how I was when I first had my stroke, so I am improving, and it is only recently I have sarted to identify when anxiety is happening, so small steps, but making progress!!

      Thanks for your message, and hope you are well !!!

      Best,

      Trev

    • trevor95913
      trevor95913 Digsby

      Posted

      Thanks for the reply! Yeah I told the doctor today what happened and It was withdrawal and they thanked me for the info as this particular doctor had never experienced the sensations I was having.  Im happy they have gone away now! 
Back to top
Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.