I have weaned myself off Sertraline over four months after taking it for 4 years at 50 mg per day.

I was on sertraline for my depression but it quickly upped my anxiety levels big time. Went back to my gp who admitted that it could well do so and I was instead put on fluoxetine much easier for me to cope with both my anxiety and depression.

Mike.

Hi Anna, OMG I am so glad I have read this post off you before I go back to my doctors to ask for help for me to sleep, following the end of counselling for rape.  I didn't have any idea this stuff was so nasty I have luckily turned it down but I felt I'd done the wrong thing!  What else does it do?  You may as well tell me the worst of it!

HI Anna,

I fully understand what you're going through. I was on sertraline for a year, 50mg as well, and it helped me immensely with my OCD and depression. I don't know what I would have done without it at the beginning, until I could get other supports through CBT. But after about eight months, I was experiencing side effects like insomnia, a dulling of all my emotions, and I felt robotic and I just didn't seem to care about anything. I was such a flat liner I didn't recognize myself. I, like you, took about 4 months to taper myself off of it, decreasing the dosage very slowly every two weeks, then every other day, etc. I wrote down every dose I took, and how I felt so I could hopefully minimize the horrible withdrawal symptoms I had read about. Despite my best efforts, I still experienced withdrawal symptoms, like brain "zaps", restless legs, unexpected moments of anxiety that came out of nowhere, etc. as well as insomnia crying, anger, etc. I dealt with it using deep breathing, mindful meditation, and also taking a little dose of Valium if my symptoms were very intense. I'm not encouraging you to take something else that is potentially addictive, just sharing what I did to deal with my symptoms. I have a prescription for 5mg, the smallest possible, and I cut it into six pieces and one of those is my dose. I'm a very small person and that does the trick (helps the insomnia and anxiety) but I'm weaning off that now as well. And even at that small dose I will have to do a small taper, as I want to be off of all meds. Anyway, I live in a state that has legalized medical marijuana, and that has been a wonderful solution for me. There are tinctures, flowers, and pills one can take, and anything high in CBD and low in THC is medically therapeutic and does not produce any type of high. There is pain and anxiety/depression relief (I have severe osteoporosis and have almost constant back and rib pain). I don't know if this is available to you, and some people have mixed feelings about this type of "treatment", but it has been so prevalent here and gaining so much credibility, it was something I needed to try. I refuse to take any toxic bone drug, and I only want to put natural into my body at this point. I have also seen a nutritionist to improve my diet (I have been a vegetarian for the past 5 years) but my diet was very imbalanced. I am now eating a better balance of nutrients, and I've also added a Vitamin D supplement that I take daily. 

Its a slow process, even after being off the sertraline for almost six months now, I still feel some pangs of withdrawal. I know they will pass but it sure is scary to now realize how this type of drug completely infiltrates and changes the brain. I will not take any drug like this ever again, and am committed to finding healthy, natural ways to cope with my depression and anxiety. 

Last but but not least, light and gentle exercise, and lots of prayer always sustains me.

this is a super long post but I hope something I've shared with you helps in some way. You're definitely not alone, best wishes as you deal with these ongoing symptoms. But they WILL go away. We all have to believe that! 

Hugs to you,

Tiny Gal

Hi I take 150 mg of sertraline which I find very good though I have never tried to come off it.

The official advice is to stay on the meds until you have been feeling better for at least 6 months before trying to come off.  Did you?  

At the end of the day it's your choice whether you want to go the medical route or the self help one.  If it's the latter then try mindfullness,  meditation,  yoga etc.  i have heard the herbal St. Johns Wort can help with mild depression but haven't tried it myself.   If you do decide to take it check with your doctor/pharmacist as it can affect other meds you are on. 

Like I said your choice though.