My experience of coming off sertraline
Posted , 240 users are following.
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.
31 likes, 450 replies
sam67884 Guest
Posted
I was on sertraline 50mg for 3 years . Every time I have been ready to wean off them there have been situations going on and dr has told me not to wean. And this has been going for the past 2 years . This year I haven’t took any and have stopped gradually but I wasn’t taking them everyday for about 2 months prior to this anyway.
It’s been 2 months now and I do feel brain fogged, concentration spam is low and I have noticed my words ain’t coming out properly. Meaning they are confused .. I do not want to go back on them what so ever as I have underactive thyroid aswell and taking meds both that have similar affects is just not working for me .
Is there anyone who can give me some tips of advice on how to over come this..
Would really appreciate it.
P.S. have been very emotional aswell and not been in control.
matt39801 sam67884
Posted
I have had a bad experience with the high dose of Sertraline, I was on 100mg and it really helped my anxiety so the psychiatrist told me to up to 200mg over two weeks and prescribed 15mg Mirtazapine, I felt terrible on 200mg , terrible crying, uncomfortable thoughts of ending it etc , I ended up having a seizure! Got checked out with bloods and a CT scan at A&E which were fine.
I’m in my early 50’s so read a lot about menopause and mood , I’ve had a Mirena put in and now on my second week of weaning down the Sertraline to 100mg , I feel calmer already so is anxiety and depression a hormone embalance for me , possibly!
I now take magnesium and B complex as recommended by lots of Dr’s/ websites.
Sometimes I think Dr’s are to quick to up meds without considering hormone embalance , don’t get me wrong I’ve been on and off. AD’s for years but I’m hoping to lower my dose in time to 50mg and supplement with the magnesium and B
As for the withdrawal side effects I’m having are brain fog, dizzy spells , increased anxiety and feeling low , some brain zaps and feeling knackered all the time .
I’m still struggling to leave the house but with CBT coming up soon and pushing myself more I feel the less chemicals in my body will hopefully make me more positive to see this through with a clearer head , will see how it goes but remember increaseing the dose is not always the answer.
Good luck all, we are not alone 🌹
Matt
angT Guest
Posted
Hi, Just to give my experience so far. Had been on 100mg sertraline for 3 years. Decided I wanted to start coming off it . Started in December and went down to 75mg for a few weeks , then 50mg. Didn't notice much that I put down to withdrawel, but realised afterwards that severe headaches I was getting was from that .
Doctor told me to stay on 50mg as my moods were getting bad again but eventually due to lack of support from my doctors I decided I wanted to come off it and be more in control. I have came off antidepressants before and was used to hallucinations etc, but this is alot worse. Going from 50mg to 25mg seems to be the worst, for me anyway. I do know that 25mg is pretty much a placebo so I guess this is why.
In the last 3 weeks, I have had severe headaches, turning into sinusitus (which I have never had before), then bronchitis at the same time (it is noted that you can get flu like symptoms-I'm assuming that my immune system just crashed). I ended up in hospital due to the severe chest pains, headaches . I finally got rid of bronchitis and sinusitis but am now getting severe headaches again which seem to be sinus related. I have also had constant nausea, dizziness/off-balance, trouble sleeping, mood swings, stomach issues/vomitting.
It is probably 4 weeks since I started taking the 25mg and I am still determined. Today was the first day back to the gym since getting sick. I was completely off balance but kept going. I would not wish this on anyone and am lucky that I am not working right now as I think I would have lost my job. I do believe things will be better soon.
I am trying to focus on eating more fruit, vegetables and taking my omega and b12 vitamins. I am also taking acidophilus to try boost my immune system now.
I don't regret going on this antidepressant as I needed it at the time, but I think its so important that family or who ever is there to support you can help to push you towards weaning off it as soon as possible. I had first thought that my moods still being bad and my serious weight gain was just my own fault , even though I worked in a physical job and went to the gym. It seems it was not and I am determined to get back to a healthy weight to also help my moods. Good luck with anyone doing this right now also. Ill try to update when I start feeling the withdrawel symptoms going away
PeggyC1989 Guest
Posted
I have been on Sertraline since sept last since a relapse with my PTSD/depression/anxiety it started effecting work and i finally sort help. had therpay alongside the sertraline.
Didn't have many side effect when starting on them other than one day feeling really sick.
With the agreement from my doctor, i am gradually coming off them i was on 150mg which i think was too much. I went down to 100 no issues 50mg slightly dizzy but ok after a day or so, i stupidly dropped to 25mg quicker than what i did the other doses, and boy am i feeling it. So much so ive gone back to 50mg for another week.
I have never felt anything like it, the withdrawal is ridiculous, i feel like im floating half the time or on a boat. its horrible.
Hoping that ill start feeling better tomorrow. im trying to loose weight aswell and have alot going on personally, i really want to come off these tabs so i think maybe i should just focus on that and just loosely watch what im eating. (i tend to all or nothing)
Anyway im feeling pretty rubbish right now so aware ive probably ranted majorly.
Hope that some people can relate.
Keep strong all!
Peg
matt39801 PeggyC1989
Posted
Hi Peggy
I hope you are feeling a bit better today?
I’m 6 weeks post Sertraline, I had a rough time on it and a terrible time coming off it ! I am now on my second taper from Mirtazapine, pretty brutal withdrawal symptoms 😩 I seen a neurologist on Tuesday and he had told me to take 2mg Diazipan in the morning and 2mg at bedtime to help with the withdrawal and to continue this for 12 weeks after my last Mirtazapine, he explained that the brain needs time to get its natural balance back and that withdrawal last way longer than most GP’s know .
I will stick to his advice, I’ve been on 15mg of Diazipan in the past and tapered off it without the horrible side effects of Sertraline and Mirtazapine.
I don’t want to ever take an AD again , we are prescribed them so easily but never told how hard it is to get off!
Good luck
Matt
julie93701 Guest
Posted
Last Friday I didn’t have any as ran out so I’ve been free from them 1 week I’m very tired, got diarrhoea and light headed and stomach pain.
But I’m going too put up with it
I’ve been on numerous medication for around 25 year and I just want to be free from it all so fingers crossed I get through it
matt39801 julie93701
Posted
I’m similar to you was on Citalopran for years then Sertraline and Mirtazapine, tapered off the Sertraline which wasn’t to bad , not pleasant but got through it, I’m now 10 days Mirtazapine free after tapering and it’s a bloody nightmare but like you I don’t want to be on these meds ever again , I’m going down the natural route once I’m through this crap.
Good luck girl you can do this , drink lots of water and sweet tea .
julie93701 matt39801
Posted
I’ve been on everything over the years
Now I’ve come to the conclusion I think it’s all been in my head so hopefully I get through it
Al be happy when the withdrawals go away as it’s hard
Kernel__49695 Guest
Posted
i am so scared. i was on seetraline for 10 years and dis really well and secided to taper alowly over 2 years i got down to 25mg for the last year but all hell broke loose when i went to zero with huge panic attacks so the doctors put me back on and put me right back to 150mg over last 7 weeks but i feel more anxious and more panicky. i read the survivingantidepressants website where they all seem to be suffering horrific withdrawals for years and i now feel trapped like there is no hope for me - my brain has rejected them and i cant face coming off them to face that either. i have lost all hope. any advice?
Firooke61 Kernel__49695
Posted
Bless you , I truly feel for you. I was also on these tablets for 10 years and the only thing I can suggest is to start breaking the tablets In half then break them again after a few months. I was doing this until eventually I was taking a tiny amount literally butting tiny bits as I couldn't break them any smaller. I did this for a few months then I just stopped but I would suggest you take one every other day then reduce it until you can manage without them . I get a funny giddy feeling in my head but I can live with that, and I am very emotional but in a good way, Its been about 6/7 weeks now and I am so happy. Try again and pls let me know how you are getting on I wish you well xx
angT Guest
Posted
just an update from me. i had came off fully after being on 50mg for around 2 months and 25 for a few weeks, but the side effects were so bad that i had to go back on them for another month or so. it was exhausting and such a long process. the months after my moods have been more extreme which was fine until its happening too much again so as much as i hate to say it, i may need to go back on something. good luck all
angT Guest
Posted
just an update from me. i had came off fully after being on 50mg for around 2 months and 25 for a few weeks, but the side effects were so bad that i had to go back on them for another month or so. it was exhausting and such a long process. the months after my moods have been more extreme which was fine until its happening too much again so as much as i hate to say it, i may need to go back on something. good luck all
sharon68052 angT
Posted
hiya,
reading your message reminded me of me - i doubted myself for months - infact i still doubt myself (a year on). BUT i say to myself 'im not perfect' but i feel better being off the tablets (including still having mood episodes) but its in an acceptable level most if the time.
give yourself time no matter which way you choose.
take care
dawn0904 Guest
Posted
I want to come off of my sertraline but im so scared of the side effects and getting insomnia again
rupert64 Guest
Posted
did the drug help while on it?