Gradually coming off Sertralinent
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Hi folks..for anyone wanting to taper off Sertraline & afraid to..just thought I'd share my story so far. I was really nervous about coming off them..was on 75mg for a year (having been on 50mg for 2 mnths before that but it wasn't helping). I found 75 definitely helped but due to the dreadful sweating I want to try to get off them to see how I do. So about 3 wks ago I decided to cut down to 50mg & did this for 2 weeks. Had no problems altho' the sweats were as bad as ever. So just over week ago I cut down to 25mg every day. Had doc appt on Mon last anyway for check-up so told her what I was doing. She was happy with this & as I've had no side effects she now has me on 25 every 2nd day for 10 days, then 25 every 3rd day for 10 days then 25 every 4th day for 10 days then stop. Obviously I don't know how I will b as time goes on & dose gets lower or how I will b when I stop altogether. But just to say that I haven't experienced any of the awful side effects that some people have while trying to come off sertraline. I have felt a little more anxious at times than I did when I was on it but nothing I can't cope with & this may be a side effect of coming off it or may b just me cos I do suffer from 'generalised anxiety'.Doc says if I do need to go back on something she will try something else cos the sweats are unbearable. So I will see how it goes but so far not as bad as I was expecting at all
1 like, 15 replies
kevin66749 cherry123
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kevin66749 cherry123
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Yorkshire cherry123
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I'm currently on 25mg a day. Had very little side effects so far, sweating is one, I'm very tired and I've started grinding my teeth again. I've also felt anxious twice but it didn't last long and was nothing like before I was on them.
Hope you continue to do well xx
kevin66749 Yorkshire
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Yorkshire kevin66749
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kevin66749 Yorkshire
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cherry123 Yorkshire
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Yorkshire cherry123
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I'm just sick of being tired all the time. Have you had any anxiety since you've started coming off them? Xx
cherry123 Yorkshire
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cherry123
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kevin66749 cherry123
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alan0 cherry123
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Thank you for sharing your story, and am glad to hear you are doing well. I too am in the process of weaning off 50mg of sertraline after 5 years of been on different anti-depressants for anxiety and mild depression. I had a very difficult time with these medications at the beginning. Actually horrific would better describe what I went through. It is for that reason it has taken me this long to even consider weaning off. I was extremely nervous about doing this but so far so good and it has been more than 6 weeks now. My GP had originally advised me to take one pill of 50mg every second day for 2 weeks then STOP!!! After having these powerful drugs in my body and brain for over 5 years.....eh, I dont think so! So after some research and with the help of this forum, I did take one whole pill (50mg) every second day for 2 weeks, then I went to 25 mg for another 2 weeks and have been cutting my pills into 12.5 ish pieces and taking one every second day until the remainder of my supply has gone. It has been about 6 weeks now and I have about another 2 weeks of 12.5 to go then done. I was expecting MUCH worse withdrawal syptoms and am still waiting on them to be honest....which I hope will not come, but amfeeling very strong if they do.
The reason for my decision to wean off is that my side effects of these meds was extreme fatigue and I was suffering with horrible headaches that the docs could not find any other medical explanation so I put these down to possible side effects also ( I have had none since weaning) but this could be coincidence and time will tell. My withdrawals to date include feeling slightly moody, like hyper for a while then low but this has not been extreme and can handle this. Also feeling a bit disorientated and not with it, but again I can handle this. I was expecting similar symptoms to when I originally went on these meds like major waves of anxiety and serious depression etc but have had none of that.....so far. I have learned a lot about mental health and look after my phisical health mush more since been put on these medication so this has helped I am sure.
Anyway I am sure that slow is best now and am glad I did not listen to my GP and his 2 weeks advice or I might have experienced much worse withdrawals and end up back on them and afraid to try agin out of fear. I am however keen to be completely med free so am hoping things continue to go ok, but either way I will be going O naturel from here on in should I experience mental health difficulties in the future.
I wish you all well,
Alan
Mary17679 alan0
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But like you, I'm trying to go as natural as possible, including eating more organic foods, & using essential oils to calm me & help me sleep. Those steps are really helping, but...it's taking more self discipline that I thought it would. Sometimes those cookies for dinner really look good :-D
Thank you for sharing, Alan !!!
Mary17679 cherry123
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I hope this helps you and/or anyone else :-)
cherry123 Mary17679
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