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I’ve stopped sertraline and now am constantly dizzy

Posted , 5 users are following.

Annamcveigh
Annamcveigh

hi guys,

just wondering if anyone as had a similar experience; i was on sertraline 100mg for about a year and decided that i wanted off them, my doctor to be honest wasnt really that helpful and it was only that i said i wanted to taper off them instead of just stop them that they gave me 50mg. so i took the 50mg for 2 weeks and now ive been off them for about a week and i just feel awful! what seems like constant nausea / dizziness ( like a motion sick feeling all the time). will this ever end!? 😦

i feel like i can barely focus or concentrate and everytine i move, espec if in a car or anything i get so sick. one thing i also have had is my eyes feel weird and like they arent moving propery which i cant find anything on online. i have been prone to dizziness in the past and have always had it ( been told vestibular migraine/etc etc) which is why im so worried about the dizziness side of it. any insight would be more than welcome! thanks guys

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Terry6872737
    Terry6872737 Annamcveigh

    Edited

    Not sure that 2 weeks was a long enough taper after being on 100mg of sertraline for a year. There are a lot of issues with withdrawal from a SSRI. I would have thought that your doctor would have had you go down to 75mg for 2 weeks and then 50mg for 2 weeks and continuing to reduce 1/2 dosage at 2 week intervals until you were at a low enough level to just take a small dosage every other day for 2 weeks and then stop completely.

    The eye lag that you refer to is called the vestibulo-occular reflex. It is controlled by the semicircular ear canals.

  • Lolasmom
    Lolasmom Annamcveigh

    Edited

    Sounds with withdrawals to me. I was on a benzo and had terrible withdrawals.

    I think it should have been a slower weaning. It's to bad, you had not taken the 50 mg. for a couple of weeks, and then maybe dropped it to maybe 37mg then 25 then 12 then 5/6. All at 2-3 weeks at a time.

    As you have been off for a week, you might have to just wait it out. It's not pleasant. ||||||Try looking on line for withdrawal symptoms for that drug. You might find a closed forum /facebook group for others that have some off your particular drug.

  • Sgt.lindalee
    Sgt.lindalee Annamcveigh

    Edited

    Hi Anna, I agree, a more prolonged taper might have prevented side effects. It can be stopping this drug has triggered vestibular migraine & withdrawl symptoms, temporarily...both can cause vertigo &/or dizziness. There are meds you could take temporarily for dizziness/nausea(like Prochlorazine & etc..) vertigo (Betahistine & etc..) in very small amounts can have an amazing effect. Some of the anti-depressants have some pretty nasty side effects & withdrawl symptoms...Talk to your Dr...be sure to let them know this is effecting your quality of life, not just a few annoying side effects & see what they suggest. Hopefully its only a matter of time, it can take a long time for these kinds of meds to get out of your system & for your body to adjust. Good Luck & Best Wishes💒🌈🍀♾🎶❤☮

  • hmoosey
    hmoosey Annamcveigh

    Posted

    you say you have vestibular migraines??? besides the withdrawal from the meds your tapering, you sound like you are in need of treatment for the vestibular migraines. i have this disorder. i have been under treatment for almost 2 years now. on medication ect. have you had any testing or been prescribed any medication for VM? who told you that you may have this? have you been to a specialist or just your PCP?

    • Annamcveigh
      Annamcveigh hmoosey

      Posted

      hi! thanks for your reply. yes my GP has mentioned that this could be the reason for my chronic dizziness in the past, ive also been told it could be my anxiety or my neck (chiropractor). i havent been to a spealist yet about the dizziness but i feel i now should; been off the meds now for about a month and im dizzy 24/7 pretty much- gets a lot worse after any form of exercise or anxiety attack (understandable). however the anxiety since being off them seems to also be getting worse:(

      im reluctant to go back to my GP as they havent been much help in the past which is why i am considering a specialist or someone private..

    • hmoosey
      hmoosey Annamcveigh

      Posted

      you need a specialist. the GP only knows about common things. although im finding more and more have VM- look up a specialist. the only thing it can do is help, not hurt. i have VM and i started to figure it out myself. not a doctor. i was reading on this forum others stories and realized i had all the symptoms. not vestibular nueritis not BPPV but VM. i have had my life back since i asked for treatment for VM and got to a specialist. there is no reason to wait. go get your life back and your brain back. its so scary. overnight you are just not you anymore. and no one has a real answer. find the dizzy clinic near you. look up otolaryngologist, nuero-otology. this is what you need not a regular ENT or regular neurologist. you need meds to reset your brain.

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