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My experience of coming off sertraline

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I have found this site very helpful during the period that I was taking sertraline and felt I should share my experiences of coming off the drug, in the hope that they may be of help to others.

I was diagnosed with depression last year and have been on 200mg of sertraline for approx 10 months. I also had some therapy during this period and recently took the decision (with my doctor's support) to come off the medication. Wary of repeating the experiences some other posters on this site have had I resolved to reduce my dosage gradually over a period of about a month (more gradually than suggested by my doctor).

Each week I reduced the dosage by 50mg a day. So week one I went down to 150mg a day, week 2 100mg a day etc. The first two weeks were fine with no real changes. By the end of week 3 I began to feel a bit light headed, with hot sweats and dry-mouth also returning. As a result I remained on this dose another week instead of stopping altogether in week 4.

I have now been 5 days with no sertraline and have found the experience of quitting surprisingly easy. I still feel a little light-headed now and again, but other side effects I suffered during the full dose (yawning, tiredness, sexual dysfunction) have all but gone, and although I kind of miss the 'wrapped in cotton wool' feeling I am glad to be back to life without medication.

For what its worth I would suggest that gradual reduction of dosage is the most effective way to avoid the worse of the side-effects experienced when coming off sertraline and that the good news (for me anyway) has been the speed at which the side-effects disappeared.

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  • jo91180
    jo91180 Guest

    Posted

    Oh my days, Im so glad I found this site, Ive been without my sertraline for 5 days as was late ordering my prescription, with the weekend and all, cant pick it up till Monday morning. I thought I was dying to be honest, the brain shocks and feeling spaced out!!! My daughter found this site as she figured I was felling like this because I hadnt had my tablets!! Thank you guys, now I know I'm not going mad and imagining all these feelings!!!
  • neil120375
    neil120375 Guest

    Posted

    Hi All. Just joined this discussion. My back story was being on Sertraline for just over 2 years, 100mg daily does. My GP recommended I try coming off them as I was, oddly enough, going through a divorce and was worried because I wasn't feeling anything. And I didn't want to be a zombie. I had also put on weight (almost 2-3 stone) over the last 2 years. I was told to reduce my dosage down to one every other day for a month then stop. I followed the advice (didn't check myself) and I have to admit, I have been feeling terrible (last dose was a week ago). Symptoms are tiredness, extrenmely irritable, bad concentration, weakness (muscular pain) and the latest addition, brain shocks (I though my epilepsy was coming back until I saw this forum). I know I've not done this the right way, but I don't want to go back on them and will just sit this one out in the hope that a couple fo weeks more and I'll see a reduction in symptoms.
  • barna64
    barna64 Guest

    Posted

    I was looking up the side effects of coming off this horrible drug. I see a lot of people are in the same boat. I am 63 and have been on these things for 20 years. I am so sick of taking them. I started, like another poster, when I had a radical hysterectomy.at the time my girls where teens, and putting me through hell!! And if I told you the story on them alone, I should be dead! And this was told to me by medical professional. Now I am on this long road to be free. I forgot to say my doc had me on 150mg. of zoloft. Every time I tried to decrease, the side effects where horrific!! Weakness, brain zaps, nausea, etc. Expressed to my doc what I was doing, and he said that I just plain need them! Ha! I am down to 75mg., which took me 3mo., to do that. A lady on another site Sid she had to liver her pill in order to make it. Never been to a mental dr. , but one told a friend to never take these drugs more than  6 mo. wished I knew at the time. This drug in my opinion is very addictive, and it could be why so many people are taking it. One time I went to fast, and thought I was going to have to go to the er. So, unless someone has a better way, in my case, I have to go so slow, it will take at least a year. I'm getting to old for this stuff!! In suggestions would be appreciated.

     

    • kim86725
      kim86725 barna64

      Posted

      Hi,I was on Sertraline for almost 15 yrs. and decided to stop. My Doctor weened me off in a month,didn't tell me anything about withdraw or what to expect.Spent the first 3 wks. off crying every day and still going to work. Had brain zaps all day every day,tired and raging. Started walking to stop the raging, which helped a lot. I am 7 wks. out, brain zaps have ceased, I still rage sometimes and easily cry. Getting better. I consider my Dr. an ass who doesn't care. Tried to call to talk to him 2 wks. ago but he wouldn't unless I came in. He said to many options to go over on the phone. I said if he couldn't give me the options when I was there for my check up I wasn't coming in to get them now. He's all about the money. Do you think he has called to check on me? NO! I've been to hell and I'm on my way back. I'm also moving to another state because my husband is getting transferred, very hard to leave the place you've lived your whole life which isn't helping at all.
    • barna64
      barna64 kim86725

      Posted

      You have done good!! I know exactly what your going through. But your dr. took you down to fast. You would not have suffered so much if cutting down ever so slowly. This is the first time I have been down to 75 mg. and it have had a small amount of wd. For a veteran such as I, it seems this will be another 6 months, since I have tried so many times and failed. There is a site, I'm not sure of the address, but it's called THE ROAD BACK! And it was started by a woman who was like you and I. You might want to check it out, it is very educational, but scary. Serdarline is good for short periods, but unless you are terribly sick, do not take any longer than you have to. Since you are moving, I would see how I do, and if you have problems you might want to take a low dose of what you where on, and when you get used to the new place and feel better, then try to go off slowly. I hope you succeed w/out going back on these dangerous drugs. And believe me, after all the research , they do damage. There are so many people obtaining lawyers, because of this very issue. And some have been compensated. When the dr. rx them, my body kept rejecting this. Now I know why!! God Bless!
    • kim86725
      kim86725 barna64

      Posted

      I don't think I can ever go back on the drug, can't ever go through this again. I am getting better and I hope you do too. I was on 150mg and took myself down to 100 a couple years ago, never thought I felt better at the higher dose. I guess it's always the patient that will get off because my Dr. would of never took me off the Medes. He even had me on Wellbutrun for a couple yrs., what a joke, it was all I could do to stay awake all day. If I complained of fatigue he would increase my dose or try to add another one to my 100mg. Thanks for the info on the website, I will check it out. Good Luck to you

       

    • janharris56
      janharris56 barna64

      Posted

      Hi barna64. I just read your post. Hope all goes well for you. I was surprised to hear its addictive, I had never heard this. I am taking 100mg. Was told I would probably be on it for life. I thought maybe to reduce and see how things go. I was prescribed Zoloft dueto anxiety around 2005.????
    • barna64
      barna64 janharris56

      Posted

      Hi jan, so sorry your in the same boat as me. The drug is not addictive, it's the body cannot function wout it! And like other posters, if you reduce your amount slowly, you might do better than me. I know I said addictive, chose the wrong word. But if you wanted to stop in a week from now, I can only guess what symtoms you would feel. You know when you go to the dr., and tell them, I'm so tired, they are ready to whip those evil things out. Oh, take zoloft, you'll be better, and I as a doctor will receive a kickback. The more they hand out, the more vactions, gifts, etc. I will say again, they are good for a while, no longer than 6months. That's what a psychiatrist told my husband. Of course, he takes no meds, lucky man. But do some research, like I did, and go from there. There are a lot of other natural ways, these days. Just have to get these poisons out of my system. Keep in touch.
  • janharris56
    janharris56 Guest

    Posted

    Great to hear you did well. I did notice you wrote this in 2009, all still going well? I take the medication for anxiety and was thinking of reducing mg. that is the reason for doing a search. Thanks again.
    • kim86725
      kim86725 janharris56

      Posted

      You might be feeling well because of the drug. I would talk to your Doctor before reducing as you will have to do it very slowly. Trust me I've been there, just getting better after 8 wks. off. Everybody is different.
    • janharris56
      janharris56 kim86725

      Posted

      Thanks for your response.  I do work for my doctor, and did speak with her about it today.  Time will tell.  Thanks
  • barna64
    barna64 Guest

    Posted

    You are a blessed person! Not having to take those horrific addicting pills. I say addicting, meaning, I don't want them, but my body reacts terribly when trying to cut down just a little. 20 or more years, just guessing, these have helped at a time I've needed them, but I don't anymore. The problem, is getting the body to adjust. So I'm skimming a little at a time, and I do mean skimming. 6 mo. Was at 150mg, now 75. I've been trying to go down just a tad more, I am so tired, brain starts zapping, stomach symtoms are unreal. So I'm staying at this amount, I figure by Christmas I'll be off! I'm 64 years, and it's not as easy when you get older. So happy for you. If you need to get back on, try the natural way. So many that was not around years ago, or maybe the doctor didn't want me to know. Good work! 
  • angela1980
    angela1980 Guest

    Posted

    Thanks for sharing your experience i reduced mine from 100mg to 50mg. I feel better for it but still really tired. I am considering coming off them altogether as i have been on them 2 years and feel my anxiety has gone but scared it will return 
    • kim86725
      kim86725 angela1980

      Posted

      Hi, you might be feeling that you are better because the pills are working and if you go off that might be a different story. That being said I wouldn't stay on any longer then you have to. I would talk to your Doctor and see what he has to say, was there a reason for your anxiety, and is it gone? These are dangerous drugs and coming off is never easy and should be done very slowly.
  • vikki140582
    vikki140582 Guest

    Posted

    Hi everyone, I was taking 1 pill of Sertraline for give or take about a year, I was recently advised by the doctor to up it to 2 a day as in my opinion the effect had started to wear off. But - although I have needed to increase the dose they are working very well for me (for anxiety). However, cold turkey is awful on these. My problem is that the doctor will only let me have 2 boxes per prescription which means that if I dont notice I am running out I then have to wait 3 or 4 days for my prescription request to go through for the new lot. Cold turkey on this medication includes for me: dizziness/loss of focus, brain feels like its "creeping" (the worst side effect) twitchiness in limbs, some nauesea, generally feeling low/irritated. But - if you dont miss them, I found them good - much better than one of the alternatives that I was originally prescribed !! (cant remember what that was called) which made my head and throat feel like it was burning! awful stuff.
    • kim86725
      kim86725 vikki140582

      Posted

      Cold turkey is never good, you have to make sure you don't run out. My Doctor always tried to increase my dose, from 1 a day to 1 1/2 a day but I didn't feel the extra 1/2 helped plus at the time they were hard to break so I took myself back down. The more you increase the harder it will be to get off. They say the drug is safe and not addicting but I've seen otherwise. Good luck to you.
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